---

Interview with Michael Garlich (Titan)

conducted from Preinsack










It looks like our new Amiga computers are finally ready to go. Both the "official" AmigaOne with Amiga OS 4.0 and the rival Pegasos coming with MorphOS providing the user a possibility to work with a bulk of their software on topical hardware. But what is badly needed is new software in all sectors. Titan made people speak of them cause of announcements like converting Papyrus Office. I talked with Michael Garlich about that and received some interesting informations.

Mr. Garlich, even if you are well known in the amiga scene:

Would you introduce your self in the beginning?

Jupp. I am Michael Garlich, director of the software company Titan Computer in Bremen. We are working for the Amiga since 8 years and since 2 years also on the Macintosh.

Do you own an Amiga, too? If yes, which one?

Yes, I own an A1000 from, let me think, 1985 and a 4000PPC as well as a Pegasos.

I'll come straight to the point, some of your announcements respective already shown products of Titan. A long expected program is the office package Papyrus Office. Will it definitively be released for Amiga respective Amiga OS 4.0 or will there just be a MOS variant?

First the MOS version will be released. At the moment I can't tell you if there will be a adapted OS4.0 version because we haven't seen much of OS4.0 but a few screenshots on the internet.

Since it is available for 68k Atari Computers will Papyrus Office be available for 68k-Amigas?

You are wrong, the 68k Atari version will not be developed anymore. There must be an end somewhere along the way of legacy. Thats why the 68k version has no priority. Maybe in view of Amithlon but I doubt if the effort is worth it. Those customers got Word on their computer anyway so they would not buy Papyrus.

How far is the conversion process? Can you fix a date for the release?

No, unfortunately we dafaulted a bit cause both programmers had to work on the Mac version. I guess sometime in the first quarter of 2003 it will be ready.

Another program which provides interesting is the video cut software MotionStudio for MOS/Pegasos. What is the actual state of affairs?

At the moment we are working on the title generator. After that we will add some more effects and then the remain of the fire wire programming is on the list.

Is MotionStudio already working smooth on the Pegasos?

Unfortunately not yet.

Can you specify an estimated sales price?

No we are still in negotiation licensing the MPEG2/4 codec and can't cost out an exact price until this is done.

What about the Alien Nations (Die Völker). How is the conversion work bringing forward? Do you got an approximately fix a date for the release?

We got to handle high memory consumption. I hope we will be ready in January with Alien Nations.

On your website you can read "Die Völker": for AmigaOS 4.0 no details available about the system requirements. What does this mean exactly?

This means that we got no information about OS4.0 so we can't say if it is possible to convert Alien Nations to it.

Are there endeavors to adapt the game especially for AOS 4.0 as soon as developer documents are available or will the game be released for MOS/Pegasos and classic PPC Amigas exclusively?

If it is possible Alien Nations will work on all 3 systems but I am concerned because of the memory of the classic Amigas.

Let's talk about Rage Hard. What is the stage of affairs?

There are new screenshots on www.planetragehard.com (Mac version only) but the graphic of the MOS version will not be different.6 of 10 levels are designed completely now. As soon as the new 3d drivers for MOS are ready we can fix an exact release date.

Will there be an AOS 4.0 version of rage Hard?

No there will definitively be NO OS4.0 version.

Are there plans of special MOS and/or AOS 4.0 versions of previous Titan releases (BurnIt, Artstudio, CandyFactory, ElasticDreams)?

Yes, BurnitPro will be released specially for MOS and will allow to write DVD's on the Amiga for the first time. We are reengineering Candy completely at the momen and FantasticDreams (successor of ElasticDreams) will be adapted specially for MOS. At the moment there is no decision in case of ArtStudio because this program has a lot of Assembler code.

Will Titan favor the MOS/Pegasos in the future or will Titan develop for AmigaOne respective AOS4.0`?

We support what is available and it is MOS. We will look at AOS4.0 if it is ready and then we will decide if we develop for it or not.

What is your opinion about the actual situation and the plans of Amiga Inc. and their partner like Hyperion and Eytech (Amiga OS 4.0, Amiga DE respective AmigaAnywhere, AmigaOne)?

Does anybody understand what they want? Every few weeks new announcements are made which are discarded with the next press release. I can't recognize a clear and qualified direction.

What I dislike especially at Amiga Inc. is the bad defamation of a business rival without having any evidence for these claims. This is no public business. It must be clarified at court if the allegation is authorized. But it doesn't seem to be authorized otherwise legal measures would have been initiated long ago.

Which computer/OS combination do you think gots more chances: AmigaOne/AOS4.0 or Pegasos/MOS?

Pegasos with MOS ans AOS4 (if Amiga finally thinks about their license policy). AmigaOne is already a stillbirth. If Mai doesn't feel like it anymore the mainboard will be in the actual state for ever. Mai doesn't mind about Amiga and i doubt that the PX will ever be built in production run. Mai needs the mainboard for chiptests generally and not for sale, why should they put this amount of money in the development?

Mr. Garlich, thank you very much for the interview and good luck for further projects!

Thank you very much Mr. Preinsack