This is my vision for the ultimate Amiga retro project which might actually turn a small profit.
1) Get some clever Amiga nuts to create an FPGA motherboard, yes sounds easy and it actually is. I meet a guy at my local Amiga meeting last week who had designed a *working* FPGA board retro board in only 4 weeks. The FPGA code for the Amiga's custom chips are already available and even code for an emulated 68020 looks to be pretty much there.
2) Scan in an A500 case, shrink it down to make something cute and remove any copyright names like 'Amiga', offer it in a couple of colors. I think it should be possible to either 3D print these little cases or (if too expensive), at least create the initial mould with a 3D printer.
3) Load the sucker up with the AGA core (it's already been developed for the FPGA Arcade).
4) Stick it on KickStarter for $200 + delivery and sell loads of them
5) Pre install AROS 68k ROM + a customised AROS WB + loads of WHDLOAD games and demos
6) That's it actually.......
The trick to such a retro project is to offer more than what's available for the MiniMig but not go crazy with specs which is what killed Natami. I'm thinking about a cute little A500 replica with HDMI ouput (scan doubled and flicker fixed), 030 type performance, CF HD, built in PS/2 mouse, a couple of original joystick ports and audio out.
Because it would come with AROS installed and without any mention of Commodore or Amiga then it would avoid all the copyright bull****.
The real beauty of FPGA designs is that they can be updated after release, it should be possible to enhance it with new cores (turn it into a FALCON or something) and to add new screen mode support like RTG and chunky modes and even crazy things like a 64 bit blitter or 16 bit Paula.
