Imperious

There isn't a Parsec.dsk as far as I know, or have come across, but You will find it in the USGROP317B.dsk in the zip file I have uploaded. Here is also the bin file I created as well. It's a shame there is no Alpiner on disk anywhere. I did read that It as well as Tunnels of Doom is too Grom heavy, but there is a dsk version of TOD around. Any gifted person here like to try and convert Alpiner? Would be really great if that could be done. Modules_on_Disk.zip PARSEC.bin

I just created a successful 32k bin file of Parsec extracted the contents of the modules compilation disk USGROP317B with ti99sim's "disk" command line util (shorten the filename then remove the dsk extension first), then loaded the individual Parsec Fiad files into win99/4a's Diskmanager and removed the protection, followed by extracting the non protected files to a fiad, then removing the .fiad extension. Module creator then created the bin file with Linker errors, but when I loaded it into Classic99 after editing the ini file, it worked. Haven't tested all that much of the game, but 1st level seemed ok, make that 2nd level too. That's a lot of stuffing around with 3 different emulators, but doesn't take very long once You get the hang of it. Buck rogers didn't work, but will try a different disk file later. Might try the bin file in one of my Jon Guidry v3 boards at some point too. added this to the classic ini file to get it working. [usercart1] name=PARSEC rom0=3|0000|8000|I:\Emulators\computer\classic99\PARSEC1.bin Edit where needed obviously.

The only files I could get it to work with were the disk utilities from His website, everything else "Linker error" I also noticed I always ended up with a 32kB file even with less than 16kB worth of files. If You read the *.ler file in notepad it says v9t9 file header not found. According to the docs it should work with E/A #5 files only. I suspect the v9t9 file header missing is the main problem, unless there is a util for that you would likely need programming skills.

I got my Nanopeb a month ago, works fine. If You have a black/silver console, be careful as the pcb is very close to touching the metal part of the cabinet. I put a strip of insulating tape there just in case. Speaking of cases it could obviously do with one, You have to be careful where You push or pull when attaching and removing it. I got the V1 model with the slower but reportedly more compatible uart (Genuine TI chip) Haven't figured yet why I would need to use the rs232 port as I can just plug the cf card into my PC and modify the contents there. I realise however that others need that though. The only game I cannot find on Disk version is Alpiner, would be awesome if someone could convert if at all possible.

I guess the saying "Be careful what You wish for" applies here. Looks fantastic, plays fantastic. Definitely an annoying game though.

Thanks mate. I can offer a fairly good fix for remote controls. Get a paper hole punch, the type used for fitting paper sheets in a binder. Punch out some holes from Aluminum foil, trim to size if need be, then super glue them to the pads on the flexible rubber part. I have fixed a few gamepads and remote controls doing that.

1st of all many apologies for the lack of photos as I did not expect this to work. I recently purchased 3 TI's from ebay, 2 beige consoles and 1 silver/black unit. To my amazement they all worked and both beige consoles have the 1981 Roms which was a relief. One of the beige units is immaculate and doubt it was ever used, the other one was all good except the only key that worked was the "1" key, which was a pain in the butt as I couldn't get even a cart to run. This one fortunately is the only one with the crappy mitsumi keyboard, the others have the more heavy duty looking soldered pcb. Today I thought I would take a second look at it. After removing all the screws and desoldering the Alpha lock key the board can be carefully lifted off away from the actual key section. Next I even more carefully peeled the carbon plastic sheet off taking extra care around where the tracks on the carbon sheet and pcb meet up. That didn't go as well as I had hoped with some bits breaking off. Closer inspection revealed it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I was going to try and re-write the tracks with my conductive pen but that was dried out and useless. Then I remembered that years ago I successfully unlocked multiplier adjustents on my AMD Duron processor by joining the bridges with carbon from a Pencil. 1st I cleaned all carbon pads on the plastic sheet with a cotton tip and methylated spirits applying as little pressure as possible, then I got a HB pencil, sharpened it, then kept on drawing on the pads on both the sheet and the pcb. The key section has a long flat moulded part that pushes the 2 together when screwed down, so I stuck some insulating tape over that for added pressure. Put it back together and completely amazed when all keys tested ok. Hope this helps someone at some time, and again, sorry about the lack of photos.

I thought I saw this at one point, but then I read the 1st post where it says "Just be aware that if you bump into other cars while carrying a gun you will probably lose it". Sometimes there are a lot of cars around the Gun when You pick it up, so not bumping into one of them straight after is near impossible.

I can finally say that I have now tried this on the real thing, got my nanoPEB working, having not used a real TI for 27 years I had forgot that UP on the joystick doesn't work with the Alpha lock key in the wrong position (I am using a homemade atari adaptor if that makes any difference). The game looks and plays fantastic, there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that had games of this calibre existed in the TI's heyday, it would have been around quite a while longer.

I think the Multicart program leaves out duplicate entries of itself, where used for padding out the eprom.

Thankyou very much for making this freely available, as well as including the gerber files. This definitely makes getting back to the TI after a 27 year absence a lot more enjoyable than it otherwise might be.

I was looking through an older thread here about that the other day, appears not.

Thanks for that. I think a part of my expecting it to work came from where the readme mentioned "ensure the files are exactly 8k (or padded to a multiple thereof)". I have 11 boards to play with anyway, so I'll try a few things and see what happens. Module creator seemed to work only with files from the zips downloaded from the creators website, but again there, probably a lack of understanding on my part as to what it can and cannot do. I was going to burn that eventually, just seeing what else I could do. I like to tinker, but in this case am getting a bit too far in the deep end. I am fully aware that You cannot burn games with Groms to it though. Thanks for the replies everyone, much appreciated.

That's what I suspected, thanks. Obviously they then need to be separately burned to an eprom. I did play around with module creator as well, but that doesn't work with the files I tried.

I had better put some effort into explaining this properly the first time. Here goes. I have ordered 10 (11 received) of Jon Guidry's v3c 64kB pcbs made from China, good price delivered for $40 US. The link if anyone is interested http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fitm%2FLow-Cost-PCB-Manufacture-Length-10cm-Width-10cm-10pcs-%2F290566208188%3Fpt%3DLH_DefaultDomain_0%26hash%3Ditem43a7187abc They do free postage if You ask via email, to Australia anyway, not sure about USA I have made my first one into a Editor Assembly II cart. The 2nd one I am hoping to use Tursi's Multimenu program to make up some multigame carts. I was thinking of doing one with Atarisoft eproms and also one with Pitfall, Robotron and Defender. So I can easily create the eprom as per the instructions given using copy /b defender.bin+robotron.bin+pitfall.bin+multimenuc.bin gamecart.bin The same method I have used previously to make a dual boot jiffydos eprom for my c64's, totally different implementation obviously. When testing in Classic99 after ini file editing, the menu comes up fine, but every game except defender crashes, Pitfall crashes after the intro, robotron doesn't start at all. The individual bin files work when added via the ini file. I also tried with moon patrol and jungle hunt, but the menu then listed the separate bin files instead of the game name, same result though as far as game crashing goes. Am I making a total newbie mistake here?, or are there possible issues with classic99 and multimenu?, or is it that You cannot use larger than 8kB bin files, as in 16kB or 32kB. I still unfortunately cannot test on real hardware, hoping my remaining ebay orders arrive soon.

I ordered a V1 Nanopeb 1 week ago, hope it works when it arrives. Surely they would all be tested before being sent out? I can't believe He would go to all that bother without testing first.

Any game tune that gets stuck in Your head is a winner in my books, and this one gets stuck in Your head.

As I never really played Road Fighter and Spy Hunter much, I thought it reminded me a lot of the arcade game "Bump'n'Jump" So along those lines maybe the ability to jump as well as the odd missing piece of road could be a nice addition. Obviously if that isn't the intention here then just ignore that. EDIT. Might have just found a bug, I hit a oil slick just after a crash, and the car just sat there spinning in an endless loop, even after the fuel ran out.

Can't try on the real thing yet, but it seemed fine in Classic99 on my system.

Thanks for the info Tursi. I just re-read the article from the Smart Programmer, and because after a week or so of playing with this and that, I now realise that the information was purely designed for People to Backup Disks to Tape, then be able to load the assembly programs from CS1 in E/A. The Author of that software, Tom Freeman, designed it so His Son could take His TI without the PEB and still load His Assembly based software. I know You can load many disk based programs via Extended basic loaders, it just doesn't work via CS1 (at least I have had no luck there). I have ordered a nanoPEB, so this won't really be an issue in a couple of weeks or so anyway, hopefully my Extended basic cart that hasn't been used in 27 Years works. I will most certainly give Your loader a go on real hardware and report in there are any issues, Thanks again for the information.

Looks real good, can't wait to try it out when I get the nanoPEB I ordered.

Thanks, but that cannot work from CS1 only. I am thinking that outside of E/A there is no way to load games via CS1, the computer (emulator) just baulks at the idea of any FIAD converted to wav FILES loading from CS1, and that's trying to load them in numerous ways, just won't work with XB. The same files work fine in MESS with E/A loading 1 after the other with Tape prompts. I tried the EA5XB loader again, this time from the .dsk, still crashes in all emulators, Mess,Classic99,Win994a. I've probably wasted too much time on this, as I'll likely have a nanoPEB in less than 2 weeks. Would still be good to figure this out though, especially as various docs floating around the Net point to it being possible. ***EDIT*** Just read Your edited post, no probs, thanks for the reply. I need to make video and joystick cables up quick otherwise I won't get far anyway.

Hi All, I am having trouble with this loader from the Harmless Lion website. 1st of all I have not tried it on a real TI yet, but have tried Classic 99, Mess, and Win994a. I boot into Extended basic, load the program ok, but then no matter what else I try it just causes a reboot. Anything I enter, whether DSK1.DEFENDER, DSK1, CS1, basically everything causes an immediate reboot. Any Ideas? My programming knowledge is practically non existent, but better than 2 weeks ago when I started messing around with this. Basically what I am hoping to achieve is to load DSK based games, like defender, parsec, by CS1 via Extended basic. I can find various references to cassette loaders like LOADER-LOAD from here -- http://shawweb.myzen.co.uk/stephen/artic13.htm. There was also a reference in one of the "Smart programmer" issues 1986-07 to be exact, but I have no idea how to implement that, a combination of basic and assembly code is provided. The only original hardware I have left from 30 years ago is Extended basic, boy am I glad I kept that. I have acquired 3 TI's from Ebay, 1 of them is not what was pictured in the ad, and have opened an ebay case about that. Any help would be much appreciated, I know others have posted about loading from cassette before. Life will get easier soonish as I have ordered parts to make the Guidry v3 carts and have also enquired about getting a nanoPEB, but still would like to figure how to get this working via CS1 and XB.

1st post here, but I have been lurking a bit since purchasing some TI994a consoles from ebay, just need a 110v to 240v converter (on order). I was thinking about exactly the same thing last night, was TI premature in pulling out of the market especially as it looked as though the TI99/8 could blow Commodore away in terms of hardware specs. Considering that the only thing Commodore came up with wasn't even their own design (Amiga), TI might have had a chance, but TI were also up against Commodore in terms of Corporate philosophies. Commodore were very open about freely releasing hardware documentation on their machines, TI were not. I just recently finished reading Brian Bagnalls "Commodore, a Company on the edge" 2nd edition, and it certainly look as though Jack Tramiel's Sons were the unresolvable problem with Irving Gould. That also stacks up as later Tramiel bought Atari and His Sons were involved with that. TI99/4a was my first computer (My Parents had $200, not $600 (c64)), unfortunately it died around 1986 or 1987 whilst loading in a Tunnels of Doom game from cassette, the characters on the screen all went funny and that was that. Had I known that later as a Electronics technician I would be able to fix it one day I would have kept it, but in the early nineties without the WWW, that looked unlikely, so it got binned. I have spent a while over the last Year purchasing and repairing a few dead c64's, and am quite impressed as far as what they are capable of technically, am now also looking forward to getting back to the TI after a 27 Year forced break. I have pcbs and parts on order to create some 64k (512kbit) carts. I am going to internally upgrade one of them to 32k and also have ordered and received some TMS9929ANL video chips for a PAL conversion, and don't see why the 5 pin DIN can't be converted with a homemade plug and cable for Component output. Some fun ahead indeed. A nanoPEB is also on my shopping list.