PeBo

Rasmus, these forums have always exclaimed that you "ROCK!", and with this post (RockRunner) you've supplied unequivocal physical proof. Of course now we can all Rock! (and Run)

I was surprised to see this one is still missing...not only is it the only Boulder Dash close for our machine (methinks), it is one of the most difficult (to complete levels within the time allotted) and best looking version I've ever played. (another Asgard gem!) Simply awesome! If I missed the Flashrom99 conversion, apologies, but if it hasn't been converted yet, then in the words of Oliver... "Please sir, I want more!" Rockrun (ea5).dsk

So I'm curious... is this now the fastest growing topic in the history of the TI section...15 pages (and a gazillion files) in just a few weeks. Holy poopdeck pappy!!

The twinkling stars in Parsec remain using the F18A, so I thought they twinkled by design, not through artifacting (intentional or otherwise). The ground shows (very nice) rainbow-dithering effect only when using the stock 9918A though. You're right of course, I can't claim that they were planned that way by the TI programmers, but there was simply so much written on the subject back then (I learned my "artifacting tricks" from reading Antic, Compute! and Home Computer magazines) that it would seem strange if programmers weren't taking advantage of it intentionally. Sierra-On-Line's 8 bit Atari version of Wizard and Princess was one game that actually considered it a "feature" that they achieved multiple colours using monochrome hi-rez mode (Graphics 8??? It's been awhile) through dithering. One thing is certain, low-rez stair-stepping is greatly reduced by the false shadow of an interim colour caused by a composite display. But beauty IS in the eye of the beholder (good thing too, or I would have remained single my whole life!) and while some of us prefer the authenticity of games on a CRT, I can understand why some prefer the clarity of modern alternatives.

Didn;t know there was a home brew pacman...my bad will check it out!

Wish I would have kept my old 1040STe files (stupidly threw most of my disk away a few years ago when we downsized our living space). I had a series of NeoDesk medium rez desktop backgrounds (640x200x4), where I could fool the eye into seeing dozens of colours from the available 4 simply by strategically placing dot/colour patterns on the background image. Artifacting is a tech flaw that when manipulated to ones advantage can result in some truly outstanding effects. And it doesn't exist with the F18A. Don't get me wrong, I fully agree that the crystal clear display of the F18A is still awe inspiring (and who could deny the beauty of more than 3 sprites per line or the arcade quality of the F18A version of TI-Scramble (not to mention Mario!)), but I'd recommend also having a good ol' blurry monitor and stock 9918A to really appreciate how well TI programmers (heck, all 80's computer programmers!) took advantage of artifacting to create some spectacular effects from what was essentially a technical limitation of the eras displays. A vintage computer hobby should encompass all the groovy new toys that are now available AND an appreciation for the simple elegance of original era achievements in equal measure.

also a RAVE99 internal speech synth HERE

I believe PacMan was already in the classic carts archive (since I know you're removing dupes) But St Nick!! Funware's greatest game! Huge thanks! This is saving so much wear and tear on the cartridge port...wish I would have had such an option back in the day...I used to have to slide a few pennies under cartridges to get them to work on my first TI after about a year. of course, using such a device would have been considered piracy, and I know that no one in these forums ever participated in such dastardly deeds back then! (where are the AtariAge l33t sigs anyway?)

I figured (and that's a complete idiot trying to figure something) that since E/A3 files can't be loaded with a XB loader, they'd also be incompatible with the Flashrom99. Not that one has any relation to the other, but just figured E/A 3 files needed Assembler to function (for input of the program name etc), and so a simple cartridge (which for all intents and purposes the 4A thinks the Flashrom99 is) would not suffice. But again, I'm probably just talking out of my butt.

Also, while the F18A gives us emulator-quality visuals, 80's programmers often used the artifacting inherent on CRT monitors as an effect in and of itself. The stalagmites and columns on the ground in Parsec is a perfect example. Using the F18A they are single colour lines, whereas on a CRT they are a rainbow of colours because of artifacting. This was often used by design and is lost with pixel-perfect clarity (which simply did not exist on displays when early 80's software was being created).

Original (well actually, second generation) TI monitors are starting to show up at relatively decent prices as more people move to VGA compatibility. A long-time wish-list item for me is finally within reach! There's just something about seeing that square cube of a monitor sitting atop a colour co-ordinated PEB that makes 4A nostalgia really pop for me! I'll always have an F18A console (it'll be the one with the nano-PEB and FlashROM99 permanently plugged in), but having a completely original system (PEB/Monitor/Console) was always the plan before I learned about all the cool and groovy new goodies available. I might actually get there now, since the monitors are becoming less of a holy-grail item. Maybe I'll even rest my and on the top of the monitor and exclaim "This Is The One" just for effect!

The list is long to be certain... Sitting at home 3 years ago, thinking to myself, "I wonder if I could find an old TI console"...nothing on kijiji...nothing on craiglist...then I checked out ebay... So yup, finding old stuff was exceptionally (and unexpectedly) easy, but what I never expected is that I would find an amazing group of like-minded enthusiasts...many of whom were still developing new hardware and software for my first computer! Thank you seems woefully inadequate... There was an inherent solitude in owning a pre-internet computer in the early 80's, yes there were BBSes, but even they were still in their infancy, and so my appreciation at finding such a helpful and creative group of contributors, compatriots and various brilliant/helpful experts goes far beyond simple thank you's. BEER! that's what it calls for! So if any of you are ever up Toronto way, the beer's on me! (well the first dozen or so anyway).

Darn I wish your Jungle Hunt had the box...I'd buy another copy of the cart if I could get a box with it...it's the only (released) Atarisoft box I'm missing.

Schmitzi that is like a beautiful woman baring her perfect and ample breasts and then telling you she's a lesbian. Pure tease. Pure Evil.

With a Buy Now price of only $300, I'm shocked it hasn't sold in the year since it has been listed. I'm curious, has anyone here ever written to someone (politely) advising them that their starting price is way out of whack with reality? I wrote to a seller a couple years ago, selling a console for over $400 (wasn't even in very good condition - covered in scratches and dust). I suggested (politely) that they should consider the number of units manufactured and the size of the current fanbase, and that perhaps $50-$75 was a more appropriate price for a unit in the condition they were selling. I was told in no uncertain terms (not so politely) that this was a very rare classic computer and that I didn't know what the heck I was talking about. (I replied with a picture of my little TI corner - including a couple disassembled dead consoles for good measure) and two words... "ya, right". Screw polite some folks just need to be slapped!

and the description includes: “Attention eBay Staff: The book or books on this media were copyrighted prior to January 1, 1923 and/or are Government publications which are free of copyright restrictions." Computer manuals and books published before 1923???? now that is a neat trick! I didn't see a single comptometer manual listed! (although THIS one from 1914 looks to be in pretty good shape and is a GREAT price! My dad used to use a similar model in his store as a makeshift cash register)

Or "CULTivating herb", mon!

hope you're gonna keep us informed (especially if any of those carts are 3rd party!) The collectors here will have a field day if everyone starts getting rid of their original carts...

Without any intent for criticism, I've travelled the globe, and American patriotism is by far the most fervent on the planet (to the point where it is often misinterpreted as arrogance to the rest of us.) But really, it's just pride of place...sometimes a bit myopic, but when one considers that, unlike most countries, many Americans live tens of thousands of miles from the nearest border, it's certainly understandable - if you live in the central US, American culture is the only culture you know, have access to, or have any real faith in. As a result "America", as a brand, could easily be afforded cult status to those who live there. But where cults are concerned, given a choice between living in America, and living in North Korea - a true cult state - I don't think any of us would have to stop and ponder. Stars and Stripes forever! (although I kinda dig Kim Jong-un's haircut.) (Here in Canada, we also have a cult for our citizens to follow - except we call it the NHL, and the Kool-aid is called Gary Bettman!)

Whatever the connotation or meaning of the word "cult", now that we know that we are all part of one, if OLD CS1 offers you a glass of Kool-Aid, ya might want to tell him you're not thirsty!

OMG! I'm part of a cult?????

Cool! A game that is definitely deserving of free advertising via our Flashrom 99's! Easily one of my top 3 "Lunar Lander" variations (along with Neverlander and FTL's "Oids" ) Oids of course, required a much more powerful machine, but Mad Marvin gives it a run for it's money in sheer fun and replay value.

Well, we would NEVER ignore you. Talk behind your back, maybe. Steal your wallet, well if you left it lying around. Sleep with your wife, well she's gotta be better than mine! But ignore you? NEVER! But I was saying that Junkman Jr and Jumpman Jr are NOT the same (although certainly close)...I would guess Jumpman Jr, was originally intended as an Epyx licence release, and then Junkman Jr was eventually released (with girder design changes) instead to avoid lawsuits. They are both DBT titles (or whoever they were distributing for that week) but Jumpman Jr never made it to prime TIme. I am always annoyed (doesn't take much) when the level music cuts off before it ends in Junkman, which doesn't happen in Jumpman, making it feel much more like the original (Jumpman also runs around trying to 'diffuse bombs', as he did in original, whereas Junkman runs around collecting garbage.) Not sure if anyone is aware, but there is am absolutely brilliant (sorry for going way off topic here) PC Jumpman construction set called (duh) "Jumpman Under Construction" written by Chris Leathley back in 2003 (was that REALLY 13 years ago - wow!). It was even authorized by Mr Jumpman himself, Randy Glover. Many of you may remember Chris as being a major part of the Visual Pinball team. Sorry for going on about this, but Jumpman in all it's iterations remains my favorite video game of all time, so I get excited talking about it. Until I got back into the 4A, I had no idea there was a TI port of Jr. - let alone two variations!

In your clean-up you removed jmanjr, which you had named "Jumpman Jr". Well here's the thing, Junkman Jr had already been posted, but Jumpman Jr has not. Now, they are both clones of the Epyx masterpiece platformer (the original concept for Donkey Kong some claim), but "Jumpman Jr" is a more graphically-exact clone, with level intro music that does not cut off. So if you did post Jumpman Jr. and not Junkman Jr, it was not a duplicate.

With licences being what they were in the 80's (heck, and still are today), I wouldn't be surprised to find that 20th Century Fox pulled a "look and feel" lawsuit threat against TI and Brøderbund because of the similarities with the rescue sequence in M*A*S*H* and the main gameplay in choplifter. I know M*A*S*H* was also available on the Atari 2600 and 8 bit, and had a prototype for the Colecovision, but it was never a popular title for the Atari, so if 20th Century Fox wanted to maximize profits on the TI release, they could have strong-armed TI against allowing a close competitor. I might be way off on this, but it does sound like how the software industry worked in the early 80's, and TI's aggressive licensing kept many developers away from our machine, (including Brødebund after this.)