GameGirl420 Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 (edited) Lately finally trying out TI-99/4A games using the stock joysticks,and noticed it doesn't work on all games. Doesn't work with Moon Patrol,but other games like Burgertime the controller does work. Frustrating cos I hate using the keyboard on a game like Moon Patrol. Why is that!? Anyone else notice? Edited April 24, 2022 by lushgirl_80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 35 minutes ago, lushgirl_80 said: Lately finally trying out TI-99/4A games using the stock joysticks,and noticed it doesn't work on all games. Doesn't work with Moon Patrol,but other games like Burgertime the controller does work. Frustrating cos I hate using the keyboard on a game like Moon Patrol. Why is that!? Anyone else notice? try the other controller, some games use 2 instead of 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Moon Patrol (and IIRC, the Parker Brothers games) reverses the designation of the two joysticks--2 is 1 and 1 is 2. A very small number of other games also did this. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameGirl420 Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 Hmm ok I'll try it again! I'm sure I must have tested the other controller as well,but I'll have another go at it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 3 hours ago, Ksarul said: Moon Patrol (and IIRC, the Parker Brothers games) reverses the designation of the two joysticks--2 is 1 and 1 is 2. A very small number of other games also did this. It'd probably have helped if there was any way at all to identify the joysticks externally. A 1 and 2 molded onto the controllers would've done wonders for this problem. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dhe Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 +1 - all of mine, now have label maker tape with their numbers. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOME AUTOMATION Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Possibly plausible explanation... By the time these games were released, their designers realized that the #1, joysticks were reaching end-of-life. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed in SoDak Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 And don't forget- Cap Lock UP (off) 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyPilot Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 11 hours ago, Ed in SoDak said: And don't forget- Cap Lock UP (off) "Don't forget, caps lock up.", anyone understating the meaning was probably a TI'er. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed in SoDak Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 I did understate it, lol. To elaborate then, caps lock engaged (down) prevents the joystick from responding to the Up movement. Another of the TI's little quirks. Since programs are entered in CAPS, it would make more sense to have the joysticks response match that. But nooo, they gotta be backwards about it. It does catch some newbies and even us old-timers will forget to check for that. At least it can be circumvented with a diode or two added to the keyboard if one wants to open up the console and modify it. Hope I didn't overstate that! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mizapf Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 They actually improved it on the TI-99/4QI. It was a design error, but as it happens ever so often, things look perfect on the schematics but don't work in real life. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameGirl420 Posted April 26, 2022 Author Share Posted April 26, 2022 Tried it again tonight with Moon Patrol, and still doesn't work . I made sure to use both controllers,that game still doesn't work with the controllers,but weird the same controllers can play other games like TI Invaders and Burgertime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyPilot Posted April 26, 2022 Share Posted April 26, 2022 1 hour ago, lushgirl_80 said: Tried it again tonight with Moon Patrol, and still doesn't work . I made sure to use both controllers,that game still doesn't work with the controllers,but weird the same controllers can play other games like TI Invaders and Burgertime. Is it an original cartridge copy or might you have a defective .BIN image? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted April 26, 2022 Share Posted April 26, 2022 Moon Patrol definitely supports joysticks. I played the heck outta that one as a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XLERB Posted April 27, 2022 Share Posted April 27, 2022 On 4/25/2022 at 6:24 AM, SkyPilot said: "Don't forget, caps lock up.", anyone understating the meaning was probably a TI'er. ...or as Freddy says, "Alpha Lock Ausrasten!" Which I think was originally meant as "release" but now apparently translates as "freak out." Freak out your Alpha lock! (I will confess that I returned not one, but two pairs of TI joysticks to Toys "R" Us in 1983 because I didn't realize that the alpha lock needed to be up). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mizapf Posted April 27, 2022 Share Posted April 27, 2022 I think I would have understood "Alpha Lock ausrasten", even though, as you said, people would understand it in the second meaning. Which is not really another meaning, but just metaphorical. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted April 27, 2022 Share Posted April 27, 2022 56 minutes ago, XLERB said: Freak out your Alpha lock! I want to see this text in games. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill R Sullivan Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 My solution is to not use the TI keyboard! I have a Logitech keyboard that works great with two of my TI-99/4A consoles. RetroBill/fdos 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Bill R Sullivan said: My solution is to not use the TI keyboard! I have a Logitech keyboard that works great with two of my TI-99/4A consoles. RetroBill/fdos Bill, do you have the schematic for that adaptive? I wouldn't mind trying to add a 101 to my TI. I've got lots of parts to maybe make something.. I guess I'd leave my TI kybrd intact but disconnected and run a cable out. If you have something we could throw the topic into SNP or start a thread for it. Ty Edited May 4, 2022 by GDMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 (edited) 17 hours ago, GDMike said: Bill, do you have the schematic for that adaptive? I wouldn't mind trying to add a 101 to my TI. I've got lots of parts to maybe make something.. I guess I'd leave my TI kybrd intact but disconnected and run a cable out. If you have something we could throw the topic into SNP or start a thread for it. Ty I have these both as blank pcb's and assembled units..and a special ribbon cable to make install easy Edited May 4, 2022 by arcadeshopper 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 2 hours ago, arcadeshopper said: I have these both as blank pcb's and assembled units..and a special ribbon cable to make install easy Oh .?? Ok. I was watching some videos about the teensy and it's ability and see it was interesting but I know it was still missing something between the TI and teensy. I assume that's what you have pretty much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apersson850 Posted May 5, 2022 Share Posted May 5, 2022 On 4/27/2022 at 10:24 PM, XLERB said: (I will confess that I returned not one, but two pairs of TI joysticks to Toys "R" Us in 1983 because I didn't realize that the alpha lock needed to be up). I've installed the diode fix in my console. Then it doesn't matter which way you have alpha lock. The joysticks work anyway. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill R Sullivan Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 On 5/3/2022 at 5:08 PM, GDMike said: Bill, do you have the schematic for that adaptive? I wouldn't mind trying to add a 101 to my TI. I've got lots of parts to maybe make something.. I guess I'd leave my TI kybrd intact but disconnected and run a cable out. If you have something we could throw the topic into SNP or start a thread for it. Ty The VA has been driving me crazy this month, so I'm glad others responded to your request. Although my method uses a USB to a 4 port KVM solution; only 3 ports in use right now. Hopefully once I have my SNUG TI-99/4P operational? However I have a request for you, if you can spare the time I could use one or two of your... Oops, when I have the time I will PM you this request, as I have 3 more VA appointments this month, and one with my bank, so probably not until June. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 I think I found something in the forum actually. So no sweat. Just take care of yourself for now bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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