This page is a slight dedication to the TI-99/4A Home Computer.

(original image from "Ma collection d'ordinateurs anciens".)

(Our) TI-99/4A History:

The Texas Instruments "TI-99/4A Home Computer" was my first computer (and Jason's first computer, too).

It was on this computer that I learned how to program, optimize code, and how computer graphics worked.  I designed and programmed lots of incomplete games on it as a child.  I still remember when I figured out GCHAR meant "get character", which meant I could read the screen, which meant I could (all-of-a-sudden) make game characters interact with objects and levels on the screen.  At the time, it was a big deal.  It was an unbelievable discovery.  I think I was in grade 3 at the time, trying to learn TI-BASIC from a reference manual.  Non-programmers may not understand, but the ability to make your game characters interact with your environment was an awesome concept to implement when you first realize how it is done.  I fully completed my first game when I was in grade 4, called, "Treasure Hunt".  It was a simple maze game.  Some of the code still exists somewhere on a cassette tape.

A few of my favorite Cartridge games on the TI-99/4A were Parsec (especially with the speech synthesizer), TI Invaders, Munchman (not Munch-Man), and Car Wars.

TI-99/4A Trivia:

1. TI Invaders:  A cool fact about TI Invaders is that we (Jason and I) both reached level 14 with two rows of the second, blue, "Flashers".  We never were able to reach level 15 with the once rumored (since proven) third wave of, orange, "Flashers".  Incidentally, from level 7 on, there is always at least one row that contains "Flashers".  We were also able to get the mid-level saucer value up to at least 250.
   
   
2. Munchman:  You can warp to any level in Munchman if you enter the sequence "*", "#", then "*" at the title screen.  Just hold down SHIFT and type "838" really quick.  It asks you for "RND(0-2)", "SCN(0-19)", and "MM(1-9)", which stands for the round, the screen, and the number of munchmen.  There are 20 levels (20 screens) that repeat three times (3 rounds), for a total of 60 levels.
   
   
   
   (Munchman title screen, first level, level select screen,& last level #60.)
   
   
3. Parsec:  See our Rare Parsec Facts article for more trivia specific to Parsec.

TI-99/4A Emulators:

Classic99 (previously known as Ami99) is the TI-99/4A emulator of choice.  It includes system ROMs and cartridges under license from Texas Instruments.  This is a big deal.  Normally, emulators are only that, emulators, without cartridge/games ROMs and also without the system ROMs (the preset memory that comes inside the system itself.)  Classic99 solves all of this.  Just download it, and run it.  Also, it is open source and 100% free.  Simply amazing work.

Also See:

• Rare Parsec Facts

External Links:

• Texas Instruments TI-99/4A (Wikipedia)
• The TI-99/4A Home Computer Page (99er.net)
• TI-99/4A Videogame House
• Classic99 (Windows-based TI-99/4A emulator; includes ROMs under license from Texas Instruments!)
• Texas Instruments (the maker; even though you will find no TI-99/4A related material on ti.com.)  

By: Matthew Doucette
(Interested in Writing Articles For Xona.com?)