/r/ti994a

Photograph via //r/ti994a

The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was an early home computer, released in June 1981, originally at a price of $525. It was an enhanced version of the TI-99/4 model, which was released in late 1979 at a price of $1,150. The TI-99/4A added an additional graphics mode, "lowercase" characters consisting of small capitals, and a full travel keyboard. TI-99/4A was a popular machine for gamers and programmers.

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The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was an early home computer, released in June 1981, originally at a price of $525. It was an enhanced version of the TI-99/4 model, which was released in late 1979 at a price of $1,150. The TI-99/4A added an additional graphics mode, "lowercase" characters consisting of small capitals, and a full travel keyboard. TI-99/4A was a popular machine for gamers and programmers.

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/r/ti994a

1,200 Subscribers

33

I know beige models aren't as popular prob bc of the QI ones but I've finally found a working non-QI / 1981 BIOS one that works great!

9 Comments
2025/01/02
20:44 UTC

6

Please help me identify a game (making me crazy)

I am trying to identify this game. I keep going over all the game catalogs, YouTube, and Wikipedia etc.
Basically

I recently went to a retro gaming convention in Portland Oregon. 22-ish October 2024.

I was surprised to stumble into a retro PC room with a TI994A. I have many memories on that system. I also saw a cartridge came already plugged in.

I remember hours of playing the game in my youth. I am dumb and did not make a note or take a picture of the game.

Things I know :
- It made use of the voice synthesizer.

- You are flying in a squared off trench. You shoot at bad guys. It is very similar to the retro arcade game- Space Encounters 1980 Midway

- Unless there are parts of these games I do not know. Its not moon miner, or buck rogers, It is not Parsec, Moon sweeper or Moon Mine . It is not Star Wars. etc.
- It was a black cartridge
- Weirdly its popular, its identifiable.
- The trench scrolls forward, towards the player.

What is driving me nuts is, I can not find this game on any list, in any image or on any YouTube video.

I have to be honest I don't know if there is another 'scene' or mode. Thing is I do not have thousands of nostalgic hours racked up playing it. I am just very bothered I instantly recognized it and now, I cant find the game.

17 Comments
2024/12/31
22:26 UTC

5

tileset of default TI99/4a character sets as image file (PNG, BMP, GIF, etc.)?

Hi all... If someone could please post the default TI99/4a characters sets (uppercase, lowercase, etc.) as an image file (maybe laid out as a tileset) that would be most helpful. Thanks in advance!

2 Comments
2024/12/23
19:19 UTC

25

Sudden crazy re-entry

The TI-99/4A was my first computer back when they did the initial price dropping - got it then since that’s all I could convince my parents to spend on something. Was planning to study medicine, but loved programming and did a lot of Extended Basic programming. Biggest project was a chemistry titration simulation since at the time we were learning titration in the HS Chem lab. Always wanted the Peripheral Expansion Box (like my somewhat more well off nerd best friend had), but that was not to be.

Sold it all to a neighbor for almost nothing (computer, speech synth, cassette storage player, a bunch of carts, etc.) then headed off to college with an Apple IIe. Studied CS, followed up with a career in programming, and never looked back.

Now heading towards the other end (towards “retirement”) and got a bit nostalgic. So…

I just bought.a NOS computer, a NOS PEB (with 32K memory, RS232, and the usual connector and disk drive cards), NOS Editor Assembler, a reasonable condition Extended Basic cart in box, a Mini Memory that had been upgraded (with a new coin battery socket and battery), then a TIPI for PEB, a FinalGROM99, and a few extras. So I guess the TI-99/4A of my old adolescent dreams, plus some modernization. I realize that with the FinalGROM99, I really did not need to acquire the Editor Assembler, Extended Basic, nor Mini Memory, but sort of just wanted those as they were back in the day.

Assuming it all functions (or can be made to function) will likely eventually do some maintenance upgrading like the keyboard, the capacitors, etc. and will likely go with the 838-IO Plus and the 838-Speech Adapter Board (and some working but maybe case beat up Speech Synch module) to have the setup be more “modern” and contained.

I will probably be horrified by the shear size of the PEB compared to all the modern dinky laptops and systems I’ve become used to. I guess it is not so different from a full height tower PC or such.

Just to get going, will be using a composite video and stereo audio output cord into a simple upscaler with HDMI output. Will likely move to a PICO9918 in the future assuming this all works out as a new obsession.

Looking forward to whatever comes / gets created from this and reconnecting with the TI-99/4A community!

6 Comments
2024/12/01
20:53 UTC

5

Adventure and Tunnels of Doom with MAME (Batocera) - howto?

Hi - I'd love to get these two games working with MAME but I can't find a simple howto. I *think* they can both work with MAME based on trying to decipher some threads on the MAME/MESS forums but does anybody know how to get these running successful using the .rpg and ,dsk files together with a command line call to MAME? Thank you.

10 Comments
2024/11/16
02:19 UTC

4

What is a good handheld to deploy the TI994A computer via emulation? I want to gift my friend. It ought to have a small qwerty k/b, and some directional controllers, etc.

1 Comment
2024/11/09
00:18 UTC

24

This build comes with a ton of software and carts. All the Scott Adams text mysteries are here. The fun thing about these games is that addresses, phone numbers, and other information is still there.

11 Comments
2024/11/09
00:16 UTC

44

I did it - I spent half the night building the TI99 4a emulator from source. If you want to also do this, I can enumerate the steps.

9 Comments
2024/11/02
14:35 UTC

11

Preventative Maintenance

As our machines pass the 40 year mark, what preventative maintenance do you do for them? I'm pulling my machine out of storage and am planning on replacing the thermal paste on the VDP. I assume it's eventually due a recap. Is there anything else I should do?

4 Comments
2024/10/16
00:21 UTC

44

TI Invaders wins “best game among platforms” at IVCC October meeting

Today at our monthly Vintage Computer Club meeting at Indiana we all chose TI Invaders as the best version of the game across multiple platforms. Competed against Commodore, Vectrex, Famicon, Amiga, IBM Compatibles, CoCo, and couple of modern arcade reproductions. We had lotta fun.

14 Comments
2024/10/12
18:43 UTC

3

VGA output: pico9918 or TN VDP?

Do they both basically get the job done or is there a reason to favor one or the other?

2 Comments
2024/10/11
16:02 UTC

0

TI 994a Monitor

Desperately seeking monitor.

6 Comments
2024/09/01
09:15 UTC

2

Good replacement case screws?

What is a good replacement screw for the ti994a computer shell and where is good place to get them online or in store. Any help be greatly appreciated.

2 Comments
2024/08/27
13:45 UTC

5

Video issues with Sony Trinitron

Hello hive mind. I’m a relatively novice TI user getting back into it from my childhood. I have the computer, which works and has been tested on both a Commodore monitor and a modern TV with RCA inputs with no issues. However, I’d like to use it on a Sony Trinitron monitor that I’ve had for years, but get bad video when I plug it in. Attached is a pic of the behavior (this pattern scrolls very fast, it isn’t stationary). I have it plugged into the video A port on the back of the monitor with a 6DIN to RCA plug specifically for the TI, running into a BNC adapter (which worked previously with and Apple IIe and the Commodore). No amount of adjusting the horizontal or vertical holds, or any of the front controls, will solve it. The sound works and I see the video changing (like scrambled HBO back in the day), but cannot get anywhere with it. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you so much for any potential help.

10 Comments
2024/08/20
00:00 UTC

12

Change language

9 Comments
2024/08/10
15:26 UTC

2

Replacement power switch.

I am getting a parts ti994a from ebay sold for part for $30 including shipping. Where can i get a replacwent power switch to beable to turn on the computer or is therd a way to male a makeshift switch to turn the internal switch on. Any good or diy method be grearly appreciated.

4 Comments
2024/08/07
23:12 UTC

30

Just found all these at my local 2ndC.

Found these at a local 2nd and Charles. $4 to $5 each cant wait to try them but i hear i need a cassette for tunnels of doom dont know what to do for that game.

8 Comments
2024/08/03
22:12 UTC

13

Anyone ever discover the Parsec "warp"?

When I was a kid I played a LOT of PARSEC. I discovered a "warp" function back when I was playing. From what I recall you need to fire your weapon when you are above the enemy you want to warp to, then destroy the last enemy of the first wave when above another specific scenery item. I think it was the TI logo. Or it could be the opposite. It has been a long time! The next enemy wave would then be what you "selected". If you did the killer satellites (which only appear on level 4) you would warp to level 4. I presume this was some sort of debugging/test function. Figuring this out took many many many plays of Parsec!

Did anyone else every discover this? I can't find any record of this online anywhere. I noticed you can even find the assembly source of PARSEC online (complete with comments) but I don't see this obviously in there.

7 Comments
2024/07/27
17:13 UTC

2

Question About Program Compatibility

Howdy! I recently picked up a TI-99/4A from a deceased relative, and it came with a shoebox of programs. I've got the machine all up and running, but the cassettes are all labeled VIC-20. I'm new to all this, but a quick search leads me to believe these are for a Commodore system. Are these compatible at all with the TI-99/4A? I just can't think of why they'd be shoved in the same box.

4 Comments
2024/07/11
23:39 UTC

1

PEB Disk 1 drive goes on vacation

Hello all! New to this thread but glad you are all here. As my title states, I am experiencing this problem where the drive does not read the drive. It comes and goes. Works, doesn't work. Any thots?

Any insight or help would be most appreciated.

Thanks

0 Comments
2024/05/18
19:07 UTC

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