Video Games 1 (TI99)
Posted: May 2nd, 2017, 5:52 pm
Video Games 1 for the TI99/4a
Original Cost: $30 on cartridge
Release Year: 1979
Size: 16K cartridge
Author: Texas Instruments - no information on who
Rarity: Somewhat hard to find (due to the title)
Price: Even with the rarity, it can be found for $10
With a name like "Video Games 1" the mind goes to Tic Tac Toe, Hangman, or a simple car game. Its actually better than anticipated, perhaps due to using 16K in the cartridge. All the games use a joystick, and not the keyboard. Pin-Ball has some sound, but the other two are virtually silent. Pot Shot does make a 'pffffft' sound when you shot for some reason. Maybe its an airgun.
I put up 3 small videos, one per game, so you can get a feel for them.
Had I bought this game for Christmas in 1979 for $30, I think I would have felt okay. Better games were coming for this system, but before this, the pickings were really slim.
Game 1: Doodle
A game where you slowly fence off the opponent. Don't think fast Tron light cycles, think the same game with slugs. Its actually somewhat impressive this cartridge has a 1 player versus the computer option, and the computer can make very precise turns. However, the computer is easily snookered into being boxed in -- and then takes forever to finally run out of room. Against a human, its a better game to be sure though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4aNNwrX5Ic
Game 2: Pin-Ball
This reminds me mostly of the Atari Pinball pong console. Its pin-ball (not pinball), and there is no sense of down or gravity. Its like if Mrs Air Hockey and Mr Pinball had a love child, and it was raised by the Pong family. While primitive in both graphics and gameplay, its still easy to pick up and kinda fun. Nice for kids too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpZqSmSabic
Game 3: Pot-Shot
Here is the crown jewel. While lacking a light gun, it immediately brings NES Duck Hunt to mind. No laughing dog, but you have rabbits, a goose, and I think a deer to shoot at. You use the joystick, and the crosshairs move fairly slowly. Those geese are worth 5 points, but are hard to hit (and just disappear). You have several shots, then you reload automatically, during which you cannot move the crosshairs. You can set your own time limit. Also nice pick up and play fun, and great for kids. By setting your own time, you can give the kids a handicap, which makes for better adult versus kid times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsF8m3-Qkvg&t=4s
Original Cost: $30 on cartridge
Release Year: 1979
Size: 16K cartridge
Author: Texas Instruments - no information on who
Rarity: Somewhat hard to find (due to the title)
Price: Even with the rarity, it can be found for $10
With a name like "Video Games 1" the mind goes to Tic Tac Toe, Hangman, or a simple car game. Its actually better than anticipated, perhaps due to using 16K in the cartridge. All the games use a joystick, and not the keyboard. Pin-Ball has some sound, but the other two are virtually silent. Pot Shot does make a 'pffffft' sound when you shot for some reason. Maybe its an airgun.
I put up 3 small videos, one per game, so you can get a feel for them.
Had I bought this game for Christmas in 1979 for $30, I think I would have felt okay. Better games were coming for this system, but before this, the pickings were really slim.
Game 1: Doodle
A game where you slowly fence off the opponent. Don't think fast Tron light cycles, think the same game with slugs. Its actually somewhat impressive this cartridge has a 1 player versus the computer option, and the computer can make very precise turns. However, the computer is easily snookered into being boxed in -- and then takes forever to finally run out of room. Against a human, its a better game to be sure though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4aNNwrX5Ic
Game 2: Pin-Ball
This reminds me mostly of the Atari Pinball pong console. Its pin-ball (not pinball), and there is no sense of down or gravity. Its like if Mrs Air Hockey and Mr Pinball had a love child, and it was raised by the Pong family. While primitive in both graphics and gameplay, its still easy to pick up and kinda fun. Nice for kids too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpZqSmSabic
Game 3: Pot-Shot
Here is the crown jewel. While lacking a light gun, it immediately brings NES Duck Hunt to mind. No laughing dog, but you have rabbits, a goose, and I think a deer to shoot at. You use the joystick, and the crosshairs move fairly slowly. Those geese are worth 5 points, but are hard to hit (and just disappear). You have several shots, then you reload automatically, during which you cannot move the crosshairs. You can set your own time limit. Also nice pick up and play fun, and great for kids. By setting your own time, you can give the kids a handicap, which makes for better adult versus kid times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsF8m3-Qkvg&t=4s