James Vernon releases AB4 and Invaded

[DJ Omnimaga]

Did they actually remove it from ticalc.org due to lack of space or something or was it a mistake resulting from the Ticalc CD fiasco file purge? I guess that now explains why I didn't find the 83+ version there lol. I personally tried some of your games before, but I didn't realize there were multiple Alien Breed games until recentlyé

And yeah around 2010 or so it seems like the TI community has enjoyed some sort of revival (probably due to Axe Parser and renewed ASM interest resulting from Axe release, along with the Ndless craze). Nowadays it's quieter on the TI-Nspire side but I still see a bunch of awesome z80 projects coming along.

[JamesV]

Did they actually remove it from ticalc.org due to lack of space or something or was it a mistake resulting from the Ticalc CD fiasco file purge? I guess that now explains why I didn't find the 83+ version there lol. I personally tried some of your games before, but I didn't realize there were multiple Alien Breed games until recentlyé

And yeah around 2010 or so it seems like the TI community has enjoyed some sort of revival (probably due to Axe Parser and renewed ASM interest resulting from Axe release, along with the Ndless craze). Nowadays it's quieter on the TI-Nspire side but I still see a bunch of awesome z80 projects coming along.

I think it was because I had copies of AB4 in 4 different folders (83 Ion, 83+ Ion, 83+ MirageOS & 86), but the zip files were all identical (I had all .83p, .8xp, .86p etc. files included all together in each zip file), and thus to ticalc.org, they saw it as the same file, and deleted 3 out of 4 to try and reduce the number of files on the server

Anynow, now I only include relevant files for each calculator in each zip file, which fixes this problem

Yeah it is great to see the scene still continuing, I guess there will always be quiet periods. What calculator is most popular in schools these days? Is it still the TI-83+/84+?

[DJ Omnimaga]

I think at one point they actually merged files, but still made them listed in multiple folders. They probably did a mistake or something.

And yeah, the TI community has ups and downs. For example 4 years ago, not a single calc forum had more than 5 active topics per day and there were no z80 POTY. Then in 2010 Omni averaged around 400 posts per day for a while, but now we usually have 100 or 125. I'm betting in 2 years it will be quiet, then rebound again afterward.

These days it's mainly the TI-Nspire that is popular, but the TI-84 Plus (83+ compatible) is still very popular too. Nspire users are just more quiet these days because Texas Instruments constantly tries to block ASM/C from being possible on that calculator and there are not any development kit yet (stuff like Spasm/DCS SDK I mean). Besides that there's the Casio PRIZM, which is still quite new but at least not closed-down like the Nspire and also has huge programming potential. 68K seems dead, though.

[JamesV]

Mmm I suppose it's only natural for it to peak and drop, etc. over the years. I know nothing much about the Nspire, or any of the Casio calcs, but if I get time I'll have a look at them. I'm always interested in learning new platforms, when time allows lol

[DJ Omnimaga]

Yeah, the only bad thing though is if an activity slumps occurs and the staff of a website is not active enough nor trying to renew the team with new blood, then it becomes really hard for the site to recover afterward. Not that low activity is a bad thing in the sense that it makes it easier to stay in touch with new stuff, but it sucks when new programmers asks questions or when a member announces a great project or release, but nobody replies.

As for the TI-Nspire, it's kinda like the PS3 and iOS scene, as in TI is in constant war against jailbreaking to prevent native code from being executed on the calc. The calc is popular due to TI's monopoly in schools, but programming is sparse on it because TI's actions against the TI community have discouraged a few. On an other hand, however, the Nspire got Lua, which gives an extra language choice for users, since the TI-BASIC on the Nspire is even more limited than on z80 calcs (no Getkey command, for instance).

[JamesV]

It's strange that TI is being so negative towards programming now, when 10+ years ago they were so supportive of people learning Z80 assembly, etc. We used to actually communicate directly with programmers at TI for assistance on TI-83 memory layout back in the early days, and they were great, providing documentation, advice, etc.

I can't believe the BASIC language on Nspire doesn't even have a Getkey command lol, that's bizarre!

[Art_of_camelot]

Hello James! It's really nice to see some of the older TI community members still hanging around. =) In regards to the lack (for the longest time) of programming on the Nspire series; it's all about appearances. That's what the educators want, so TI has tried to please them.

As far as what's popular these days, the 83+ series is still everywhere and quite popular. Many newer students do have the Nspires instead or as well. The 68k series is still somewhat popular, but it's moreso in France and Europe. As for the other z80 models, they are more or less dead since TI doesn't support them anymore. The only exception is some of the French TI 82 models; TI-82 stats and TI-82 fr. If I remember correctly, they are actually normal TI-83s.

[JamesV]

Lol I'm nearly 30, and yet I still get curious and suckered back into the TI community... It's always good to see what's going on and see if there are still new programs & games being developed

Yeah that makes sense I suppose.. It's easy to forget how much teachers must rage over students sitting and playing calculator games in class That's good to hear about the 83+ series still being popular, as if I were to develop anything new, it would most likely be for that calculator

[Jim Bauwens]

Indeed, TI has changed a lot since then.
But recently there has been some more positive stuff from them. They introduced the Lua language on the Nspire (far better than basic, and with a good API), and are constantly improving it. Several members of the community have close contacts with them (including me), and they are quite helpful.
However, they have made it clear they don't plan to support native programming .. and that's quite a big deal

[JamesV]

Yeah that's a bummer, but I guess TI reserve the right to make that choice lol

[Hot_Dog]

Yeah that's a bummer, but I guess TI reserve the right to make that choice lol

I'm impressed by how well you were able to duplicated "Invaded" to the letter!  That was my favorite cell phone game to play

[DJ Omnimaga]

It's strange that TI is being so negative towards programming now, when 10+ years ago they were so supportive of people learning Z80 assembly, etc. We used to actually communicate directly with programmers at TI for assistance on TI-83 memory layout back in the early days, and they were great, providing documentation, advice, etc.

I can't believe the BASIC language on Nspire doesn't even have a Getkey command lol, that's bizarre!

This is nothing though. When the Nspire first came out, it did not even have a programming language althogether, and when it did, it did not even have any Input/Output function. Now try porting the TI-81 version of Illusiat to that TI-Nspire OS: Good luck.

I think TI simply worries that ASM will be used to bypass teacher programs and restrictions such as PTT and allow students to cheat in exams. I wouldn't be surprised if Casio did the same with the PRIZM if such program ever came out (due to what TI did, the Casio PRIZM community is deliberately trying to discourage the release of tools that would allow students to cheat).

[JamesV]

I'm impressed by how well you were able to duplicated "Invaded" to the letter!  That was my favorite cell phone game to play

There's a cell phone game called Invaded? Or are you referring to the cell phone version of R-Type lol?

The original R-Type was a childhood favourite of mine! I used to play it on my Sega Master System, and then on my Amiga 500 as well haha. Back in the 80's & 90's!

[Yeong]

R-Type is the shooting games with adapters that attached to the plane for more attack, right?

[JamesV]

R-Type is the shooting games with adapters that attached to the plane for more attack, right?

Yep, that's the one