Below I have listed and linked many of my favorite TI-99/4a related websites. These are not in any specific order, other than the order in which I looked them up. Many of these sites have fantastic information and amenities for fellow TI-ers. Make sure to view the section of my page that talks about the "Wizards and Gurus" of the TI-99. These are the men and women who have helped make this computer the marvelous piece of iconic cultural history that it is. Many of the people in the "Wizards and Gurus" section are also talked about in the following synopsis of these TI related websites. Enjoy!!!
Video Game House
http://www.videogamehouse.net/
This page is run by a friend of mine, Bryan Roppollo. It is the most complete listing of TI-99 cartridges in existence, and Bryan owns every one of the games on his site. What separates his site from others is that each game has a history, a screen shot, and a short video capture of gameplay. When it comes to his collection, Bryan takes his work very seriously. Constantly in search of long-lost prototypes, Bryan has uncovered many pieces of software that were unknown to the TI community before his findings. Truly a prime example of the resiliency of our community. Excellent site, one of my top 5.
TI Gameshelf
Another of my favorite sites. This site is dedicated to user-created games and applications. Soon a few of my games will be available on this site. This site is unique in that it gives in-depth descriptions of the games FROM ACTUAL GAMING EXPERIENCE, provides a screenshot, and allows for many downloads in different formats. I find that this site is a marvelous resource for a new programmer looking for new ideas. One of my top 5, no doubt!
The Keep
One of the most interesting and well designed websites on all of the web today. It may look meager as a WEBSITE, but The Keep is so SO much more than a website. It is a bulletin board service (BBS) that can be accessed online. Run by a good friend and ally, Greg McGill, TheKeep.net offers any and all willing souls the rare opportunity to experience a modern day BBS. For those of you who don't know what a BBS is, just go to thekeep.net and write Greg an eMail. The reason it makes the top 5 on my TI-99 page is... well, figure out what "The Hidden Reef" is, then ask Greg about it. Ever wanted to get on the internet with your TI-99???
The OLUG
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ti99-4a/
The TI-99/4a online user group, or "OLUG," is a group designed to be a surrogate representative of the old TI User Groups which existed in almost every major city in America. This small (but drastically talented) group of dedicated and devoted TIers discuss everything from cleaning cartridge boards to programming utilities in 9900 Assembly Language. If you have any question dealing with ANYTHING TI-99, the infinitely wise folks on the OLUG will have the answer. Tom Wills is the group moderator, and you must submit your application/request to him directly for approval before you are allowed to post to the list. You can read the digests and almost all (if not all) of the posts concerning every topic of discussion dealing with the TI-99. If you're a hobbyist, interested in playing Parsec every once in a while... OR if you're a "guru," and you WROTE Parsec...you have a place on the OLUG. I'm a member, and so are the vast majority of the people listed in my "Wizards and Gurus" section.
Tex*In Treasures
This site run by Mike Dudeck is one of the internets premier shopping and information sites for the TI-99/4a. If you want it, he's probably got it. Mike has worked very hard to develop an excellent website dedicated to the TI-99/4a, and his painstaking work has paid off... indicated by the crisp, professional layout of his pages. Please visit him and you will be just as impressed as I am!!!
Mainbyte.com
Of all the information sites online and of all the databases of pictures and history dedicated to the /4a, Mainbyte.com is by far the most exhaustive. The page is flawlessly made and easy to navigate. If you seek any kind of historical information, pictures, modifications, or any permutations thereof, Mainbyte.com has it all. Every piece of hardware imaginable is discussed in full detail with excellent pictures of every item. Do not miss out on this site if you are interested in the history and legacy of the TI home computer!. **Another interesting facet of Mainbyte.com is Bob Carmany's Hummingbird EPROM page. You can purchase licensed EPROMs that can be installed on a cartridge board... Very interesting for you industrious solder-slinging individuals out there. =)
The FTP Site
The FTP site, as it is commonly referred to, is a central database of numerous files, programs, manuals, articles, etc. as they pertain to the TI-99/4a. It is singularly unique in that it is basically a file storage site that can be added to, DLed from, edited, etc. If you need a program or a manual, check here... It is constantly being updated with new and exciting games and newly found programs!
The Harmless Lion
This site is essential for modern day PC users who want to experience the joys and intricacies of the TI-99/4a on their home computer... Without having to have a physical TI hooked up with disk drives, cassette recorders, etc. The site is run by "Tursi," a brilliant programmer from the glory days of the TI. He wrote this program called, "Classic99," which you can download for FREE on his website. Just click on "software," and then on "Windows," and it is the first program listed. Please try it out... several programs and games are already installed and ready to go. Use Classic99 in conjunction with TiDir to make programming a CINCH!!! Tursi has done an excellent job on this site.
The Amarillo User Group Official Site
This page is run by and dedicated to the Amarillo User Group from the hay-day of user groups. This site contains many documents and pictures from user group meetings, TI fairs, respected developers, and many interesting little known facts about the TI-99 and its history. Plus, what a cool logo!!!
99er.net
This site is a big stewpot of magnificent vintage computing!!! Rich Polivka has created a site dedicated to the REST of the TI stuff, outside what the others have done. If you go to 99er.net, you might get hooked up with a new MBX system, or maybe even a girlfriend who shares your same sick obsession with obsolete technology.... That's the normal fantasy, right?? Find a girl who can format your floppies. =) This site has everything from eBay auction links to YouTube video links pertaining to the TI-99, several links to other TI sites, items for sale, want ads... you name it, it's here.
Ninerpedia
Essentially a Wiki for all things TI-99, ninerpedia is a vast collection of encyclopedia-like articles and pictures. It is set up very similarly to Wikipedia, and is basically the truest reference guide for the history and information related to Texas Instruments home computers. Not a replacement for, but an excellent compliment to Mainbyte.com and many other of the sites listed on this page.
Nouspikel's Tech Page
This is THE technical site for the TI-99/4a. The information contained in these pages is of the highest calibre. Every processor in the book is discussed, broken down, given specifics... From his own words:
"These pages are not for beginners! To follow the discussion you'll need some knowledge of digital electronics and notions of assembly language programming. I tried to adopt a fairly didactic style, but this is by no means a tutorial."
If you are a beginner, check out Ninerpedia... If you're looking to unlock the ultimate potential of each piece of hardware in your arsenal, and learn more than "99"% of the common TIer, spend a while in these pages.
Jon Guidry's Hexbus Page
Jon Guidry is a modern icon of the TI-99/4a community. Jon has developed a unique bank-switched cartridge design, he is a regular contributor to the OLUG, and he has made it possible to put the code from sidecar cartridges onto one of his personally designed cartridge boards... among many other things. This site shows DETAILED step by step photographs of his 16k and 32k bank-switched EPROM-loaded cartridge boards, among other modifications and projects he has been a part of. There are a few games to download at his site, including Marc Hull's NEVER-LANDER, the extremely rare ARCTURUS, and others... If you have an EPROM burner, you can put these games onto one of his cart boards, plug it into the cartridge slot of your very own TI-99 and BOOM! You get the point. Check out this site!!!
Planet-99
This site is designed and operated by a friend of mine from across the pond, Mr. Mark Wills. Mark is a loud (but clear) voice in the TI-99 community who has contributed many great things to the TI. His work on the SPRITE designer program (written in both XB and Assembly) helped shape me as a programmer. Mark believes in a pragmatic and clearly organized approach to programming--something many programmers lack. The SPRITE program is important to me because I typed it in line by line... just to get a feel for what went on in his head. This site requires that you pick a log-in name and password to access the majority of his pages, but once you're in--- you get an interesting look into the ins and outs, the hithers and thithers of all things TI. Look on YouTube.com for his QBox demonstration for speech synthesis with the TI-99/4a. Quite interesting.
Dan O'Quinn's TI Enthusiast Page
http://web.lowcountry.com/~compdr/
This is a great TI Enthusiast page created by Dan O'Quinn, a regular contributor to the OLUG. This page has a good selection of modification instructions and several tips and tricks to get optimum efficiency out of your TI gear. Check out the composite monitor cable modification... makes a WORLD of difference and drastically improves video quality. GREAT SITE!!!
Click here to ride back to the home page!
Retrogaming Times Monthly
|
http://www.retrogamingtimes.com/
A
brilliant magazine run by Bryan Roppolo. This online magazine covers
everything from Pong to Sonic the Hedgehog. Columnists discuss game
tricks, walkthroughs, nostalgia, and you will catch an occasional
review or two on classic games. Excellent source for information and a
very interactive archive.... A must see!
