palmheads

I really can't wait to see what you guys have come up with - have always felt the "mini memory" environment has always been somewhat neglected. Its a really exciting development!

Thats gonna be impressive! Some quite good games were developed for the 1k ZX81 like the still talked about 1k chess - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1K_ZX_Chess http://users.ox.ac.uk/~uzdm0006/scans/1kchess/

So what do you think the next step(s) would be? Once you've filled that 760 bytes, do you save that chunk of code as a reloadable data source, then start again on a new chunk of code? So you might end up with (say) 4 chunks of 760 bytes that you load up that you then piece together with CALL LINK in TI-BASIC?. Or do you take all the opcodes & end up combining them all in a bunch of DATA/CALL LOAD (ie POKE) TI-BASIC commands until you filled as much of the 4k MM as possible? Always wondered how you could fill the 4k with LBLA.

No problem! Always thought these 2 TI-BASIC utils, and LBLA, would have been a reasonably effective development package (given obvious limitations) 99ner mags that describe usage are: http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/micro/go99.asp?search_string=&type99=Assembly+Language&Send=Search Mini Memory Relocator - ftp://whtech.com/magazines/99er/99er8305.pdf Mini Memory Disassembler Utility - ftp://whtech.com/magazines/99er/99er8303.pdf

Dunno if it might help, but have got copies of 2 TI-BASIC utils that a Marty Knoll did for the MM cart. One is a TI-BASIC disassembler, the other one is a MM mem relocator (shifting code around to get over the lack of memory) 99ER2-5.DSK - MMDISASM_M 99ER2-7.DSK - MEMRELOC_M 99ER2-7.DSK 99ER2-5.DSK

Yup! Follow Stuarts stuff here http://www.stuartconner.me.uk/ti/ti.htm#miscellaneous_programs From the misc dsk image he has OLD DSK1.CART_RAM_O Fill the ram with DSK1.MM_LBLA

Sounds like a great idea! Having MM/4k limit is perfect. There really was only a handful of games written for that platform that didn't require 32k as well (Entrapment, Defend the Cities II). Given the quality of games for other platforms with similar memory (eg: unexpanded Vic 20) always has felt like an unexplored environment. And like you say, given its limits, more achievable. I could even rip out some of my code from my stalled "Thrust" project to get something working. cheers Daryn

Was looking at potential game port ideas that could fit into the 4K mini memory (ie like the original Gridrunner for the Vic 20 - 3.5k). Lots of people rave about Doubleback for the Coco. Its about 4k (6809), looks like a simple game with surprising depth. Anyone have any memories of playing it?

I reckon stick around. We are all different. For me, I love the combo of console & the mini-memory module. Most of my posts are about that combo. Just something that interests me. Wouldn't expect many people to be overally excited at that combination (ha!), but am sure some people searching for info on the TI might find info related to that interesting. Reckon just do stuff 'cos it interests you. Noone will think down on you for doing that. One of the quirky things about the TI is that you could actually do that. Console only, console + mini mem, console + ext basic, console with 32k, peb etc etc and now with nanoPebs/finalGroms etc

Think its really cool showing what you can do with TI-BASIC. Was looking at one of the old 99ner mags, and its got an article about using TI-BASIC with mini memory module. ftp://whtech.com/magazines/99er/99er8309.pdf Its actually a light racer game using PEEKV, POKEV to get faster responses from the VDP. Totally breaks the console only concept, but if you wanted to keep the TI-BASIC theme could be quite neat using the TI-BASIC extensions that the mini memory module gave. The article is called Byte Lightning. The actual game is on this attached disk OLD DSK1.MMLIGHTRCR RUN MMProgs.dsk

I like Jeff Minters thoughts on the history of Gridrunner http://www.minotaurproject.co.uk/grr_hist_gr.php

Funny, I suggested Gridrunner as a potential port a couple of years ago. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/240985-game-port-idea-gridrunner-by-jeff-minter-possibly-even-for-mini-memory/?hl=+gridrunner I think Jeff Minter squeezed Gridrunner into the 3.5k on the unexpanded Vic 20. Remember thinking it would make an ideal mini memory game for the Ti-99

oh wow! That looks very much like Gridrunner/Matrix. Can't wait too see this finished!

Found this while looking thru WHT FTP - you guys probably already know about it ftp://ftp.whtech.com/programming/Extended%20Basic/exbasicv100%20bugs.pdf A bunch of bugs found in XB v100 (?) in 1981 ish

This is interesting - Looks like someone in Australia (Ross Mudie) back in 1989 had an additional hardware/software solution that used the Joytalk RS-232 (output only) printer interface ftp://ftp.whtech.com/user%20groups/Sydney%20Australia/TIsHUG-1989-06.pdf(pg 7/8)

Ok think I have the answer. It definitely is the mini memory version. I actually used the mini memory TI-BASIC disassembler and put in a memory location near the end of the 7000-7FFF span of the mini-memory RAM. So chose looking at TEXT statements between 7EEE-7FFF. See attached Thats actually really cool! cheers Daryn

Hmmm this is actually really interesting... I know for a fact that there are 2 versions of this game Defend the Cities - Extended Basic version Defend the Cities II - Mini Memory/Assembly version For the attached disk above, in js99'er I was able to turn off the 32K expansion, load up the Mini memory module and "Load and Run" using DSK1.DEFCITIES and DC. I could also see opcodes in the 7d00 range that the Mini Memory (I believe) uses. Does this mean that this version attached to the DSK could in fact the Defend the Cities II? cheers Daryn

A bit like js99er, there is a cool javascript ZX81 emulator here: http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/jtyone.html

Yeah even back in the day alot of Pseudo hires games were developed for the ZX81. Some of the more famous ones were Forty Niner, Rocketman etc. From what I understand, effectively the ZX81 display is software based - a display file is written. Some clever clogs figured out you can effectively rewrite that display file yourself (with limitations). Some formatting issues, but this page is really comprehensive explaining the techniques http://www.user.dccnet.com/wrigter/index_files/ZX%20Video%20Tutorial.htm Also this http://www.pictureviewerpro.com/hosting/zx81/download/zx81/highres.txt

Related to this thread with machines where previously an isometric game would have been "impossible" ... on the ZX81 forum a isometric game has been developed for a 16k expanded standard ZX81 using pseudo hi-res. http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1853 Pretty amazing when you think of the limitations of the ZX81.

Wow! Am just imaging you releasing a new game every month now with your Z80 -> TI skills!

Some pretty cool development going on in the ZX81 world. Pseudo-hires games, SD card expansions etc Bob Smith is doing some real cool stuff as an example (using the clunky ZX81 graphics) http://bobs-stuff.co.uk/zx81.html

OK got hold of another nanoPeb. Worked first time! So TI using Mass X'fer (MX74) & nanoPeb with null modem cable connected to Ubuntu Linux and picocom! Got a echo terminal working! Great! Will try my Tandy 102 in the weekend!!!

Hey Picked up a PAL beige TI here in NZ. It's not a QI model. Originally purchased in South Africa, expat selling it here. Original docos with intro letters. Beige TI fits perfectly on my beer fridge! cheers Daryn

Its quite a cool game actually! Very well done. Got it working on classic99 as well.