Rick Thornquist Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Having finally set up my vintage computer collection (an Apple IIGS, Atari 65XE, Commodore 64, Tandy Color Computer 3, and TI-99/4A), I'm looking for a way to impress first time visitors. I was thinking that running some games on attract mode would be cool. Now I'm looking for games with the best attract mode for each machine. My question: Which game on the TI has the best attract mode? Marks will be awarded for not only for coolness, but also how familiar the game is to vintage computer people. - Rick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switch1995 Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 I'm responding first to say I will not respond first 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelpedant Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Dragon's Lair. No contest, for me. Will run on original hardware, but it does require a Dragon's Lair cart. Looks even better on a CRT. A pixel-for-pixel capture doesn't really do it justice. For games that will run on a TI-99 with original VDP and using a commonplace modern flashcart rather than original cart, Flying Shark or Pinball 99. But keep in mind, these are modern games which exceed the achievements of original era software. For a demo for the sake of a demo (which is consequently, very technically impressive), Don't Mess With Texas - the TI-99 Megademo. Now, having beat around the bush a bit, original era games featuring attract modes with simulation or scripting of gameplay are very rare. Games with title screens containing music are much more common. However, Cerberus has a very good attract mode, where the player takes over the ship immediately from within the attract mode, and jumps into gameplay. Championship Baseball has a nice one, but requires an MBX. For original era software which will be very familiar to anyone who has ever touched a TI-99, your best option is doubtless Parsec. It isn't strictly speaking a simulation of gameplay. It's just an endless scroll. But it's as iconic as anything gets, on the TI-99. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switch1995 Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Now that @pixelpedant used the "P" word, I'll offer that on Demon Attack, after the enemies fire once, they no longer fire again. Creating a psudo-attract mode. Good graphics and sound for an original game. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switch1995 Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Plus: Breaking the wing off a model fighter airplane and gluing it to the back of a cheap Hong Kong dinosaur and spray-painting the whole thing silver is about a retro as you can get! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelpedant Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Absolutely love Imagic's manual art, yeah. It's phenomenal. For that brief moment in time, they really took video game marketing to new heights. Love the Fathom manual, as well: And the Wing War art too (found only on the Colecovision manual, since all other versions were either cancelled or released as cheaply as possible with nearly no materials). I liked that enough that I had to make a TI-99 manual for it, and for its quite distinct TI version, which despite not being released, is complete and playable. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirlynxalot Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 (edited) Imagic's box art is really interesting. I read an interview with a guy from Imagic and he confirmed that they basically had people build plastic models, take photos of them, and send those pictures to a third party contractor to put in special effects such as lasers or explosions. It's a neat effect and something quite different when compared to the 100% painted graphics many other companies used. Edited November 10, 2022 by sirlynxalot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 My all time favorite, Ernie and Bert conversing! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 OTTOMH, classic games with working (self-playing) attract or demonstration modes: Blasto, ZeroZap, The Attack, Munch Man, TI Invaders, Car Wars, and Munchmobile. There are probably more from the era. Some modern releases with self-playing attract modes include Flying Shark*, Road Hunter*, TI Scramble*, and, of course, Dragon's Lair. I like to use these games to lure people to my VCF exhibit. * 32k required 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelpedant Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 For software requiring no upgrades or special carts, I suppose Bigfoot is another option. Not terribly iconic, nor is it technically impressive, but a good game which is well liked, with a full-fledged attract mode. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted November 11, 2022 Share Posted November 11, 2022 old stuff: parsec (talks too) moonmine ti invaders car wars moon patrol new stuff pinball99 flying shark pitfall break free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Thornquist Posted November 11, 2022 Author Share Posted November 11, 2022 Lots of great suggestions. Thanks, everyone! - Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted November 11, 2022 Share Posted November 11, 2022 3 hours ago, pixelpedant said: For software requiring no upgrades or special carts, I suppose Bigfoot is another option. Not terribly iconic, nor is it technically impressive, but a good game which is well liked, with a full-fledged attract mode. One of the better TI games, I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FarmerPotato Posted November 11, 2022 Share Posted November 11, 2022 I can say with certainty that TI Invaders, left to itself, holds the record for the most people attracted to a TI at MGC. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted November 11, 2022 Share Posted November 11, 2022 1 hour ago, FarmerPotato said: I can say with certainty that TI Invaders, left to itself, holds the record for the most people attracted to a TI at MGC. Also PRGE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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