TI-99/4A Funware Prototypes Found!

[Toucan]

HI!
Well, I just recieved a package today in the mail. Inside were prototypes for many released and unreleased games, and in addition many boxed released titles! Below is a listing of all that I got and plan on making avaliable to the Classic Gaming community at least through emulation:

(Screen Shots for Lobster Bay, one of the new games just found can be seen at: http://www.videogamehouse.net/Lobster_Bay_Preliminary.html )

Boxed Funware Cartridges:
-Schnoz-Ola
-St. Nick
-Driving Demon
-Ambulance
-Video Vegas
-Henhouse
-Rabbit Trail

Prototypes:
-Ant Colony
-Shanghai
-Ambulance
-Rabbit Trail
-Cave Creatures

Source Code Only:
-Lobster Bay

Let me just say right here and now that Lobster Bay is one great game! It is complete and very fun to play. It takes place underwater where you are a scuba diver trying to gather up treasures that are scattered on this platform underwater. This game has about 7 screens per level, making it a much bigger game than the normal one-screeners that Funware put out previously. There is a map above you that shows your location and where you are so you can guide your way through the ocean. It's amazing, and I should be able to get it dumped for emulation sometime this week. Also, the game Ant Colony is a new one too that I've never seen. It resembles The Attack where ants come after you and you have to spray them and their "boxes" (the boxes count down as in The Attack, but in Ant Colony the goal is to exterminate these boxes). All in all, there are some really neat gems here. I hope that everyone finds them as fun as I have today! I'll include scans of the Schnoz-Ola box for the internet as I don't think too many have seen this one before, cool picture on the box though!

[merp]

Ti-99/4a is one of my geekiest weaknesses. I grew up on that system. I still have to say the Ti-99/4a had some of the most fun educational titles for any system out there other than the Apple ][. I am extremely eager to see some of these games. That also reminds me that I need to get a complete TOSEC set of Ti-99\4a games since most were just recently made freeware by Texas Instrument themselves. Very nice of them, I think.

Things just seem to be getting better and better.

It would be emmensely appreciated if you can write up an article on how you came across these cartridges and sourcecode. The contributor should be graciously thanked.

How are you going about dumping the cartridges or tapes?

Thanks for your effort to make these public to the community. I am very thankful.

[Toucan]

Thanks for the message. Just so you know, the Any Colony ROM can now be downloaded from the website at www.videogamehouse.net/AntColony.html . Also, I think I might have to do a write up for the Retrogaming Times Monthly, which sounds like a good idea. So keep an eye out on the RGTM (too bad it will have to be the August issue) for a write up on this whole thing. I just hope I don't ramble on too much in the article! The cartridges will be dumped just as I am doing now, there is a program that actually allows you to do this on a PC, pretty neat and am happy I found out about it!