Complete TI-99 value?

[midgey]

A local gamestore has 2 complete TI-99s that look like they just came off a store shelf for a pretty cheap price. Since the price guide is down and I have very little knowledge about the TI-99, tell me how much you think this is worth? Thanks

[s1lence]

Not very much, is it complete in the box. I think I bought mine complete in the box for 20 bucks.

[digitalpress]

Complete in box, about $20. I've seen them go for less though. Don't be afraid to haggle!

[midgey]

I asked him how much he was wanting, and he said $8. I'd feel like a bit of an ass haggling something that cheap. Now the real question, is there anything worth playing on the system?

[Night Driver]

is there anything worth playing on the system?
Yes.

[digitalpress]

is there anything worth playing on the system?
Yes.

GOD how I hate answers like this. There's a simple forum rule here - if you don't have anything to contribute, don't hit the submit button.

You can get a good list of recommendations by using our online guide. Click the TI-99/4A from the systems list then check off "Recommended Titles Only" from the bottom right.

My personal favorites include Alpiner, Tunnels & Trolls, Burgertime, and just about everything made by Atarisoft.

[philosophyst]

I can't remember my TI very well but a game is sticking out in memory for some reason...."A-Maze-Ing". I think I really liked that one but then again, I was very young. ;)

[Wookie]

is there anything worth playing on the system?

The TI is a great system, since it had a library significantly different than most of its contemporaries. DataBiotics and FunWare made some good games that you can't play anywhere else, and Parsec is a very nice horizontal scrolling shooter. The TI's Donkey Kong even has all the arcade screens. BTW, try to find one of the TI voice synthesizers. They're cheap, work well, and add nicely to several of the games (Parsec, again).

Biggest liability is the joysticks. The TI sticks are crap and 2600-style sticks won't work without an adapter. Wico made such an adapter and it's a worthwhile investment if you can find one on ebay.

[YoshiM]

I asked him how much he was wanting, and he said $8. I'd feel like a bit of an ass haggling something that cheap. Now the real question, is there anything worth playing on the system?

Helluva good price. Now if he had the tape recorder cables that'll open the door to some of the more unique games like Adventure. The voice module would be a cool acquisition as well.

One of the cool games that is not on the Recommended list is Parsec. Very cool, very tough side scroll shmup and has a pretty dang human-like female voice if you have the voice module.

Another is the original Munch Man. Instead of eating dots you create and link chains. This game seems to go on...forever with different enemies every so many boards.

Decent little system. It was the first computer *I* owned and I can remember slaving away at the keyboard creating my gaming masterpieces. Well...maybe not "masterpieces" but y'know how you feel after hammering out a BASIC program you created and it works the way you want it to. :D

[Night Driver]

is there anything worth playing on the system?
Yes.

GOD how I hate answers like this. There's a simple forum rule here - if you don't have anything to contribute, don't hit the submit button.
:hmm: I did have something to contribute--I answered his question. I got 5.18 meseta. :P

Okay, okay, I get your point. I won't be a smart-ass. :)

The TI is an under-appreciated console/computer. It has many charming, unique games and it can hang with the best when it comes to arcade ports.

Recommendations:

TI Invaders - Best Space Invaders clone I've played.
Parsec - Excellent, 'Scramble'-like shooter with speech synthesis and 18 levels.
Burgetime - Great, but a little on the easy side.
Donkey Kong - All 4 boards, one of the best home versions.
Tunnels of Doom - Great early RPG
Munch-Man - Very fun. A reverse Pac-Man on speed.
Blasto - A 'Minesweeper'-like game with tanks.
Q*Bert, Popeye, Frogger - All good ports
M*A*S*H* - Just for the verbal abuse it dishes-out through the speech synthesizer.
The Attack - Well, I like it.
Fathom
Shamus
Slymoids
Bigfoot

Games that aren't the best introduction to the TI:

Pac-Man - O.K overall, but dog-slow and a bit buggy.
Ms. Pac-Man - Better than Pac-Man, but still slow.
Pole Position - Really bad.
Centipede - Worst port I've played
Defender - The elements are there, but the choppy scrolling makes it nearly unplayable.
Protector II - Ditto.

[Night Driver]

BTW, Joust is still being listed as an R5 in the online rarity guide.

[Mr Mort]

Damn, I miss my TI. I had a TI99-4A when I was about 9 and had it until I was about 14, and I looved that thing. Munch-man, TI Invaders, and Super Demon Attack were great. I remember clacking away on the keyboard, programming my own BASIC games and what-not, although having to type CALL before every command irritating, I still had lots of fun on it, and had scads of little programs and games saved on tape.

If I could find one at a reasonable price with the cables to use a tape deck and some games, I would snap it up in a heartbeat.

[chadtower]

You should come to my town... I can't go to a yard sale without stepping in one, they come in lots of 2-3 of them for $1.

[vulcanjedi]

Hmm

I remember them being closed out in stores for $19.99 and they had hundreds of them. Then they started showing up at yard sales for $5

I have the original Beige model and not the Silver one. And I would highly recommend finding the speach module. It adds a speak and spell like voice to many of the educational carts.

I don't think the graphics are quite as good as the atari and commodore couputers but it did have Car Wars :)

VJ