To Buy or Not to Buy?

[8-Bit Archeology]

So I was up at my local thrift shop, and saw a lot of TI-99 Games. They where all marked for $4.00 each. Firstly, How rare are TI-99 consoles to find and repair?
Secondly what is the TI-99 all about? What where it's "A" titles, and how did they play?

Basically I have found myself in a situation where I could expand my collection into a new area, but wonder what this console would really be bringing to the party.
I know I could just youtube a lot of vids about it. But I really look for the advise of this forum for REAL video game knowledge. As always thanks.

[goob47]

Well there were a LOT of arcade ports for the system, like Donkey Kong and Burgertime, but one game is particularly interesting me at the moment. The video game version of the BBC podcast: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I had no idea this was a video game until a little while ago.

[bb_hood]

Im no expert, but ive seen big TI-99 lots sell for really cheap. Frankly its the type of stuff that most collectors dont really want, and at 4$ a game I would say thats a waste of money.

[Atarileaf]

the arcade ports look really good, especially Atarisoft. The first party stuff looks pretty underwhelming IMO.

[Tupin]

Usually only the Atarisoft stuff is desirable. Ignore everything that's first party, it's all worthless.

[goldenband]

^If you're talking monetarily, yes, but I think a bunch of the first-party games are good fun: Parsec, Alpiner, Hunt the Wumpus...

[sloan]

I saw a TI-99 CIB at a Salvation Army store a couple years ago for $10. Still kicking myself for not picking it up.

[8-Bit Archeology]

I think Im gonna end up passing this one. Thanks for the insight.

[Jorpho]

I remember being pretty impressed with the port of Q*Bert – Q*Bert actually had eyes, and Sam & Slick were distinct.

The video game version of the BBC podcast: A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I had no idea this was a video game until a little while ago.

Y'know, being an Infocom game, there were ports of that to pretty much absolutely everything. Your best bet might be the Flash editions available on the BBC site, which adds some nice illustrations but otherwise retains exactly the same gameplay.