Travis Retires from ticalc.org Staff
Posted by Travis on 1 April 2012, 10:25 GMT

Some of you have probably noticed the gradual decrease in the frequency of new file updates over the past several months and the rapid increase of pending files. Indeed, as I write this, the queue has already reached several hundred files. As long as I've tried to ignore it, I guess it's time to finally face reality: I just don't seem to have the motivation and passion I once did when I first joined ticalc.org. Regretfully, I guess it's time to move on.

I'd like to thank everyone on the staff and in the community for making it such a great place and keeping it alive for so many years. It has been a pleasure and a privilege taking part in it. These last 3.4 years have been a blast.

Happy Pi Day!
Posted by Ryan on 14 March 2012, 15:34 GMT

It's that day of the year again where we all load up our calcs with our favorite files, bake our favorite delicious treat, code on our favorite computer, listen to our favorite song ad nauseum, read aloud our favorite website... you get the idea.

As an added cause for celebration, our very own diabolical mastermind Travis Evans has reinstantiated the archives of the old ticalc.org mailing lists, located here. Thanks a ton to Travis, whose tireless efforts keep all of us ticalc.org users extremely happy, and happy Pi Day to all!

An Exercise in Futility
Posted by Ryan on 9 March 2012, 16:50 GMT

If you have a blunted MicroRNA response to threat, you might want to bypass loading the aptly-named An Exercise in Futility onto your 83/84 Plus. You will certainly find yourself curled up in a corner, despondent and listless, allowing the mashup of gameplay elements to rain down destruction on your ever-changing character.

That being said, if you are among those of us with robust miRNA responses, you'll likely find Futility a real treat. The long and short of the game is that it is a ruthless mashup of various, spontaneously changing game elements that besiege you as you attempt to stay alive, chasing that next big high (score, that is). I can certainly say that the game itself is extremely well-orchestrated. The author thoughtfully selected choice platform-relevent genres to blend together, dropping all of it into an arena setting for yet another layer of intrigue. With dynamite fluidity, source included, Futility approaches the realm of software that you don't play, but rather you face off with it.

Coming to us from the obviously sadistic mind of Lincoln Bergeson, this is an extremely addicting game that promises you a quick, disappointing loss if you do not stay on your toes and keep a level head. And who knows, if Futility is the game that finally cracks your willpower, you might find yourself in the next edition of a certain Sapolsky book.

My First Quantum Translocator
Posted by Ryan on 1 March 2012, 20:09 GMT

As some of the software from a certain programming contest rolls into our archives, it has been my delight in exploring the entries. First up, I would love to talk about the title that piqued my interest the most: My First Quantum Translocator.

My First Quantum Translocator (MFQT) is a reconstruction of a decidedly Portal-inspired puzzle-platformer game by the same name originally developed by Cellar Door Games, Inc. Kevin "leafiness0" Chen's work is highly faithful to the original game and, while currently incomplete, is certainly playable in its current form. MFQT currently boasts some nice collision detection, speed, and some really enjoyable little animation routines (I love the energy bursts upon translocation!). Kevin has stated that he intends to add the in-game text and finish the title in the near future, which I am greatly looking forward to. How exciting! Now, if only we can get secret character sprite-swaps like in the original...