cool! this program will be a major breakthrough for the 86. I can't wait for it to come out

I think Kirk should make this technology available to all to create games with video; imagine games that would have starting animation, animations leading the plot at some places, and an ending animation. The animations shouldn't even be more than 10-20 seconds and then there would still be plenty of space for the game itself! And if the game wouldn't fit for some reason, there is always chance to make it in few parts; first you install another and when you finish it you install another. I'd love to see games like this on my calculator!!!

A more interesting use of the technology would be to use it to compress games. Don't get me wrong, i like animations, but video for the calc really is useless. 4 minutes is not enough. I would rather have nibbles be 100 bytes than have a 96k video that shows a short movie slip. Or an extra 2k on a program for a few animations.

Well, that´s not exactly what I meant...
There is definitely no need for videos or animations in such games as Nibbles, but what I meant was that this technology could bring us games like Final Fantasy or X-files on calculator!
Now don't go saying that there is already Final Fantasys´ on calculators, because I mean something more like PSX Final Fantasy. Basically, all the games that use video could be now done for calcs.
Of course the games would be a little short if they were all about the video, but in for example puzzle / adventure games you solve a puzzle, then see a video, then solve another puzzle and so on. This is where this technology would be great.
Also, length of just 3-4 minutes should be just fine. You'd still get 18-24 10 second clips.
Also, could there be a chance to use b&w clips?
Then the length of videos could be even bigger.

If you read the news article it says that b&w along with 4 and 8 level grayscale will be supported.

I'm sorry, I was more playing around with ideas than answering your post. However, I would not devote all my calc to final fantasy. I am not that big on RPG games. Maybe a few clips, but not 24! Thats a bit to much space for one game.

You are right about that it would take a LOT of space on your calculator... but if someone wanted to do such a game now it should be possible. Also, many games now take up the all the space calc has to offer, so why not using it for video? even though you say it's no use, i know many people would pee their pants to see games with full motion video in it...

Well, I for one would rather have one 96k breathtaking RPG game with dazzling video clips than, say, Nibbles, Mario, Spaze Invaders, ect. Anybody else agree?

well, I don't know if 4 or 8 shades of gray could
be described as "dazzling" but I like RPGs on the
calculator, and I think movies would be a cool
bonus to an rpg. As for you people who gripe
about no sound, well, the people could put in
subtitles. Wouldn't bother me, but then again,
I'm used to subtitles, being an Anime fan and
all :o)

Hello? Are you crazy? It's not like video clips in a program are going to last more than 15 seconds apiece, you know. Unless you're talking about RPGs.

length of 15 seconds/piece should be enough for the video, since it is just a tiny calculator we're talking about. If Kirk is able to do what he promised, 3 to 4 minutes should fit onto calculator, and that would be like 12-18 15 second clips. The games wouldn't be too long then, but there's always possibility to make it in episodes. You would first install episode 1, then when you finish it episode 2... I know it's not so practical to make games like this, but it would still be cool. And yes, it would be great in RPG's :)

The routines for the 85 (written by Erik Huizing and Josh Morris) allow for usage in programs. Josh Morris used this for his Final Fantasy: The Calling demo. It would be easy to add a quick animation to the beginning of a game if you so desired.

Hey I'm realy glad to see Kirk back in the progin' scene. esp after all the crap all you guys gave him when he left :( I'm suprised TIcalc.org didn't delete most of that junk... They probably had to delete some things (I wonder how bad thoes were) anyway I realy respect you Kirk and g'luck!

~Jake B

p.s. I liked the idea of having multiple part movies so you jus switch them... that way you could have one guy get one on his calc and switch them around or something... and I also liked the idea of putting the movies in games... you could do a real player type thing and have hot spots and stuff... but that might phaten up the files a little much... I wonder if TI ever thought this could happen!

Can't you just create some grayscale graphic libraries, that will help people while try to write a graphical program. Or may be a graphic accelarotor for a shell. I don't think it's very helpful in make something like this. There are not many people having a graphic links and I don't think a QwikTym movie will play for more than a minute.

One word, porn.

Three words: get a chick.

If you need a $120 calculator to get excited, you seriously need to get some viagra...

I'm surprised I dignified that statement with a response...

just out of curiosity, where can i find info on how to program asm. on the 89.

oh, and by the way, QwikTym would be cooler on the 89 but still cool on the 86. Keep up the good work! :-)

I haven't programmed for ti89 myself(since don't have one), but you could try at the url that's below my name.
I saw there was something on the subject--

Go to Dimension TI. The URL's under my name.
The tutorial by Skip Jordan may be a little unclear.

One word: PORNO!!!!! Kidding! That'll be mighty 3l33t (sorry, I'm Mr. Funny many tonite)! Seriously tho! Coupled with an Expander, that's got some heavy game possibilitys!

The exapander II is only a sotrage device. Currently, programs cannot be run directly off of the expander. There is a group of people working on making an OS for the EII so that programs can be run directly off of the expander (this is for the 85). The name of the OS is Doomsday Horizons. E-mail me for more info.

Oh, I see...well can't you swap movie files between the calculator and the Expander?