I think its odd that so many people are getting so hot and bothered over so small an issue. Those who choose to play games in class do so at their own risk. I personally believe they are making a foolish decision that, regardless of how well they may doing in class, does hamper their educational potential. Using the excuse "the lecture is boring" is a shameful justification, but the students do so at their own risk. However, Those who oppose games in class must realize the same fact: the students do so at their own risk. To try to enforce regulation of games is just as shameful as using the "class is boring" excuse. One's freedom to harm oneself is a freedom that has continuously been upheld by the Supreme Court, and one that is every American's right. The last thing we need is further restriction of our rights.

Ok. This is my view.
A. I know a person who plays calculator games but during class and has a 4.1 gpa
B. I dont play calculator games in class. Guess what some teacher made me memory wipe my calculator. Well Took me about an 3 min to redownload them from my computer.
C. I am going to try and make a asm program to hide your ti programs. "No more random Program Checks....."
D. If calculators are affecting your grades dont use them. They should not be banned. Its that simple.

If they are mirage games, press X. Then select the folder the program is already in. select file, then Info, make sure they are archived, and then use hide. Not only doesen't clearing ram destroy them when you do this, but they can't be found to be deleted. Also, try to put an educational program in mirage, so that the teacher thinks mirage is used for that educational program only.

Yes! Someone do that!

And if they are TI-BASIC programs, just put a colon on the first line of the program. This makes them Mirage-compatible.

Yes, they are COMPLETELY nessessary! I happen to be a 7th grader in double (yes double) accelerated math. This calculator is what I do in my free time. As game programming is my biggest hobby. It is COMPLETELY your option/coice if you want to use a calculator with games. My calculaor is not only a fun little "computer", but it is a very important tool for my learning... so in short, I don't agree with anything that this author

I don't play games in classes. But I have them, and half of the class uses them, without distracting the other three people.(yes, the class is 6 people. Not many people are in double accelerated math as it was called above, or as my school chooses to call it "grade up accelerated math") Same happens in the accelerated math group from the same grade level. Most people are capable of ignoring whether others are playing games at any given moment. Even me, and I get distracted very easily.

Yes -- I'm in double accelerated math too. The calculator's games are a nice way to kill time, although I prefer making math programs. Unfortunately, when you are in double accelerated math and skipping a grade in everything else, there's not a lot of free time...

I'm not sure how advanced double accelerated math is, but I'm taking Precalculus in 8th grade, the two of us are sitting in the back of a geometry class (we work on our own), and we just switch off between math and games. Guess what? I'm ahead of the curriculum! So, yes, it does depend on the situation. I agree with you.

I disagree -- playing games on a calculator should be like optional homework: the student should have the right to decide what they want to do, but must face the consequences of their actions. I've seen many student who spend their time playing games, and many of them do poorly in their classes, yet I'm maintaining a 105 math average (the teacher loves extra credit, a rare occasion in high school) - should I not be allowed to play games? If someone chooses to play games and fail, they deserve it - and they're only going to learn by facing the consequences of their actions.

BINGO. Maybe I'm not the only one who thinks this way, after all....

Darn straight! Let 'em play games. Their fault if they fail, distract others. I am a 4.0 studen in highschool, all honors and AP and I still maintain a 4.0 while playing games in every single one of my classes, wow! How is that possible!! HUH?

First thing, I'm sick of the monthly "Kids Should Not Play Games On Calculators" lecture.

Secondly, I managed to pull off a 92% GPA in my senior year of high school in honors with AP Calculus and AP Physics and I am a friggin TIcalcuholic (I have an 85, 86, and a 92+ all with games). I play games so often I gotta change batteries like all the time. I agree that these calcs are great tools, but in my Calculus 2 class in college, we aren't allowed to use them on tests. We gotta know the concepts and how to do the stuff the old fashioned way. The only class I can use it on tests is my Digital Electronics class, and I can do the stuff in my head. Yet I still carry my calcs around. Why? Because sometimes, I don't need to review with the rest of the class. And sometimes, I get 20 minutes between classes. In college, my teachers could care less whether I'm paying attention or not. In 75% of my classes, I have one of the highest grades in the class, and I play games like it was my job.

If kids don't wanna pay attention and fail, let em. I don't seem to be having any problems keeping up with my work and studies.

AND STOP IT WITH THE GAMES BASHING!

my point exactly

bye bye

Wow, imagine what you people could do if you actually payed attention in classes! Grow up and put the calculators away during class. Play between hours, play them at lunch, play them during study hall. If you can't make it through 1 hour without the flashing lights and moving sprites to entertain you, then you have serious problems and are headed for trouble when the subjects get tougher.

The games are a means of distraction. From boring lectures and such. If I understand something so well that I don't feel I need to pay attention then DAMN STRAIGHT I'm gonna play my calc!!!! There is NO reason a teacher should have a problem with it... it is a teacher's responsibility to teach. Not to be a babysitter. I'm in Mod. Geo right now, and it is all boring as hell. I play calc, I'm getting an A in the class, no problems.

YEAH!! We've got to have something to do when the teacher's going on, and on, and on, and on about the same stuff over, and over. I'm only a Freshmen, but I've been playing TI-XX games since I wan in 6th grade and I'm doing fine with my grades (all A's). And besides, what nerve to dis on Calculator programs on the site where they are posted for download! If you don't like 'em, just send me all of those "unnecessary" calculators ASAP!

Borg_Drone

I'm not putting games on my new TI89 (I haven't even learned to program it yet!!!). And you are not getting your slimy hands on it. And thats the damn truth

YEAH!! We've got to have something to do when the teacher's going on, and on, and on, and on about the same stuff over, and over. I'm only a Freshmen, but I've been playing TI-XX games since I was in 6th grade and I'm doing fine with my grades (all A's). And besides, what nerve to dis on Calculator programs on the site where they are posted for download! If you don't like 'em, just send me all of those "unnecessary" calculators ASAP!

Borg_Drone

Damn straight! I have a boring ass physics teacher who always trails of into tales about how scientist used to be called heretics and were killed. I don't give a fuck about that and it's not related to our subject matter. I have the right to play games on my TI. And people who say we shouldn't are probally some sped who failed a grade because he couldn't manage to balance the equation of games and school.

Actually, you have the right to pay attention in class. School is the only you can succeed in life. I'm not sure college professers would be happy if you used the calculators in class. How would you feel if you were speaking and everybody was fiddling around with calculators?

I'd feel like I was making around $76,000 (as math professor with tenure at a good university) and I'm not even going to have to bother to lecture logically anyway, because virtually anyone interested enough to take my course already covered it on their own. Then I'd let it soak in a become the happiest person on the planet.
In addition, it is not the student's responsiblity to make the teacher feel good. Their only "responsiblity" (and I hestitate to call it that) is to learn. I, personally, do more of this on my own than at school.

You took the words out of my mouth! I so agree, and second and third.......and infinitith my statement!!!!!

Man, where do I start!
First, there is nothing much more we can do with a 95+ in classes - even if we do pay attention - teachers always find a way to deduct marks! Second, flashing lights? Do you even own a claculator? If you don't, what are you doing here?? If you do, you should know better - lights? - flashing?!!!! Third, headed for trouble when the subjects get tougher? Most of the time, the subjects don't get tougher, My friends were still learning graphs in grade 10! I'm in grade nine and I took an OAC course on Finite Mathematics. Most of the time I didn't need to take notes.

Would reviewing a formula I already know help me avoid my problem of miscopying numbers occasionally? NO
Would doing 2+2 a million times make me work faster that a synapse can fire? NO
Even with 10 times more work could I increase my grades any more than one percent? NO
When your grade is low, it doesen't take as much work to increase it one percent as it does when your grade is high. The grade you get depends on the work you do, but there is a certain point that even with infinite work you cannot reach, and there is also a limit to how high your grade could be if you didn't need sleep and worked 24/7/365.25: it is not worth that much trouble to increase a grade one point.

Games should not be on calculators, because TIXXs are tools, not gameboys. WE GOONA GAME-BASH ALL WE WANT, DAMMIT!

Go ahead damn it. See if it stops me!

lol i view TI's as gameboys (sort of)... i mean, the 83s/84s do run z80 anyway? I say GAME ON... studying alone at home is better than school anyway when the teacher (who happens to teach college classes and confuses them with her high school classes i attend) goes very fast and often opts not to explain what happened.

WE GONNA GAMEBASH ALL WE WANNA, YOU STINKAH!!!

Not a good way to convince someone or go about doing something or making a point.

An 85, 86, and 92+? You are missing out. You gotta trade that 85 in for an 84PSE and the TI-Nspire CX CAS is a must-get.

I know... YOU CHEAT!!! Graphing calculator games are DAMN STUPID!!!

Shut up! Do you want to be banned because that's what you deserve! Try to keep your comments, well, better… You're almost spamming and a bunch of capitalized letters don't do anything to a proper person.

You realize you're really beating a dead horse saying that to someone who hasn't visited the site in over 13 or so years, right? ;-)

Well, it is true that students should pay attention to the lesson, but I say that you only need to pay attention in class, if you are learning something you don't know already. Otherwise, play games if you like. I play games on my graphing calculator in just about every class and I have been a straight A student every year of my life except the 4th grade.(I made some B's) I've never made anything below a B on my report card, I'm also in Who's Who of America!!! I'm on the student concil and in Beta club. I get TOP HONOERS every year! I think I can say that I have the choice and not the right to play games. I don't have a right to because it is a privelege, but at the same time, I do have the choice to play games if I feel I don't need to listen or if I am bored. Usually I can play games and listen at the same time! It's not that hard!

One possible reason is that most US high schools have very low standards. When I spent a year in a US high school as an exchange student, I felt like I was back at elementary level... So, to stay on topic, I think it is not a problem to get straight A's while playing calc games all the time :-))

I find it impossible that you play them in all classes. My English teacher won't let me take out my calculator to simply take notes!!!

I disagree SEVERELY. Games shouldn't be on calculators PERIOD. No matter how high the average is, they still have the responcibility to pay attention in class, instead of playing Tenteris while the teacher is giving his/her lesson. I have recently brought a TI 89, and I am not going to put games on it. I am going tu use it as it is intended to be--a lerning tool.

Are you a teacher? I seem to remember translators and an electronic organizer for the Game Boy. I suppose you don't believe that they should have been made since the Game Boy was meant for games? Oh, by the way, maybe we should install harnesses into the desks so that students must look at the teacher and pay attention at all times. While we're at it, how about electric shock therapy?

I got news for you bud...you think us anti games on TIcalcs are teachers?! I don't think so, you creep. And by the way...DOWN WITH GAMES!!! DOWN WITH GAMES!!!

Is it just me or are all the game-bashers teachers or mindless morons like this guy?

It's definitly not you.

agreed!

YOU DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE THE WORD "GEEK" IN YOUR USERNAME!!!! HOW ARE YOU ON THIS SITE?!?!?!

Why no games on calcs?! Are you trying to doom the future of portable programming? Why are you on the internet, because computers weren't made for the internet so they shouldn't have browsers!!

As previously stated, I believe that games are appropriate in some situations. For example, what's wrong with a quick game of Gravity Guy or CubeField when the chapter test is finished and there's 2 minutes of class left? What else is there to do?

...dont you think you are being a little exagerative? And by the way...DOWN WITH GAMES!!! DOWN WITH GAMES!!! They are a waste of resources (TIcalcs) and Memory (on the TIcalcs)

You are like the people who said games shouldn't be put on computers because computers were supposed to be tools. TI-Calcs are just portable computers. DIE!!! LONG LIVE GAMES!

Rock on SirKight

AGREED 100% (also what he said about computers and calculators) LIVE LONG GAMES!!!!!!. (especially asm ones)

He shouldn't be on the internet because computers weren't originally meant for web browsing!

So what should we do with the "wasted" space? Put cheating programs? What would you like me to do? Cheat or play?

You claim to be geeky...do you know anything about the TI calculators or computers for that matter? Think about a computer. If it has only an OS installed on a 120GB hard drive, and nothing else, do you think it would be a useful PC? What's the point of buying a fast computer if all you do is use wordpad?

I have to disagree with you, Alex. When I first got my TI-85 in 8th grade, I only used it as a learning tool, especially in Algebra I. But when I entered high school, I bought a TI Graph Link so that I could back up my calculator. After visiting ticalc.org for the first time, however, I finally became aware of the awesome games available.

FYI, after owning a TI-85 for a year, I decided to buy a TI-83 last year. Also, I purchased a TI-89 two months ago. All of these calculators have games on them. Yet, I do not always choose to play them.

Sometimes, I get tired of playing calculator games during class. Therefore, beginning this year, I have started to read books during math class. My teacher doesn't mind; I think I have the highest average in her class.

I am only a sophomore in high school, yet I still maintain straight A's and my current GPA is 4.0488. Besides, my Alg II Trig average is 105.

If people choose to play games on their calculator, then fine. But if it affects their grades negatively, then the playing should be restricted. Yet, I don't think the games should be deleted. All games will find their way back on the calculator, especially when someone owns a computer link cable.

Like I was saying...GAMES ARE A WASTE OF RESOURCES AND TIME!!! Games should not be on there PERIOD!!!

SHUT UP!!!!

I know, right?!

well, If you have extra "resources", can you not use them for games then?

Why the fuck should you care if I waste MY resoucres and MY time?

look if calculator games are an unnessicary use of resources then would you not also say that umm posting your opinion is a waste of recoures being on the computer for things other than educational purposes i mean come on if you think that then believe what you want to but come on millions of people play vidio games so inturn you are saying that they are stupid hmm calculater games should be played during spare time otherwise if your not doing any thing its wasting resoures alright why don't you say what you just said to all the diablo or warcrft fans or are you scared they would woop yur ass bitch

High average or not...every student owes it to their teachers to PAY ATTENTION in class. By ignoring the teacher, you are DISRESPECTING them!

It isn't my job as a student to respect my teachers, even though I do. (It is my contractual obligation at my private school, but I signed the contract of my own free will.) I respect my teachers by not patronizing them by pretending I need to pay attention in Algebra II when I covered calculus during the beginning of the year completely on my own. Having had a 108 averages (including a quarter where I got every possible point, bonus and regular) in honors-level math classes I literally slept through parts of (without the teacher getting upset), I can say safely that sometimes your attention isn't required. When I was awake about all I did was play with my scientific calculator (just got the 83+SE this summer) and talk to others. In my opinion, calculator games represent a valuable method of avoiding boredom without disturbing others or being too obviously inattentive.

jesus are you a nerd. no one owes anything to their teachers. my geom teacher doesn't care, my grades have actually gone up since i put games on my calc (96 to a 101). If you can do the lesson and work in 10 minutes, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to have fun for the next half hour. if you are good enough to finish that fast, you deserve to have fun.

Damn straight I'm disrespecting them! Respect is like the golden rule. Once they respect me as a student and stop treating my generation like dog shit I'll respect them. Sometimes they have to be reminded that while they're in retirerment homes it will be us paying for their Medicare just like we're paying for their paycheck!

Seems like you need to "lern" how to spell.

You know, I ought to e-mail a bug to your computer, Biff!

Uh-huh. Email a bug. Boy, do you know your stuff, It's "email a virus," and yes, I am a nerd and a geek, and proud of it. Which is why i had to correct you.

Well, if you don't get games on your ti-89 then you are stupid. Plus who the hell just uses their calculator for school.

And when you're finished learning (like so many people ahead of you) what are you going to do with it?

I disagree. I think that you can put games on calculators, but can't play them in class (except if some teacher has to do individualized teaching/testing and you would have otherwise have wasted a whole period.). It is perfectly fine to play them at lunch.

You moron you spelled tetris wrong????!!!! So you probely are not a gamer, no gamer would do that! Anyway Games are defintly needed. Why would they not be. They are not a distraction, unless you are a tard, THEY are not a distraction to people around you if they were then the teacher would notice, and calculaters are not lound since you need a plug in for sound on most calcs. So shut up you morons. I am in all AP in 8th grade.I have a 3.7 gpa and the only class I have a B in is the class I don't play calcs in. So take that in shove in your liberl teacher suck up ass

You moron you spelled tetris wrong????!!!! So you probely are not a gamer, no gamer would do that! Anyway Games are defintly needed. Why would they not be. They are not a distraction, unless you are a tard, THEY are not a distraction to people around you if they were then the teacher would notice, and calculaters are not lound since you need a plug in for sound on most calcs. So shut up you morons. I am in all AP in 8th grade.I have a 3.7 gpa and the only class I have a B in is the class I don't play calcs in. So take that in shove in your liberl teacher suck up ass.

What a waste of processor power! Math doesn't use the processor 100% unless you're factoring something. It's games that utilize that big investment of a calculator! Lol.

I guess that you don't realize that TI itself has provided games for some calculators as soon as they have been released. Sounds like an original purpose to me.