I personally find that calculator games are a way to enhance my knowledge of math and development of future programs both for the calculator and PC. For example, take the game Scorched Earth that I made several years ago for the 82. I learned how to use trajectories before I ever took Physics! I have to agree, however, that most people are just playing games to pass the time without aiming to learn. Serious programmers should be allowed to have calculators in class.

I completely agree that kids use calculator games to pass the time. although some of the kids like me use their "time on the calculator" wisely and use it strictly for math. usually after A lecture in math I am on my calculator programming some programs that do the fomulas and all that junk that makes it easier to do math. so far I have created a simple shell in TI-BASIC during class that will take your input and show work to whatever you put in to the calculator. so if you think about it these calculators are very useful, but not necessary (if you dont want a good grade in math) In my class, the highest grade of the kids that dont use graphing calculators is a C, so it is necessary if you want good grades

I completely disagree with your article. You almost sound like a mother telling her children to behave in class, come on! I enjoy playing games in class all the time, not only in math class but a few of my others as well. My teachers who have a problem with it tell me to put it away, and I will not use it in that class anymore. Other teachers do not have a problem with me using it. What's amazing is that I have about the same grades in these classes. I have a 3.75 GPA and am going to the University of Wisconsin at Madison next year. I have a feeling you wrote the article because you are bitter about losing your privledges of using a calculator or something stupid like that.


If you honestly think you will convert people to your strict set of in-class guidelines for paying attention and using your calculator lets just say: You are not the sharpest knife in the drawer, you have a screw loose, or perhaps you don't have both oars in the water.

These calculators are made for games. Why did TI add assembly language support and more memory. I own a TI-89 and although the 89 has a few added math features, the new commands for pictures and other stuff is for game programmers. Most assembly language programs are games and since TI has added ASM support, they are supporting the game programming community. After years of messing around with TI graphing calculators for years I have come to the conclusion that they were made by programmers for programmers ... game programmers that is.
I get good grades in school and I work on my programming project in all of my classes. Every day in physics, I work on XShell 89 on my calc and I get good grades. It is the responsibility of each calculator owner to decide whether they can get a good grade and still play calculator games or program in class. Most teachers feel the same way. Besides, when I play games, I am awake and at least hearing the lecture. Without my calculator, I would be asleep in most of my classes.
The author of this article apparently can't or won't understand that the TI calculators were intended for games. Calculator games are not distracting in class. Whoever wrote the article probably has never been very bored in class or otherwise they would understand the reason for having games on a calculator.

calculators were _not_ made for games. Gameboy was made for games.

Try adding a grayscale lcd, hardware sprites, masking and scrolling, DMA transfer and a sound board .. then, yes, the calculator would be made for games.

If calculators were not made for games then why did TI add assembly language support and more memory when the obvious use for both is better and more games?

hmm. they added assembly support so that people could program in assembly, obviously; they could see that assembly programming is very popular.

people can make games in assembly .. so?
people can make games in 85 BASIC, yet even you wouldn't say that the 85 is made for gaming.

Hmmm... take a look at some of the games... greyscale, scrolling, masking, and also look at the chip in the Gameboy Color... Remind you of anything? (cough, cough, TI-89, cough)

damn you guys!!

sorry for the confusion .. the hardware should have been distributed. ie. hardware sprites, hardware masking, hardware scrolling

if the gbc cpu reminds you of the 89 then you have another thing coming .. it should remind you of a z80 since that's what it's model after. the cpu in the 8x calcs are should remind you of a z80 as well, since that's what they're modeled after

and the ti-89, btw, does _not_ have a grayscale LCD. go buy one and see. Since you have two planes to manipulate when using grayscale on the 89, it takes almost twice as long as it would if it did have a grayscale LCD.

Twelve years later, you've got a 16-bit full-color calc with a keyboard and mouse, plus Lua support. Hmm…

YOU'RE ALLRIGHT, MAN!!!

Yeah!!! !!!Tu eres el muchacho!!!

Calculators were not meant for gaming, regardless of what features Texas Instruments has put on them. The TI-89 calculator is no exception. Texas Instruments added assembly language support because it is a popular feature and it can be used to make ANY type of program run quicker than if it was written in basic, game or otherwise. You also bring up the point that TI has added more memory. The added memory is NOT intended solely for game use. It is meant to speed up the calculator and give the calculator room for more advanced data storage and more programs, both games and other types. So, although the TI-89's advanced features, 68K processor, assembly language, extensive memory, and so on DO lend themselves well to game usage, the main purpose of a calculator, regardless of what type (graphing, scientific, $1 cheapies), is to perform CALCULATIONS (hence the name CALCULATOR). Some calculators (such as the TI-89)are designed to do more advanced calculations than others. Calculator designers take that into consideration when they develop new calculators. Anybody who thinks that TI is trying to sell calculators should take a look at their Graphing Calculator Comparison page (click on the link above in this message's heading). You will find aboslutely NO mention of gaming capabilities. If TI was trying to sell the calculators to gamers, they would prominently advertise the gaming capability of their calculators on this page. If you think the 89's power is for games, look at all of the features that the TI-89 has that other TI-8x calculators do not. Gaming capability is not the reason for the power, it is an additional benefit of the power needed for other functions.

I'm a TI 89 user, too!!! I cannot agree with you any more!!! All these jerkasses with high averages and so-called IQs of 165 are bums who are failing classes. I say, GAMES SUCK!!!

Ok now, I guarantee you that you have no where near an IQ of 165, SO SHUT UP! If you can't make any sort of intellectual converstion besides clinging to other peoples anti-games sentiments and continually saying such things as "DOWN WITH GAMES! DOWN WITH GAMES!" LEAVE! There are actually some people on here who actually try to make intelligent conversation, and none of them like to listen to your illogical garbage.
-Corey

You know what? I'm sick of all these "Calculator games are the great Satan! blah blah blah Fun is BAD" people. They usually say the same things:

Calculators are for Math and nothing else.
Games are bad, don't play games.
Teachers take calcs with games away.

And this post has a few new things to it:

A comprehensive list of what to do/not do (you obviously have to be told, don't you)
the quote "using a graphing calculator is a privilige, not a right."

Look games are always going to be on graphing calcs, teachers don't care if your playing, they won't take the calc away, they won't tell you to stop. Teachers at my school seem to think that the students can decide what they do with thier time/calcs. ticalc.org shouldn't put these articles up on the main site anymore, they've been done to death.

I can aggree with your point. In a highschool class you are on the teacher's time, not yours. In college you are on your time, because you are paying for your education.

In High School you are also paying for your education, ever hear of taxes?

I'm actually paying for two partial high school educations. I'm paying a part of some random public high school attendee's tuition, because the government makes me, rightly even though I don't particularly like it. I'm also paying my over $4,000/year tuition to go to a private high school. (Admittedly, I'm on scholarship and receive financial aid, due to a less than stellar income, but I pay part.)

When I wrote the article I was trying to make a point, and a specific one. Calculator games are great, and I play them myself. But if they are going to be a disturbance to others and you, then maybe put the calculator away, or remove the games. I have the Finance and Statistic programs on my TI-86, and more games than anything else on my TI-89. Games are great, and learning how to write them is an invaluable tool. But there should be a time for games, and a time for the "tool."

I feel it is not the students fault to play games during or before class. The teacher should plan their teaching around the students and use ways to keep them listening to them. Some ideas might include the use of visual object that are most intrested to younger ages and teens. More hands on work and less talk. If you ask any high school kid that uses the calculators the question about do they feel teachers talk to much and should get more down to business they would say 'getting down to business is more important and will keep the kids listening to them and understanding what is going on. 9 out of 10 people would listen more if the classes were more hands on. Although I could tell ya this but it works. I have a current teacher Mr. Holobek which teachers classes at Lions Township High School (Which personal I think the People at that school suck but) The teacher keeps everyones attention and everyone I know looks forward to going into that class everyday knowing something new and adventures will come out of it. Try it and see the results 4 your self. I would also like to thank you for this time to explain my thoughts on this subject and like to make and ending comment about the programs made 4 the calculators. I personal make several games/programs for the 82,83,85,86,89 and have many program be a hit in the ASM form and have had many program bomb out. You must understand but having this calculator helps me learn more about the future I'm heading in which is programming. With out it I would have not learned ASM. Thank You Again