Print Page - Should I get a TI-84+?

Calculator Community => TI Calculators => General Calculator Help => Topic started by: arti on August 22, 2005, 07:07:00 am

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on August 22, 2005, 07:07:00 am

I was thinking about buying a TI-84+. I found a really good deal at Costco ($130CAD).

I already have a half-broken/rugged TI-86 that I use for school work, and an 89T for programming and gaming.

I'm really not sure if an 83/4+ is worth it just for the games - thousands of free games :woot:

I know that there is 80% chance I won't learn how to program its BASIC language, simply b/c I like the speed of C for the 68k's. There are lots of great ASM tutorials for the 83/4+ though, so perhaps sometime later on I could experiment a tiny bit with assembly.

I was also thinking about buying an old Gameboy advance - I found a GBA SP Platinum at Costco for $99CAD (it also comes with some shitty Pokemon pinball game...), but I was put off by the fact that each game costs $40, and there's no way for an average Joe to get to program for it :dang:

But then again, there are some cool NFS games available for it...

I need help.

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: tifreak on August 22, 2005, 07:40:00 am

Well, that is a tough one. Taking into consideration:

84+ = $130.00,never buy any games ever, build your own, etc.

GBSP = $99.00, wait for games to be on the shelf for 6 or so months so they are around $20, and there not be too many good ones... (Personally, I don't mind the PokeMon game (not pinball) since it fits all the requirements to make it an RPG. I also love Golden Sun, Final Fantasy Dawn of souls, and the MegaMan Battle Network series...

Honestly speaking, if you find many games that you want to play that aren't on the 89, then it would be worth it. If you would like to make a game for the 83/83+/84+/86/89 calcs, then it would be recommended to get it. It is just something you will have to decide what is more valuable...

Me, I got both... >D

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on August 22, 2005, 01:12:00 pm

if u can find a 83+SE with a serial link cable (black), get this, that way you'll be able to play old BASIC games which the author sent to their comp using grpsah link :)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on August 22, 2005, 01:28:00 pm

Wow I just found this on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007CWJ0/qid=1124756065/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-5524761-3880132?v=glance&s=videogames&n=507846
and a great game for a greta price
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001ZZNME/qid=1124756464/sr=1-61/ref=sr_1_61/102-5524761-3880132?v=glance&s=videogames

Should I get it?

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: MathStuf on August 22, 2005, 01:33:00 pm

If you're going to get an 83 series, go with one of the silver editions. Especially if you're getting it for gaming.But let me just tell you what I went through:
83+SE-learned BASIC and memorized keycodes for nearly everything.
83 series-tried to learn ASM (failed/gave up within a month)
Got an 89Ti
The 83+SE just doesn't feel...right...anymore...I can't remember where the keys are that much either...I do have to finish MathStuf z80 for all those calcs though anyway at some point...

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on August 22, 2005, 02:02:00 pm

QUOTE

Wow I just found this on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...ogames&n=507846
and a great game for a greta price
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...ce&s=videogames

Should I get it?

Zelda 1 is great, maybe if u ahve a Gamecube get the zelda collector package, Zelda 1 is included with it :)

. Dont buy the GBA Mario Bros though, you can get the NES version for $1 CAN

QuoteBegin-MathStuf+22 August 2005, 20:33

-->

QUOTE (MathStuf @ 22 August 2005, 20:33)

tried to learn ASM (failed/gave up within a month)

:bow:

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: MathStuf on August 22, 2005, 02:10:00 pm

:laugh:

Plus that the resolution isn't any good after looking at 68k for a while...

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on August 22, 2005, 02:13:00 pm

yeah, still, the 83+SE is very great for the incredible amount of RPG avaliable for it, see, on Omnimaga there is like 40+ 83+ RPGs and only 19 TI-89 RPGs and 70% of 89 RPGs are in french

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: CDI on August 22, 2005, 02:36:00 pm

hrm... GBA SP has games like Shining Force, FF1/2, Golden Sun, Fire Emblem...

the 83+SE has RoL3, RQ, RQ2, RoL2, FF:TOM, FF:TOM 2, maybe FF:TOM 3, so on and so forth... hrm...

83+ SE WINS!!!

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on August 22, 2005, 03:04:00 pm

QuoteBegin-arti+22 August 2005, 20:28-->

QUOTE (arti @ 22 August 2005, 20:28)

Of course, it doesn't ship outside the US. Oh goody :)

----

Thanks for the advice MathStuf, I was afraid of the 83/4+ not feeling right after getting used to a 68k.

As for ASM, you must be a very dedicated programmer to advance in that medium - maybe too dedicated for your own good. :wacko:

That's the nice thing about the 68k's, you don't need to know ASM to make ASM-like games :)

----

Since I can't get a GBA for a price I'm willing to pay (man Amazon pisses me off, with like $75CAD I would've had a GBA+Zelda...) and now I have second thoughts about the 83/4, I'll just stick to my 89T. I guess it's a good thing after all, it'll keep me focused on learning C. :)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: MathStuf on August 23, 2005, 03:14:00 am

Plus that calcs aren't banned in schools...GameBoys generally are. And with Pok

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on August 23, 2005, 03:19:00 am

yeah, it you have money to spare its always good to have a 83/84+ too if u want 40+ RPGs and other games, also I think 89 is banned in most school out here

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on August 25, 2005, 07:38:00 am

Hehe I chose the best of 2 worlds:
http://www.gbax.com/gp32pics.html

I'm really exicted about this, there are compilers for it in GNU C (same as TIGCC), so I can take my existing skills over to an even more fun platform full of SNES, GBA, Atari, genesis etc. emulators :D

Its ARM processor runs at 133Mhz+ and it's got a 320x240 65000 colours screen! :woot:

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: MathStuf on August 25, 2005, 08:03:00 am

So it's basically a handheld DreamCast?

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: crzyrbl on August 25, 2005, 01:57:00 pm

how hard would it be to get games though...also, i noticed that it uses batteries instead of recharges. ive nvr seen these b4.

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: MathStuf on August 25, 2005, 02:30:00 pm

Probably not too hard...the DreamCast was basically a console emulator. I could have gotten a game disc with all 600+ original NES games on it. The USB is probably meant for ROM transfers.

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on August 25, 2005, 02:47:00 pm

Well, you can get emulators for popular consoles to run roms, as well as its own games programmed by the users, with C, ASM, or some powerful kind of BASIC equivalent. It can use any kind of AA's (I'll use rechargeables), and it has a 3.5" colour screen :o Thousands of free games available, too :D

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: crzyrbl on August 25, 2005, 05:42:00 pm

if you could play gba games on it, it might be worth it.

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on August 26, 2005, 01:03:00 am

QuoteBegin-crzyrbl+26 August 2005, 0:42-->

QUOTE (crzyrbl @ 26 August 2005, 0:42)

if you could play gba games on it, it might be worth it.

GBA, GB-c, GB, GENESIS, SNES, and so much more. But the most attractive thing is that you can program your own games through a TIGCC-like environment B)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: tr1p1ea on September 05, 2005, 01:26:00 pm

GP32 is ok but i wouldnt really recommend actually buying one. They cant stack up against the GameBoys as far as game library goes ... I say if you are going to get anything, go for a DS :)

.

I still recommend getting a ti-83/4+ for the z80 leetness factor :)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: Ranman on September 05, 2005, 01:41:00 pm

QuoteBegin-arti+25 August 2005, 13:38-->

QUOTE (arti @ 25 August 2005, 13:38)

Its ARM processor runs at 133Mhz+ and it's got a 320x240 65000 colours screen! :woot:

The GP32 is great!. I can't wait for the new GP2X.

I bought a GP32 about a year ago. I bought it because it is "open source", it can play movies and MP3s, it uses standard SMC memory cards, it has tons of emulators... I love the Commodore 64 emulator (over 50000 games for the C64).

For calcs... go with the 68K;) (I may be a tad bit biased)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 05, 2005, 02:11:00 pm

for calcs I still stand for:

if you like RPGs too much to wait for new ones to be released, go z80, otherwise go 68k :)

but try to get a 83+/83+ or a 89/t because other calcs arent really used much anymore

EDIT: I would like to add one thing though about the 68k community (thats some kind of troll/flame though): you know that some ppl have no respect for BASIC programmers? But in the 68k community its much more worse than the z80 community, especially where Kevin Kofler is. I went on TIgen.org and #tigcc channel and they flames ETP studio and TI BASIC (even my programs and all other good ones around), in fact they flame everythign that Kevin Kofler didnt do. Also even if you code C or ASM you'll get flamed or trolled for anything, even if its not TI related or ppl will make fun of you. So you can get a 68k but I think you should stay on forums like Unitedti, Revsoft and such forums, maybe also TI-news, even though they arent 100% 68k oriented and post your files at ticalc.org, otherwise be prepared for troll fests. If you dont mind trolls, flames and bad attitude on TICT and its channel you can go here though. I also recommend Omnimaga as well since there are 68k coders here and the only flames you see are about the lack of respect in the TI community (like this one)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: Ranman on September 06, 2005, 03:36:00 pm

QuoteBegin-Kevin+5 September 2005, 20:11-->

QUOTE (Kevin @ 5 September 2005, 20:11)

for calcs I still stand for:

if you like RPGs too much to wait for new ones to be released, go z80, otherwise go 68k :)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: the_unknown_one on September 07, 2005, 12:18:00 am

They're just dumb f*cks. Like Andy.

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 07, 2005, 01:13:00 am

Of course Grayscale in BASIC isnt pure BASIC. Without Omnicalc or xLIB ASM libs it wouldnt be possible, but its still BASIC in some way because those instructions are placed between a myriad of TI-BASIC commands. But this doesnt matter if its BASIC, ASM, C or ETP (yes they flamed ETP), as long as the game is good and enjoyable. Someone on #tigcc claimed the fastest BASIC game ran at 0.5 fps, not true, Ender's Game runs at 2 fps and I have a BASIC tunnel on my old computer that runs at 8 fps on my black TI-83+ . actually I agree with ppl that says BASIC sucks, because TI didnt wrote it for games so its very slow and I still think TI should have made it faster because I saw math programs take 2 seconds to calculate a formula and its quite annoying, but its not necessary to yell "BASIC SUXXOR!!!!111one LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!111!!" everytime someone talk about BASIC, you can make good games with it and flaming just discourage ppl .

An article about this would be cool but Fred from this forum (CDI) wrote one here: http://s7.invisionfree.com/Omnimaga/index.php?showtopic=428

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on September 07, 2005, 10:25:00 am

The most attractive thing I find about TI-BASIC is the ability to code DIRECTLY on your handheld - for the FUN of it.

Of course, the 68k's have the awesome advantage called TIGCC. And I tend to disagree with you Kevin - you generalized and made the whole 68k community sound agressive and unfriendly. Well I've got lots of help from the TICT/TIGCC message boards and advanced C/ASM programmers, and I am very grateful for that. :)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: Ranman on September 07, 2005, 11:54:00 am

QuoteBegin-arti+7 September 2005, 16:25-->

QUOTE (arti @ 7 September 2005, 16:25)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 07, 2005, 12:11:00 pm

QuoteBegin-David Randall+7 September 2005, 18:54-->

QUOTE (David Randall @ 7 September 2005, 18:54)

QuoteBegin-arti+7 September 2005, 16:25-->

QUOTE (arti @ 7 September 2005, 16:25)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on September 07, 2005, 12:44:00 pm

Hey, better some than none I guess? :)

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 07, 2005, 01:38:00 pm

yeah, now just ask TI-BASIC game programming help on #tigcc or TICT boards and see :?

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on September 08, 2005, 12:53:00 am

I asked on #tcpa and they helped me ^^ I remember the time when I was working on my tilemapper in TI-BASIC - I'll use it again someday in my next RPG :') Man I'll never get to doing SOTN.

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 08, 2005, 01:29:00 am

QuoteBegin-arti+8 September 2005, 7:53-->

QUOTE (arti @ 8 September 2005, 7:53)

I asked on #tcpa and they helped me ^^ I remember the time when I was working on my tilemapper in TI-BASIC - I'll use it again someday in my next RPG :') Man I'll never get to doing SOTN.

yeah on #tcpa they are lot nicer, sometimes trolls comes in but it never last long and afterward it becomes fine. What is SOTP?

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: arti on September 08, 2005, 09:57:00 am

SOTN - my eventual RPG. I don't want to disclose anything about it yet, because so far it is nothing more than an idea.

Title: Should I get a TI-84+?
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 08, 2005, 12:21:00 pm

sound nice, I hope this time it will be finished ;)