TI84COM was a game I made for the TI-84 series of calculators. As I put it back in 2021, the game is "Technically Unfinished", but this wasn't for a lack of trying. See the issue stems from how the TI-84 is fundamentally coded, it just simply has a memory leak issue that can't ever be fixed should you code in a certain way† . For 99% of all programs made for the little beast this isn't an issue as said programs barely reach a quarter of the calculator's memory space (a whole whopping 24KB! (technically the one I have has 128KB because it's an older model but TI limits all of them to be 24KB)), but when you try to make a game you tend to wander while you program... and well... I hit the max size limit of the memory.
This meant, when I eventually coded in the wrong way (i.e. using a GoTo command inside of a Loop or If command), I would just simply waste a few bytes of memory forever and wouldn't get them back until the entire program ended. And, of course, I didn't really know this until I had finished coding the whole thing (with the game rife with said wrong ways of coding). I did attempt to fix this problem, but sadly didn't do a good job at all.
To past me's credit, this was the first "major" thing I had programmed by my own volition. It actually started from an even older project back when I was in high school called "AWG - A Wolf Game". The whole premise was that you'd go out, kill wolves, and then upgrade your gear to kill even more wolves. The idea was to reach a highscore, which would be a perfect time waster if you were in a math class you didn't really care for. Sadly AWG has been lost forever, but it was copied off the TI84 Game "Skyrim" - which was basically the same premise but with Skyrim enemies. So play that while squinting your eyes and the experience is the exact same. The reason why I never went back and fully fixed the game in all this time is because the memory issue is still a problem even if I fix the leak. I've hit the max limit, there's no way of getting more space to make new content unless I jailbreak the TI-84. And at that point, is the game really worth making? Going beyond what's allowed by a base model is cheating in a way, the challenge is gone.
So, why am I hosting this buggy broken game? Well, the game is kinda fun. I am biased, obviously, but give it a whirl if you still have an old TI-84 around. If you fix the code, shoot it my way and I'll post it here + give you credit + and think you're a really cool person.
† Recent models have addressed this I believe.
TI84COM v2
Oh Hero! Will you embark on the adventure to rid the world of evil, and save the nearly ruined kingdom from complete and utter destruction? I mean, it's almost all gone... and all you can do is fight endlessly against the monsters that now rule our lands... but still! Fight them!
Note: READ THE README!
TI84COM v1
Oh Hero! Will you embark on the adventure to rid the world of evil, and save the nearly ruined kingdom from complete and utter destruction?
Note: READ THE README! This game is unfinished and will remain unfinished due to TI84 limitations.
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{TI-84 COM}
[Version 2]
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{By: Ite Orientis}
{ 06/14/2021 }
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How to Install to TI-84:
-Installing TI84COM is not hard at all. Simply go to TI's
website and download TI CONNECT CE from them.
-Afterwards, connect your TI84 to your PC and upload
TI84COM's files to your TI84! You might need to archive
and do other things of that nature to your device.
-As for the pictures, upload them the same way and make
sure that each picture matches. For example PIC0 should
be PIC0 on your device. It might also call it IMG0, both
work for this case. Archive each picture after they are
loaded to the device.
-If you're not using a TI84 then you can still try and run the
programs on your device. Though a TI84C won't work as
the resolution size is far greater than the TI84 programing.
To convert it, you would need to space out all Text(
commands you find in the code.
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Issues:
1: Memory Leak. This is an issue with the device's base code
and can't really be fixed.
2:Technically Unfinished. Everything works mechanically,
but there's no conclusion to the story. Whoops!
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Solution to Issues:
-Autosave feature added through code. This now forces
the user into a save state when enough if commands have been
passed. This is not a perfect solution as some operations
have memory leak issues as well
-Timer added through code. The Autosave feature uses
this timer for parts of it's implementation. However, the
user is also told how long until a potential crash will occur.
As time approaches 0, the chances of a crash approach
100%
-Not added in this update, but removed "unneeded" parts
of code. Freed up an additional 3kb, large amount for
a file this small. Sadly, shopping feature has been axed.
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Explanation:
To play, run TI84COM on your device after everything has
been added to your device. That's it! It will take care of
itself as you go.
Have fun!
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