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ЭНЦИКЛОПЕДИЯ ТЕРМИНОВ,
относящихся к домашнему компьютеру TI-99/4A

SAINT NICK: Санта Клаус - код по каталогу компании "Funware": FW 1009. Выпуск - 4 квартал 1983. Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $44.95 - Действительное название - "St. Nick". Эта игра на картридже - одна из девяти развивающих игр, объявленных к изданию президентом компании "Funware" (и бывшим сотрудником корпорации "Texas Instruments") Майклом Брузерсом (Michael Brouthers) в июне 1983 г. на ярмарке "Consumer Electronics Show". Эти девять программ: Ambulance, Ant Colony, Astroblitz, Cave Creatures, Crisis Mountain, Driving Demon, Pipes, Saint Nick и Trashman. Всего лишь три из объявленных девяти программ увидели свет и поступили в продажу: Ambulance, Driving Demon и St. Nick, прежде всего потому, наверное, что компания "Funware" в середине 1983 года была продана компании Пола Жужело (Paul Zuzelo) Creative Software. В игре "St. Nick" колдуньи творят заклинания против эльфов Санта-Клауса, превращая этих милых помощников с совершенно бестолковые создания. Это значит, что заколдованные эльфы крадут все игрушки у Санта-Клауса и разбрасывают их вокруг. Играющий должен помочь дедушке Санта-Клаусу собрать все игрушки за указанное время, чтобы не опоздать к Рождеству. В этой игре используется джойстик.
SAGUARO CITY: One of the 'never released cartridge titles for the TI-99/4A. "Copyright Texas Instruments 1981. This looks like it is the original version of what TI officially released under the name "Tombstone City". We have it as an EA5 loadable program file on disk 857B. There are two graphic differences between this and Tombstone City. 1- The title shows as "Saguaro City". 2- There are Saguaro cacti constantly on display in the upper left and right of the screen, but dead bad guys (morgs) are displayed as tombstones in the desert outside of town. In the officially released game (Tombstone City) the dead morgs all look like cacti and there are no tombstones. It seems to me that TI got its names mixed up. The title "Tombstone City" should go with the (never released) that shows the tombstones, and "Saguaro City" should have been the title to the (officially released) version that shows all the cacti." (Charles Good Lima BB&P Newsletter Feb 1994)
SAUCERS: Alien craft that are one of eight hazards in the Parsec game.
SAVAGE ISLAND I and II ADVENTURE DATABASE: PHD 5054 / PHT 6054 - Released 1Q/1982 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $39.95 in 1982, $29.95 in 1983 -- The Savage Island series begins on the edge of an impenetrable jungle. As you explore the island in this two-part series you may meet some very unusual creatures. Either become the world's greatest hero, or experience a quick, horrible death. Requires disk, disk drive for PHD 5054 or cassette, cassette program recorder and program recorder cable are required for PHT 6054. Either software database requires the Adventure Module PHM 3041 to run the Savage Island series database.
SAVE NEW YORK: Commodore 64 game cartridge released in 1983 by Creative Software.
SCHEER, HOWARD E.: Programmed the Scott, Foresman Multiplication 2 cartridge for the TI-99/4A.
SCHLERETH, HENRI: Houston User Group member and employee of Ryte Data South, the short-lived American arm of Bruce Ryan's Ryte Data company. Schlereth and Judi Beckett were the entire Ryte Data South Company, formed in May 1987, but which closed in October 1987.
SCHMITT, MICKEY: See MS Express Software.
SCHOLASTIC SPELLING - LEVEL 3: scholastic3 PHM 3059 - Released 2Q/1982 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $59.95 -- Levels 3-6 contain 36 lessons and 3 spelling games. Each of the 36 lessons has 20 spelling words. Every sixth lesson is a review with 20 words from the previous five lessons. Students can select any of the 36 lessons and any of the three games for a total of 108 different activities. The first game, "Spelling Bee", is a drill and practice spelling game of diminishing clues. The second game, "That Did It", develops proficiency is spelling patterns of the English language. The third game, "Space Race", tests spelling proficiency in game format. All four modules were developed in conjunction with Scholastic Publishing Company Inc. These four modules 'enjoy' the distinction of having the largest packaging of any cartridge program manufactured for the TI-99/4A. The 1051477-2 cardboard box that was used to hold the 1051495-001 cardboard tray, which in turn held the unnumbered plastic tray used for 'normal' software packaging, the 1035994-1 newsprint workbook and the 1053591-1 red colored cardstock cover measured 8.5" x 11" in size. It is safe to say I think, that the packaging for these four cartridges is probably more rare than the cartridges themselves. A Solid State Speech Synthesizer is required to use these four cartridges. Scholastic Inc. credits Amy Levin and Mary Jane Martin as being the originators of the program's concept; Rush Hinsdale as the designer; Paul Cohen as the Music Consultant, with the Space Race music being composed by Danny Bergen. Activity Book credits include Amy Levin, Editor; Bernice Golden, Writer; Mary Mars, Senior Art Director; Steven Guarnaccia, Illustrator; Doug Taylor, Cover Illustrator; Nancy J. Smith, Production Editor.
SCHOLASTIC SPELLING - LEVEL 4: PHM 3060 - Released 2Q/1982 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $59.95 -- 1035995-1 newsprint workbook and the 1053591-2 dark green colored cardstock cover. See Level 3 above for more information.
SCHOLASTIC SPELLING - LEVEL 5: PHM 3061 - Released 2Q/1982 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $59.95 -- 1035996-1 newsprint workbook and the 1053591-3 orange colored cardstock cover. See Level 3 above for more information.
SCHOLASTIC SPELLING - LEVEL 6: PHM 3062 - Released 2Q/1982 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $59.95 -- 1035997-1 newsprint workbook and the 1053591-4 dark blue colored cardstock cover. See Level 3 above for more information. User Comments (provided by John E. Taylor and other members of the Shoals 99er User Group in 1985): The Scholastic Spelling modules provide spelling practice for 600 different words in each module. The words are divided into 36 lessons of 20 words each, with each 6th lesson being a review of 20 words from the last 5 lessons. When the program begins, you are asked for a lesson number to study. After selecting a lession, the computer lists all the words on the screen and speaks them. You can then choose from 3 different activities. SPELLING BEE says a word and then asks you to spell it. You can ask for clues consisting of vouls or consonants. If you answer correctly, a butterfly flies across the screen as a short song plays. THAT DIT IT! is a hangman type game. SPACE RACE is just like spelling bee except that no clues are given, and instead of a butterfly you get a spaceship flying across the screen. All four modules follow the same format. I must admit that I had been tempted to purchase at least one of these modules at the retail price of $49. When TexComp dropped the price to $20 for all four, I couldn't resist. Boy, am I glad I didn't pay full price for them! I am more disappointed with these modules than with any other software that I've purchased for my computer. The speech used is the TEII type speech which is very hard to understand, and after spelling a few words, the butterflies and spaceships along with the crummy little songs that accompany them get to be too much to bear. The manual says that after you complete a lesson by correctly spelling all 20 words, you get a longer musical reward, but the kids couldn't understand the spoken words well enough to spell them, and I couldn't stomach the short songs long enough to get that far. I can't believe that anyone could take it for 600 words. The only bright thing about these modules is the manual. Each one comes with a workbook for the kids, and mine really enjoyed them. All in all, I think you can find much better educational software to spend your money on.
SCI TECH: A California firm that reportedly contacted MG's Craig Miller to write an operating system for a planned 99/4A Ram Disk in February 1985. The company never surfaced publically, and the Ram Disk never appeared. (MICROpendium Feb85, p.28)
SCIENCE FACTS: PHD 5085 - Release Announced 4Q/1982 - Release Cancelled 2Q/1983 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $29.95 -- One of eleven math and science programs developed by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC) for grades one through eight. These programs are standard, in-school computer programs. Requires disk, disk drive and controller, and Extended BASIC Command Module. Listed in 1982-83 Elek-TEK catalog for $24.95. Although this program and the other 10 titles from Minnesota Educational Computing Company are listed in TI's June-December 1982 'U.S. Consumer Products Suggested Retail Price List', neither it nor the other titles were ever released. TI's explanation for the cancellation was that the MECC products duplicated educational themes that already existed in the 99/4A's library of software. * PHD 5078 - Metric and Counting * PHD 5079 - Elementary Economics * PHD 5080 - Elementary Math and Science * PHD 5081 - Astronomy * PHD 5082 - Word Beginnings * PHD 5083 - Exploring * PHD 5084 - Math Practice * PHD 5085 - Science Facts * PHD 5086 - Natural Science * PHD 5087 - Social Science * PHD 5088 - Teacher's Toolbox
SCOTT, FORESMAN CARTRIDGES SOLD BY TRONICS: * HSM 1010 Frog Jump * HSM 1020 Picture Parts * HSM 1030 Pyramid Puzzler * HSM 1040 Star Maze * HSM 1050 Number Bowling * HSM 1060 Space Journey * HMS 1405 Attendance Recorder * HSM 1406 Class Data Recorder * HSM 1408 School Mailer * HSM 1411 Payroll Assistant * HSM 1412 Personnel Data Recorder * HSM 1413 Activity Accountant * HSM 1414 Accounting Assistant * HSM 1415 Salary Planner * HSM 1416 Property Manager
SCOTT, FORESMAN MATHEMATICS COURSE MANAGER: The Scott, Foresman Mathematics Course Manager is another application developed for Scott, Foresman and Company by EduSystems Inc. Although it is not part of the School Management Applications, the literature I have includes the Course Manager description because it aligns closely with the CLASSROOM LEVEL packages in the SMA system, and can be used with the same hardware as the SMA system requires. A requisite for Course Manager use is that the teacher is using books 3 through 8 of the Scott, Foresman Mathematics program. These are text books produced by Scott, Foresman. Course Manager is designed to simplify the management of teaching with these books by correlating the objectives in each chapter with the test results for an individual student or an entire class. The software provides the teacher with specific page references for reteaching or enriching students who have failed or passed the grade-level objectives.Each data diskette used with the Course Manager can hold the names of 40 students, the scores of up to 49 chapter, unit and end-of-book tests for each of the 40 students, to a maximum of 1960 test scores.Package Cart Disk Title Price ISBN 30447-7 30448 30456 Mathematics Course Manager $450.00 0-673-30447-7
SCOTT, FORESMAN: School Management Applications
SCOTT, FORESMAN SPEAKING MATH TEACHER: PHL 7007 - Released 1Q/1982 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $109.90 -- Your TI Home Computer and the Scott, Foresman Speaking Math Teacher provide the ideal environment for your child to learn mathmatics. The three Command Modules-Addition and Subtraction 1 for grades K through 2, Addition and Subtraction 2 for grades 1 through 3, and Multiplication 1 for grades 3 throtics. The three Command Modules - Addition and Subtraction 1 for grades traction 2 for grades 1 through 3, and Multiplt"world of words" an even more exciting one with two instructive Command Modules: Early Reading for grades K through 2 and Reading Fun for grades 1 through 3. The modules were developed by TI in conjunction with Scott, Foresman and Company, a leading educational publisher. The Early Reading module requires the TI Speech Synthesizer (sold separately), while the Speech Synthesizer is optional with the Reading Fun module. With synthesized speech, the computer's voice gives directions and guides your child in an attention-getting manner.
SCOTCH MARKETING INC: Box 1636 SSS Department MLM, Springfield, MO 65805. A Multilevel Marketing (pyramid sales technique) firm specializing in TI-99/4A hardware and software in 1983.
Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена
SEALY, MIKE: See MS Express Software.
SEARCH MASTER: Sunware Ltd. - STA 102 - Released 1984 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $36.95 -- Helps search and rescue efforts for downed aircraft and/or lost people. The user inputs variables such as terrain, weather and medical history of the lost individuals if known. The computer will give survival time of the lost persons and the optimum manpower utilization for rescue operations. Cartridge software. This cartridge is listed on page 32 of the Fall 1984 Unisource catalog, but I have never seen it in the flesh. Based upon its intended use, and the liklihood that few were ever purchased because of that, I would say it is among the rarest of cartridges for the TI-99/4A.
SEARS ELECTRONIC REVOLUTION SALE: sears ad A sale on electronics products (including the TI-99/4A Home Computer) that were available at Sears in June 1983. The sale included national advertising in magazines, including this full-page ad found in the June 1983 issue of Games magazine on page 1. The ad also included Sears Electronic Corrector Typewriter, a Uniden Cordless Phone and an Atari 5200 video game console. The verbage for the TI-99/4A reads, "TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI-99/4A COMPUTER This personal computer has built-in 16K Random Access Memory. With the TI Memory Expansion Card and Mini-memory Module (both sold separately), it's expandable up to 52K. Includes alpha-numeric keyboard; color, music, and sound capbilities." The verbage for the Atari 5200 reads, "An exciting home video system with expanded electronic memory for sharp color graphics. The video sounds make you feel like you're at the arcade. Comes with Super Breakout game cartridge".
SECURITIES ANALYSIS: PHM 3012 - Released 1Q/1980 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $54.95 -- A Texas Instruments produced Solid State Software command module for stock market investors. Originally released as Investment Analysis in 1979, although I've never seen an actual command module with that label on it. According to the documentation (1037109-112), "Offers you a variety of securities analysis techniques - important financial tools that can help you make sound investment decisions." Designed to provide evaluation of investment alternatives. The 24K of bank-switched code in the module contained an implementation of the Black-Sholes Options Pricing technique that would solve for option values and hedge ratio, or the implied volatility of a stock. Option writing was also supported in the evaluation of the purchase of underlying stock on a call option or the shorting of stock on a put option. Determination of Option spreads were supported by a section of the program that could calculate the cash flow resulting from selling and buying call options on the same underlying stock. Bond purchase decisions were supported through the ability to compute the annual yield to maturity or market price. Finally, Securities Analysis offered a set of Basic Financial Tools that covered compound interest, annuities, variable cash flows and days between dates. Limited printing was supported to a TI Thermal printer. Came with a 63 page manual. Originally sold for $54.95 when introduced in 1980, was reduced to $39.95 by 1983, but never went lower than $19.95 even after the bailout by TI, since the module was seen as one of the most valued that TI ever produced for the 99/4 and 4A.
SEGA ENTERPRISES: An acronym for SErvice GAmes, a company started in Japan in 1951 by American David Rosen, who returned after World War II to marry his Japanese girlfriend. SEGA was acquired by Gulf & Western in 1970, parent company to Paramount pictures. Under this ownership SEGA would become a major player in the video arcade games industry of the 1980s and 1990s.
SEIKOSHA TI PRINTERS: See Axiom TI Printers.
SENGOKU JIDAI: Not-Polyoptics-tape only - Released 1982 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $18.00 - A warfare simulation based on the period in Japanese history called the Age of Warring States. Each player has a castle stronghold and four armies made up of samurai, archers, and foot soldiers. Casualties are computed according to terrain, strength and luck. Each game takes place on a different, randomly generated map board. For 2 or 3 players. TI BASIC.
SEWERMANIA: PHM 3150 - Released 4Q/1983 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $49.95 -- One of the Arcade Plus Series of games cartridges made by Milton Bradley Company for the TI-99/4A. According to the documentation (1053590-1050), "A bomb is hidden deep in the city's sewer system. Can you help our hero, Dave, who works for underground Sewer Central, race through two pipe mazes and find the bomb?" The game sports a Demo Mode that is displayed after the title screen. It also supports speeech synthesis or use of the MBX (Milton Bradley Expansion) system. No credit given to programmer or instruction manual design other than "Milton Bradley Company".
SGW: Asgard U9105 disk -- Released 1992 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $14.95 -- Billed as the "Ultimate CHARA editor!" SGW is the last word in CHARA1 character set editors! This program allows you to edit an entire CHARA1 character set at once in a WYSIWYG window at assembly speed with your joystick. Included are a wide collection of commands that make modifying or creating character sets a breeze. You can edit "double-sized" character sets with all 256 characters defined. Save your character set as source code for use in your XB, Fortran 99, c99 and UCSD Pascal programs. Generate 'transliterate' files from graphics designs to create custom TI-Writer graphics. Even import CSGD graphics into a character set. SGW's a great tool for anyone that finds generating graphics tedious. SGW requires a disk system with expanded memory, the E/A or XB module, and a joystick. By Sylvain.
SHAMUS: Atarisoft RX 8518 - Released 4Q/1983 - MSRP $44.95 -- TI-99/4A version of the game originally created by William Mataga for the Atari 800. Tom Griner (of Choplifter fame) later ported to the VIC-20 and that Jack L. Thornton ported it to the C64. In the game, you are the Shamus and your goal is to reach the very core of the Shadow's Lair and destroy him. At the beginning, pressing the + key allows you to select level of difficulty; novice, experienced, or advanced. The goal of reaching the Shadow's Lair is accomplished by progressively exploring each level of the Lair and accumulating the greatest number of points, bonuses and lives you can accumulate. The Lair consists of four levels; Black, Blue, Green and Red, in order of progressive difficulty. Lurking in the Lair are dangerous henchman such as the Spiral Drones and Robo-Droids who are armed with disruptors, and Snap Jumpers, who are self-propelled annihilators that cannot think. Shamus' only weapon are a supply of ION-SHIVS (Ionic-Short High Intensity Vaporizers). They are capable of destroying any life form that is not wearing Tri-Gamma body armor. SHANZER, HERB: Texas Instruments executive.
SHEPHERD, MARK: Chief Executive Officer of Texas Instruments during the TI-99 Home Computer era. Retired in April 1988.
SHIVJI, SHIRAS: Technology Engineer at Commodore Electronics who left the company to join Jack Tramiel at Atari.
SHOCKLEY, WILLIAM: Bell Labs scientist, who along with Walter Brattain and John Bardeen, invented the transistor in 1947. Shockley can also be credited with creating what is today known as "Silicon Valley" in the Santa Clara valley of norther California. With monies won for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for the transistor invention, Shockley moved there and started up the first of many electronics companies dealing with computers.
SICK, WILLIAM N.: TI's Vice-president of the Consumer Products Group in Lubbock, TX when the price of the troubled TI-99/4 was slashed from $950 to $650 on November 28, 1980.
SILVER WOLF SOFTWARE: A TI-99/4A computer software firm founded by Galen A. Read and Charles R. Burley in Santa Rosa, CA in the mid-1980s. Read would go on to gain notoriety as an accomplished assembly language programmer of the TI-99, creating several excellent applications such as Desktop Publisher for DaTaBioTics, and the Writerease Word Processor for CorComp, but he would ultimately leave the TI Community with some undelivered products in his wake. Charles R. Burley apparently left the TI Community early on, because his name never surfaced in the literature, nor the mainstream User Group newsletters.
SKATE OR DIE: Electronic Arts #1604 -- Released -- -- An arcade favorite programmed for the Commodore 64/128 by Stephen Landrum and David Bunch in 1987. Available also in other computer formats.
SKY-DIVER: Maple Leaf Microware - MAP 104 - Released 1983 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $17.95 -- Cassette software providing a realistic simulation of a parachuting accuracy competition, for up to 4 players. You control the altitude and location of the jump plane, optionally drop a streamer to check the wind, then jump and free-fall at an accelerating speed. After pulling the rip-cord, manipulate the chute's controls to maneuver to a bull's-eye landing. Intermittent failures and fickle winds add to the challenge. Requires Extended BASIC.
SMITH-CORONA TP1 SERIAL PRINTER DESIGNATION: RS232.BA=1200.DA=8.PA=-E.CR
SMITH, THOMAS R.: Author of the Turtle Tracks program that was introduced for the TI-99/4A by Scholastic Inc. in 1983.
SMU ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LIBRARY: PHM 3045D or PHM 3045T -- Released 2Q/1982 -- Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $149.95 -- Designed as a tool for electrical engineering students so they could make tedious calculations quickly and easily using the TI-99/4A Home Computer. Developed for Texas Instruments at Southern Methodist University. Package consisted of a cartridge and either two diskettes, or 10 cassette tapes, depending on purchaser preference. A relatively uncommon software package that did not show up in any of the Retailer Catalogs after the demise of the 99/4A.
SNAP-CALC: An Extended BASIC spreadsheet program written for the TI-99/4A by Gary Strauss. It was published in the August 1984 issue of Home Computer Magazine.
SNAP JUMPERS: See SHAMUS.
SNEGGIT: PHM 3145 - Released 2Q/1983 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $39.95 - One of two games that I am aware of which were written by TI employees under the company's Employee Author Incentive Program. The other is Hopper, written by TI employee John Phillips (with the help of Michael Archuleta). Sneggit was written by James R. Von Ehr II. According to the documentation (1053590-1045), you must, "Save the eggs! Hungry snakes are in the barnyard, devouring your eggs by the dozen. You must survive the reptilian attack and save as many eggs as possible." The same was moderately popular with 99/4A owners as far as I can determine. It supports use of joysticks.
SNIDER, DAVID: Programmer who created the home computer games David's Midnight Magic and Serpentine.
SOCIAL SCIENCE: PHD 5087 - Release Announced 4Q/1982 - Release Cancelled 2Q/1983 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $29.95 -- One of eleven math and science programs developed by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC) for grades one through eight. These programs are standard, in-school computer programs. Requires disk, disk drive and controller, and Extended BASIC Command Module. Listed in 1982-83 Elek-TEK catalog for $24.95. Although this program and the other 10 titles from Minnesota Educational Computing Company are listed in TI's June-December 1982 'U.S. Consumer Products Suggested Retail Price List', neither it nor the other titles were ever released. TI's explanation for the cancellation was that the MECC products duplicated educational themes that already existed in the 99/4A's library of software. * PHD 5078 - Metric and Counting * PHD 5079 - Elementary Economics * PHD 5080 - Elementary Math and Science * PHD 5081 - Astronomy * PHD 5082 - Word Beginnings * PHD 5083 - Exploring * PHD 5084 - Math Practice * PHD 5085 - Science Facts * PHD 5086 - Natural Science * PHD 5087 - Social Science * PHD 5088 - Teacher's Toolbox
SOFTWARE CLUB: PO Box 4068 Bloomington, IL 61701 (309) 828-3251. Outfit that required a $100 annual membership fee in exchange for cut-rate pricing on TI-99 Home Computer products. Ad found in Feb/Mar 1985 Home Computer Digest on page 20. Claims Personal Real Estate cartridge for $6.75, Alien Addition for $8.50, Reading Fun $10.50 etc.
SOFTWARE LIBRARIES: o PHL 7001 The Home Financial Manager (Home Financial Decisions, Household Budget Management, Personal Real Estate) o PHL 7002 The Family Entertainer (A-Maze-Ing, Hunt The Wumpus, The Attack) o PHL 7003 The Elementary Educator (Addition and Subtraction 1, Beginning Grammar, Early Learning Fun) o PHL 7004 The Music Educator (Music Maker, Music Skills Trainer on cassette) o PHL 7005 no product· PHL 7006 The Speaking Math Teacher (Addition & Subtraction I, Addition & Subtraction II, Multiplication I) o PHL 7007 The Speaking Reading Teacher (Early Reading, Reading Fun) o PHL7008 The Speaking Spelling Teacher (Scholastic Spelling Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6) o PHL 7009 The Arcade Game Series (Car Wars, TI Invaders, Tombstone City: 21st Century) o PHL 7010 The Milton Bradley Game Series (Blasto, Connect Four, Hustle, Yahtzee, Zero Zap) o PHL 7011 The Computer Introductory Package (Household Budget Management, Multiplication I, TI Invaders) o PHL 7012 Introduction to Spanish (not released)
SOFTWARE SALES RANKING - 2ND QUARTER 1983: Figures are taken from an Audits & Surveys chart prepared by TI for use in marketing and contacts with retailers. Ranking is based upon the number of programs sold during the 2nd quarter with the number 1 ranking being the program that sold the most units during the quarter. Comparison is not just for TI products, but for all home computer software sales. o 1. Pac-Man o 2. Parsec o 3. Galaxian o 4. Centipede o 5. Star Raiders o 6. Munchman o 7. Frogger o 8. TI Invaders o 9. Missile Command o 10. Defender o 11. Cosmic Cruncher o 12. Household Budget Management o 13. Teach Yourself BASIC o 14. A-MAZE-ING o 15. Gorf o 16. Early Learning Fun o 17. Jupiter Landing o 18. Hunt The Wumpus o 19. Personal Record Keeping o 20. Car Wars
SOLID STATE SOFTWARE LEISURE LIBRARY: See LEISURE LIBRARY.
SOLID STATE SPEECH SYNTHESIZER: PHP 1500 - Released 2Q/1980 - Рекомендованная производителем розничная цена $149.95 -- The Speech Synthesizer is based upon TI's TMS 5200 chip, which is a second-generation version of the TMS 5100 chip that was used in the first Speak & Spell product. The Solid State Speech Synthesizer reproduces human speech electronically, accurately and realistically with a variety of inflections and appropriate pitch, using a technique called Linear Predictive Coding. . For children too young to read the screen, the Speech Synthesizer is ideal as it allows the Computer to 'talk' to the children. The Speech Synthesizer requires either the Speech Editor command cartridge, the Terminal Emulator II command cartridge or another program that is designed with the use of speech. The TEll package provides unlimited text-to-speech capability allowing you to listen to data base information or have the Computer say anything within your own program. Requires Speech Editor module; Terminal Emulator II module; or other software that uses speech (Unisource 1983)
SPACE INVADERS: Written by Rick Mauer for the Atari 2600 VCS. He is said to have earned only $11,000 for a cartridge that grossed over $100 million.
SPACE SPIDERS: An arcade game released in July 1982 by Glo-Data Box 374 Stony Point, NY 10980. The program was offered on cassette only and sold for $9.00. (BYTE Jul82, p.419)
SPAD XIII FLIGHT SIMULATOR: Written by David Harter, brother to Not-Polyoptics owner Gene Harter. The original version was released in March 1987 on disk, with an upgrade dubbed MK2 following in November 1987, also on disk. The Mk2 version boasted faster response time (over twice as fast as the original relase) to joystick action with overall game play speed vastly improved. Although the program received positive reviews, by early 1988 the right to produce the game in cartridge format were sold to DataBioTics. In the second quarter 1of 988 "Spad" became the 'Red Baron Flight Simulator', now a DataBiotics plug in cartridge.
SPEAK & READ: A Texas Instruments handheld learning device that weighed approximately 3 pounds. It used a combination of the most important developments in reading education, a friendly electronic voice, and carefully planned activities to help children build reading skills. More than 250 basic words are introduced by activities like Word Zapper vocabulary, comprehension and logical thinking. It included a 64 page activity book and earphones. Four C cell batteries were required and an AC Adapter was available as an option. Retail price was $49.95 for the computer and $7.00 for the AC adapter. Additional Cartridges were also available for $12.95 including the following titles: · Dog On A Log Grade 1· On The Track Grade 1· A Seal That Could Fly Grade 2· The Third Circle Grade 2· Who's Who At The Zoo Grade 2· Sea Sights Grade 3· The Ghost In The House Grade 3· The Millionth Knight Grade 3
SPEAK & SPELL: A Texas Instruments handheld learning device that weighed approximately 3 pounds. It carried 150 words in its ROM chip, but also had several plug in modules available. First introduced to the world at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago June 14,1978, it was the creation of Texas Instruments engineers Paul Breedlove, Gene Frantz, Richard Wiggins and Larry (George) Brantingham. The red and yellow plastic, notebook-size learning aid was the first device to use synthesized human speech. Four years later, the Speak & Spell would become famous as the toy that E.T. rigged up to "phone home" in Steven Spielberg's 1982 summer blockbuster, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. But from the beginning, demand was high, even at the then-high retail price of about $60.
SPECTRAVIDEO: A computer gaming products company formed as Spectravision in 1977 by Swiss clock/watch makers Harry Fox and Oscar Jutzeler. Renamed Spectravideo shortly thereafter when the rights to the Spectravision name were legally challenged. Early products included game cartridges for the Atari VCS2600 and Colecovision. Cartridges were also manufactured for the Commodore VIC-20 when it appeared in 1981. -- Spectravideo would ultimately produce the SV-318 and SV328 home computers, which Texas Instruments listed as competitors to the 99/4A. Neither SV machine ever came close to competing with the 4A in number of units sold, but both SVs had cartridge ports so TI used that to show consumers how many more cartridges were available for the TI-99/4A compared to the Spectravideo SV-318.
SPEECH MODULES (PHA 2500): These little known cartridges were designed to slip into the Speech Synthesizer to add new words to the device's vocabulary. In case you ever wondered, that's why the front of the Speech Synthesizer has a hinged top. But TI cancelled these cartridges in December 1981 and placed an official addendun announcing so in with all Speech Editor Command Modules and Speech Synthesizers sold after that date.
SPEECH SUPPORTED SOFTWARE: The following Texas Instruments licensed/produced software and 3rd Party software, supports the use of speech through TI's Solid State Speech Synthesizer. Sources for this information include TI publications: CL527A Application Programs for the Texas Instruments Home Computer (1980) -- CL581 Texas Instruments Home Computer Application Program Directory (1981) -- CL581C Texas Instruments Home Computer Program Library (1982) -- 1049706-1 Texas Instruments Home Computer Program Library Addendum (1982) -- CL757B Texas Instruments Home Computer Library Brochure (1983) -- CL759A Texas Instruments Home Computer Program Library (1983). * Addition and Subtraction 1 PHM 3027 (source: CL527A. "Some packages will use speech as well as graphics." CL581C. Speech Synthesizer optional) * Addition and Subtraction 2 PHM 3028 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer optional; CL759A. Speech Synthesizer recommended) * Alpiner PHM 3056 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer optional) * Bigfoot PHM 3151 (source: CL 759A Speech Synthesis and Voice Recognition) * Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom PHM 3236 * Championship Baseball PHM 3148 (source: CL 759A Speech Synthesis and Voice Recognition) * Course Designer Authoring System PHD 5068 (source: 1049706-1. Speech Synthesizer optional for speaking programs) * Division 1 PHM 3049 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer recommended) * E.T. The Extra Terrestrial PHM 3125 * Early Reading PHM 3015 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer required) * Extended Baseball (Extended Software Co.) (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer required) * Extended Hangman (Extended Software Co.) (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer required) * Fathom PHM 3222 (source: cartridge instruction manual #1053590-2022) * Honey Hunt (source: CL 759A. Speech Synthesis)· I'M Hiding PHM 3155 (source: CL 759A. Speech Synthesis) * Lasso (source: comp.sys.ti contributor) * Love Tennis (comp.sys.ti contributor) * MASH PHM 3158 (source: cartridge instruction manual #1053590-1058) Meteor Belt PHM 3152 (source: CL759A Speech Synthesis and Voice Recognition) * Microsurgeon PHM 3220· Moonmine PHM 3131 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer recommended) * Multiplication 1 PHM 3029 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer optional) * Numeration 1 PHM 3050· Numeration 2 PHM 3051 (source: cartridge documentation. Part #1053590-51) * Reading Flight PHM 3082 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer optional) * Reading Fun PHM 3043 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer recommended) * Reading Roundup PHM 3047 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer optional) * Parsec PHM 3112 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer optional) * Princess and the Frog ROM01025 (comp.sys.ti contributor) * Saturday Night Bingo PHD 5025 / PHT 6025 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer required) * Scholastic Spelling-Level 3 PHM 3059 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer required) * Scholastic Spelling-Level 4 PHM 3060 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer required) * Scholastic Spelling-Level 5 PHM 3061 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer required) * Scholastic Spelling-Level 6 PHM 3062 (source: CL757B. Speech Synthesizer required) * Sewermania PHM 3150 (source: CL759A Speech Synthesis and Voice Recognition) * SF Speaking Math Teacher PHL 7006 * SF Speaking Reading Teacher PHL 7007 * Sound Track Trolley PHM 3157 (source: CL759A Speech Synthesis and Voice Recognition) * Space Bandit PHM 3149 (source: CL759A Speech Synthesis and Voice Recognition) * Speak & Math PHD 5031 / PHT 6031 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer required) * Speak & Spell PHD 5030 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer required) * Speech Demo (IUG) (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer required) * Speech Editor PHM 3011 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer required) * Spell Writer PHD 5042 / PHT 6042 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer and Terminal Emulator II required) * Star Trek PHM 3225 (source: cartridge instruction manual #1053590-2025) * Super Demon Attack PHM 3219 (source: John Phillips) * Super Fly PHM 3153 (source: CL 759A Speech Synthesis and Voice Recognition) * Terminal Emulator II PHD 3035 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer optional) * Terry Turtle's Adventure PHM 3154 (source: CL 759A Speech Synthesis and Voice Recognition) * Text-To-Speech PHD 5075 (source: CL757B. 32K RAM, Extended BASIC and Speech Synthesizer required) * The Computer Introductory Package PHL 7011 * The Elementary Educator PHL 7003 * The Speaking Scholastic Spelling Teacher PHL 7008 * TI BINGO (Bob Chase Co.) (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer required) * TI Extended BASIC PHM 3026 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer optional) * TI PILOT PHD 5066 (source: 1049706-1 Speech Synthesizer optional for speaking programs. Available December 1982) * TI-Trek PHD 5002 / PHT 6002 (source: CL581C. Speech Synthesizer optional) * Wing War PHM 3223
SPEED READING VERSION A: Triton #BABB / Unisource #NAV112 -- Released 4Q/1984 -- MSRP $49.95 -- Manufactured by Navarone Industries. Version for teens and adults. According to the Navarone advertising language, "This new program provides extensive practice in taking in more print faster. Frequest tests prove that not only is your rate of reading greatly increased, but you are also improving your level of comprehension. Complete workbook included."
SPEED READING VERSION B: Triton #BABA / Unisource #NAV113 -- Released 4Q/1984 -- MSRP $49.95 -- Manufactured by Navarone Industries. Version for children. According to the advertising language, "A comprehensive course create especially for children 8 through 13. Practice drills are geared to increasing reading speed and improving comprehension levels. Progress tests and scores add to satisfaction and confidence. Complete workbook included."
SPERRY, DENNY: 2440 E Street Springfield, OR 97477 (503-746-2224). A Multilevel Marketing (pyramid sales technique) firm specializing in TI-99/4A hardware and software in 1983.
SPILLANE, THOMAS: Owner and founder of Dijit Systems, the San Diego, CA form that produced the AVPC 80-Column display card for the TI-99/4A.
SPIN: An acronym for School Practices Information Network, an electronic on-line information service offered to educators by BRS Information until January 1983 when it was taken over by Scott, Foresman Co. Services available to SPIN subscribers included access to over 11 million computerized documents in 15 education-related data bases. See: 99er 01/83 p.59.
SPINNAKER SOFTWARE TITLES: 215 First St Cambridge, MA 02142 * Alf * Alphabet Zoo * Bubble Burst * Delta Drawing * Facemaker * Fraction Fever * Kindercomp - Part #KDC - written by Doug Davis - part of the "Early Learning Series" of applications - cartridge software available for thr Atari 800, C64 and IBM Personal computers. * Kids On Keys * Snooper Troops I and II * Story Machine * Trains * Up For Grabs!
SPIRAL DRONES: See SHAMUS.
SPREADSHEETS FOR THE TI: See Electronic Spreadsheets.
SPRITES: Movable dislay objects that are independent of the computer screen's background, character display or pixel graphics. A true sprite is able to pass over any background text or graphics without disturbing the background. The Atari 800 had four sprites, called Players, and four tiny two-bit sprites called Missles. The Missiles could also be combined to create a fifth Player. The Commodore 64 had eight sprites, and the TI-99/4A 28 sprites.
SPRITES, DISABLING: See DISABLING SPRITES.
SPY'S DEMISE: A popular Penguin Software strategy game with arcade graphics that was translated for the TI-99/4A by Ken Dibble and Mark Sumner of Challenger International Software of St. Louis, MO. The program first appeared in disk and tape versions, the tape version having an Extended Basic program on one side and the Mini-Memory version on the other. The disk version sported Extended Basic, Mini-Memory and Edtor/Assembler versions. The cartridge version appeared in the Fall of 1987 and listed for $19.95. It was available through Tenex Computer Express and Triton Products Company.
SQUARE PAIRS: Scholastic Inc. - SCH 101 - Released 1983 - MSRP $39.95 -- Cassette software that allows you to play matching games of memory and imagination. Increase your power of concentration and learn a few programming concepts too. Start with our games and match numbers, words or patterns. Then, use the Square Pairs Gamemaker to create lots of your own games. You can make these games as simple, serious or silly as you want. Play Square Pairs with your friends...make the most matches to win.
SST BASIC COMPILER: The only commercial BASIC compiler ever written for the 99/4A during its life as a Texas Instruments product (1983). Authored by David Schultz, Steven Schwengels and Ron Tump, hence the name SST. The SST BASIC Compiler converts BASIC language programs to machine code via a compiling process. Machine language is the fastest executing language that can be run on the TI-99/4A. The primary key to the SST BASIC Compiler is reading the directions in detail. Follow the steps exactly. If you miss one step, the complete sequence must be done again. The minimum equipment required to run this software is a TI-99/4A, cassette recorder, and the Mini Memory module. The SST BASIC Compiler consists of three programs: Editor, Compiler, Assembler. The Editor program is loaded into the computer first. You them type in the BASIC program that is to be compiled into machine language...After typing in the program you resequence the lines and save the resequenced version. The compiler is then loaded to compile the program. Once compiled, you must use the LOADER program to run the compiled code.
STAR GAZER I: Sunware Ltd. - STA 101 - Released 1984 - MSRP $29.95 -- The first of 3 Star Gazer titles authored by former Texas Instruments programmer John Phillips. The only one to be offered by Sunware Ltd., who would become Exceltec in 1985. All three titles would later surface in the Triton Products catalogs, initially as three separate cartridges, and finally as Star Gazer 1, 2, 3 in a single cartridge. All three programs show different constellations.
STAR GAZER I,II &III: DataBioTics - Released 4Q/1988 - MSRP $39.95 --
STAR MAZE: star maze SF 31182 - Released 2Q/1982 - MSRP $54.95 -- One of six Mathematics Action Game Series cartridges released by Scott, Foresman and Company in limited quantity during the 4th quarter of 1983. This program teaches division in a game format by requiring the player to help Thid find its way through a maze so it can return to the planet of Mathid. Retailed for $39.95. The cartridges in the series were Frog Jump, Number Bowling, Picture Parts, Pyramid Puzzler, Space Journey and Star Maze. User Comments (provided by John E. Taylor and other members of the Shoals 99er Uer Group in 1985): This module, by Scott, Foresman and company, provides for practice of division problems through game playing. The game, for one player, involves getting a lost character, call a Thid, through a maze of stars in order to get home to planet Mathid. In order to move Thid through the maze, you must correctly answer division problems presented by the computer. Each correct answer allows you to move Thid to any star in the maze that is adjacent to the one he is currently on. The object is to get Thid home before time runs out, and also to accululate all the points you can while doing so. The stars in the maze each have a point value, blue stars are worth 5 points, yellow ones are 10. There is a red star on the maze, a Goodid star, that is worth 20 points. Also, when you move Thid to the Goodid star the point values for the other stars are doubled for 15 seconds. There are three Badid stars, disguised as blue or yellow stars, hidden in the maze. If you move Thid to a Badid star, he gets bounced around he maze, and stops on a star farther away from Mathid than before. The game ends when you get Thid home to Mathid, or when time runs out. The time is user selectable for 2,3, or 4 minutes. The player can also select from three difficulty levels. Star Maze does not attempt to teach division, but is good at providing a fun way to practice it. According to the manual, the game is mainly for third through sixth grade students, but older children an adults will be challenged by playing in the Master level of difficulty.
STAR RUNNER: Triton #BAAP - Released 2Q/1987 - MSRP $19.95 - Cartridge game originally released in disk format as TI Runner in 1984. The program is literally a TI-99/4A version of the mega-hit Lode Runner program that was written for Atari, Commodore etc. Written by Jon Burt and Scott Emory dba EB Software. According to the documentation "You are a highly-trained commando who has been captured and imprisoned deep in the lower decks of the Star Ship Arcturus. You decide not to accept your confinement and effect escape back to your planet from the upper deck. Along the way there are treasures plundered from your planet which you must collect in order to proceed to the next deck. However there are three guards hot on your trail. You will be running, jumping, blasting passages and outfoxing these guards as you attempt to acquire the stolen treasure and still escape with your life, despite all the hazards you must overcome...
STAR TREK: PHM 3225 - Released 3Q/1983 - MSRP $29.95 -- A program licensed from Sega Enterprises. According to the documentation, which carries product # 1053590-2025, "The power of the Starship Enterprise is at your command. Cross the galaxies with Warp Drive and Impulse Power. Defend the Federation with Photon Torpedoes and Phasers. Ward off the treacherous attack of the Klingons, the villians of the cosmos." SEGA's Star Trek prototype for the TI-99/4A appears on the cover of the July 1983 issue of "Enthusiast 99" magazine. The manual shown on the cover is from a prototype eprom module that IUG president Charles LaFara received from Sega. LaFara would later report that only 3 copies of the prototype were made. One was sent to Texas Instruments, the second was sent to the IUG for their evaluation and the third was sent to Jack Carroll who worked for the IUG at that time. According to LaFara, the game was almost identical to the Atari 800 version except it ran much faster on the 99/4 and had better sound qualities. From cartridge collector James Fetzner: "I seem to have found something very strange in one of my thrift shop hunts this past weekend--I found a copy of the Star Trek module with a very different label. The printing matches the regular TI label, right down to the module number, all in black, but the label itself is WHITE, with square corners--definitely not TI standard. I wonder if SEGA actually went through on their promise to produce additional copies of their TI packages? Interestingly enough, the cartridge case also has NO manufacturing date in the data area, not even one of the printed types. Unfortunately, there was no manual with it, so I can't be sure--but the evidence surely points that way!" Star Trek supports the use of joysticks and the TI Solid State Speech Synthesizer. User Comments: I'm told this one is the arcade game brought right to your friendly TI. Speech, music, action... what more could you ask? The game gets progressively harder as you advance but not much different. Your screen shows three pictures at a time; your guages, a panoramic view of the galactic area you're occupying, and a simulated three dimensional view from your cockpit. It'll take you a while to learn to quickly recognize the red and yellow klingon battle crusers, the blue anti-matter saucers, nomads, used and unused starbases, etc. The pause feature is nice when the phone rings in the middle of a rousing battle.
STARBASE RAIDERS: Asgard Software #E9108 - Released 1992 - MSRP $12.95 -- A Joe Delekto (Clipboard99) authored game that combines elements of an arcade game with the strategy of a board game. In the game you travel around the galaxy using hyperspace drive, drop into alien territory for a hit-and-run attack and then run to a friendly space station for fuel and repairs. You can read a John Koloen review of Starbase Raiders in the March 1992 issue of MICROpendium on page 25.
STARCROSS: Infocom - Info 103 - Released 1983 - MSRP $##.## -- Disk based text-only science fiction adventure that launches you headlong into the year 2186 and the depths of space where you are destinedto rendezvous with with a gargantuan starship from the outer fringes of the galaxy. Requires disk, 32K memory and either Extended BASIC, Editor/Assembler or Mini Memory.
STARSHIP PEGASUS: A cassette based game written in TI BASIC that was released by Not-Polyoptics. According to the literature for the game, you ; "Contact Extra-Terrestrial intelligence in this game for one player. Explore and conquer a different quadrant of the galaxy each time you play. Your screen shows you each solar system during approach and the challenge is to find ,contact and exploit alien races (by force or diplomacy). Complete with names and descriptions of alien life forms. Watch out for Hyper-Dimensional Marauders."
STARSHIP PEGASUS: One of the never released command modules for the TI for which code actually exists. The opening screen to the program reads copyright 1983 by Milton Bradley Co., but it is easy to see why they never released the program. It's junk! In speed, graphics, and the use of sprites the program resembles a poorly written Extended Basic game rather than one coded in assembly language. Your starship is in the middle of the screen and there it stays. You have guns top and bottom and left and right which you can shoot with joysticks or the arrow keys. The "bad guys" are simple, magnified sprites which move on and off the screen in random fashion. You can only have one bullet on the screen at a time and if your spaceship gets hit by a bad guy bullet it blows up and the game is over. According to Charles Good the game is boring.
STARSOFT: 601 Alleghany St. Blacksburg, VA 24060 703-953-1490 software house owned by Tarik Isani, an accomplished assembly language programmer. StarSoft produced the Nibbler sector by sector disk copier that used hexidecimal sector numbers and that also featured on-line help, a TI Writer loader for Extended Basic that would later be marketed by TexComp as a new 99-Writer II product when bundled with the TI released enhancements to TI Writer, TE-PLUS, later called TE-IV+ when marketed by TexComp, which was a terminal emulator that only supported TE-II protocols for uploads and downloads, StarSoft Disassembler, Disk Editor, later called Explorer by TexComp (the very same program which Jerry Price and Craig Miller would get into a business disagreement over use of the Explorer name), Unprotector which was an assembly language utility to unprotect protected Extended Basic programs, and Microkeys, a utility that allowed a user to define the functions of up to 10 keys on the 99/4A keyboard as long as each description could be written in 28 characters or less. Virtually all of these programs appeared between 1983 and 1985. Tarik Isani disappeared from the TI community around the end of 1986, no doubt to ply his skills in a computer market with more profit potential.
STATISTICS: statistics PHM 3014 - Released 4Q/1979 - MSRP $54.95 -- A Solid State Software command module that provides a library of established routines for Descriptive statistical analysis, Correlation, Linear Regression, Inferential statistics and Significance. According to the 53-page instruction manual that comes with the cartridge (product # 1037109-14), it c an also be used to analyze data from the Personal Record Keeping module. Data from a Statistics file can likewise be imported into the Personal Record Keeping program for sorting and report printing of saved Statistics' data. Statistics provides a 'screen-dump' type print to a Thermal Printer or RS232 printer also. Released during the fourth quarter 1979 at a suggested retail price of $54.95. That was lowered to $44.95 for 1981 and 1982 and lowered to $39.95 in 1983. see also PRK BASIC. I would consider Statistics a relatively rare cartridge, if for no other reason than the fact that it was never available in any Triton catalogs, and didn't show up in the TM Direct Marketing catalogs until the Spring/Summer 1994 issue, where it was listed as product #2126, selling for $4.95. The other reason I would consider it rare has to do with the program's cost/benefit ratio for a home computer user, which was fairly well out of balance, weighing heavily on the cost side, and light on the benefit side. The problem with a statistics application is "what do I do with it in a home environment", and "why would I pay over $50 for it"? In the December 1983 issue of Compute! magazine, Statistics reviewer Roger B. Crampton tries to answer that question by starting off the review with, "In many professions there is a need to analyze something statistically. Engineers, medical researchers, psychologits and social scientistsoften must generalize from data samples and make predictions concerning the probability of events". While this statement can be assumed to be true, it begs the question...why would you do your analysis on a TI-99/4 or 4A Home Computer. Okay, it does import data from the Personal Record Keeping cartridge generated data bases, but how much analysis can be needed there? The best thing that can be said about the cartridge is that it provides a superb and painless introduction into the world of statistical analysis.
STEALTHFUL SMITH: The central character (a burglar) in Tomputer's Thief game.
STEFFEN, GEORGE: One of the original members of the LA/South Bay 99ers when they formed in January 1982. A constant contributor to the group and the group newsletter. Tireless teacher and loyal member of the TI Community. George died September 29, 1988.
STELLA: The internal code-name within Atari for the Video Computer System (VCS) released in 1977.
STEFFEN-ROMANO, DR. GUY: Dr. Romano died on August 15, 1989. He was a linguistic genius, the author of several pieces of advanced software in the early 80's and the original librarian for the IUG. He founded the Amnion Helpline in the latter part of the 80's to provide assistance to any 99er in need. A scholar, a gentleman and a TI-99er in the very highest sense. Dr. Romano was 57 years old.
STORY MACHINE: PHM 3178 -- Released 4Q/1983 -- MSRP $39.95 -- A children's entertainment cartridge that provided educational benefits in sentence creation through the use of music and animation. The TI-99/4A version of this popular Spinnaker Software program was written by Bill Mann. According to the documentation (1053590-1078) "Use the computer to develop skills in writing stories. Animation and music help make writing a fun experience. Your child can save stories on cassette or diskette (storage device not included). For children ages 5 to 9." The program uses a parser to interpret a combination of 8 modifiers, 16 nouns, 10 pronouns and 14 verbs made into a sentence. If the sentence is valid, the program creates an animated picture of the what the user has typed in. For example, a dog running to a house. User Comments (provided by John E. Taylor and other members of the Shoals 99er Uer Group in 1985): This could well be one of the most overlooked educational modules of all. How many times have you written a story and gone off day dreaming that it were really happening. This module allows that to happen. The module understands 50 key words. As you type the words in, they are transformed into actions on the screen. For example, if you were ty type in - "The dog dances near the boy." - it would really happen. As soon as DOG was typed in a dog would appear on the screen. As soon as the sentence was completed a boy would appear and the dog would dance near him. The story can become fairly involved and once it is finished you can see the whole thing replayed for you. You can even save your stories on cassette or disk to be looked at again. Now only if they'd come out with one to do the same thing with bill paying.
STRANGE ODYSSEY ADVENTURE DATABASE: PHD 5050 / PHT 6050 - Released 1Q/1982 - MSRP $29.95 -- Strange Odyssey begins as you realize that you are stranded on a small planetoid and must repair your ship before you can go home. As you search the planet for the necessary part, you try to discover the secrets of an ancient civilization collecting treasures as you go. Requires disk, disk drive for PHD 5050 or cassette, cassette program recorder and program recorder cable are required for PHT 6050. Either software database requires the Adventure Module PHM 3041 to run the Strange Odyssey database.
STRAUSS, GARY: Author of the Snap-Calc Extended BASIC spreadsheet program published in the August 1984 issue of Home Computer Magazine.
STRIKE FORCE 99: Moonbeam Software - Released 1982 - MSRP $19.95 -- Your planet is doomed! Destroy the Cryolian death ship before it unleashes its deadly death rays, annihilating your civilization.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING LIBRARY: PHD 5016 / PHT 6016 -- Released 1Q/1981 -- MSRP $29.95 / $24.95 -- Provides Structural Engineers with and easy to use program that helps make complex calculations and evaluations.
SUBMARINE COMMANDER: Released on disk in 1986 as part of the "Lost Hits" that were uncovered by Roger Dooley of Tenex Computer Express. The "Lost Hits" disk consisted of Computer War, River Rescue and Submarine Commander and sold for $29.95. The Computer War game was verifiably the property of British entertainment giant Thorn-EMI, but I have no idea who owned, created or planned to distribute Submarine Commander or River Rescue? Regardless, thanks to Roger Dooley for making these three games available to the TI Community. Submarine Commander is a submarine patrol simulator where you as Captain of the craft, get to hunt down and destroy enemy shipping in Mediterranean Sea waters. You have sonar to help find the enemy when you are submerged. If you are attacked you can dive deep (not too deep or the hull will crack) and try to dodge the depth charges; then you can rise to periscope level for another attack on the convoy. But check the instruments for your oxygen level, fuel, battery charge, depth under you keel, and watch out for enemy destroyers, or it may all end in disaster! Submarine Commander was reviewed by MICROpendium publisher John Koloen in the November 1986 issue on page 44. He gave it high marks.
SUBTRACTION: PHM 3091 - Released 4Q/1982 - MSRP $39.95 -- One of a series of mathematics cartridges produced by Milliken Publishing entitled the "Milliken Math Sequences". Although the Milliken Company developed the series for Texas Instruments, it was TI employee John C. Plaster who actually programmed each application so it could be burned into a ROM cartridge. According to the documentation (1053590-91), the program is, "A self-paced subtraction "tutor" to help your child develop strong math skills to meet today's and tomorrow's challenges. Suitable for children from kindergarten through grade 8." Provides drill and practice, with 75 different problem levels. Includes color graphics and reward sound effects for correct responses.
SUNCOM: 260 Holbrook Dr. Wheeling, IL 60090 (312) 459-8000 firm that produced the TAC-3 joystick in 1985.
SUNDISK SOFTWARE: PO Box 1690 Warren, MI 48090, TIBBS 313-751-1119 form that advertised "Discount Hard/Software TI-99/4A" in the January 1985 issue of Family Computing.
SUNGEM: 900 W. Los Vallecitos San Marcos, CA 92069 (619) 744-2011 firm that produced educational software for the TI-99/4A. See their ad in Home Computer Magazine V4N1, page 17 for more information on programs such as Alphabet Recognition, Beginning Programming, Continents and Oceans, Number Recognition, Spatial Relationships, and Telling Time.
SUP'R'TERM: The first 80-column screen board/card made for the Apple II. Invented and manufactured by Marty Spergel and Bill Wobler.
SUPER 99 MONTHLY: A TI-99 specific newsletter published by Richard M. Mitchell dba Bytemaster Computer Services 171 Mustang Street Sulphur, Louisiana 70663. First announced in July 1984, Super 99 Monthly was published between September 1984 (V1N1) and February 1986 (V2N6) for a total of 18 consecutive monthly issues. In March 1986 Richard Mitchell and Craig Miller reached an agreement on the sale of Miller's publication, The Smart Programmer, which ended the life of Super 99 Monthly when Super 99 Monthly and The Smart Programmer newsletters were merged under The Smart Programmer name. Each issue of Super 99 Monthly consisted of 12 pages and the annual subscription rate was $12 per year for 12 issues.
SUPER DEMON ATTACK: PHM 3219 - Released 3Q/1983 - MSRP $39.95 - A TI-99/4A version of Rob Fulop's Demon Attack game originally written for the Atari 2600. According to the documentation (1053590-2019), "Suicide patrollers and tentacled terrorists from the Demon Armada shower the moon with devastating weaponry. Annihilate them with your laser cannon. Then lift off and destroy the core of Pandemonium, flagship of the Demon Armada." This popular game was adapted to the TI-99/4A by John Phillips and others at TI, including Dennis Lamb, who wrote the documentation. Super Demon Attack supports the use of joysticks, and according to former TI programmer John Phillips, also supports speech synthesis through an undocumented series of keystrokes that he no longer recalls.
SUPER EXPANDER 64: This powerful cartridge gives the user/programmer 21 new commands and 11 functions that lets you easily create hi-res graphics on your C64. Functions such as Drawing points, lines, arcs, circles,ellipses and polygons, create and animate sprites and special characters, combine text and high resolution graphics. Create music and game sounds. Define programmable function keys, and much more!
SUPER EXTENDED BASIC:
SUPER PROGRAMMER: PHL 7005 - Released 1Q/1982 - MSRP $119.00 -- The TI Super Programmer package combines the elements you need to become proficient in TI Extended BASIC programming. Simply insert the TI Extended BASIC Command Module into the console and the Teach Yourself Extended BASIC cassette in the cassette player and the features of a high-level programming language are at your fingertips. Teach Yourself Extended BASIC also requires an audio cassette tape recorder and the TI Cassette Interface Cable (sold separately).
SUPER SKETCH: Triton #VABA / Unisource #PPI 100 -- Released 3Q/1984 -- MSRP $59.95 --
SUPER SPACE: A commercial plug-in cartridge with Editor/Assembler code and utilities, as well as 8K or 32K of battery-backed RAM. It was created by Edgar Dohmann, and marketed by DaTaBioTics. Released in December 1985 at a MSRP of $49.95 for the 8K version. Other cartridges similar to Super Space also surfaced around the same time as the DaTaBioTics product.
SUPER STORM: An Atarisoft game cartridge never released for the TI-99/4A, for which the code actually existed, a fact only recently discovered by Competition Computer owner Kyle Creighton of Millbrae, CA., after he literally rescued it from a dumpster at Atari in 1998. - In the game, the Earth is being invaded by creatures who are trying to drown all life by raising the levels of the oceans. The player controls a fleet of warships representing the planet's only defense.
SUPER-DUPER: super duper Triton #BAAA / Unisource #NAV111 -- Released 3Q/1984 -- MSRP $34.95 -- A disk copy utility. According to the Navarone advertsing language, "Safeguards masters fast. Use the high-speed Super-Duper program cartridge to duplicate your disks, single and double sided, then lock away your originals. For single-drive systems, a special data compression routine stores most of your data in expanded memory to reduce disk swapping. Most disk are copied in one or two passes - and Super-Duper works even faster with multiple drive systems. The program automatically formats blank disketttes before copying and allows you to verify your backups byte for byte against the originals."
SUPERBASE: A relational database management (DBMS) and client/server application development system for Windows from Superbase Developers, Inc., Huntington, NY, (www.superbase.com). It includes a database that supports a variety of multimedia types, an object-based Super Basic Language similar to Visual Basic and a suite of visual programming tools. It supports the major SQL databases as well as ODBC-compliant databases. Superbase has been widely used worldwide. It was originally created in 1984 by Precision Software for the Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, Apple II and Atari ST. In 1989, it was the first DBMS to run on a Windows computer.
SUPERDISK: The predecessor to DaTaBioTics' Grand RAM.
SUPERFLY: PHM 3153-Released 4Q/1983 - MSRP $49.95 - Part of the Milton Bradley Arcade Plus Series of game cartridges developed for the TI-99/4A. According to the documentation (1053590-1053), "Superfly is a mutant insect that can leap tall alien spiders (and other enemy bugs) in a single bound." Your job is to save Superfly who is trapped in deep space and is being attacked by angry aliens. Unfortunately, Milton Bradley Co. did not give credit to the programmers or designers who created their software, and I've not been able to find out who wrote this program yet. It supports use of the MBX Expansion System (MBX 101), Voice Recognition, Speech Synthesis, Analog Joystick (MBX 102) use and the MBX Action-Input Keypad.
SWAN'S SONG: A Myarc Geneve 9640 computer newsletter started in February 1990 by Jerry MacDonnell of Kirkwood, NY. It cost $8.00 per year for 6 issues of 8.5" x 11" photocopied pages.
SWENSON, SCOTT: Owner and Founder of Morningstar Software of Beaverton, Oregon, the firm that produced a CP/M-80 card for the TI-99/4A.
SWETT, DR. ALLAN: Author of the Companion word processor and owner of Intelpro. See MICROpendium May 1984, p.13 for a review of the Companion program. SWOOPERS: Alien craft that are one of eight hazards in the Parsec game.
SYNAPSE SOFTWARE: Visit Kevin Savetz's Digital Antic Project http://www.atarimagazines.com/ for an interview with Synapse Software founder Ihor Wolosenko. SYZYGY: The name that Atari founder Nolan Bushnell had originally intended to use for his new company. Fortunately, he chose the name Atari instead. Syzygy means the sun, moon and earth in total eclipse.
SYSTEMS INTERFACE: A 1511 Merivale Rd Nepean, ONT Canada K2G 3J3 firm which specialized in the creation of inexpensive and easy-to-use spreadsheet software for the TI-99/4A, Commodore 64 and VI-20 in 1984. Owned by Sandy Foote.