I also remember being concerned about teachers finding “Drug Wars” on my calculator.
I'm still amazed they cost as much now, as they did 30 years ago, but if you just realize you're buying a license for decent computer algebra system (CAS), at least in the ti-85/89/etc models, it kinda makes sense.
I'm so happy to see this pop up here! :)
I feel vindicated by the rise of AI. Soon nobody else will know how to do anything without a small computer either.
I loved programming my TI-81 my freshman year of high school. Having a programmable computer on my person-- even one as weak as the '81-- was so cool. I made a bunch of crappy games and graphical "demos", but being that the '81 didn't have a link cable I couldn't pass them around.
I got my '85 my freshman year of college but, by that time, I had a laptop and was much less interested in programming a calculator. I ended up misplacing my '85 in a move. Now that my daughter is old enough to appreciate it I wish I still had it.
I didn't have a Ti-83 so had to ask my friend for his once he got bored with the game.
There was a moment in 2011 I started writing it in "pure" SQL (MySQL) as a joke, but gave up, I'll have to find my DrugQL repo.
It was incredibly exciting to download and try assembly games. Bill Nagel blew my mind with Turbo Breakout and Snake...
Does anyone remember the TI website wars? TI Files (later TI Philes) vs the lowly weak ticalc.org... but look which one is still around :-)
BewareTheYiga•1h ago