Machine of the Month:
Texas Instruments
TI-99/4A (1981)
1
DEVELOPMENT & RELEASE
Before the TI-99/4A came 1979’s TI-99/4. When 8-bit
microcomputers were just becoming mainstream, Texas
Instruments (TI) had the ambition of releasing a 16-bit home
computer, based on its own TMS9900 CPU.
>> As the first 16-bit home computer, this machine had the
potential to dominate the home computing scene, with a 3MHz
CPU, 16KB of RAM, 15 colors, 32 single-color sprites, and
4-channel audio, powered by Texas Instruments’ own chipsets.
>> However, the TI-99/4 had a botched launch. The TI-99/4 only
received a chiclet keyboard. Wanting to keep tight control over
software licensing, TI only gave developer information to a few
software houses. To get around strict requirements from the
FCC, TI simply bundled a modified color television with their
computer, greatly increasing its price.
>> The TI-99/4 launched for $1150 (around $4,100 today), but it
flopped, selling somewhere between 20,000 and 100,000 units.
It was too expensive, the keyboard was nasty, and the company’s
strict software policies resulted in few applications.
>> Nevertheless, Texas Instruments didn’t give up on its
machine, returning in June 1981 with the TI-99/4A. The new “A”
model still had the same CPU and RAM, but improved on its older
sibling with a full-stroke keyboard, lower case characters, and
a new TMS9918A video chip, later used in the Sega SG-3000 and
MSX, which allowed bitmapped graphics.
>> Relaxed FCC regulations meant TI’s new machine could
be used with regular television sets, allowing a drastic price
reduction. At just $525, the TI-99/4A was now market competitive.2
PERFORMANCE & GAMING
Don’t expect Amiga-like performance from those 16 bits.
TI’s shoehorning of a 16-bit processor into a mostly 8-bit
system didn’t work. Workarounds were used to interact between
the 8 and 16-bit components, and the 16-bit portion could only
access 256 bytes of ‘scratchpad’ RAM and 8KB of internal ROM.
>> Nevertheless, the TI-99/4A still has tricks up its sleeve. The
TI-99/4A is more graphically sophisticated than most machines
of the early ‘80s, with smooth motion and proper sprite handling.
>> For example, TI Invaders (1981) is an excellent Space
Invaders clone, with animations and independent coloring. 2014’s
TI-99/4A remake of Sabre Wulf is superior to the ZX Spectrum
release, with smoother movement and no color clash.
>> However, the system’s most impressive asset is its
Speech Synthesizer add-on, which uses the same chips asTHIS MONTH we feature a cult computer that could have dominated the early 1980s but fell
short of fame due to bad management decisions. Instead, machines such as Sinclair’s ZX80
and ZX81 and the Commodore VIC-20 became the standard-bearers for a new era of home
computing. Nevertheless, the TI-99/4A had a sizeable following, offering retro computing fans a
combination of features not found elsewhere and some interesting arcade action. –JOHN KNIGHTYOU’LL NEED THIS
A COPY OF CLASSIC99
http://harmlesslion.com/
software/classic99
Texas Instruments’ Speak & Spell toys. Although other
microcomputers had similar add-ons, the TI-99/4A’s was
employed much more extensively, featuring in arcade
titles, educational packages, and even BASIC games.
>> Examples are Alpiner (1982), a mountaineering
game, and Parsec (1982), a side-scrolling space shooter.
For more general gaming recommendations, try Hunt
the Wumpus (1980), Tombstone City (1981), Space
Bandits (1983), and Tunnels of Doom (1982).3
LEGACY
The TI-99/4A wasn’t a financial success. TI was
lured into a price war with Commodore, whose
VIC-20 was cheaper to manufacture. Once TI price-
matched Commodore, it was forced to sell the TI-99/4A
at a loss, hoping to regain them through software
licensing. This was the beginning of the end for the TI-
99/4A.
>> While Commodore was accommodating to
developers, TI refused to release technical specifications
to third parties, implementing a lockout system against
third-party cartridges.
>> By mid-1983, Texas Instruments announced a $100
million loss and retailers grew wary of the system.
By Christmas 1983, the TI-99/4A was being sold from
bargain bins for as little as $49. After selling 2.8 million
units, the TI-99/4A was discontinued in March 1984, as
the company moved towards IBM-compatible PCs.>> The adorable Texas Instruments’ demonstration cartridge
would make a great background display at a LAN party.62 MAXIMU MPC FEB 2022
R&D