Items from TI*MES 29

This web page contains the text of articles for owners of the TI-99/4a from Issue 29 of TI*MES. It is of use to users of the TI-99/4a emulators.

Items from TI*MES Issue 29, Spring 1990

RAMBLES FROM TI*MES 29

Back in Issue 27, on page 20 I set two Tests. Not a single response to either of them. However, I have now discovered a whole series of questions of the type posed by Test 4, in The Master Book of Mathematical Recreations by Fred Schuh, published by Dover, ISBN 486-22134-2. Refer to puzzles 298 to 301. The same author, in the same book, claims the creation of (and describes) the puzzle Giant and Dwarfs -a program of this can be found on library disk Games-3.

No feedback at all on the module reviews (in fact unexpanded owners remain the great unknown, as they do not seem to want me to write anything for them - no letters anyway! Hello?) - so in this issue, a smaller number of module reviews. And remember that almost everything can be obtained from somewhere, even if you do have to try several US sources.

There is a disk program called Electric Harry bombing around - please be aware that it is a pirated version of Espial.

Sevens problem

The 7's Puzzle set

If I write 7^2, that means SEVEN SQUARED, or put another way, SEVEN TO THE POWER OF TWO, also written as 7 * 7.

Equally 7^3 is SEVEN TO THE POWER OF THREE or 7 * 7 * 7.

Get the idea?
OK. Your test is to write a program, in any language, which will determine the first power of seven which has a result containing six sevens in succession-eg "777777". Clue: The result has MORE than 15 digits!

To make checking easy, your program should print the result:
"SEVEN TO THE POWER OF N IS" where of course N is the first power that gives a result matching our requirements, and also of course giving the actual result.

The puzzle set previously (see above) brought in two entries and a query. The first clue is in the first hint - the answer has more than 15 digits. If you refer to Numeric Constants in your User's Reference Guide, you will see "... numbers will have 13 or 14 digits depending on the value of the number."

So how can a Basic program handle a problem which requires an answer with more than 14 digits? Simple! We allow the program to deal with numbers with less than 14 digits - and create our larger numbers from these smaller numbers. We do this all the time, and learn it in our first or second year of schooling. 2+2=4 is easy. Now try 8+8= ... the answer needs more than one number! We could call it sixteen, but to write every number with a separate character would slow learning down a mite. In writing numbers we use a decimal system, with the rightmost number representing a number of units, the number to the left of it the number of tens of units, and so on.

To solve this problem we must be much more specific in our instructions to the computer, which for our purposes is a dunce! (Though fortunately a fast one!).

We need our program to deal with the "carry"s! Then of course we need to work out how to actually do all the multiplications - how to store the little numbers making up the big number, how to get them back together for testing for the six sevens

We can test six digits from every character position, and we can speed things up by only testing every sixth character (or digit) and if - and only if - that is a seven, testing the numbers in front of and behind it. This short cut brings a useful increase in speed.

Here are the only listings sent to me up to the time this issue went to press:<

99 REM John Seager
100 !ANSWER TO TEST5/A
110 CALL CLEAR :: NUM$="1176
49" :: DISPLAY AT(1,1):"7 TO
 THE POWER OF"
120 FOR POWER=7 TO 300 :: DI
S$=NUM$ :: NUM$="" :: CARRY,
COUNT,SEVENS=0
130 FOR J=LEN(DIS$)TO 1 STEP
 -1 :: NEWNUM=(VAL(SEG$(DIS$
,J,1))*7)+CARRY :: CARRY=INT
(NEWNUM/10)
140 IF NEWNUM-CARRY*10<>7 TH
EN COUNT=0 ELSE COUNT=COUNT+
1
150 SEVENS=MAX(COUNT,SEVENS)
:: NUM$=STR$((NEWNUM-CARRY)*
10)&NUM$
160 NEXT J
170 IF CARRY>0 THEN NUM$=STR
$(CARRY)&NUM$ :: IF CARRY=7
THEN COUNT=COUNT+1
180 SEVENS=MAX(COUNT,SEVENS)
:: DISPLAY AT(1,19):STR$(POW
ER);"=": :NUM$
190 IF SEVENS<>6 THEN 210 EL
SE DISPLAY AT(24,1):"ANY KEY
 TO CONTINUE"
200 CALL KEY(0,K,S):: IF S=0
 THEN 200 :: DISPLAY AT(24,1
)
210 NEXT POWER
220 REM WHY DOES THIS CRASH
WHEN THE NUMBER OF DIGITS EX
CEEDS 254 ...

======

99 REM FASTER WAY John Seage
r
100 ! ANSWER TEST5/B
110 CALL CLEAR :: DIM ELEM(2
6):: ELEM(0)=7 :: POWER,SS=0
 :: DISPLAY AT(1,1):"7 TO TH
E POWER OF"
120 ELM=SS :: SS,CARRY=0 ::
POWER=POWER+1
130 DIS$=STR$(ELEM(ELM)):: F
OR I=ELM-1 TO 0 STEP -1 :: D
IS$=DIS$&RPT$("0",10-LEN(STR
$(ELEM(I))))&STR$(ELEM(I))::
 NEXT I
140 DISPLAY AT(1,19):STR$(PO
WER);"=": : :DIS$
150 FOR I=6 TO LEN(DIS$)STEP
 6 :: IF SEG$(DIS$,I,1)<>"7"
 THEN 190
160 FOR J=I-5 TO I :: IF SEG
$(DIS$,J,6)<>"777777" THEN 1
80 ELSE DISPLAY AT(24,1):"AN
Y KEY TO CONTINUE"
170 CALL KEY(0,K,S):: IF S=0
 THEN 170 :: DISPLAY AT(24,1
):: J=I
180 NEXT J
190 NEXT I
200 ELEM(SS)=ELEM(SS)*7+CARR
Y :: IF ELEM(SS+1)=0 AND ELE
M(SS)<1.E+10 THEN 120
210 CARRY=INT(ELEM(SS)/1.E+1
0):: ELEM(SS)=ELEM(SS)-CARRY
*1.E+10
220 SS=SS+1 :: GOTO 200

Also available on another web page at this site are solutions in c99 || Turbo Pasc 99 || and 9900 Source Code - at the bottom of that page are two TI Basic versions written in 2011.

Now for some graphics programs for our latest addition to the TI graphic family, the Missing Link:

Graphics programs for The Missing Link

Points on a circle

Draw a number of equidistant points on a circle, then connect them all up.

98 ! GRAPHICS PROGRAM FOR TI
 XB + THE MISSING LINK. S. S
haw from JBM103
100 CALL LINK("CLEAR")
110 CALL LINK("WINDOW",0,10,
193,241)
120 CALL LINK("PRINT",2,9,"W
hen ANY KEY is displayed")
130 CALL LINK("PRINT",79,1,"
press: to:")
140 CALL LINK("PRINT",30,1,"
CTRL FCTN ... PRINT TO PIO")
150 CALL LINK("PRINT",66,1,"
R run this program again")
160 CALL LINK("PRINT'",78,1,
"A save to Artist file")
170 CALL LINK("PRINT",90,1,"
ANY OTHER for different rand
om picture")
180 CALL LINK("PRINT",131,1,
"right now...")
190 CALL LINK("PRINT",142,1,
"PRESS R-RANDOM PIC")
200 CALL LINK("PRINT",153,1,
"press I-INPUT VARIABLE")
210 CALL KEY(5,X,Y)
220 IF Y<1 THEN 210
230 RANDOMIZE
240 CALL LINK("CLEAR")
250 DIM A(30,1):: P=2*PI
260 IF X=73 THEN CALL LINK("
INPUT",160,200,N,2,"5"):: IF
 N>29 OR N<3 THEN 260 ELSE 2
80
270 N=INT(RND*26)+4
280 CALL LINK("PRINT",50,50,
"ONE MOMENT...")
290 FOR X=0 TO N-1 :: A(X,0)
=SIN(P/N*X)*96+128 :: A(X,1)
=COS(P/N*X)*96+95 :: NEXT X
300 CALL LINK("CLEAR")
310 CALL LINK("PRINT",9,20,"
N="&STR$(N))
320 FOR I=0 TO N-1 :: FOR II
=I+1 TO N-1 :: CALL LINK("LI
NE",A(I,1),A(I,0),A(II,I),A(
II,0)):: NEXT II :: NEXT I
330 CALL LINK("PRINT",1,1,"A
NY KEY")
340 CALL KEY(5,X,Y)
350 IF Y<1 THEN 340
360 IF X=82 THEN RUN
370 IF X<>65 THEN 230
380 CALL LINK("INPUT",1,1,A$
,14,"DSK1.PICTURE")
390 CALL LINK("PRINT",1,1,"'
 ")
400 CALL LINK("SAVEP",A$)
410 GOTO 330

Ikeda Map

Source: Fractal Report Issue 7 pdf

Ikeda map:


100 REM TML XB APRIL 1990 ST
EPHEN SHAW ENGLAND
110 REM FOR TI XB + THE MISS
ING LINK
120 REM
130 REM after john corbitt
140 CALL LINK("CLEAR")
150 CALL LINK("WINDOW",0,10,
193,241)
160 CALL LINK("PRINT",2,9,"W
hen ANY KEY is displayed")
170 CALL LINK("PRINT",19,1,"
press: to:")
180 CALL LINK("PRINT",30,1,"
CTRL FCTN ....PRINT TO PIO")
190 CALL LINK("PRINT",66,1,"
R run this program again")
200 CALL LINK("PRINT",78,1,"
A save to artist file")
210 CALL LINK("PRINT",131,1,
"right now...")
220 CALL LINK("PRINT",142,1,
"PRESS SOMETHING...")
230 CALL KEY(5,A,B)
240 IF B<1 THEN 230
250 REM IKEDA MAP
260 REM from fractal report
No 7
270 REM from program by John
 Corbit 16Aug89 FROM Myarc x
b+ti99/4a s shaw feb 90
280 REM chaotic attractor ma
p
290 REM
300 X,Y=0 :: P=7.70
310 REM
320 CALL LINK("CLEAR")
330 FOR N=1 TO 4399
340 COSTHETA=COS(.4-(P/(1+(X
*X+Y*Y))))
350 SINTHETA=SIN(.4-(P/(1+(X
*X+Y*Y))))
360 X1=.85+.9*X*COSTHETA-.9*
Y*SINTHETA
370 Y1=.9*X*SINTHETA+.9*Y*CO
STHETA
380 CALL LINK("PIXEL",(X1+1)
*63+1,(Y1+1.7)*85+1)
390 X=X1 :: Y=Y1
400 NEXT N
410 CALL LINK("PRINT",1,1,"A
NY KEY")
420 CALL KEY(5,A,B)
430 IF B<1 THEN 420
440 IF A=82 THEN RUN
450 IF A<>65 THEN 420
460 CALL LINK("INPUT",1,1,A$
,14,"DSK1.PICTURE")
470 CALL LINK("PRINT",1,1,"'
 ")
480 CALL LINK("SAVEP",A$)
490 GOTO 410

Turtle Graphics

Turtle type graphics

100 ! TI XB plus THE MISSING
 LINK Turtle type graphics
110 REM TML EX BAS MARCH 199
0 STEPHEN SHAW ENGLAND
120 REM
130 CALL LINK("CLEAR")
140 CALL LINK("WINDOW",0,10,
193,241)
150 CALL LINK("PRINT",2,9,"W
hen ANY KEY is displayed")
160 CALL LINK("PRINT",19,1,"
press: to:")
170 CALL LINK("PRINT",30,1,"
CTRL FCTN ....PRINT TO PIO")
180 CALL LINK("PRINT",66,1,"
R run this program again")
190 CALL LINK("PRINT",78,1,"
A save to artist file")
200 CALL LINK("PRINT",131,1,
"right now...")
210 CALL LINK("PRINT",142,1,
"PRESS SOMETHING...")
220 CALL KEY(5,A,B)
230 IF B<1 THEN 220
240 CALL LINK("PUTPEN",142,8
0,-30)
250 CALL LINK("CLEAR")
260 FOR I=1 TO 3
270 CALL LLL :: CALL LINK("T
URN",60):: NEXT I
280 REM
290 REM
300 CALL XT
310 SUB LLL
320 CALL F(15)
330 CALL T(60)
340 CALL F(100)
350 CALL T(120)
360 CALL F(85)
370 CALL T(120)
380 CALL F(15)
390 CALL T(60)
400 CALL F(55)
410 CALL T(-120)
420 CALL F(85)
430 CALL T(120)
440 CALL F(15)
450 CALL T(60)
460 CALL F(100)
470 SUBEND
480 SUB F(X)
490 CALL LINK("FWD",X):: SUB
END
500 SUB T(X)
510 CALL LINK("TURN",X):: SU
BEND
520 SUB XT
530 CALL LINK("PRINT",178,20
,"ANY KEY ")
540 CALL KEY(5,A,B)
550 IF B<1 THEN 540
560 IF A=82 THEN RUN
570 IF A<>65 THEN 540
580 CALL LINK("INPUT",178,20
,A$,14,"DSK1.PICTURE")
590 CALL LINK("PRINT",178,20
,"' ")
600 CALL LINK("SAVEP",A$)
610 GOTO 530
620 SUBEND

MORE MODULE AND GAME REVIEWS

4A Flyer - DataBioTics

The author was told to write a flight simulator within a tight time limit, in machine code, to fit entirely within 8K. Under the circumstances it is probably not a bad job, but it is instruments only, and if you point your plane at the ground, there comes a point where you reach a maximum speed even with the throttle wide open - and it is not that fast a speed. There are various anomalies and the instrument-only-flying gets rather boring quite quickly. For very little more (in dollar terms anyway) you could have the so very much superior SPAD XIII, so get that one and enjoy some scenery!

Frogger - Parker Bros.

This module is an excellent reproduction of the very popular (well, some years ago . . .) classic arcade game. It plays very much like the arcade machine. What more praise can there be! If you like Frogger, buy it. Hmmm . . .do not remember Frogger eh? You must guide a frog over several lanes of busy road without being squashed, then across a river, without falling in, being eaten by crocodiles, or dumped by submerging turtles... and so on.

D Station I - DataBioTics

This started off life as a disk program from the Bethany-based International 99/4 Users-Group, and is a very simple program, although well written. From a fixed base at screen center you must shoot down flyers and parachutists. That is about it. Graphics are extremely barren but the game can be difficult. You aim by rotating your gun (180 degree capability) which makes a change from moving left and right at screen bottom.

Defender - Atarisoft

This is possibly the best Atarisoft module, and is a first rate emulation of the classic arcade game, with a small wide range radar scan at screen top showing where all aliens are, and a playing area to move your ship around while being attacked from all sides from all sorts. The play can become really frantic. This module should be in your game collection. Supplies are generally good, but you may need to pay a slight premium price.

TI Invaders - TI module

Yet another classic arcade game, which may start off a little too slowly for today's hardened games player, but a quick check of the museum piece arcade machines shows that they too start very slowly and take a while to speed up. This does not make it easy to clear the first screen incidentally!
This TI module is almost certainly the very best version of Invaders on any home computer. The graphics are, if anything, better than on the arcade machines, and all the arcade play is there.
This is one of only two modules that TI officially released on disk - the disk version had a test mode (not in the module) which allowed you to really slow the game down, and to start at any level up to level 50 (and it went on after level 50 too).
Another module which you really should have in your collection if you do not have it. You may not play it too much, but it is a lovely example of what TI could do. Not hard to find.

Hopper - TI module

Possibly the only TI module actually written on a TI-99/4A system - the others were developed and assembled on larger 990 computers. You control a cute little kangaroo who pushes boxes around trying to trap monsters - trapped monsters die and score points. The game becomes surprisingly difficult at level ten. Nice game, fairly difficult, good game action. Reasonable graphics.

Ms. Pac-Man - Atarisoft

Remarkably like Pac-Man . . .Ms. Pac-Man, if you forgot, is the one with the ribbons! This version has a faster screen set up (Pac-Man as a module for the TI had a very slow screen setup!) and more varied screen layouts. Also introducing the bouncing strawberry - so much more difficult to collect than a static bonus fruit. You eat dots and avoid monsters in a maze, clear all the dots for the next maze, go over power points to temporarily gain the strength to shoo the monsters back home. Better than Pac-Man, comparable to Munch Man, which seems to play faster.

Munch Man - TI module

Way back when, when Pac-Man was all the rage and Pac-Man Fever failed to make the pop charts, TI was thinking of modules for their new Home Computer. A variant of Pac-Man came out, and Atari jumped on it hard. Gobbling dots was out! So a quick rewrite and we instead lay down a trail while the requisite monsters chase us around the maze! This one can get incredibly fast, and you need some pretty good joysticks to play well. If you do not have it, well worth trying.

Munch Man II - Triton/DataBioTics module. 1987

Source: Try offering DataBioTics a suitable bribe to import some, or try Tex-Comp. Supplies scarce. It has been brought to my attention that some TI owners, especially disk owners, have entirely the wrong impression of what this module is! You will see from the above review that the original Munch Man module was actually v2, which makes this one v3!
This is a complete rewrite by (former?) TI employee John Phillips, responsible for so much module work. Here he has married the two connected screens of Sewermania with the first Munch Man variant in which instead of laying a trail you remove one! Yes there is a screen to the right of the first one which you enter through two passages, or you can use a roving teleport machine! And you must clear both screens to go on! The Hoonos are faster than you are so you cannot out-run them - except after going over a power dot when you can out-run them and gain good points! You must use skill and tactics in this version. A worthwhile addition to any collection of Pac-Man variants!