                     Pong for TI 86 (BASIC)

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    If you take the time to read this, I think you would probably be intregued by the amount of reader-friendly information that is provided.  I will send you a comprehensive step-by-step BASIC Program teaching file if you desire (only if I a lot of responses, which is doubtful)

    I am a lot better at programming now than I was when I made this game (which was 2 1/2 years ago).  I will attempt to make a game for BASIC if you request me to.  I woud then send you the results for review.  This is a free trial offer.  I will put my best effort into it even though it is free.  NOTE:  I DON'T JUST DO GAMES!!!!!

    This is a version of pong that I threw together.  It features toggled 1-player or 2-player interface, a six-slotted highscore list and options menu.  This is my second attempt at writing a BASIC program (I wrote it 2 1/2 years ago.)  Since it is a reletively simple and poorly syntaxed program, it runs at an acceptable speed (the first few seconds of the first time it is ran is extremely slow, but it WILL be fast after all possible movements have been accomplished at least once.  I put write-protection on it, but I know that people are smart enough to get past it.  If anyone does change it or has any ideas for making it better, please send me a message at zswagel@alghs.k12.wi.us.  I encourage the manipulation of this program.  I am interested to see if anyone can make it either work or look better.  I could do that my self, but I don't feel like it.  Instead, I am working on a newer version of the program that takes only a fourth of the memory, runs more than twice as fast, and has more user friendly interface.

     Requirements for normal performance:

  All plots should be turned off
  Axis should be turned of (enables the left paddle to be seen)
  Calculator should be set for decimal mode, float mode, and degree mode
  If you are willing, reset all defaults on your calculator (not necessary, but would help avoid unknown errors in the display).  I have no idea what exactly you use your TI 86 for.

     If you would like me to change the program so that it does these things for you and resets them afterwords, please contact me at the address above.  If you look for a file called Pong2.zip in the future (about November 15, 2000), you will find my better version of Pong available.

      The following games are actually worth while getting.  They are shown below.  These games were made specificly to be easy and fun to use.  Since these are my current works, they all run fast, are as small as possible, and are self explanitory.  No one assisted me in the making of any of these games, and since they are all BASIC, you don't have to worry about those devastating crashes that ASM programs occasionally cause.  I am especially proud of MONOPOLY because it took me three months to finish all of the syntax and solve all of the programming problems that are related to it (PLEASE, PLEASE, OH PLLLLEAAAASSSEEEE TRY MONOPOLY AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF IT!  IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO MAKE AND KNOW ONE EVEN SEAMS TO CARE!!!!)

 Checkers

      This is a quick, easy, and truely compact BASIC version of the classic checkers game, complete with tutorial, definitions, in-game stats, and Winner list!  Compare it to Ultimate Checkers (another checkers program made by some Joe Shmoe I've never heard of)  I'm sure you'l like mine best, since, according to me and many people I've asked, it is the best.  If you are a TI 86 BASIC PROGRAMMER (ASM programers not counted), just try and make a faster running and more user friendly and visually neat version of checkers.

 Monopoly

       Even though I begged the reader earlier to try it, I have not actually posted it.  All I will say now is that it is fully functional for 4 players, and the only differences in it and normal Monopoly was that I had to make the Chance and Community Chest only take or add money to the players, and houses can only be bought in twos or threes (the price for one house on each lot of a monopoly is the same as it is in normal Monopoly).  The names of the lots were also changed to streamline the program.  Other than that, It is a nifty little (I should say large, since the program requires more than half the memory for all of its subroutines and picture files <SORRY!> It can't be helped, since I'm not using the bit manipulation that ASM programmers have access to) program that I spent my summer vacation making.

 Pipedream

       This one is still on the drawing board, but it will be a very good program because I have already solved most of the problems that most programmers would get halted by.  It will be done sometime next year (2001).



    Who I am:

  I am Zachary James Swagel.  I am 15 years old and one of the top students in my class of geniouses.  I am a Sophmore in Algoma High School (AHS) that has found his hobbies and interests centered around computers, electronics, and programming languages.  I don't know much in the field of languages right now, but I know a little about HTML, Java Script, C++, Computer BASIC, and all TI type basic formats.  I can also manipulate files in order to make compatible from one model of calculator to another, so if you have any questions about that, email me.

    Extra note:

  If anybody at all takes the time to read this entire write up, I would like to talk to you and find out WHY.  I would be seriously impressed to see anybody have that much patience for reading a no-name programmer's 10 milion page report on his second ever attempt at making a game.

    If you install the program, have fun!  I used to have many fellow students in my class compete against eachother on this game.