A BASIC Game	An Assembly Game

As you can hopefully clearly see, the assmebly program is much more graphical. The assembly program shown here is Vertigo. It is one of a handful of games out for the TI's that uses what is called grayscale graphics. Assembly programs also have the potential to do other cool things like play sound and transfer data via the linkport (used in Z-Tetris). In addition assembly programs also take up less memory on your calculator. Basically anything that the calculator is capable of doing can be done by way of assembly programming. The possibilities are just about endless in the hands of a skilled programmer. That's right, a skilled programmer. Assembly is very hard to learn. It took me just about a year just to learn the main concepts of game making established. This is because it is about a step from machine language (raw binary code utilized by the calculator). Its learning curve is just about it's only drawback. But most people won't have to worry about this drawback because most people will be using the programs, not making them!

Now on to BASIC programs. The BASIC language has it's own advantages too, however graphics, speed, and some advanced features aren't included in it's list of advantages. It's great for math and it's easy to learn. Anyone can learn BASIC. In assembly to make a math program you really need to know what you are doing. Just for starters you would need to program a number input routine (for entering numbers from the keys), as well as create a way to store and display numbers larger than 255 (8 bit) and 65535 (16 bit). In addition you would need to also make your own multiplication, division, sine, cosine, tangent, and square root functions too because there are no instructions for those operations. In assembly you add and subtract, which when properly implemented can act as multiplication and subtraction. To put it in plain English, "It would be a big mess". Anyway my point is assembly is better for games and BASIC is better for math.