The Texas Instruments line of graphing calculators, and their ability to function as math tools as well as gaming systems is really spactacular. However many people don't understand how much time and effort has been spent by Dan Eble, Rob Taylor, and Magnus Hagander, to create the first assembly shell for any TI calculator, Z-Shell for the TI-85. Without these guys it is possible that the TI's would be just about as bad as CASIO calcs, maybe even worse because of their sub-par user interface. It is through their innovative thinking of the original Z-Shell creators that all of these real gaming possibilities have opened up. Before assembly games there were BASIC games. These games were written in a programming language called "TI-BASIC". The only problem (and it was a fairly large one) was that BASIC games were very slow, making graphic based, arcade action games nearly impossible. The reason that assembly programs run so much faster is because they directly access the processor on the calculator, the 6 MHz Z80. By bypassing the conversion of BASIC language to machine code (the code that the processor uses to do stuff) you get a dramatic speed increase, in addition to many more advanced features. These features like grayscale graphics (shades of gray on the screen are achived by flipping the display between 2 or more templates. If you have a black template and two white ones you would get a light gray) and better overall graphics and picture movement, link support (probably the coolest advanced feature is the ability to use the link port. it is used to play 2 player link games like Z-Tetris, as well as hear sound in games, like in my game Aliens v 1.3).

I also created YounGGameS to serve people who want to take the next step and buy a link cable for their computer and calculator (that is if they don't feel link building one from scratch). I have done everything in my power to create an easy to use and affordable package for people who want to use a link to transfer files to and from their calculator and computer. It doesn't have to be hard. You don't have to be a computer guru anymore just to transfer files to and from you calculator. Now you have the power to choose the games you want. Do you like the fast-paced arcade action of plainjump or breakout? Or are you the Z-Tetris type? The choice is yours. Besides school is be boring. You can now built your own game library and have access to hundreds of games, as well as keep up with new ones that are being released at this very moment. Some people also don't realize that these games are keeping America's students in school. They no longer have to skip school to at least have a marginal level of fun. Anyway, you are probably here to check out my games as well as get linked to other program archives, such as Ticalc.org. If you got a link, good. If not buy one from me or talk to someone with knowledge on calcs and get yourself hooked up.