Video Games 1

Video Games 1 is an Action/Pinball video game created by Texas Instruments (TI) for the TI-99/4A during the second quarter of 1980. It was sold as part # PHM 3018 and originally retailed for $29.95 (USD). It was sold on Solid State Software^TM Command Module cartridge.

Video Games 1
Video Games 1Manual (Front Cover)
Publisher(s)	Texas Instruments (TI)
Original Retail Price	$29.95 (USD)
Part#	PHM 3018
Format(s)	Solid State SoftwareTM Command Module
Release	1980 (2nd Quarter)
Genre(s)	Action, Pinball

Advertising Blurbs

Front Cover of Manual

Exciting color action and fun for 1 or 2 players. Practice your aim with Pot-Shot, try your skill at Pinball, or trap your opponent with Doodle.

Back Cover of Manual

Video Games I turns your Home Computer into an arcade of games. It includes a series of colorful and exciting activities that provide hours of entertainment for the whole family.

Video Game I contains hundreds of variations of three basic games which are familiar to many people:

• Pot-Shot - Try your skill in a shooting gallery with lifelike scenery.
• Pinball - Keep your ball in play with your electronic "flipper." Who can get the highest score?
• Doodle - Trap your opponent's spider in the web. Play against the computer or a _friend.

Each activity has user-selectable options or random elements to make each new game a different challenge. Special 16-color high-resolution graphics and exciting sound effects and music all add to the fun.

Activities in this module are designed to work with the optional Wired Remote Controllers. These units can provide added flexibility in playing the games.

Triton Catalog - Spring 1984

Here's 3 video classics on one cartridge. Practice your shooting skills with Pot-Shot ... use your utmost dexterity at Pinball ... trap your opponent with Doodle. Hours of fascination for the whole family. (Wired Remote Controllers recommended.)

Manual

Video Games 1

At one time or another, everyone has enjoyed playing the games in a "penny arcade." Video Games 1 brings three of these types of games into your home to be enjoyed at any time.

Movement on the screen can be controlled by the Wired Remote Controllers or from the keyboard. For Video Games 1, certain keys on both sides of the keyboard are designated as directional keys:

Pot-Shot

This activity turns your computer screen into a shooting gallery. The display shows a randomly selected country scene, and rabbits, ducks and deer appear as targets. This game improves your hand-eye coordination by requiring you to aim and then fire at your target.

Pinball

This familiar game is programmed with colors and sounds, special targets, and a movable electronic "flipper." Watch your skill and scores improve as you get the "feel" of the game. You can't "tilt" this one!

Doodle

This game calls for quick reactions and tactics as you try to trap your opponent's spider inside your web. Look out though! Your opponent will be trying to corner you too! Play against the computer or challenge a friend.

Playing Video Games 1

When you press the key for VIDEO GAMES 1, you see the title screen. The pinball table appears on the screen with flashing lights, accompanied by some of the music and sounds used in the games. The next display shows a list of the games you can play.

To select a game, press the key number shown beside the name of the game. We'll go through each of the games in the order they're shown on the screen.

Pot-Shot

Press the 1 key for Pot-Shot. The following display then appears:

Enter the length of time, in seconds, that you want each individual game to last. For example, if you want each game to last for 60 seconds, press the 6 key, the O key, and the ENTER key. The screen now displays the time limit you have just entered and tells you to press ENTER to start the game. You can enter any time limit from 1 to 999 seconds. If you press ENTER without pressing any number keys, the default time limit of 120 seconds is used. (If you press any non-numeric keys, you will hear an "uh-oh" sound.)

When you press ENTER, you see a country scene with bushes in the foreground. The middle of the screen shows a lake surrounded by clumps of reeds with two groups of trees in the background. Every time the game is played, the shape of the various features is selected at random, giving hundreds of different scenes.

The object of the game is to hit as many of the targets as possible.

Rabbits

Rabbits appear at random from four different positions in the bushes. They run to an adjacent position and disappear. These are the easiest targets to hit, so they only score 1 point. At least one rabbit is on the screen at all times.

Deer

Deer randomly appear from behind the trees. They move out a few steps, turn around, move back to their original position and then disappear. Since they are smaller targets than the rabbits, you score two points for each hit. There is a brief pause between one deer disappearing and the next one coming into view.

Ducks

Ducks appear at random from one of the three clumps of reeds around the lake. They then fly up and across the screen, but not in a straight line! This fact, and their small target area, make ducks the most difficult to hit, so you score five points for doing so. There will be a short pause between appearances of the ducks.

The graphic on the screen is your rifle sight. You can move it around the screen with the Wired Remote Controllers or with the directional keys on the left side of the console. If you are using the Wired Remote Controllers, move the lever to position the rifle sight and press the FIRE button to fire a shot. If you are using the keyboard, press the directional keys [ ↑ (E), ↓ (X), ← (S), → (D), ↖ (W), ↗ (R), ↙ (Z), ↘ (C)] to move the rifle sight and the ENTER key to fire a shot. Not all of the animal's body is part of the targets, so try to hit it dead-center. You know you have scored a hit when the animal disappears and a few musical notes follow the rifle shot.

Status

The bottom line of the screen shows the status of the game at any time. The number on the left is the timer which counts down as you watch.

Downloads

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  1980 Prototype Cartridge for Video Games 1

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  1980 Video Games 1 British, Germany, France Cartridge

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  1980 Video Games 1 U.S. Cartridge

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  1983 Beige with Red Label Video Games 1 Cartridge

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  Video Games European Manual Cover

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  Video Games 1 U.S. Manual

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  Video Games 1 Manual Complete (pdf format)

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  ZeroZap MAME/MESS Rom (rpk format)

External Links

• GameFAQs: Video Games 1
• Pixelpedant's Texas Instruments Manuals Compendium: Video Games 1
• TI-99/4A Video Gamehouse: Video Games 1
• TI-99ers On-line User Group: TI-99 Cartridge Listing