Fathom

Fathom is an Imagic created action video game for the TI-99/4A. It was programmed by Neil Mckenzie and released 3rd quarter of 1983 and released on Solid State Software^TM Command Module.

Fathom
Football (Front Cover)
Publisher(s)	Imagic
Original Retail Price	$39.95 (USD)
Programmer(s)	Neil McKenzie
Part#	PHM 3222
Format(s)	Solid State SoftwareTM Command Module
Release	1983 (3rd Quarter)
Genre(s)	Action

Gameplay

Football for the TI-99/4 and TI-99/4A was a two-player game. The game starts off like any football game with the coin toss to decide which team kicks off and which team receives to start the game. The players choose the play they want to run each play, and the computer does the rest.

Advertising Blurbs

Front Cover of Manual

Exciting color action and fun for 2 players. You pick the plays, call the defense, snap the ball. The computer actually simulates the games based on professional football statistics! Every game is different and challenging.

Back Cover of Manual

The Texas Instruments Football Command Module brings a new dimension of fun and excitement to the game. You and your opponent plan strategy, select offensive and defensive plays, and enjoy the action. It's an easy-to-use - but quite sophisticated - computer simulation of the game. Action for each play is determined from probability tables derived from professional football statistics. A "luck factor" makes the outcome different for each series of downs. Each game is unique!

Football module action will provide hours of fun and challenge for your family, at parties, or in tournaments with friends. It's exciting for the novice as well as the expert "armchair quarterback." These features are part of each game.

• Eleven offensive plays
• Seven defensive plays
• Outcomes computed from professional statistics
• Random action events - fumbles, penalties, unexpected outcomes based on a "luck factor"
• Complete computerized scoreboard - keeps track of game status, down, possession of the ball, timing
• Exciting visual displays and sound effects for touchdowns and winning points!

The Football Command Module is just one example of the depth, realism, and challenging fun that your TI Home Computer offers. Ask to see other Command Modules!

Triton Catalog - Fall 1984

Be a pro player! Real-life computer simulation of the game, based on actual pro statistics. Every game is different . . . pick the plays, call the defense, snap the ball! 1-2 players can really learn the game with inside expertise!

Fun Fact

According to the programmer, David Coons, one summer a student programmer went into the office during the weekend, and instead of typing IN (INstall Volume, the hard disk cartridge on which all of the project's code was located) typed INV(INitialize Volume) which formatted the disk, destroying all the code for the Football. There were no backups of the program code, so the programmers spent the next week retyping the code from old printouts they had created. Moral of the story: Always, Always Backup!!

Manual

Downloads

• 

  1979 Football Cartridge (black label on black cartridge)

• 

  1982 Football Cartridge (red label on black cartridge)

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  1983 Football Cartridge (red label on beige cartridge)

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  Football Manual Front Cover

• 

  Football Manual Complete (pdf format)

• 

  Football MAME/MESS Rom (rpk format)

External Links

• Giant the Bomb: Fathom
• MobyGames: Fathom
• TI-99ers On-line User Group: TI-99 Cartridge Listing
• TI-99/4A Video Game House: Fathom]