TI-89 Games How To
Since I receive at least a couple emails a week from people with problems getting games to work on their calculators, I decided to go ahead and just make a page for troubleshooting this issue.
Basic Problem Explanations
There are two different types of games can be run on your calculator - basic and assembly. Basic games are written in an simple programming language called TI-Basic and can be programmed on the calculator itself. Assembly (sometimes aka C-based) programs are written in what is called assembly language (or C), which is much more complicated and must be programmed on the computer and then transferred to the calculator. Assembly games, however, are usually much more detailed with better graphics, but at the expense of taking up more space on the calculator.
The issue most people get is with assembly programs, simply because they are more commonly downloaded. These include the games on this site, such as Mario and Phoenix. Due to the complexity and makeup of the code for these programs, it is quite common that they must be written for the exact type of calculator you have. Other times, the code will work on most any calculator.
File Types
When transferring programs to your TI-89, you'll most likely be dealing with several different types of files. The following is a list of the common file types you could see:
- ZIP Files (.zip) - These files actually contain several individual files packaged together for easier downloading. ZIP files are not for your calculator, they are archives which contain the files for your calculator. You must first "unzip" them to get the files they contain, and then send those files to your calculator. If you don't already have an unzipper, try WinRar.
- Group Files (.89g) - Group files are similar to ZIP files in that they are archives which contain other files, but they contain only calculator data files and therefore may be sent to the calculator without being ungrouped first. Though it is not needed unless you are trying to access the core files themselves, if you are interested in ungrouping these archives, use the TI-Graph Link software. Transfer these files to the calculator if you see them.
- Calculator Data Files (.89i, .89p, .89s, .89z) - These are files which contain data that is most often necessary to run your programs. Transfer these files to the calculator if you see them. .89p files are BASIC programs and .89p, .89s, and .89z are typically used with assembly programs.
- Text Files (.txt) - These are files which can be used as notes for the Notefolio application. Coders often use .txt files to as FAQs or ReadMe's for their game, so you rarely should send text files to your calculator.
- Anything Else - It's not for your calculator. Leave it. However, it's worth noting that trying to send an invalid file type to your calculator doesn't harm it. The TI-Graph Link software simply will error out and won't let you send the file.
How to transfer Programs
The only thing really worth mentioning is which cable you should use to transfer files
from your computer to your calculator. Once you've downloaded a game (you can find one
in my game archive), you just need to plug in your cable and
transfer the program. The main types of cables are the TI-Graph Link and the USB to
Mini-USB cable. Simply for the fact that it's much more common (since it works with all
TI calculators), I'd recommend using a TI-Graph Link cable. This is shipped with TI's
software, TI-Connect, which contains it's own help files for transferring programs.
How To Run Programs
The easiest way to run any program to go into the calculator's VAR-LINK screen. You can access this screen by going to the home screen and pressing [2nd] + [-]. You should now see a list of folders and their containing files. To choose a file, just arrow down to it and press [ENTER]. The program name should now be inputted into the box on the home screen. Close the parenthesis by pressing [)] and hit enter to launch the program.
Shells
It's possible that your program just wont run without a specifically designed shell. Some assembly programs require a shell of certain operating system version properly. TI does not support the running of assembly programs on some version of its software, so you may have some difficulty figuring out what you need on your calculator. For large games like Super Mario, you will need the DoorsOS shell. SImply download DoorsOS, transfer it like any other program, and install it by running the program. Now you should be able to run most any game you want on your calculator. DoorsOS is just one example of a shell. There are many others to choose from if you prefer.
Warning
Running any programs (mainly assembly) on your calculator is always dangerous. There is a risk that you could crash the calculator and potentially lose your non-archived files. Fortunately, the TI-Connect software allows you to backup your files. Get into the habit of backing up before adding any new programs to your calculator.
