Parsec (video game)

"Parsec" is perhaps the best-remembered of all TI-99/4A computer games. It is a side-scrolling shooter game, programmed in 1982 by Jim Dramis (who also programmed the popular TI-99/4A games "Car Wars" and "Munchman") and Paul Urbanus.

Details

"Parsec" represented a leap forward in game technology for the platform, using the superior 'graphics 2' mode of the TMS9918A processor (making it incompatible with the older TI-99/4) and, optionally, the speech synthesizer. The player pilots a spaceship through sixteen levels of play. Each level consists of six waves of enemy ships, followed by an asteroid belt. The game had a number of unique features:

* An exhaustible fuel supply which must be refilled by navigating through refueling tunnels.
* A choice of 3 "lift" settings, allowing a choice between vertical speed and fine control when needed, such as navigating through a refueling tunnel.
* The danger of overheating the laser by firing too often, self-destructing the ship. The risk of this occurring increases as the game progresses into higher levels.
* Smooth single-pixel horizontal scrolling, an amazing hack for a character-based graphics system. Numerous ground sections randomly appear to represent an infinite landscape. It includes images of enemy ships, the Texas Instruments logo, the programmers' initials, and others. The ground changes color on advancing to each new level. Collision with the ground is pixel perfect.
* Warnings from the "on-board computer" of each impending attack wave. These include an alarm sound and flashing text, as well as a spoken warning if the speech synthesizer is connected. The exception is the Killer Satellites, which start appearing after the third asteroid belt at the beginning of level 4 with no warning at all. The manual incorrectly states that they appear at the end of each level, starting with level 4.

The speech synthesis, although very advanced at the time, is optional. It doesn't add much to the gameplay, but it does warn of advancing enemy aircraft, except for the Killer Satellites. The speech is convenient to have in the asteroid belt, which gets progressively longer, as it includes a spoken countdown. Without the speech synthesizer there is no indication of how long the asteroid belt will last. The voice of the on-board computer was performed by Aubree Anderson, who at the time was a student at Texas Tech University.

Trivia

* Two of the attacking alien ship types appear to be named after the developers of the game: Urbites and Dramites. The remaining cruiser type, the Bynites, was apparently named after Don Bynum, the manager of TI's Personal Computer Division.
* Paul Urbanus signed Internet posts as late as 2005 with "urbite". [http://www.mcse.ms/archive195-2005-10-1879653.html]
* Some "Parsec" cartridges spell "Asteroid" wrong when a ship approaches the asteroid belt.

Quotations (with optional speech sythesizer)

* "Alert! Alien craft advancing!"
* "Alert! Ships attacking!"
* "Nice shooting."
* "Great shot, pilot!"
* "Laser on target."
* "Extra ship."
* "Warning! Time to refuel."
* "Congratulations." (When refueling)
* "Nice flying." (After exiting a refueling tunnel)
* "Countdown... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Advance to next level."
* "Press fire to begin."

References

External links

* [http://xona.com/ti994a/parsec.html Rare "Parsec" Facts]
* [http://www.videogamehouse.net/parsec.html TI-99/4A Videogame House - "Parsec"]
* [http://www.vassmer.com/computermuseum/ti994a-parsec.html "Parsec"] Dead link|date=October 2008 - real (non-emulated) Parsec pictures and sounds
* [http://www.stageselect.com/games/game.aspx?gameid=7915 Stage Select "Parsec" Review]
* [http://harmlesslion.com/software/classic99 Classic99] , TI-99/4A emulator with licensed ROMs (including "Parsec") from Texas Instruments