TI-99/4 FinalGROM and F18A working - demonstration TI-99/4A

After many years of the TI-99/4 not working properly with the FinalGROM (it refused to acknowledge key presses), it is working now! I’ve patched the firmware for it and started a thread on AtariAge for the patched firmware in the TI forum. To celebrate, I’ve added a F18A VDC to my TI-99/4 to show it booting a ROM cart, the “Don’t Mess with Texas” demo by Desire.

This demo’s premiere on a TI-99/4 is notable for two reasons: 1) The TI-99/4 couldn’t natively boot ROM only carts. The FinalGROM removes this limitation. 2) The TI-99/4 lacks bitmap mode because it has a TMS9918, not a TMS9918A. Replacing the 9918 with a 9918A or F18A gives this system 99/4A capable video.

The only thing this /4 can’t do is lower case now. :-)