Empire of the Over-Mind by Avalon Hill.   This box contained versions for the Atari 8-bit, Apple II and TRS-80 computers.   This was a common tactic for publishers at a time when games were simpler and platforms were more numerous.

The original 1977 "Trash-80" (as it is lovingly called) was not originally designed as a game machine.  This is no surprise since computer gaming wouldn't be seen as a driving force for sales until Atari entered the market in 1979.  Most early TRS-80 games used only alphanumeric characters in lieu of graphics because doing anything more was a relatively difficult programming task.  Sound was nearly as challenging, which is why Instant Software's 1979 game Ball Turret Gunner  proudly proclaims in large red letters on the front of the box, "WITH SOUND."   Tandy rectified these problems with their TRS-80 Color Computer (CoCo) line, which had much better sound and graphics capabilities.  It also had a cartridge port suited for gaming.  Even so, the lack of third-party software support made the TRS-80 CoCo a second-tier gaming system.  I know of no games that were remarkably original or unique to the TRS-80 CoCo, and I welcome anyone to help set me straight on this point.

Never the less, the TRS-80 Model 1 featured some truly classic games like the original Zork,  and the early Adventure International, SSI,  and Avalon Hill games.  Later, the TRS-80 CoCo was well supported by Tandy/Radio Shack, which led many gamers of the early 80's to begin their gaming journey on a piece of Trash.  In the later 80's the TRS-80 could not compete with the gaming abilities of systems from Atari, Commodore and Apple.   Tandy eventually retired the series and moved on to produce IBM (DOS) clones, which  possessed better graphics and sound than the IBM original and (for a while) clones from other manufacturers.

Hardware Resources:

GOTCHA TRS-80 CoCo Page

The Machine Room's TRS-80 CoCo Pages: I, II, III

Cartridge rarity lists:

http://www.io.com/~vga2000/vgadkslc/vga-coco.lst

Tandy (TRS-80) Color Computer Games List

The Museum

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Last modified: February 19, 2004

Copyright 1998 - 2004 Hugh Falk International Interactive Enterprises Industries Incorporated Limited Etceteras.  All rights reserved.