TRS-80 Games

 

 

 

 

Empire of the Over-Mind.jpg (67230 bytes)

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.

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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

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The Museum

Game Name: Publisher: OS: Media: Category: Condition: Year:
Adventure 2: "Pirate's Adventure" Scott Adams Tandy Cass Adventure IM/F 1979
Adventure 4: Voodoo Castle Adventure International Tandy Cass Adventure MS 1981
Air Traffic Controller Creative Computing Tandy Cass Simulation F/F 1978
Andromeda Conquest Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass Strategy F 1982
Arkanoid Tandy Tandy Cart   F 1987
Armored Patrol Adventure International Tandy Cass   NM (S) (C) 1981
Attack Force Big Five Software Tandy Cass   IM/IM
B-1 Nuclear Bomber Avalon Hill Apple II/Tandy Cass Strategy VG/F (MMC) 1980
B-1 Nuclear Bomber Avalon Hill Tandy/TI99/Sinclair Cass Strategy F/F 1980-83
Ball Turret Gunner (WITH SOUND) Instant Software Tandy Cass   VG/VG 1979
Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow Strategic Simulations Tandy Cass Strategy G 1981
Bedlam Tandy Tandy Cass Adventure IM/F 1981-82
Chess Tandy Tandy Cart Strategy IM 1980
Clear for Action Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy Cass Strategy F/F 1984
Color Baseball Tandy Tandy Cart Sports F 1983
Computer Acquire Avalon Hill Apple II/Tandy/PET Cass Strategy MS 1980-81
Computer Diplomacy Avalon Hill Tandy 5.25" Disk Strategy VG/F 1984
Computer Foreign Exchange Avalon Hill Tandy Cass Strategy NM (S) (T) 1982
Computer Major League Baseball Avalon Hill Tandy Cass Sports MS 1981
Cosmic Fighter Big Five Software Tandy Cass   IM/IM
Cosmic Fighter Big Five Software Tandy Cass   IM/VG 1980
Curse of Ra Epyx Apple II/Tandy 5.25" Disk RPG NM (S) (T) 1982
Danger in Drindisti Epyx Tandy Cass RPG F 1982
Datestones of Ryn Epyx Atari/Tandy Cass RPG NM (S) (T) 1979-81
Dnieper River Line Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass Strategy MS 1981
Don Pan Tandy Tandy Cart   IM 1985
Downland Tandy Tandy Cart   VG 1983
Dungeons of Daggorath Tandy Tandy Cart RPG IM 1982
Eliminator Adventure International Tandy Cass   VG/F 1981
Eliminator Adventure International Tandy 5.25" Disk   F/IM 1981
Empire of the Over-Mind Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple Cass RPG NM 1981
Enchanter (Folio Box) Infocom Tandy 5.25" Disk Adventure VG/IM 1983
Eureka Softsmith Tandy Cass   MS 1982
Flight Simulator T80-FS1 Sub Logic Tandy Cass Simulation IM/VG 1980
Flying Saucers Tandy Tandy Cass   VG/VG 1979
Fredericksburg Avalon Hill Tandy 5.25" Disk Strategy VG/VG 1982
Frogger Radio Shack Software Tandy Cass   F/F 1983
Galaxy Avalon Hill C64/Atari/TI99/Tandy Cass Strategy F/F 1983
Galaxy Ivasion Big Five Software Tandy Cass   IM/IM
Games Pack Two - Defense Command/Stellar Escort Cogito Sotware Company Tandy Cass   G/F 1983
Gammon Gambler Tandy Tandy Cass Adventure IM/F 1981
GFL Championship Football II Gamestar Tandy Cart Sports F 1986-88
Guns of Fort Defiance Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass Strategy VG 1981
Hellfire Warrior Epyx Apple II/Tandy 5.25" Disk RPG VG/F 1980
Invasion Force Tandy Tandy Cass Strategy IM/F 1979
Invasion Orion Epyx Atari/Tandy Cass Strategy VG 1981
Invasion Orion Epyx Tandy/PET Cass Strategy VG/IM 1981
Jordon VS Bird: One on One Electronic Arts DOS/Tandy 5.25" Disk Sports VG/F 1988
Laser Ball Adventure International Tandy Cass   F/F (MMC) 1981
Laser Surgeon: The Microscopic Mission Activision Tandy Cart Action/Strategy MS 1987
Lords of Karma Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass Adventure VG/F (MMC) 1981
Lords of Karma Avalon Hill Apple II/Tandy/PET Cass Adventure MS 1980
Microchess 1.5 Personal Software Tandy Cass Board F/F 1978
Midway Campaign Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/C-64/Vic-20/Sinclair Cass Strategy VG 1983
Mind-Roll Tandy Tandy Cart   NM 1988
Missile Attack Adventure International Tandy Cass   IM/IM 1981
Monster Maze Tandy Tandy Cart   IM 1981
New World Epyx Tandy Cass Strategy NM/NM 1982
North Atlantic Convoy Raider Avalon Hill Apple II/Tandy/PET Cass Strategy VG/F 1980
Nukewar Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/VIC-20/C64 Cass RPG VG 1983
Panic Button Tandy Tandy Cart   G 1983-85
Planet Miners Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass Strategy F 1980-81
Pyramid 2000 Tandy Tandy Cass Adventure IM/F 1979
Raaka-Tu Tandy Tandy Cass Adventure IM/VG 1981
Rainbow Forest Softsmith Tandy Cass   MS 1981
Rear Guard Adventure International Tandy Cass   G/IM 1982
Rescue At Rigel Epyx Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass RPG F 1980
Rescue At Rigel Epyx Atari/Tandy Cass RPG MS 1980
Ricochet Epyx Atari/Tandy Cass Strategy F/NM 1981
Robot Attack Big Five Software Tandy Cass   IM/IM 1981
Rogue Epyx Tandy 5.25" Disk RPG MS 1985
Scarfman The Cornsoft Group Tandy Cass   VG/F 1981
Sea Dragon Adventure International Tandy 5.25" Disk   VG/IM 1982
Showdown Adventure International Tandy Cass   IM/IM 1981
Silpheed Sierra On-Line Tandy Cart   F 1988
Space Chase Softsmith Tandy Cass   MS 1982
Space Trek II Instant Software Tandy Cass Strategy IM/F 1978-79
Space Warp Tandy/Personal Software Tandy Cass   IM/VG 1979-80
Star Trek 3.5 Adventure International Tandy Cass Strategy F/NM 1980-81
Star Warrior Epyx Atari/Tandy Cass RPG F 1980
Starcross (Saucer) Infocom Tandy 5.25" Disk Adventure VG/F 1982
Starfighter Adventure International Tandy Cass   IM/IM 1981
Starquest Tandy Tandy Cass   F 1982
Stellar Life Line Tandy Tandy Cart   IM 1983
Stratos Adventure International Tandy Cass   MS 1982
Super Nova Big Five Software Tandy Cass   IM/IM
Suspended (Mask box) Infocom Tandy 5.25" Disk Adventure VG/F 1983
Tank Arkade Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/VIC-20/PET Cass   F 1982
Tanktics Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass Strategy VG 1981
Telengard Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass RPG VG 1982-83
Telengard Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/C-64/PET Cass RPG F 1982-83
Tennis Tandy Tandy Cart Sports IM 1981
The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow Strategic Simulations Tandy Cass Strategy G 1981
The Keys of Acheron Epyx Apple II/Tandy 5.25" Disk RPG F/F 1981-82
The Sword of Roshon Tandy Tandy Cass RPG F 1982
The Witness (Gray Box) Infocom Tandy 5.25" Disk Adventure F/F 1983-84
Thexder Broderbund Tandy Cart   MS 1987
VC Avalon Hill Tandy 5.25" Disk Strategy F/NM 1982
Voyager I Avalon Hill Atari/Tandy/Apple/PET Cass RPG F 1982
Wildcatting Tandy Tandy Cart Strategy VG 1980-81
Zaxxon Radio Shack Software Tandy Cass   F/F 1983
Zork Personal Software Tandy 5.25" Disk Adventure F 1980-82
Zork I Infocom Tandy 5.25" Disk Adventure MS 1981-83

   

 

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Last modified: February 19, 2004
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