Zero Zap is a video game programmed by Herb Schmitz for the TI-99/4 and TI-99/4A home computers and published by Milton Bradley Company in 1979.[2] It is part of the Milton Bradley Gamevision series, which consists of seven cartridges: Connect Four, Yahtzee, Hangman, Zero Zap, Card Sharp, Stratego, and the Gamevision Demonstration Cartridge. These seven cartridges were the launch titles for the TI-99/4 in 1979.[3] This would mark the first third party to actually release games for the TI-99/4 system. Milton Bradley was only planning on producing these cartridges for a short time period (about one year) before passing production over to Texas Instruments.[4]

Zero Zap
Developer(s)Milton Bradley Company
Programmer(s)Herb Schmitz[1]
Platform(s)TI-99/4A
Release1979

Reception

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Zero Zap is included in the 1984 book, The Best Texas Instruments Software: "Zero Zap is colorful, fast-paced, and has excellent sound."[5]

In a retrospective look at the game, Issue 1 of Classic Gamer Magazine wrote, "Moving on, we came across another lame Video-Pinball game. Zero Zap was for the TI-99/4A home computer.... Real pinball games, even the video-pinballs of the world are games of skill. Zero Zap is pure luck and utter garbage."[6]

References

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  1. ^ Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. ^ "The Games at Home". Vidiot. 1 (1): 36. 1982.
  3. ^ "Zero Zap". Video Game House. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "TI-99/4 Home Computer Timeline". ti994.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Starfire, Brian (1984). The Best Texas Instruments Software. Beekman House. p. 145. ISBN 0517424762.
  6. ^ Traut, Frank (1999). "Frank's Video-Pinball Palace". Classic Gamer Magazine (1): 38–39.