How to Program Games on Graphic Calculators

Calculators have come a long way in sophistication since their humble origins.

Graphing calculators, which once were barely able to hold information at all (aside from mathematical formulas and processes), are now able to store a multitude of games that take full advantage of calculators' modest programming capabilities. These games are written in programming languages and uploaded online, where they can be accessed by anybody for free. Calculators today usually have the software and materials packaged with them to add programs and games.

Things You'll Need

• Graphing calculator
• USB cable
• WinZip program (or other unzipping software compatible with your operating system)

Instructions

1. Choose the appropriate USB cable for your calculator. Some calculators come with USB cords already. Texas Instruments calculators can also use serial cables, which work for all TI calculators, though modern computers decreasingly have serial ports.

2. Download the linking software that is packaged with your calculator onto your computer. This is generally done by simply inserting the CD into the CD drive and following the on-screen instructions detailed by the installation wizard. An installation wizard is a computer program that allows unknowledgeable users to download a program easily.

3. Visit the manufacturer's website, depending on the model of calculator, to select programs from an archive of downloadable content. Click to download by a particular program and open the file once it has finished. Opening it will allow WinZip (or your default unzipping software) to open the file fully.

4. Transfer the game to your calculator using your previously installed linking software. To do this, simply browse your computer for the saved game file, open it in the linking software and accept the transfer. Linking software in general makes this process minimally difficult to understand and appreciably user-friendly.

Tips & Warnings

• More lists of games exist on other websites, though they are rarely as complete as official sites; nonetheless, the calculator gaming community continues to have significant participation and innovative new programs.

References

• Ticalc: Downloading Programs