hi, cameron
were you who i chatted with about the tutor stuff i
have?  i located some of it today.  i'll wait to find
out if you are the guy i talked to.
keith

--- Cameron Kaiser <spectre@...> wrote:

> > I am a former owner of a Tomy Tutor. The
> cartridges that my example had
> > were "Scramble," "Loco-Motion" and "Jungler." My
> parents bought this
> > system through the phone in 1983.
>
> Nice to meet you and welcome to the group.
>
> --
> --------------------------------- personal:
> http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ ---
>   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems *
> www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
> -- Life isn't fair. But having the root password
> helps. -----------------------
>

Hi,

I thought I'd introduce myself.  Me and my wife are in our mid to
late 30's and are into both modern gaming and classic gaming.

I have always been obsessed with the TI-99/4A, and still play mine
all the time,
and just recently became aware of the Tomy Tutor, which I understand
is not a clone, but is similiar in many ways.

And of course its just my luck that its more or less immpossible to
find one (I've been looking for the Japanese version on Yahoo Japan,
but no luck so far)...

I'm patient though, I've seen that it has been sold over the last
year once from the Italian Ebay, and another time from the Dutch
one.

Even if I found one, it would probably be out of my price range at
the moment but that won't stop me from getting to know people who own
or have owned them, and to learn more about them collect pictures and
stuff...

Anyway, just thought I'd introduce myself,

Kanton Levine

> I have always been obsessed with the TI-99/4A, and still play mine
> all the time,
> and just recently became aware of the Tomy Tutor, which I understand
> is not a clone, but is similiar in many ways.

If anything, the Tutor is most like the 99/8, although it's not a clone
of that either. See

	 http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/tomy/ti-vs-tomy.html

> I'm patient though, I've seen that it has been sold over the last
> year once from the Italian Ebay, and another time from the Dutch
> one.

Pyuutas turn up now and then. The last one I saw was up around four months
ago and sold for a few hundred.

> Anyway, just thought I'd introduce myself,

Welcome! :)

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- PowerPC inside! ------------------------------------------------------------

--- In tomytutor@yahoogroups.com, Cameron Kaiser <spectre@...> wrote:
> If anything, the Tutor is most like the 99/8, although it's not a
clone
> of that either. See
>
>  http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/tomy/ti-vs-tomy.html

Thanks for the link!
One thing that I noticed was the part on video capabilities:
Lately some people have been working on replacing the 9918A video
card on the TI with the 9928 which outputs component rather than
composite... with at least one success so far but I don't know if
such a thing is possible (or even desirable) for either the Tutor or
the Pyuuta's....

With these consoles being so rare compared to the TI-99/4A, I can
imagine its not an experiment anyone would want to actually try.

Somehow I doubt it but I'm just a layman who comes up with crazy
ideas!

Anyway, here is the paragraph I read from your link:

  Video Capabilities
The Tutor has the 9918ANL, same as the 99/8, which is functionally
equivalent to the 9918A in the 99/4A (but not the 9918 in the 99/4).
As such, it has the same screen resolution, characteristics and
sprite capabilities.

> Pyuutas turn up now and then. The last one I saw was up around four
months
> ago and sold for a few hundred.

As far as gameplay (not computing) is concerned, what is the main
difference between using a Pyuuta vs. a Tutor?  I am kinda under the
impression that they will both play games from the other console, but
I haven't been able to actually ask someone with both.

> > Anyway, just thought I'd introduce myself,
>
> Welcome! :)

Thanks... I'm just glad there is still anyone at all into this
obscure and really fascinating console...

> --
> ------------------------------------ personal:
http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
>   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
> -- PowerPC inside! -------------------------------------------------
-----------
>

> Thanks for the link!
> One thing that I noticed was the part on video capabilities:
> Lately some people have been working on replacing the 9918A video
> card on the TI with the 9928 which outputs component rather than
> composite... with at least one success so far but I don't know if
> such a thing is possible (or even desirable) for either the Tutor or
> the Pyuuta's....

I can't find a reason why it wouldn't work, but as you say,

> With these consoles being so rare compared to the TI-99/4A, I can
> imagine its not an experiment anyone would want to actually try.

... right. I'd hate to be wrong and ruin a 9928, not to mention a Tutor.

> As far as gameplay (not computing) is concerned, what is the main
> difference between using a Pyuuta vs. a Tutor?  I am kinda under the
> impression that they will both play games from the other console, but
> I haven't been able to actually ask someone with both.

A Pyuuta will run almost every cartridge that a Tutor will, except for
"3-D series" games which require extra addressing lines (there were
converters for these) that are not on the Pyuuta, and Car-Azy Racer will
run but be effectively unplayable because there are no lower-case characters.

Similarly, a regular Tutor will run all Pyuuta games, but they may not
appear in Japanese (and they may be garbled).

For an example of this, look at the Scramble screenshot on the catalogue
page:

	 http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/tomy/carts.html

> Thanks... I'm just glad there is still anyone at all into this
> obscure and really fascinating console...

It's not really a console, though (except the Pyuuta Jr which really *is*
a console) -- it was and remains targetted as a computer. It's just a shame
that Tomy never let it progress very far.

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- Isn't it odd how Mac users are loyal to Apple, but not always vice versa? --

--- In tomytutor@yahoogroups.com, Cameron Kaiser <spectre@...> wrote:
>
>> I can't find a reason why it wouldn't work, but as you say,
>
> > With these consoles being so rare compared to the TI-99/4A, I can
> > imagine its not an experiment anyone would want to actually try.
>
> ... right. I'd hate to be wrong and ruin a 9928, not to mention a
Tutor.

Well the 9928 can be obtained for $10.00 at
http://www.arcadechips.com/product_info.php?products_id=85

The process has been done successfully by DjPubba on AtariAge forums:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=105191&st=75

The problem is the risk to the Tutor.  Once I find one, I don't know
if I'd be willing to risk it.

> > Thanks... I'm just glad there is still anyone at all into this
> > obscure and really fascinating console...
>
> It's not really a console, though (except the Pyuuta Jr which
really *is*
> a console) -- it was and remains targetted as a computer. It's just
a shame
> that Tomy never let it progress very far.
>

Sorry, you are correct, it is *not* a console, I just have a bad
habit of calling it that as my main desire is to use it to play games.

I do the same thing with the TI-99/4a, even though it's not a console
either, and I even did loads of Basic programming as a kid.  I guess
because I'm only interested in using them to play games (and to
preserve them), I may slip and call them consoles...

I have found a Tomy Pyuuta in Japan, and while it won't ship outside of
Japan, I have been considering going through a middleman/deputy to have
it shipped to the US.

What I can't figure out is an estimate on shipping as in order to
guestimate it through the Japanese postal service I need an idea of the
weight of a Tomy Tutor in box with joysticks and stuff.

The picture shows a Pyuuta with box, with a rf modulator, the two
joysticks. Also an operation manual. I don't see a power supply so I'm
unsure if that is included.

Any guesses as to what it might weigh?

> I have found a Tomy Pyuuta in Japan, and while it won't ship outside of
> Japan, I have been considering going through a middleman/deputy to have
> it shipped to the US.
>
> What I can't figure out is an estimate on shipping as in order to
> guestimate it through the Japanese postal service I need an idea of the
> weight of a Tomy Tutor in box with joysticks and stuff.
>
> The picture shows a Pyuuta with box, with a rf modulator, the two
> joysticks. Also an operation manual. I don't see a power supply so I'm
> unsure if that is included.
>
> Any guesses as to what it might weigh?

It's going to weigh roughly the same as a regular Tutor, so measure the
Tutor box and weight and maybe add on half a pound just for a worst-case.

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- If you had any brains at all, you'd be dangerous. --------------------------

Sorry, I re-read my post and it was confusing.  I don't own a Tutor or
a Pyuuta, nor have I ever actually seen one aside from photographs and
Youtube videos.
I'm just trying to get an idea of what kind of range I may be looking
at, obviously there's no way to be sure, but I'm just trying to figure
out what's "in the ballpark" so to speak.

BTW, I found it by searching using the Japanese characters for Pyuuta
in Yahoo Japan Auctions and found the Pyuuta Jr, one game, and then
today the Pyuuta in box.  The following search brings them all up:

http://search.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/search/auc?p=%A4%D4%A4%E5%A4%A6%
C2%C0&auccat=0&alocale=0jp&acc=jp

I've never worked with a middleman for stuff like this, so I may wait
until an actual Tutor comes around some day...




> It's going to weigh roughly the same as a regular Tutor, so measure
the
> Tutor box and weight and maybe add on half a pound just for a worst-
case.
>
> --
> ------------------------------------ personal:
http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
>   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
> -- If you had any brains at all, you'd be dangerous. -----------------
---------
>

Is the Tomy Pyuuta compatible with other generic switchoxes, or does it
absolutely have to be the Tomy switchbox to make it work?

> Is the Tomy Pyuuta compatible with other generic switchoxes, or does it
> absolutely have to be the Tomy switchbox to make it work?

No, it will work fine with any switchbox.

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- Really???? WOW!!!!! I'm shallow TOO!!!!! -----------------------------------

I know that it isn't hard to make an adapter for the TI-99/4A joysticks
so other joysticks can be used.  Is there anything like that for the
Pyuuta/Tutor.

I've come across something that looks homemade for adapting other
controllers/joysticks for the Pyuuta, but have no idea if it would work
for a Tutor or how hard it is to make...

> I know that it isn't hard to make an adapter for the TI-99/4A joysticks
> so other joysticks can be used.  Is there anything like that for the
> Pyuuta/Tutor.
>
> I've come across something that looks homemade for adapting other
> controllers/joysticks for the Pyuuta, but have no idea if it would work
> for a Tutor or how hard it is to make...

It should work for the Tutor just fine. Where did you see one?

A TI adaptor will NOT work -- I've tried this. The Tomy joystick is wired
differently and I haven't cracked one of my sticks/controller packs recently
to remember how.

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- WWJD? JWRTFM. --------------------------------------------------------------

I saw it at Yahoo Japan auctions at
http://page16.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u8636910

--- In tomytutor@yahoogroups.com, Cameron Kaiser <spectre@...> wrote:
> It should work for the Tutor just fine. Where did you see one?
>
> A TI adaptor will NOT work -- I've tried this. The Tomy joystick is
wired
> differently and I haven't cracked one of my sticks/controller packs
recently
> to remember how.
>
> --
> ------------------------------------ personal:
http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
>   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
> -- WWJD? JWRTFM. -----------------------------------------------------
---------
>

Not trying to wallow too much, but all last week my wife and I have
been watching the following Ebay Auction for a Tomy Tutor:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
ViewItem&rd=1&item=300171897525&ssPageName=STRK

We were waiting all week and were ready to outbid anyone at any cost.
We even went home early from work so we could bid on it in peace.

Our computer crashed right before we were ready to make our big bid
and someone got it, and the salt in the wound is how low they got it
for!  We would have felt better about it if the winner was someone
willing to spend more than us, but it really sucks that on top of
everything they got it so cheaply!

What's even worse is that the seller was selling joysticks separately
and we won a F-ing Tutor Joystick and nothing else.  :(

It pretty much ruined the last 4 days of our holiday, and without
getting too personal its the 1st time in 6 years that we actually had
a fight.

So anyway, just to let anyone here know, we are still very much in
the market for a Tutor....

The good news is we recently won some games from a Japanese auction
(it comes with a Pyuuta that may or may not work, but we got it for
the games really, but just in case the Pyuuta works, we've gotten a
step down transformer)

Anyway, since just about noone in the world cares about Tomy Tutor's,
we thought we'd share here.......

When it's that important, set up a bid on
http://www.auctionstealer.com/home.cfm (three free per week).

Neil

----- Original Message -----
From: Kanton Levine

Not trying to wallow too much, but all last week my wife and I have
been watching the following Ebay Auction for a Tomy Tutor:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300171897525

We were waiting all week and were ready to outbid anyone at any cost.
We even went home early from work so we could bid on it in peace.

Our computer crashed right before we were ready to make our big bid
and someone got it, and the salt in the wound is how low they got it
for! We would have felt better about it if the winner was someone
willing to spend more than us, but it really sucks that on top of
everything they got it so cheaply!
....

Hi,

Since many of the arcade game titles ported to the Tomy Tutor were
properties of Konami (including "Frogger," "Scramble," "Jungler," "Loco-
Motion" and "Pooyan"), did Tomy have plans to release "Time
Pilot," "Track & Field" and "Gyruss" (three other early well-regarded
Konami licenses) for the Tutor before the first wave of the video game
industry went kaput in early 1984?

Only "Frogger," which was distributed in the U.S. by Sega for the
arcades, was not released for the U.S. Tomy Tutor (all the other
released Konami properties were).

~Ben

> Since many of the arcade game titles ported to the Tomy Tutor were
> properties of Konami (including "Frogger," "Scramble," "Jungler," "Loco-
> Motion" and "Pooyan"), did Tomy have plans to release "Time
> Pilot," "Track & Field" and "Gyruss" (three other early well-regarded
> Konami licenses) for the Tutor before the first wave of the video game
> industry went kaput in early 1984?
>
> Only "Frogger," which was distributed in the U.S. by Sega for the
> arcades, was not released for the U.S. Tomy Tutor (all the other
> released Konami properties were).

Time Pilot was on the schedule, see

	 http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/tomy/carts.html

It appears this became Triple Command, so perhaps Tomy lost the license.

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- I don't mind lying, but I hate inaccuracy. -- Samuel Butler ----------------

Since the vast majority of new members to this group are spammers and I'm
tired of playing whack-a-dope on a nearly daily basis, the membership of
this group is now changing to approval-only.

This means nothing for current members of the list and the list is *not*
being moderated, but if you have other people who are Tutor enthusiasts and
wish to subscribe, all requests will be approved by Mike or myself. I'll
try and make sure that any legitimate new member is cleared within 24 hours
(time permitting).

Thanks for your understanding and this should keep the list clean and secure.

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- I think, therefore I'm single. -- Lizz Winstead ----------------------------

Speaking of "Triple Command" (which, frankly, only saw a Japanese
release), it was planned to be released in the USA as "World War II:
Triple Threat."

Perhaps the game was not released in the USA because of its title and
overall topical nature of its gameplay.

~Ben

--- In tomytutor@yahoogroups.com, Cameron Kaiser <spectre@...> wrote:
>
> Time Pilot was on the schedule, see
>
>  http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/tomy/carts.html
>
> It appears this became Triple Command, so perhaps Tomy lost the
license.
>
> --
> ------------------------------------ personal:
http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
>   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
> -- I don't mind lying, but I hate inaccuracy. -- Samuel Butler -----
-----------
>

Finally got a Tomy Tutor from Keith Dreyer on this forum about a week
ago or so.
It is in wonderful shape!
My wife and I have been playing the hell out of Jungler, and also
Scramble and Traffic Jam!
It's actually my wife's favorite early 80's system so far (we also have
a TI-99/4a and a modded Atari 2600.
She really likes the controllers, too, though that might change once we
get better controllers for the other systems, hard to say.

I think I had posted earlier that I bought a homemade converter cable
of yahoo japan auctions that is supposed to let you use other
controllers that the Tutor ones. I haven't gotten it yet, as it is in a
Japanese deputy service warehouse until I'm ready to ship stateside.

The same seller has listed another one at:
http://page16.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u19737975

The problem is that since I don't know Japanese, I'm looking at it
using automatic translation.  On a second look it seems like I may have
made a mistake, as it looks like it might only work with a modified 3-
button Sega controller that they sell if you pay more when you buy the
cable.

Anyone able to tell if there are any other controllers that will work
with this cable, or should I try to by a second one and get the
controller they modified for it too?

My wife loves the Tutor controller, but I am hoping for something
easier to use for me.

ooooooooooooh, you beat me on those!   Seems to be more Pyuuta stuff
than usual lately...

--- In tomytutor@yahoogroups.com, "haohmaruus" <ccollet@...> wrote:
>
> I should have several Pyuuta games coming my way within the next
few
> weeks, so I'll be able to test the joystick thing for sure when
they
> arrive. Here's the games I'm getting:
>
> Scramble
> Frogger
> Bermuda Triangle
> Don Pan
> Jungler
> Triple Command
> Mystery Gold
> Mission Attack
> Monster Inn
>
> All Japanese versions. And there's one more that's missing a label,
> so who knows what it'll turn out to be.
>
> --- In tomytutor@yahoogroups.com, "haohmaruus" <ccollet@e...> wrote:
> > Well, I just tried the TI-99 joysticks with the Pyuuta Jr, and
> they
> > don't appear to work at all. I'm pretty sure the joysticks work,
> but I
> > suppose it's possible the joyport on the Pyuuta is bad
considering
> what
> > I paid for it. Or maybe the joystick doesn't work with the Jr
> version
> > of Graphic.
>

I am not the seller.

----- Forwarded message from Sava tage -----

From mailhole  Tue Jan 22 19:19:21 2008
Message-ID: <BAY130-W30D8960AC47CC8172975F8883E0@...>
X-Originating-IP: [66.229.131.237]
From: Sava tage <iron_maiden80@...>
To: <ckaiser@...>
Subject: Tomy tutor
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:19:09 -0500
Importance: Normal
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 22 Jan 2008 19:19:09.0174 (UTC)
FILETIME=[A9AD4160:01C85D2B]
X-Forwarding-Service: The Amazing Mailhole/1.939.0 (C)1999-2005 C. Kaiser
X-Forwarding-Autoapproval: Approved message from <iron_maiden80@...> on
trigger "tomy"

[Charset iso-8859-1 unsupported, filtering to ASCII...]
Some person is selling one here locally. FT Lauderdale, FL.

http://fortlauderdale.craigslist.org/sys/547710132.html

check it out if you are interested.

-David

----- End of forwarded message from Sava tage -----

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way. -----------------

If it's Good enough for Shatner ... well, it's also good enough to feature
Sarah Purcell. And we all know what computer she was hawking.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/143521-10/if_its_good_enough_for_shatner.html

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- NEWS ITEM: Energizer Bunny arrested, charged with battery ------------------

Who here could please kindly submit pictures of the USA Tomy Tutor box
sides (left side, top side, right side and bottom side)? Also, your
camera must have good lighting while attempting to do these four sides.

One of the four box sides features several screenshots of games that
were never released in the USA; an interesting fact about one of the
screenshots on one of the sides of the Tutor box art is that the
word "BONUS" is misspelled as "BOUNS." The name of that game is said to
be "Don Pan" or perhaps, "Traffic Jam."

Thank you,
Ben

I have it, but I'm not sure I can get to it in a timely manner.  Have you
looked here for the info you're after?:
http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/tomy/

=================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
  <http://www.armchairarcade.com/> http://www.armchairarcade.com
A PC Magazine Top 100 Website
=================================



   _____

From: tomytutor@yahoogroups.com [mailto:tomytutor@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Benjamin Edge
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 11:28 AM
To: tomytutor@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Tomy Tutor] Tomy Tutor (USA) Box - Sides



Who here could please kindly submit pictures of the USA Tomy Tutor box
sides (left side, top side, right side and bottom side)? Also, your
camera must have good lighting while attempting to do these four sides.

One of the four box sides features several screenshots of games that
were never released in the USA; an interesting fact about one of the
screenshots on one of the sides of the Tutor box art is that the
word "BONUS" is misspelled as "BOUNS." The name of that game is said to
be "Don Pan" or perhaps, "Traffic Jam."

Thank you,
Ben






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Bill,

     I did check that website you mentioned, and all I saw were views of the
front and rear of the box as well as close-up views from both the views
mentioned.

     So could you please take shots of all four side panels from your Tutor box
sometime?

Thank you,
Ben




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Who here could please kindly submit pictures of the USA Tomy Tutor box
> sides (left side, top side, right side and bottom side)? Also, your
> camera must have good lighting while attempting to do these four sides.
> One of the four box sides features several screenshots of games that
> were never released in the USA; an interesting fact about one of the
> screenshots on one of the sides of the Tutor box art is that the
> word "BONUS" is misspelled as "BOUNS." The name of that game is said to
> be "Don Pan" or perhaps, "Traffic Jam."

I'm not anywhere near my Tutor a/t/m (out in the field for the weekend),
but I'm pretty sure that was Traffic Jam. BOUNS just means the player caught
the letters in the wrong order.

The remaining screenshots are pure mockups, although one is the Shinkansen
bullet train which is from a Japanese cassette package not sold in the USA.
The rest are fanciful fluff.

--
------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ --
   Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser@...
-- FOOLS! I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL! ASK ME HOW! -- "Girl Genius" 8/29/07 --------

If sales had gone well for the Tomy Tutor in the USA during the 1983-84
season...

What video game translations would you have wanted to see for the Tutor?
(I am listing more Konami properties here)
1. Super Cobra (1981) (this is the military take on "Scramble" where
you have to pick up the booty in the 10th and final stage to win the
entire game (and then start all over again at increased difficulty), as
opposed to destroying the command base in "Scramble"'s 6th and final
stage)
2. Amidar (1981)
3. Time Pilot (1982)
4. Badlands (1983)
5. Roc 'N Rope (1983)
6. Track & Field (1983)
7. Gyruss (1983)
8. Circus Charlie (1984) - notable for the brief reference to Johann
Strauss' waltz "The Blue Danube," heard in the final stage.
9. Antarctic Adventure (1984) - the "Skater's Waltz" ("Die
Schlittschuhlaufer" in German; "Les Patineurs" in French), by composer
Emil Waldteufel, is heard throughout the game. This did see a release
on the ColecoVision.

~Ben