TI-84 CE calculator used as a PC gaming display – playing Sonic X Shadow Generations remaster with 2fps display output

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Footage of the newly expanded speedrunning platformer remaster Sonic X Shadow Generations appeared on Twitter/X. So far it’s all so casual, but the featured clip shows how the game is controlled directly by the TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculator, along with a 2 FPS video stream on the device. This 2 minute footage, partially shared in @DomDaTurtl’s original tweet, is actually 6 minutes long as it is fully uploaded to @DomDaTurtl’s YouTube channel, @Barcadepod, and covers the first two acts of the Space Colony Ark, the initial stage Sonic X Shadow Generations which is also an HD remix of Ark stages from 2001 Sonic Adventure 2, the first Shadow game.

Despite the obvious obstacles in the games, @DomDaTurtl still managed to secure A ranks in both Space Colony Ark actions, which is a rank below the maximum S rank recognized by the game, but very impressive given the hardware setup.

Of course, the astute among you are probably now asking: How is that possible? Or even real? The answer to both of these questions is as follows Calc2KeyCEan existing open source program that allows users of the TI-84 Plus CE calculator to send keyboard input and receive video streams from a wired PC. So, yes, it is possible!

That said, it’s hardly an optimal gaming experience. Trying to play just off the calculator screen would be impossible, although the input lag through the calculator seemed acceptable enough to play on a PC monitor. The key bindings were confusing even when @DomDaTurtl played the Ark stages – probably especially confusing if he was playing on a controller first, like most gamers on the platform.

However, this feat remains an exciting proof of concept! For really slow games like classic text adventures or point-and-click adventures, this setting can become almost practical.

Now we have to tell you what’s best native the portable gaming experience available today will be well received The best gaming PCs, not the TI-84 Plus CE. And yes, in Steam Deck you can not only play Sonic X Shadow Generationscomplete with Shadow’s new Doom powers—it can even play the actual game Dum series to Doom Eternal on low settings 30 FPS with ray tracing enabled. 60 frames per second is also available without RT!