Tandy 1000 Gray and Peach Label Releases

When Tandy released its Tandy 1000 computer in November, 1984, it needed software to tell that would demonstrate the system's PC compatibility and its enhanced features.  Tandy had been both a software developer as well as publisher for its TRS-80 computers and its Color Computer, but those were computers that Tandy had brought into the world.  For the Tandy 1000, Tandy was entering into a market already established by IBM and already had a very large number of software developers publishing for that platform.  As the Tandy 1000 maintained a large degree of PCjr. compatibility and was essentially PC compatible, there was already a significant number of titles which could take advantage of the enhanced graphics and sound derived from the PCjr.  Companies like Sierra On-line and Spinnaker Software had invested heavily in PCjr. software and were eager to find additional avenues to sell their games, even more so once IBM announced it was discontinuing the PCjr. in March, 1985.  Tandy was happy to make publishing deals if they released Tandy 1000 specific versions of their games.  Let's look at those versions.

From 1984 to 1986, some games distributed by Tandy in its Radio Shack stores and by mail order through Radio Shack's catalogs for its Tandy 1000 computer would have fairly generic and uniform gray labels on their 5.25" floppy disks.  These same games floppy disks would use their own distinctive labels when sold and distributed outside Tandy's network.  The boxes were usually the same whether sold by Radio Shack or another retailer.  In these early days there would often be a silver sticker on the boxes sold by Radio Shack saying "For Tandy 1000" and maybe other systems like the Tandy 1200, which was a clone of the IBM PC.  The disk sleeves would typically be gray Tandy thick paper sleeves with a keyboard pattern.  Toward the end of this period there were exceptions to the gray label rule, but almost all these games have distinctive labels with the Tandy logo on them.  I will provide an image of the Tandy-distinctive label should one be available.

While Tandy had a certain talent for selecting good games for their new PC and PCjr. compatible system, there were some instances where the games as sold by Tandy did not show off the enhanced graphics and sound that they would show when run in a PCjr. or even a PC with composite artifact color support.  Although Tandy had a composite video output port which could display direct colors like a CGA card could, due to differences in the phase offset between the color burst and the luma signal, the artifact colors displayed by a Tandy will look very different from the targeted IBM CGA cards.

Alphabet Zoo

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1104

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Spinnaker x 2

There were two pre-Tandy versions of this game, one released in 1983 and one in 1984.  One has a v1.0 sticker on it.  Between the three versions there are no gameplay differences, CGA composite video and PC Speaker music is all this game supports.

The Black Cauldron

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1133
Tandy Version Number: 01.01.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Sierra v1.1J, v1.1K, v.1.1M, v2.0, v2.1

Identical to Sierra's v1.1K release apart from the title screen.  I have never seen a gray label version of this game, even the disks that come with the Tandy circular sticker bear no mention of Tandy on the disk label.  This is also the case for other Disney-licensed Sierra games distributed by Tandy (Donald Duck's Playground, Mickey's Space Adventure, Winnie the Pooh in the Hundred Acre Wood) and as we all know Disney is a Jealous God.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

B.C.'s Quest for Tires

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1115

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Sierra

Tandy's release added RGB monitor color support to the Sierra release, which only supported PC and PCjr. composite color output.  Only PC and PCjr. composite support is present in the Tandy release.  The Tandy release came in a plastic clamshell box while Sierra used a regular cardboard box with a flip top lid.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Below the Root

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1136

Tandy Version Number: None

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Windham Software Classics

Identical to Windham Software Classics' release, which means the game treats the Tandy 1000 like an IBM PC or XT.  The 3-voice music that only plays on the PCjr. will not be heard and Tandy owners were stuck with graphics which were optimized for CGA composite artifact color.

Courtesy of MobyGames

Demon Attack

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1110

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: None

Other Releases: Imagic Cartridge

Originally this game was ported to the PCjr. as a cartridge.  It was ported to the Tandy 1000 on disk but is otherwise identical to the cartridge apart from adding a title screen.  The box packaging uses Tandy's distinctive gray folio normally used with Tandy Color Computer software with the manual visible through the front hole of the folio.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Facemaker

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1100

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Spinnaker Disk, PCjr. Cartridge

Supports 3-voice music and sound effects on Tandy 1000 and PCjr.  Of all the Gray Labels, only the titles from Spinnaker Software seem to suffer from label mottling ("Actiplaque") to a significant degree.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Fraction Fever

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1103

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Spinnaker v3.0, PCjr. Cartridge

Supports 3-voice music and sound effects on Tandy 1000 and PCjr.

HomeWord Plus 2.0

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1116

Tandy Version Number: 02.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: IBM PCjr. v1.00

Tandy's release is based on the PCjr. release of HomeWord v1.00 and looks identical to it but adds a spell-checker program on a separate disk.  Unlike the PCjr. release, the Tandy release will run on CGA and should run on the PCjr.

Courtesy of NewRisingSun

Julius Erving and Larry Bird Go One on One

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1111

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: None

Other Releases: Electronic Arts

Tandy release only supports Tandy 1000, even though the EA-published version supports CGA and PCjr. as well.  This version will show a black screen on non-Tandy 1000s.

Kids on Keys

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1101

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Spinnaker

Tandy version has 3-voice music but it only plays on the PCjr.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Kidwriter

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1105

Tandy Version Number: unknown (probably 01.00.00)

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Spinnaker

The Tandy version has 3-voice music which plays on the PCjr. and Tandy 1000.  The non-Tandy 1000 version plays 3-voice music only on PCjr.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

KinderComp

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1102

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: Possibly

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Spinnaker v3.0, PCjr. Cartridge

Tandy's release is presumed to support 3-voice music and sound effects on Tandy 1000 and PCjr.  The only known disk image was too corrupted to run the program.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

King's Quest

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1117

Tandy Version Number: 01.01.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: None

Other Releases: IBM PCjr. v1.00, Sierra PC rev. 0, rev. 1, Tandy 1000 & PCjr., v1.0U, v2.0F/AGI v2.425, v2.0F/AGI v2.917

The Tandy Gray Label of King's Quest as published in Radio Shack stores was released after the game's releases for the IBM PCjr. and IBM PC.  Sound effects were altered to an extent from the original PCjr and first two PC versions.  The IBM PCjr. runs this version more or less correctly.  A later release published by Sierra supported both the PCjr. and Tandy 1000 on a single disk.  Early copies of the Tandy release came in a plastic clamshell box while Sierra used a regular cardboard box with a flip top lid.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

King's Quest II

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1128

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Sierra v1.0W, v1.1H, v2.1, v2.2/AGI v2.426, v2.2/AGI v2.917

Identical to the Sierra published version 1.1H of this game except for the title screen credit.

Courtesy of MobyGames

Learning with Leeper

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1118

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC

Other Releases: None

This game only offers 4-color RGB or CGA composite artifact color video support.  The game is best played with the extra colors provided by CGA composite. Tandy artifact colors wrong (blue frog, violet water, green tree trunk) and the game will not get to the title screen with a PCjr. due to a broken keyboard reading routine.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Lode Runner

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1113

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: v1.0, v2.0, v3.0

Tandy's release alters the border and lode graphics to make them more appropriate for an RGB monitor and much less so for a composite monitor when the game detects a Tandy 1000.  This version uses the same graphics patterns for the PC or PCjr. as the prior two versions did.  The Tandy release came after v1.0 and v2.0 but before v3.0.  v3.0 added Hercules Graphics support.  The default keyset is different in the Tandy release compared to the other releases.  

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Math Rabbit

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1218

Tandy Version Number: None (Program Version reported as v1.0)

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: The Learning Company v1.1

Tandy and The Learning Company collaborated on a series of games which were released in The Learning Company's normal boxes with a circular Tandy sticker on them.  These versions are distinguished by using a peach-colored label with the Tandy 1000 name on the label.  Regular PC labels from The Learning Company use blue and also mention IBM or PC compatibles.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Microsoft Flight Simulator v2.xx

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-5379

Tandy Version Number: None (Program Version reported is v2.12)

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr., Tandy 2000

Other Releases: v2.10, v2.10a, v2.12, v2.13, v2.14

The Tandy release of Microsoft Flight Simulator v2.12 (there is a non-Tandy release of v2.12) also supports the Tandy 2000 and Tandy 1200 (a PC clone).  It will support the Tandy Digi-Mouse and can show the 4-color 320x200 and 16-color 160x200 mode that the PCjr. can show but the Tandy 1000 does not show proper composite colors, unlike the PCjr. unless your display has a very wide ranging hue control.  Press F4 to show the 160x200 16-color mode when the simulation begins.  Technically not a gray label, but it has the trademarked Tandy logo on the disks.

Courtesy of MobyGames

Pinball Construction Set

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1112

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: None

Other Releases: Electronic Arts (x3)

All versions of Pinball Construction Set support CGA, Tandy and PCjr. graphics. The Tandy-label version however only works on a Tandy 1000. With an IBM PC or PCjr. the game will refuse to go past the title screen.

Courtesy of MobyGames

Pipes

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1108

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: None Known

Shows the same graphics as CGA on a Tandy 1000, while with a PCjr. each of the four colors in the palette can be freely assigned by pressing 1-4 on the keyboard.  Uses the Tandy gray folio packaging.

Courtesy of MobyGames

Reader Rabbit

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1216

Tandy Version Number: None (Program Version reported as v3.0)

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: The Learning Company v2.1, 2.5, 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1

This is the only truly notable entry in The Learning Company's Peach Label series because it supports Tandy graphics and speech from the Tandy 4-voice sound chip when run in a Tandy 1000.  This is advertised on the box and label.  It does not support these enhancements on a PC or PCjr. but does run in 4-color CGA in those systems as well as other PC compatibles.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Robot Odyssey

Tandy Version Number: None (Program Version reported as v1.1)

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: The Learning Company v1.1

Tandy version has no graphics or sound enhancements over CGA, game supports CGA composite artifact color.  Part of The Learning Company's Peach Label Tandy 1000 series.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Touchdown Football

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1123

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: Yes

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: None

Other Releases: IBM PCjr., Imagic/Electronic Arts PCjr.

Title screen shows Imagic and Tandy for the Tandy 1000 version and speaks "Imagic and Tandy present . . . Touchdown" with PWM-based speech from the Tandy sound chip.  Otherwise plays like the PCjr. release.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Trains

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1107

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: Yes

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Spinnaker

Tandy's release supports 3-voice music and sound effects on Tandy 1000 and PCjr.

Courtesy of PixelatedArcade

Wizard of Id's WizType

Tandy Catalog Number: 25-1114

Tandy Version Number: 01.00.00

Supports Tandy Graphics: No

Supports Tandy Sound: No

Also Works With: IBM PC, IBM PCjr.

Other Releases: Sierra

Tandy release functions like PC, which supports 4-color RGB or CGA composite artifact color.   PCjr. also has a composite artifact color selection.  Sierra's release is identical outside the title screen, which omits the License to Tandy Corp. and version number text.

Twenty-three games are known to have been published by Tandy during its Gray Label period.  Most of them had a Tandy credit and version number on their title or copyright screens.  Known examples can be found here.  After this period almost all U.S. hardware manufacturers (IBM, Tandy, Apple, Atari, Commodore) left it up to software developers to support their systems and only occasionally published titles themselves.  I may make a separate blog entry about these "Tandy Special Versions" in the future.