VectrexMad!

Count me in for a paper copy

Bump! Total Topics: 80 Total Posts: 506 Total Members: 22

Yes same issue for me. But, rec.games.vectrex is getting so quiet these days that I took the plunge and joined the Vector gaming forum. With more members this new forum should be a good place to hang out and talk vectors.

When I last had contact with Kristof he said that this week he would have the order page up on his website. However, if you want to pre-empt that, just type Vector Pilot in Google and you will see a page from his site with the ordering information

18 members now, and many guests - the forums are growing

and an added special level after completion of the 2001 level.

Just to let any of you Vector arcade gamers out there (and that includes fans of the arcade machines, mame and Vectrex) Vectrex Wiki owner Darryl B has recently launched the Vector Gaming Forums. Here’s his press release: "Being a cross of the old Vectrex forums (R. I. P.) and a vector gaming forum on Yahoo! Groups (also long dead!), the vector gaming forums takes things a few steps further by also having discussions on raster vector ports and even current vector-like online and portable device/cell phone games. There are also forums for any kind of game console, from the oldest Pong machines to the most current gaming rigs available such as the XBox 360, but the main focus are on the beloved wire-frame games." http://vectorgaming....s.com/index.cgi

checkout http://www.vectrex.nl and select the [GAMES] tab to see a list of Vectrex games both original (vintage) and home brew. Its not upto date as it doesn't cover any new homebrews from 2009 onwards (which are quite a lot), but the list is still useful nevertheless.

Thanks for the good words Jason

Yeap, it has been reported that the original Vectrex game programmers weren't fond of screen overlays because the overlays were always produced after the games were completed and it often meant that the programmers had to go back to the finished games (which they had become used to seeing in black and white during the game development cycle) and re-program the position of the game graphics in order for a 1:1 match between game play and the graphics/colours on the overlay. For Vectrex fans whether to use overlays or not is just personal taste. Personally, I believe some overlays do add value to the overall game experience. Good examples are Pole Position and Armour Attack. In the exceptional cases the overlays really do add the illusion of colour to the games e.g. Pole Position and Vectrexians. Most screen overlays for the Vectrex just give a single colour back drop with some pretty graphics on the border. However, even a single colour back drop on the original game overlays is still useful in itself. It can help to hide/subdue the fuzziness of the onscreen Vectors. Also I feel a Vectrex looks a bit naked without an overlay - but again thats just personal taste.

Hello Harmik, I'm happy that you were happy with my overlays

Didn't catch this yesterday and I see it is too late to vote... I would have competed if Star Castle was in the lineup. It's not too late...voting doesn't end until this Sunday You have time!!! My goodness, scores for the Vector War tournament are being submitted already, and we still have until September 19th! http://retrocademagazine.freeforhosting.com/vector-war-score-submissions-t384.html and Bump

does the Vectrex Mini-Cade count ? http://vectrexmuseum.com/collection/vectrexminicade.php

I have just had a bunch of Mine Storm and Pole Position overlays professionally screen printed and die cut. I am currently selling them in pairs. Good to see that you got them done. As soon as my finances are sorted, I'll be ordering a set - just really need the Minestorm as I don't have Pole Position anymore ... you bought it off me with the Overlay a while ago. Send me a PM and I'll give you a present if you still live locally. Yes your Pole Position was the template for the repro overlay

I've only got a couple 100% good pairs left now and then they are all gone. I do also have some reproduction overlays which contain fine scratches and small marks from the manufacturing process. These marks are visible when held up to the light but are not visible when the overlay is on the Vectrex. I'm selling these overlays by the pair (1 x Mine Storm and 1 x Pole Position) and including postage at the following discounted prices: US £15.50 -> approx 25 USD EC £14.50 UK £13.50

See the following YouTube video by a techie showing his initial attempt at emulating the Vectrex on a PC and using an oscilloscope as the display -> i.e. good old vector graphics. He used the sound card on his PC to provide the waveforms to drive the oscilloscope X and Y inputs. Skip to 3:00 to see the Vectrex display screen.

Have you seen the Star Sling which is currently forsale on Ebay (UK). I assume its Star Sling and not Star ling. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VECTREX-STAR-LING-GAME-/220826464411?pt=UK_PC_Video_Games_Video_Games_JS&hash=item336a48709b Seller claims the sticker has come off.

before replacing the caps, might be worth replugging the 4 wire connector. Failing that reheat the solder connections of the plug connector. This is a common problem, see the following text which I extracted from the Vectrex FAQ. There are high voltages in the Vectrex even when it is unplugged and switched off, so if you don't know what you're doing, read up beforehand: "My Vectrex just shows a white dot when I turn it on. I can hear the game playing but there is no picture. Can I fix it? There is 1 common problem that will cause this symptom. Inside the unit there is a 4-wire power connector connecting the side board to the bottom board. Often units with no picture have bad solder joints on this connector. Try resoldering the pins and see if that helps."

Indeed, that is what we have looked at too, and that vinyl artwork was inspired by the original video arcade machine artwork. I am a lucky owner of that vinyl. Would be great if they started selling those vinyl sets again too. oh lol, I just realised where you got that picture from! That picture is actually my Vectrex that I submitted to the Vectrex Wiki

Hello Rob, When this project started nearly two years ago it began with a survey to gauge the "most wished for" overlay. The survey came back with Mine Storm, Pole Position, Star Castle, Protector as the top four. Mine Storm and Pole Position are now finally here. We looked at doing Star Castle and this one had the hardest graphics to reproduce - so we pushed that to the bottom of the list. We thought about doing Protector and we did get permission from Alex Hubert the author of Protector. But then there were concerns raised by some persons who own the limited edition of Protector not wanting to see their prized limited edition collectable loosing value. So instead the next two overlays won't be reproductions but rather new artwork overlays. It all depends on Peteski the other guy in this project, but the next two overlays he has started work on are YASI and Protector. The artwork will be inspired by the orignal arcade video game artwork from Space Invaders and Defender. Ian You should take a look at the vinyl Vectrex wraps that were made for YASI. An overlay to go with that artwork would be fantastic (that, and it would give me a reason to finally apply one of the wraps I have to a second Vectrex console). http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110321235528/vectrex/images/9/99/YASI-PROTECTOR_WRAP.jpg Indeed, that is what we have looked at too, and that vinyl artwork was inspired by the original video arcade machine artwork. I am a lucky owner of that vinyl. Would be great if they started selling those vinyl sets again too.

Man, I'll definitely buy overlays for YASI and Protector! I was never a fan of the limited edition overlay for Protector, it seemed to just be pink from top to bottom, I think your idea to mimic the arcade inspirations is far better. I've done a decent job of tracking down Vectrex games with overlays for them so, for those games, I would vote for whichever overlays could be "improved", meaning that the originals weren't really centered all that well (I think Star Castle falls into that category). I'm more interested in overlays for games that never had them (homebrews) in the first place such as the the Fury Unlimited games. Yes overlays for Fury's games would be cool. I am really looking forward to his future Warrior game, the overlay he will supply with the game looks wonderful!

hmm nice, any pictures of the overlay in action? Currently we are working on the YASI overlay. Sure! This is 2 inkjet printouts one on top of the other. Color still isn't rich enough, so I look forward to buying your overlays, whatever design they are. Hey, those actually look quite good!

hmm nice, any pictures of the overlay in action? Currently we are working on the YASI overlay.