I bought a Vectrex!

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:27 pm

Let's talk about the little system that could! The VECTREX.

Actually, it's the little system that couldn't. It couldn't display colors or fill in shapes with "white" or do a few other things. But they solved the problem of the controller hanging out with wires all over the place: the controller fits nicely inside! Aces!

I just got it and only have the built-in game, which is Mime Storm. Which is fantastic, because I can't stand Mimes and love to pretend to kill them every chance I get. I'll try to post pictures later, but imagine how Asteroids looked and you've pretty much got it.

So what's the best three games for this thing? It looks like burning ROMs is the best way to go, but what games out there should I buy anyway (in order to have the overlay and so forth)?

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:42 am

I'm not sure. Do they have a game where the goal is to realize that you're over thirty years old, and it might be a good time to stop trying to relive your wasted youth and get on with your life?

chris · Post by **chris** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:47 am

pinback wrote:I'm not sure. Do they have a game where the goal is to realize that you're over thirty years old, and it might be a good time to stop trying to relive your wasted youth and get on with your life?

Never take the advice of a child killer.

I think there was a Vectrex version of "Star Castles", which was a great vector arcade game. I also seem to recall that there were add-ons for the Vectrex...maybe some 3-D goggles? Don't remember for sure....I've only played Vectrex one or twice in my life (was a big Atari guy back then).

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:51 am

pinback wrote:I'm not sure. Do they have a game where the goal is to realize that you're over thirty years old, and it might be a good time to stop trying to relive your wasted youth and get on with your life?

No, but they have one where you furiously have to purchase in bulk palm trees in sand until you realize that you're over thirty years old and it might be a good time to stop trying to live a fantasy existence in a world you never made in a transparent, last ditch attempt to avoid suicide.

No, wait... my bad... They don't have that one. They have "Rockaroids."

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:13 am

All the games I want to get for this thing (the Qix clone, the Omega Race clone) seem to be developed by guys years after the system was released, and I can't figure out how to buy/obtain them. :(

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 3:19 pm

Look at all the games!

http://vgdb.vectrex.com/index.pl

chris · Post by **chris** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:24 pm

Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:All the games I want to get for this thing (the Qix clone, the Omega Race clone) seem to be developed by guys years after the system was released, and I can't figure out how to buy/obtain them. :(

There has to be a Vectrex fan site out there someplace...I know there are plenty of 'em for Ataris, and that's where you can get the poop on obtaining new ROMs.

Oh, and buy some stuff off of eBay.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:47 pm

Yes, there is! I am pumped. I found this site:

http://www.vectrexcarts.com/

And it looks like the guy will sell any game for it for $10.

I also found some source code for Vectrex games. I'd love to make one for the hell of it but goddamn is there some esoteric Assembly involved. It looks like after four times I'm finally going to get an "A" in Intel Assembler, but this 6508 shit is a step into another dimension. There also does not appear to be any sort of how-to guide or tutorial or anything for it.

But anyway, I just wrote the guy and asked him about a cart with a Defender / Space Invaders clone, an Asteroids clone and then two old/original Vectrex games (Scramble and Star Castle). I'd be pumped if the guy was selling them for the $10 a cart he seems to be. The carts are running a little more expensive than I feel like paying for on eBay and they don't have the homebrew games available.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:53 pm

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:02 pm

Why would I want to make them or why would I buy them or why am I going to cut you?

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 7:10 am

Just... why? Why is this happening? Why an obsession with "Vectrex"?

...why?

Worm · Post by **Worm** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 10:14 am

If you lived in NEPA you could just go down to the babysitting/punkrawk show place 'Cafe Metropolis' and had played their Vectrex.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:36 am

pinback wrote:Just... why? Why is this happening? Why an obsession with "Vectrex"?

...why?

Here's what sold me on the Vectrex: I'm playing the built in game. It's an Asteroids ripoff where there are mines instead of rocks.

Well all of a sudden on board two there are MORE than just mines there! There are things shooting at me! There are mines that follow me due to gravity or tracking prowess or something! It goes from, "Ho-hum, an Asteroids game" to COMPLETELY FUCKING AWESOME.

And that's just the built-in game.

I want more, goddammit. I love the controller. I love the fact that I can play it and I don't have to worry about "saving." I love the fact that the things have graphics where you can actually tell what the hell is going on.

I love it!

Playstation 2 · Post by **Playstation 2** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 1:26 pm

Xbox · Post by **Xbox** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 1:26 pm

Gamecube · Post by **Gamecube** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 1:26 pm

chris · Post by **chris** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:45 pm

Well, there's certainly something to be said about the simplicity and enjoyability of vintage video games. Don't knock 'em 'till you try 'em, Pinny.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:49 pm

Xbox wrote::(

I don't own this one. Anyway, I think the right way to express it would be =(

"I will never get tired of hurting you, Eddie" -- Nicolas Cage, 8mm

"I will never get tired of saying how big you are, Xbox" -- Ice Cream Jonsey, 35mm

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:27 pm

chris wrote:Well, there's certainly something to be said about the simplicity and enjoyability of vintage video games. Don't knock 'em 'till you try 'em, Pinny.

Are you effing kidding me?

I literally (literally, mind you) spent every waking second of my life for the last two years I spent in California (10/01 - 10/03) playing Galaga.

And I don't even need to mention the Robotron Incident in Las Vegas, NV.

I LIVE for vintage video games, you ulcerous mass.

I just figured that, you know, if you've got a Crystal Castles game in your HOUSE, being pooped on by cats and snakes alike, that at some point you go, "Hey, actually, I think I'm good on old goddamn video games. Perhaps I will purchase something black and sexy and frilly for my significant other, and then secretly post photos of her on the internet at the reasonable rate of $16.99!"

But no. He buys a Vectrex. For which Jackie Stewart once pimped a racing game on TV. That's all I remember about the Vectrex.

(Though, given my experiences with Nascar Chase To The Cup 2005 for the PS2 today, I'm thinking he has a point.)

chris · Post by **chris** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:11 am

pinback wrote:But no. He buys a Vectrex. For which Jackie Stewart once pimped a racing game on TV. That's all I remember about the Vectrex.

(Though, given my experiences with Nascar Chase To The Cup 2005 for the PS2 today, I'm thinking he has a point.)

I have an Atari 2600 in the attic, and I pulled my Intellivision out of storage a few weeks ago to play some games. Vintage arcade games are all well and good, but there's something special about the early home consoles. I applaud Jonsey for not only recognizing this, but going down the road less travelled and getting a Vectrex.

Next stop: BALLY ASTROCADE!