Connecting a Vectrex to a vector cab possible?

Tornadoboy

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Just curious as I don't even own one to try it, but I was wondering if one could connect a vectrex game system to the monitor in like a Asteroids or Tempest?

I've heard of people using Vectrex monitors to test things like Tempest boards, but not the other way around.
 
It's been tried - unfortunately the Vectrex is not fast enough to play vector games without showing artifacts
 
Actually that could work - I was referring to using a Vectrex hooked to an Asteroids board (my mistake).
 
Unless I've read this incorrectly, you can play the Vectrex games on a larger monitor, it's the overlays that would need to be reproduced. It's using the Vectrex to run arcade games where you have the problem. Would still be a great test rig for vector games though.
 
Unless I've read this incorrectly, you can play the Vectrex games on a larger monitor, it's the overlays that would need to be reproduced. It's using the Vectrex to run arcade games where you have the problem. Would still be a great test rig for vector games though.

I'm not to hung up on the overlays....I only have Minstorm (the onboard game w/out the overlay).
The problem I see is you will need to have a vertical oriented monitor so that takes away just running a cable into my Asteroids cab and using it that way, but on the bench in a test type situation would be good.
 
A dedicated Vectex multi-cab would be pretty damn cool, most of the games are as good as many of the arcade vectors anyway, especially Mine Storm and Web Warp. The only problems aside from monitor issues would be the overlays and the fact there is no coin-for-play options built in.
 
This would be a fantastic project for someone! I would love to see one done. Having overlays would be pretty cool but tough to pull off. Not a deal breaker though.
 
This would be a fantastic project for someone! I would love to see one done. Having overlays would be pretty cool but tough to pull off. Not a deal breaker though.

A while back I put together a design for a vectrex board that plugs into an asteroids harness... never did the layout for it or anything though... heh.

I need to look into what extra stuff is needed for the multicarts....
 
It's been tried - unfortunately the Vectrex is not fast enough to play vector games without showing artifacts

Yeah, I recently played a Vectrex (was bout 30 years ago) and I was disappointed to be honest.

Not only did I notice the pretty apparent flickering on the screen (which shows it's pretty slow) but also, I didn't like the games very much.
It was running a multi-cart so I could try a lot of games and I wasn't impressed by most of them... I mean, who wants Pole Position in vectors ?

Some were OK but not one got me really impressed.

But I immediately thought that the monitor would be too slow to do (serious) arcade games...
 
There are a TON of fantastic games for that system. Not only are some of the ports excellent, like Armor Attack, but they have some great original titles. Cosmic Chasm was my favorite on that system. Bedlam was really fun. Minestorm was a great Asteroids clone. I also really liked the old flicker. It gave the system some character!

I miss my Vectrex. Lost it sometime around college. Sucks. I really want another one some day! Got a beat up one off ebay several years ago. It has some serious problems. Was hoping I'd learn to repair it but no go. Anyone good at repairing these?

I still think many of these games would be great on an arcade cab.
 
It was running a multi-cart so I could try a lot of games and I wasn't impressed by most of them...

to me, running vectrex on a multicart is almost like running mame with 10,000 games inside a dedicated pac-man. it's the feeling of inserting the one single cartridge and attaching the overlay to the screen which makes it unique. with a multicart, you select a game, try it for a while, switch to the next one, try it again, blablabla. game overflow!
although it has its flaws, vectrex is still (and always will be) the best console out there with a looot of great games to choose from. cosmic chasm is my favorite as well!

btw, for me, mp3 players are also killing music - a shitload of tracks on them and no more appreciation for a single cd. that's why i don't have an mp3 player and rest assured - i never will!
 
I also really liked the old flicker.

Personally I never noticed it, but every time I played I'd wake up on the floor with foam around my mouth, so maybe I missed it: ;)

Actually I've only played the game once and that was set up as a demo at a store, I really liked it and wanted to get one (and still probably will someday), but then the 80's video game crash happened and they went out of business like my beloved Colecovision and TI 99/4a.

It's a pity they didn't hang on because there were a LOT of vector games that were born to be ported to that system, Tempest obviously, and Major Havoc, Black Widow, Sundance, Space Fury, Space Duel, etc, and who knows what enhanced versions of the system might have come out as technology improved?

Got a beat up one off ebay several years ago. It has some serious problems. Was hoping I'd learn to repair it but no go. Anyone good at repairing these?

What are it's problems? I've got a PDF of the service manual if that helps?
 
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Personally I never noticed it, but every time I played I'd wake up on the floor with foam around my mouth, so maybe I missed it: ;)

Actually I've only played the game once and that was set up as a demo at a store, I really liked it and wanted to get one (and still probably will someday), but then the 80's video game crash happened and they went out of business like my beloved Colecovision and TI 99/4a.

It's a pity they didn't hang on because there were a LOT of vector games that were born to be ported to that system, Tempest obviously, and Major Havoc, Black Widow, Sundance, Space Fury, Space Duel, etc, and who knows what enhanced versions of the system might have come out as technology improved?



What are it's problems? I've got a PDF of the service manual if that helps?

There is a Tempest game that was done as a home brew game called Tsunami.

VECtsunami.jpg


Here is a nice video of the multi cart too.

 
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