Vector Heaven at CAX!

jkoolpe

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Hey all! Thanks to everyone that made CAX 2010 another blast! I'm told we had 471 games this year...a new record! :D .

I'll post my photos soon, but here is a very cool merged photo I put together just now.

Enjoy! :)
 

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I was so dissapointed that I wasnt able to bring any games with me this year. However, CAX 2011 will be different :) If I keep my Star Trek long enough, it is definitely coming with me. Along with Paperboy and Pole Position. Possibly even more.
 
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I'll second that! Every (production) Atari vector game was represented - with the sole exception of Red Baron.

The amplifone-equipped Gravitar was stunning!
 
I have some questions here.

I hadn't had much exposure to Vectors in the past. An Asteroids here and there, and that was about it. Nothing like what was at CAX.

Many of the color vector games looked different than I was expecting. They almost looked like they were running on Raster monitors with scan lines and jagged edges. Not, nice, bright, sharp lines like I was expecting. Some of them looked how I would expect (Battlezone, Asteroids Deluxe, Empire Strikes Back), but many did not (Major Havoc was particularly dreary looking, and Tempest, Eliminator, and Black Widow looked awfully aliased).
 
I swear, my girlfriend can't stay away from that Quantum machine. :laugh: The vector lineup this year was awesome, especially the Omega Race cocktail.
 
I think the differences you are seeing are primarily due to adjustable factors on the vector monitors themselves (i.e. focus, brightness for individual colors, brightness overall, voltage adjustments, etc.).

There are a few types of vector monitors that look somewhat different. My Quantum that was at the show has an Amplifone in it which has a higher refresh rate than the more common Well Gardner 6100 in most Atari vectors. The Gravitar at the show also had an Amp in it so it was super-crisp and clear! WG61000s tend to be a little less clear.

The MH at the show probably just needed a little brightness tweaking, and the other less clear examples probably could be similarly adjusted :) . And the Black & White vectors are usually much sharper as they only use one color ;) .

I'm sure others could describe the electronics a bit better than I, but I hope that helps...

Jon



I have some questions here.

I hadn't had much exposure to Vectors in the past. An Asteroids here and there, and that was about it. Nothing like what was at CAX.

Many of the color vector games looked different than I was expecting. They almost looked like they were running on Raster monitors with scan lines and jagged edges. Not, nice, bright, sharp lines like I was expecting. Some of them looked how I would expect (Battlezone, Asteroids Deluxe, Empire Strikes Back), but many did not (Major Havoc was particularly dreary looking, and Tempest, Eliminator, and Black Widow looked awfully aliased).
 
Yea man...yours was the only unlit marquee... :eek:

Hang your head in shame ;) ...

Thanks for bringing BW and the others....and congrats again on your upcoming fatherhood!

Jon
 
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