Anybody have Vectrex experience?

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

When visiting the National Video Game Museum in Frisco, Texas (USA) a few years ago, I got to go hands on with one. I think it's the pinnacle of "Neat, but I really don't need it."

Now I'm having some second thoughts. Maybe later in life I may want it. Does anybody here own one? Can anybody vouch for it? Any memories of the system you'd mind sharing?

 

[DunkeyKong]

Cute little console, really love the vector drawn lines. I kinda like the homebrew site here, looks kinda cool

 

[bjork]

I missed a chance to buy one about 10 years ago and wish I hadn't passed it up. I think they're neat. I would love to see someone port vib-ribbon to it!

For a vectrex experience that is wholly inadequate, there's an app on the app store that is a vectrex emulator with (I think) every commercial game and a few public domains? It used to be free but I think they charge for it now.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I missed a chance to buy one about 10 years ago and wish I hadn't passed it up. I think they're neat. I would love to see someone port vib-ribbon to it!

For a vectrex experience that is wholly inadequate, there's an app on the app store that is a vectrex emulator with (I think) every commercial game and a few public domains? It used to be free but I think they charge for it now.

You've seen my profile, so you know how much I'd love to see Vib on it. I don't necessarily know if it is possible though, considering that Vib-Ribbon isn't actual vector graphics because I don't think PS1 has true vector support. If it somehow got ported, I'd imagine it would be the main game stages ported without the music, requiring the player to play the music externally through their own speakers or something.

 

[Swabbleflange]

I had one for a while in the late 2000s / early 2010s, and sure enough it was more a case of "This is neat" rather than me really loving any of the games on it. It was a unique experience, non-reproducable by emulation. I had a rare homebrew version of Defender on it which was remarkably accomplished, but even that was mostly desirable because of its rarity. I bet they're significantly more expensive now so maybe it's even more a case of extravagant indulgence.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

Got it. Seems like my perception of the system is right on the money. Still, I'd love seeing people share their memories with it!

 

[Lazerith]

A friend of mine had one of these back in, want to say, 88/89. It's been a while back.

He had a few games for it too; I only really remember Tempest on it.
As it was the one he and I would play the most when we would get together on the weekends.
Get stoned, and Oooo and Ahhh!!! at the pretty lights.

As I recall, he had the color overlays for it too. But that's ages ago; I could be wrong.
And as @Swabbleflange said. When we weren't Toking up. It was more of a "That's neat. I guess."

 

[Eclipse14]

I got to play on a real one sometime at the end of 2021. It was mostly just to test and see if it worked, but I did have my fun, even if it was a bit brief (first test was the default MineStorm, just to make sure it actually worked, second run was with Berzerk).

It's a neat system, but I do think it has its limits much like all other 1st/2nd Gen systems. Maybe an hour or so of playtime per session and that's it. Biggest shame is it being a victim of the Crash before it could have a bigger chance to prove itself. I do find it to be better than most 2nd Gen systems, however.

 

[dr grim]

At a musueum in belgium.. it was really neat. kinda expensive to own though.

I tried emulation but it just doesn't feel like the real hardware. ( i normally don't have an issue with emulating but for the vertrex it really doesn't feel the same )

 

[Zerpina]

I Have a Full ROM Set on Batocera. it's very..... Atari 7800, without the Pixels. its a cool little thing to try.

As for playing it, nah. its something cool i showed to a couple friends, due to the Age. but aside that. not what i would Call a Fun thing to play.

If i where say, to have played it in it's heyday, and it was the Vetrex, or a Atari. yeah would have been Amazing.
But, eh... its just more a Novelty. than anything else i would say, at-least now.
Don't get me wrong, it has a Important place in History, i couldn't tell you what it is. but it is part of Gaming History.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

So, this thread has been going for a few days, so I feel like a great way to end it off is with this:

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2025

A VECTREX! It was at my local used game store and I got to demo the thing again! Amazing luck, considering I made this thread the same week.

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2025

I was able to play Mine Storm and Clean Sweep, but neither left much of an impression. The best game I played was Cosmic Chasm. Check it out if you have the time, it's fairly neat! But... the controller was kinda uncomfortable. The buttons are arcade style, but aren't ergonomically designed. The stick isn't holding up very well nowadays, but I've used worse. I felt very vindicated, as I felt that this console was very much a "neat, but no" type of deal. It's like a little tabletop bar system, more of a guest entertainment unit than a home system. Also, the screen flickered a lot and hurt my eyes, but I think that was an issue with this exact monitor, so I won't hold it against this thing.

 

[DunkeyKong]

So, this thread has been going for a few days, so I feel like a great way to end it off is with this:
View attachment 23903

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2025

A VECTREX! It was at my local used game store and I got to demo the thing again! Amazing luck, considering I made this thread the same week.

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2025

I was able to play Mine Storm and Clean Sweep, but neither left much of an impression. The best game I played was Cosmic Chasm. Check it out if you have the time, it's fairly neat! But... the controller was kinda uncomfortable. The buttons are arcade style, but aren't ergonomically designed. The stick isn't holding up very well nowadays, but I've used worse. I felt very vindicated, as I felt that this console was very much a "neat, but no" type of deal. It's like a little tabletop bar system, more of a guest entertainment unit than a home system. Also, the screen flickered a lot and hurt my eyes, but I think that was an issue with this exact monitor, so I won't hold it against this thing.

That's just awesome man! I'm glad that you've finally tried the Vectrex. Despite how old it is, it still looks like it's in a great condition despite the issues. Great job to the owner

 

[Adrastia]

Back in the mid 80s I saw one at the Salvation Army. My family shopped there a lot for clothes and toys. I remember the guy saying it had been sitting around for awhile and no one was buying it. I was too young to know what it really was. I was just fascinated by the controller. Many years later I was in another thrift store and there was a stack of transparent plastic sheets wrapped in a rubber band. They were Vectrex screen overlays. I remembered the Vectrex I saw at the Salvation Army and thought it was all kind of funny that I encountered that stuff that way.

That's my full Vectrex experience.

 

[Skeetos]

I think these systems were so cool. This is the type of thing that I wish I would've been a collector in the 2000's/2010's for where the retro game market wasn't insanely overpriced. I always have wanted a collection with neat things like this but I don't think it'll ever happen for me. Just not worth the money these days. Hopefully I at least get to try one out one day. Those Vector-style graphics just don't emulate well.

 

[Parasite_Steve]

I played one many years ago at a gaming expo, and it’s a fascinating system. You really have to see it in person to fully appreciate it. Having said that the games are all fairly simple so I’d question the longevity should you get one. As a bargain it would be a fun little timewaster but I wouldn’t go out of my way to purchase one.

 

[NemissaFotia]

Got a lot of experience with one since I own one. The display is really nice and the games play really smoothly. Just a shame that the homebrew community for it isn't bigger, I think vector displays still have a lot of opportunities for new and interesting things.

 

[nattybohman]

I remember seeing a Vectrex and all accessories (3D glasses, light pen, etc.) on clearance at a game store during the video game crash for an unbelievably cheap price. I would've loved to have bought everything, but I was just a kid, so I got nothing. Back then it seemed cool because it moved so much smoother and looked a lot crisper than the raster consoles. Also, having your own screen in a house with just one television would mean a lot more game time and less time watching whatever my parents wanted to watch.
Now I have one set up on my bar with a multi-cart available to play anytime. Still regret not being able to buy up everything at that toy store clearance though!

 

[FTLOTG]

I have access to the vectrex at my job. It's an incredible machine and has a very unique, smooth play experience unlike anything else out there. The PiTrex cartridge is a ton of fun to play around with, got one for my boss and a friend as gifts a few years ago.

Best of luck to anyone picking one up these days. They aren't cheap. But if you have one at hand check out the PiTrex! Last I saw they were very affordable. Plus you can play the Star Wars Arcade game.

 

[nattybohman]

I have access to the vectrex at my job. It's an incredible machine and has a very unique, smooth play experience unlike anything else out there. The PiTrex cartridge is a ton of fun to play around with, got one for my boss and a friend as gifts a few years ago.

Best of luck to anyone picking one up these days. They aren't cheap. But if you have one at hand check out the PiTrex! Last I saw they were very affordable. Plus you can play the Star Wars Arcade game.

Where do you work!?!?!?
I want that job!
Also, thanks for tipping me off to the PiTrex. I'm going to definitely look into that more. If there isn't a lot of PITA building involved, I'll probably get one. Sounds really interesting,.

 

[NeonKnights]

I have a vectrex. I got mine in 2019 at a convention.
It works great, minimal buzzing and Minestorm is really fun.
The PiTrex looks amazing, thanks for the heads up. Star Wars arcade was one of
the first games I remember playing, It was the full cab where you sat inside.
It looks incredible on Vectrex!

 

[FTLOTG]

Where do you work!?!?!?
I want that job!
Also, thanks for tipping me off to the PiTrex. I'm going to definitely look into that more. If there isn't a lot of PITA building involved, I'll probably get one. Sounds really interesting,.

I run a retro game store
It's very easy to set up PiTrex, follow the instructions. It was the first raspberry pi thing I set up and it was no problem.