knudsen@sri-unix (11/10/82)
Has anyone seen or touched the new Vectrex video game? I've read it sells for $200, which is CHEAP considering it has its own electrostatic (oscilloscope type) deflection CRT built in. What did you think of its quality (display and construction)? My interest (other than mild addiction to Battlezone tanks) is that, by hacking its hardware somewhat, you should be able to mate it to any general purpose [micro]computer and use it as a high-resolution graphics terminal for serious work (like music writing, mechanical design, etc). Can one get any tech info on it, or is builder playing mum? (I was at Carnegie [mellon] Tech back in early 70's when we built our own "Graphics Wonder" displays . Boy were they ever impressive, both for text and graphics.) Only shortcoming of vector systems is lack of color. You can see the vectrex reviewed in one of the video game magazines avaialable at your local 7-11, etc. Can't yet write my name in vectors -- mike k
will (11/17/82)
Saw it once; graphics were obviously awesome; my only complaint is that the joystick has no definite 'contact point'...hard to position the jeep in armor attack exactly where you want it. I know nothing about the technical aspects of it.
MCMANIS@usc-eclc@sri-unix.UUCP (09/27/83)
From: Chuck McManis <MCMANIS@usc-eclc> I remember an article in the recent past (ie <12 months ago ) about a vector interface that used a slave Z-80 to drive it but was essentially the same circuit vectrex uses but with more hardware. This means 2 DAC's and 3 8 bit latches to free up sample and holds, and it did not need recalibrating. Drawbacks were a fixed draw time, so that short vectors were brighter than long ones but not terribly so. A nearly identical circuit is attributed to Steve Ciarcia in the Scelbi/Byte Primer. These have the advantage that they can produce more vectors with less flicker due to the reduced overhead. If you drove them with a 6809 I am sure the # could be increased further. --Chuck -------
Kevin.Dowling%cmu-ri-rover@sri-unix.UUCP (03/13/84)
I currently have all the vectrex games except Dark Tower, Mail Plane, and Batter-Up (and the 3-D ones). [at $4.97 I couldn't pass 'em up!] There's a color brochure that comes with the games (the one that has the picture of the 3-D goggles) which lists most of the games. I have a game that isn't there though [ Polar Search : a neat submarine game ] and was wondering if there are other newer games that aren't mentioned in the brochure. A large chain of toy stores in this area (Children's Palace which is part of the Child World chain) has been selling the Vectrex games catriges, controllers, and light pens at $39.97, $4.97, $9.97 and $11.97 respectively and usually selling stocks out within a week of new s shipments that seem to arrive about every week and a half. So there must be warehouses somewhere that still have stocks of these things. At least 40+ CMU CS/Robotics people have bought them to, and a local mailing list has been set up also... I'd like to get those glasses though!!! nivek arpa: nivek@cmu-cs-rover bell: (412) 578-8830 usmail: Robotics Institute c/o CMU Pgh., PA 15213