Vectrex essentials?

[big10p]

Like a few others, I'm currently on the lookout for a Vectrex, and in anticipation of eventually getting one, I was wondering what you guys who have one, would consider essentials to go with it? What are the best games? What multicarts are there, and are they easy to get hold of? Any other things to recommend to a complete Vectrex noob?

I'd particularly love to be able to play this Asteroids clone by Thomas Sontowski, as it looks fantastic! Was this beta ever finsihed and released? How would I get to play it?

Cheers!

 

[Bensonrad]

I am in the same boat, really want one, but not sure what I'd need. Virtvic has made some awesome controllers for these, a very nice Asteroids one, if I ever get a console that would be one of the first things I get. I think Asteroids is on the Vecfever cart possibly, which is hard and expensive to find I think. I've certainly played on it at one of the Smartmeets. Its a console with a massive homebrew scene, Chris CNP has made a game certainly for it. I kick myself that I used to see these for £50 and just walked on by, so wish I'd bought one now.

 

[big10p]

Yeah, I've seen Virtvics's Asteroids controller and it looks great! Would defo be interested in one of those. The thing about some carts being hard to find and expensive is the thing that worries me. I'm probably going to have to pay top dollar to get a Vectrex, so then not being able to play some of the great stuff because they're hard to find, would be a shame.
big10p2020-02-06 23:43:31

 

[RossRoss]

If on Facebook definitely join Vectrex Fans Unite.
Also check out some great makers and homebrewers;

https://kristofsvectrexgames.000webhostapp.com/

http://www.vectorrepublic.co.uk/

http://www.binarystarsoftware.com/?LMCL=kbXuLE&LMCL=GP2oJR

http://www.clockworkrobot.com/ Check Jims UV frame.

Multicart wise you have the VecMulti, which is SD and really usefull. The Sean Kelly Multicart gets rave reviews although i have never had one. Andrew Coleman does a 72in1 http://vectrex.playntradeonline.com/

Asteroids is VecFever territory, yes, hard/impossible to get. I wouldn't hold your breath for another release, however there are some other unrelated, impressive and capable devices being tested.

Controllers - there are loads of options to suit all needs. Some quite pricey. Vics Asteroids controller comes highly recommended, can be used for other games too.

Hope this helps

 

[big10p]

If on Facebook definitely join Vectrex Fans Unite.
Also check out some great makers and homebrewers;

https://kristofsvectrexgames.000webhostapp.com/

http://www.vectorrepublic.co.uk/

http://www.binarystarsoftware.com/?LMCL=kbXuLE&LMCL=GP2oJR

http://www.clockworkrobot.com/ Check Jims UV frame.

Multicart wise you have the VecMulti, which is SD and really usefull. The Sean Kelly Multicart gets rave reviews although i have never had one. Andrew Coleman does a 72in1 http://vectrex.playntradeonline.com/

Asteroids is VecFever territory, yes, hard/impossible to get. I wouldn't hold your breath for another release, however there are some other unrelated, impressive and capable devices being tested.

Controllers - there are loads of options to suit all needs. Some quite pricey. Vics Asteroids controller comes highly recommended, can be used for other games too.

Hope this helps

I'm not on facebook, but thanks for the info and links. I'll take a good look through them. Such a shame VacFever is so hard/expensive to get.

 

[big10p]

Just wondering if cap kits are available for these, from a UK supplier? I may have to buy a faulty one, and try and fix it. Or is this a bad idea? Are some basically unfixable?

I was looking at this one last night on ebay, and now it's sold! Presumably it didn't sell for a grand, though. Wonder what it did sell for...

 

[chunksin]

Vector Patrol and Vector Pilot are must buys!

 

[big10p]

Vector Patrol and Vector Pilot are must buys!

I tried looking into these the other day after seeing vids of them, but I could only find dead links. Are these still available to buy somewhere?

 

[chunksin]

Ross linked above: https://kristofsvectrexgames.000webhostapp.com/

 

[big10p]

Ross linked above: https://kristofsvectrexgames.000webhostapp.com/

Ah, was me being dumb. I've been looking through so much stuff, I'd forgotten I'd seen that.

Vectrexians looks pretty good, too.

 

[RossRoss]

Just wondering if cap kits are available for these, from a UK supplier? I may have to buy a faulty one, and try and fix it. Or is this a bad idea? Are some basically unfixable?

I was looking at this one last night on ebay, and now it's sold! Presumably it didn't sell for a grand, though. Wonder what it did sell for...

No UK supplier that i know but, definitely available from Console5 in the US. I'm in the process of trying to fix one i have that shows a white dot, common fault that is sometimes easy as reseating one of the socketed chips. Not the case for mine though unfortunately, so i'm hoping it might get fixed by a pro, or if not i might have a go myself. Although i've heard its not an easy job replacing some of the caps. I think they must all be repairable if its a board fault, as long as its not necked.

I paid £109 for one, bought as non working. But it came all smashed up so i got a partial refund, so i got quite a good deal. The controllers sell for 50-70 on their own, so keep that in mind.

Prices are increasing, but i have missed out on a few non workers around the £100 mark and one non worker went for BIN £40! A loose working should be around £150-200. Insist the seller posts it facing down and extremely well packaged. Or better still collect it.

Ross

 

[big10p]

Just wondering if cap kits are available for these, from a UK supplier? I may have to buy a faulty one, and try and fix it. Or is this a bad idea? Are some basically unfixable?

I was looking at this one last night on ebay, and now it's sold! Presumably it didn't sell for a grand, though. Wonder what it did sell for...

No UK supplier that i know but, definitely available from Console5 in the US. I'm in the process of trying to fix one i have that shows a white dot, common fault that is sometimes easy as reseating one of the socketed chips. Not the case for mine though unfortunately, so i'm hoping it might get fixed by a pro, or if not i might have a go myself. Although i've heard its not an easy job replacing some of the caps. I think they must all be repairable if its a board fault, as long as its not necked.

I paid £109 for one, bought as non working. But it came all smashed up so i got a partial refund, so i got quite a good deal. The controllers sell for 50-70 on their own, so keep that in mind.

Prices are increasing, but i have missed out on a few non workers around the £100 mark and one non worker went for BIN £40! A loose working should be around £150-200. Insist the seller posts it facing down and extremely well packaged. Or better still collect it.

Ross

Useful info there - thanks. I made an offer on one on ebay, thinking an unboxed, working one is worth about £200, and the games that come with it are worth about £20-£30, but I didn't even get a response from the seller.

I will have to get one at some point, as I have ordered a 72-in-1 multicart, and all 3 of Kristof's games!

The multicart is a bare PCB, so any idea where I can get a case for it?

I see madtronix sell a 'slimcart' case, but am unsure if the 72-in-1 will fit.

big10p2020-02-07 23:18:48

 

[RossRoss]

There is crazyness on ebay with Vectrex recently. Hold out though, one will pop up at a fair price. Save the search so you get notifications, though because they go fast.
https://www.vectrexmulti.com/ Sean Kelly will sort you out for cart shells and lots of other Vectrex stuff. US though so the shipping and possible tax must be considered.

 

[jugemscloud]

theres a couple of guys on here that that develop games for it; binary software (i can't remember his username here

sorry chris) and clockwork robot (marblemad)

their games are always good and mix of arcade ports and original games

binary also makes nice spinner controllers and has some lightgun stuff in the works...

jugemscloud2020-02-08 05:53:49

 

[big10p]

There is crazyness on ebay with Vectrex recently. Hold out though, one will pop up at a fair price. Save the search so you get notifications, though because they go fast.
https://www.vectrexmulti.com/ Sean Kelly will sort you out for cart shells and lots of other Vectrex stuff. US though so the shipping and possible tax must be considered.

Cheers! I have a Vectrex search saved on ebay, so will wait until something comes up.

theres a couple of guys on here that that develop games for it; binary software (i can't remember his username here

sorry chris) and clockwork robot (marblemad)

their games are always good and mix of arcade ports and original games

binary also makes nice spinner controllers and has some lightgun stuff in the works...

Thanks. What spinner games are there?

 

[big10p]

I've just noticed that some units are made in Hong Kong and some in Taiwan. Is one a later version, or something? Are there any differences?

 

[jugemscloud]

im not too up on vectrex knowledge what i do know is through them, theres a tempest port I've played with it that worked well and i think clockwork's racing game goes well with it also. i think binary made a cart that goes with it of mini games or something specific but i can't remember, I'm going round to his house shortly so ill prod him to make a post

 

[big10p]

im not too up on vectrex knowledge what i do know is through them, theres a tempest port I've played with it that worked well and i think clockwork's racing game goes well with it also. i think binary made a cart that goes with it of mini games or something specific but i can't remember, I'm going round to his house shortly so ill prod him to make a post

Is binary kq_76 on ebay? I bought a test cart from him this morning.

In other news, looks like I've found myself a working Vectrex at a good price!

 

[RygarR]

I'd love a vectrex, but I couldn't justify the outlay for the amount of time I'd have to play with it. I've been keeping an eye on feeBay for about a year now, but the price seems to be staying stubbornly high.

Thinking back to the early 80s, I used to loiter about the toys section of Woolco's (remember them), while my parents did the shopping. I'd read the kiddies books, ogle the lego, and stare in wonder at the atari vcs:es. They had the vectrex in from launch, but my clearest memory - probably some time in 1984 was a pallet of remaindered vectrex consoles. They started out at £80 and soon dropped to £50. Hardly any seemed to shift. Of course, the truth is that no one wanted them. The Vectrex by then was old hat. Besides, the selection of games was limited, and you could only get them on super expensive carts - unlike the Speccy, where everyone knew someone who'd copy them a c90 tape's worth of software for nothing. Interesting how things and perceptions have changed.

The only time I've seen anything vaguely similar was early 1987. Sinclair had been bought out by Amstrad, and the Speccy's with built in tape decks were already having their prices slashed. Our local John Menzies had a pallet of boxed Spectrum Plus machines (the 48K variety). They were there for months, The price dropped to £20 for a few weeks then they all disappeared. I wonder what happened to them. There's probably a landfill site somewhere in central Scotland with a vein of 1980s computer hardwear about 50 feet under the surface!

RygarR2020-02-08 17:43:29

 

[big10p]

I remember the Vectrex in Woolworths, but can't recall if they had one on display, or not. I think they may have had one on a shelf behind the counter. Was most definately a rich kid's toy, I could never afford. Anyone remember what it sold for? I also remember game carts in the bargain bin, along with a load of music cassette tapes and home computer games. I bought a Grandstand Astro Wars around the same time, for £25, which was a lot of money to me, back then.

big10p2020-02-08 18:02:33