Vectrex32 coding competition

[ocb]

Not something you see every day.

A coding competition on the Vectrex (ok, the Vectrex32) with cash prizes.

http://vectrex32.com/the-v-prize/

 

[Flinnster]

Good stuff Hope it brings forth a load more games for the system.
I did the drunkencoders xmas compo for a couple of years around a decade ago. Even won 1st place for GBA xmas game one year

Loads of fun!

 

[ocb]

Good stuff Hope it brings forth a load more games for the system.
I did the drunkencoders xmas compo for a couple of years around a decade ago. Even won 1st place for GBA xmas game one year

Loads of fun!

This place never ceases to amaze me.

I did offer 2 times to Bob Alexander that I take a bulk order of Vectrex32 this side of the pond and sell them at zero profit over here, as I think the whole trans-atlantic buying thing is too expensive for us hobbyists.




His exact quote was " Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll keep on going the way I am."

 

[Flinnster]

Yeah that seems a bit defeatist of him. I see he's selling them on ebay using their global shipping program so it's likely pretty hassle free for him, he just ships to a USA depot (but good luck with that when it doesn't work at the customer end...).

 

[Nes4life]

The number of vectrex owners is fairly limited but the number of vectrex owners with this £100+ addon is even more so.
I see it gives you the ability to write 'more powerful' games in BASIC, and essentially uses the vectrex as an input / output device, but, for me, the price is still too high and the market too small to warrant spending time porting games to it. I do hope it does well, but if I were the creator I'd do everything I could to expand the user base and reduce the price. It's certainly very clever and I'm impressed by it though; just not going to splash out on one myself. It's almost the same way I feel about Amiga accelerators.

Nes4life2017-09-06 06:59:39

 

[guddler]

Depends on the kind of Amiga accelerator. If you're talking about one with extra memory and a faster CPU then what's not to like? It does exactly the same as before but faster and with more memory to do stuff. Granted the idea of stuff like the Vampire which adds RTG and IDE too is getting to the point you describe where the original hardware becomes little more than an IO terminal.

I'm mixed on the Vectrex32. It's an incredible device that does some very nice things (the debug, single step, change variables on the fly, all great stuff). It's basically like taking an asteroids PCB and moving all of the game code side of the board to the PIC and the Vectrex carries on being the DVG side in the same way it always has. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it is EXACTLY how Atari did it.

Will it gain mass market appeal? I dunno about that. The price is a bit steep. Don't get me wrong, I can see why and I think it's worth every penny but if you buy one you're going to be left with the prospect of writing games for a system not many people have - I guess only the creator knows the numbers there.

The other problem for me is BASIC - Ugh !! (but that's just me I guess)

 

[ocb]

It does seem to be a great device.

It breathes life into a well loved ecosystem.

I doubt anyone will want to make money off the back of the V32.
For me it's a pure enthusiast add-on.
I love the idea of playing Lander on the vectrex.
The Scramble port is incredible. My 6 yr old spent hours every day during our holiday on that.
If a decent community pumped out 10 games a year - it would be amazing.
just a bit sad the Dev doesn't appreciate the added cost and uncertainty that importing from the US adds

 

[d-type]

Beautiful thing, but creating a closed source device that is basically a new home brew computer that uses the vector generator and display from the Vectrex is too narrow focused.

Sadly, no-one's going to buy one unless there are some sh1t-hot games to play on it already, which there ain't.

Plus I don't think anyone wanting the retro coding experience is going to pick BASIC, it's a dead end for transferring to other platforms.

And it's too expensive.

Shame really.