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History of video games/Platforms/Vectrex

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  • A Vectrex console
    A Vectrex console

History

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The Vectrex logotype.

Development and Launch

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The Vectrex game Blitz

Development of the system began in 1980, as a way for the company Smith Engineering to use surplus one inch cathode ray tube displays that several employees found at an electronics store while out for lunch.[1][2] Initially a handheld, the system was redesigned in 1981 to have a nine inch display and be a tabletop unit.[1] Debuted at CES in 1982[2] and received positively,[1] the console launched in November of that year at a cost of $199.[3][2]

Crash

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Initially the system sold well, which lead to it being acquired by Milton Bradley, and further leading to the price of Milton Bradley stock doubling.[2] The Vectrex saw its national launch in Spring of 1983.[4]

Due to the Video game Crash of 1983 sales suffered.[2] In 1983 price of the system was reduced twice, once to $150, and then again to $100.[3][2] These issues were compounded by poor sales of the Vectrex internationally.[5]

Discontinuation

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Most histories cite the discontinuation date of the Vectrex as 1984[1] following the large costs the system incurred on Milton Bradley, about 16.5 million dollars[2], and their subsequent 1984 merger with Hasbro.[3] Some sources claim that it was Hasbro who made the decision to discontinue the system.[2] However two articles in the New York Times of early 1984 claim it was discontinued prior to the acquisition[6] in late 1983.[7] Other contemporary sources seemingly paint a different picture, though perhaps not a mutually exclusive one, with at least one late 1984 magazine article discussing the recent discontinuation of the system, and a then current demand for remaining stock.[8] A January 30th, 1984 Wall Street Journal article reported the Vectrex had been discontinued recently.[4]

Renewed Interest

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An association football (Soccer) game running on the Vectrex, an example of the vector graphics the system was capable of.

Following the discontinuation of the Vectrex, Smith Engineering regained the rights to the system and attempted to redevelop it as a handheld in 1988.[3][9] The revised system was scrapped due to a price exceeding $100.[9] A surviving and operational portable system system exists at the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, Texas.[10][11]

Jay Smith required the rights to the system in 1996 and released the rights to the Vectrex to the public for non profit use in 1996.[2] Hobbyists created upgrades for the system, such as a 2017 project that adds a 32 bit coprocessor expansion to improve system graphics.[12] In early May 2020, an open source clone of the Vectrex called Scopetrex was designed, and can to be used with an oscilloscope as a vector display.[13][14]

Technology

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The Vectrex CPU was a Motorola 68A09 clocked at 1.6MHz.[15] The Vectrex had 1 kilobyte of RAM, split across two four bit chips.[15][16] Software cartridges contained 8 kilobytes of ROM.[15]

The built in display is a monochrome Samsung 240RB40, which has a size of 9 inches by 11 inches.[15] A General Instrument AY-3-8912 is used for audio.[16] A prototype for Vectrex with a monitor capable of displaying one of three different colors at a time was made, but never released on the market.[17][18]

The Vectrex was the first home console to use an analog controller.[15] The joystick was self centering.[16] An optional second controller could be used.[16] An optional light pen and 3D Glasses were released for the system.[2][19][20]

Notable games

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A Starhawk Vectrex cartridge.

28 games were released for the system during its production.[2]

1982

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1983

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Mr. Boston's Clean Sweep

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A limited production game meant to promote liquor, with only 4 or 5 copies known to exist.[21][22]

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Console

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Controller

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Internals

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References

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Wikipedia has related information at Vectrex

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vectrex

Parts of this page are based on materials from:
 Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia.
  1. ↑ a b c d "A History of Gaming Platforms: The Vectrex" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3117/a_history_of_gaming_platforms_the_.php. Retrieved 23 October 2020. 
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k "Vectrex by GCE – The Video Game Kraken". Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. ↑ a b c d "History of Consoles-Vectrex (1982) Gamester 81". Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ↑ a b "Milton Bradley posts fourth-quarter loss and closes GCE unit.". The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition). January 30th, 1984. 
  5. ↑ "Milton Bradley Expects Deficit". The New York Times. 15 November 1983. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/15/business/milton-bradley-expects-deficit.html. 
  6. ↑ Jones, Alex S. (5 May 1984). "RIVAL GETS MILTON BRADLEY". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/05/business/rival-gets-milton-bradley.html. 
  7. ↑ Wiggins, Phillip H. (5 April 1984). "TAKEOVER RUMORS SPUR MILTON BRADLEY STOCK". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/05/business/takeover-rumors-spur-milton-bradley-stock.html?searchResultPosition=4. 
  8. ↑ Worley, Joyce (September 1984), "Farewell to the Vectrex", Electronic Games Monthly
  9. ↑ a b "Home Page". Video Game Console Library. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  10. ↑ Gallagher, Danny (16 January 2019). "NVM Finds a Portable Gaming Console You've Never Heard of Unless You Worked for Vectrex". Dallas Observer. https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/the-national-video-game-museum-in-frisco-has-a-mini-vectrex-11465106. Retrieved 23 October 2020. 
  11. ↑ "Mini Vectrex Prototype Restored By National Videogame Museum". Hackaday. 29 November 2018. https://hackaday.com/2018/11/28/mini-vectrex-prototype-restored-by-national-videogame-museum/. Retrieved 23 October 2020. 
  12. ↑ "32-Bit Processing For The Vectrex Arcade System". Hackaday. 12 April 2017. https://hackaday.com/2017/04/12/32-bit-processing-for-the-vectrex-arcade-system/. Retrieved 23 October 2020. 
  13. ↑ "Scopetrex Is A Game Console… For Your Oscilloscope!". Hackaday. 7 May 2020. https://hackaday.com/2020/05/07/scopetrex-is-a-game-console-for-your-oscilloscope/. 
  14. ↑ "schlae/scopetrex". GitHub. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  15. ↑ a b c d e "vectrexmuseum.com - Dedicated to Vectrex Arcade Game System". vectrexmuseum.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  16. ↑ a b c d "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Hawken, Kieren (9 May 2016). "10 Unreleased Video Game Consoles You Never Knew Existed" (in en). WhatCulture.com. https://whatculture.com/gaming/10-unreleased-video-game-consoles-you-never-knew-existed?page=7. 
  18. ↑ "Color Vectrex prototype". Vectrex Wiki. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  19. ↑ Loguidice, Bill (17 December 2007). "A History of Gaming Platforms: The Vectrex" (in en). Game Developer. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/a-history-of-gaming-platforms-the-vectrex. 
  20. ↑ Barton, Matt; Loguidice, Bill. "Gamasutra - A History of Gaming Platforms: The Vectrex". www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3117/a_history_of_gaming_platforms_the_.php?print=1. 
  21. ↑ "10 Rarest Console Exclusive Games (& How Much They're Worth)". TheGamer. 2020-05-11. https://www.thegamer.com/rarest-console-exclusive-games-how-much-worth/. 
  22. ↑ Notte, Jason. "10 Classic Video Games Still Raking In Cash" (in en-us). TheStreet. https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/10-classic-video-games-still-raking-in-cash-11746012. 
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