From: woodcock@sdf.lonestar.org (Gregg Woodcock)
Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex,rec.games.video
Subject: Vectrex Frequently Asked Questions List
Summary: Vectrex Frequently Asked Questions List
Keywords: video game vectrex faq
Date: 1 Sep 92 13:50:55 GMT
Article-I.D.: sdf.1992Sep1.135055.27651
Organization: sdf Public Access UNIX, Dallas--unrestricted free shell access

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|Vectrex====|
| +-------+ | Vectrex "Frequently Asked Questions" List!  Created: 9/1/92
| | # +  *| | Created and maintained by Gregg Woodcock.
| | :  X  | | (woodcock@sdf.lonestar.org)
| | :  . .| |
| | A  <=>| |
| |     . | |
| |  X  + | |    @@@
| | *  x  | |  @@   @@@
| +-------+ @@@    +---@----+
| ###   # Q@@     / ! oooo /
| ###   OO  |    +--------+
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<duhn duht duhn duht ... duhn duht duhn dit dut>

Well, this is my first attempt and it is quite elementary (just the
FAQs, ma'am) so if you have a problem with the way this is laid out,
TELL ME ABOUT IT and I will try to fix it.  I did very little except
wade through the last year's posts and pick out questions and answers
that frequently came up (and add some spellchecking, commentary, and
humor).  I apologize for not crediting answers to the people who gave
them but I did not always have this information and I personally feel
that it would make this list much harder to maintain (let me know if you
absolutely *must* be credited).  I hope to have a technical FAQ compiled
soon consisting of such things as:

    How can carts be made from the data in the archives?
    Can a pause switch be built? (YES)
    How do the controllers work and can one be built? (YES)
    How does the light pen work and can one be built? (YES)
    How does the 3D imager work and can a Sega imager be converted? (MAYBE)

My plan is to have a 'newbie' FAQ (this one) and a 'techie' FAQ.  I am
not firm on this though; if you have a better idea, let me know.  Please
also let me know if any of this is wrong or lacking and I will correct it.
Keep in mind that I do *not* have ftp access.

================================================================================

Q. What is Vectrex?

Vectrex is one of the most inspired video game machines ever produced
(but similar things were said about the Edsel and Titanic).  Its point
of distinction is the fact that it uses vector "line" graphics (as
opposed to raster "pixel" graphics).  This is the same type of screen
used in such arcade classics as Space Invaders, Asteroids, Battlezone
and Tempest.  The machine has a 9 x 11 inch black and white screen and
comes with a built-in Asteroids type game called Minestorm.  The games
come with plastic overlays that slide over the screen to cut down on
flicker and give some illusion of color.  It uses one of the most
advanced 8 bit processors, the 6522, and an excellent but obscure sound
chip (General Instruments AY3-8192) which can produce a wide range of
noises.  Also included is a 1.5 inch, self-centering, joystick with 4
buttons on the right.  It uses an analog/potentiometer system allowing
differing degrees of directional input.  The machine's footprint takes
up a little less than a square foot of a desk (in fact, it quite
resembles a jet black Macintosh SE sans keyboard), and can be operated
easily in that area.  The joystick is connected via a springy
telephone-like cord and can be folded into the base of the machine for
portability.  The machine is moderately transportable and very well
constructed but, alas, very much extinct.  It made its debut sometime in
1982 and was quite scarce by the end of 1983 due to the Great Video Game
Depression of '82 which forced GCE out of business due to poor sales.

================================================================================

Q. What games were released or on the drawing board before Vectrex died?

Here is the list of released games:
   VT ???? 3D Minestorm (3D imager pack-in)
   VT 3301 Armor Attack
   VT ???? Art Master (light pen)
   VT 3604 Animaction (light pen)
   VT 3305 Bedlam
   VT 3302 Berzerk (yes it crashes at high levels)
   VT 3202 Blitz Action Football
   VT 3303 Clean Sweep
   VT 3101 Cosmic Chasm
   VT ???? Crazy Coaster (3D imager)
   VT ???? Dark Tower (does anybody have this?)
   VT 3304 Fortress of Narzod
   VT 3203 Heads-Up Action Soccer
   VT 3201 Hyperchase
   VT 3602 Melody Master (light pen pack-in)
   VT 3000 Minestorm (built-in)
   VT ???? Narrow Escape (3D imager)
   VT 3308 Polar Rescue
   VT 3206 Pole Position
   VT 3102 Rip Off
   VT 3013 Scramble
   VT 3104 Solar Quest
   VT 3105 Space Wars
   VT 3306 Spike
   VT 3204 Spinball
   VT 3106 Starhawk
   VT 3109 Star Castle
   VT 3107 Star Trek
   VT 3108 Web Wars

The following games and accessories were planned but never released:
Cartridges:
   Art Master II
   Art Master III
   Art Master IV
   Basic Science
   Create-A-Game/Maze
   Exploring the Solar System
   Flipout
   Mail Plane
   Pitcher's Duel
   Pole Position (for 3D imager)
   Power Trip
   Sock It
   Tour de France
Accessories:
   Touch-Sensitive Screen
   Computer Adaptor with BASIC
      Computer Keyboard
      Printer
      Disk Driver/Wafer Tape Drive
      Modem
      Computer Software:
         Create Your Own Video Game
         Music Maestro
         Art Program in LOGO
         Basic Science
         Solar System
         Word Processing

================================================================================

Q. Where is the Vectrex ftp archive and what is there?

The ftp Vectrex information archive is at csus.csus.edu (130.86.90.1)
and is maintained by Dean Dierschow AND/OR John F. Sandhoff (can somebody
tell me which one it is or if they cooperate?).  Do you guys want your
email address listed here?

There are binary listings (and source?) for most of the games along
with instructions on how to burn Eproms.  There are several commented
examples of code demonstrating how to write both music and graphics.
There is also a copy of the service manual and much more.  There are
plenty of experiments to keep an eager hacker busy.

================================================================================

Q. Are there tricks or cheats for any Vectrex games?

YES! (Vectrex had cheats before cheats were cool):

MINESTORM:  If you turn up the brightness a lot you are able to see the
invisible mines.

ARMOR ATTACK:  The brightness trick gives you advance notice on where the
helicopter is.

FORTRESS OF NARZOD:  If you can somehow manage to kill the gorilla at the
same time he kills you, your lives remaining will turn into the infinity
sign (oo) and you will have 255 lives.  It is not known for sure if your
lives in reserve value has to be zero for this to work (probably so).

SPIKE:  If you position the door ALMOST all the way to the right of the
screen, then jump into it, so as to be jammed between the door, and the
little space that is left; the game freaks out, you will be pushed
forward about 47,000 points, and the difficulty will be increased
proportionally.

SPACE WARS:  Either ship is invincible after being hit, while pieces are
in the air.  This may not sound like much, or maybe this was
intentional, but I've played against people who make this their entire
strategy.  They skim the edge of the Star in the middle, just to knock
off a tail section or something, and then while they are invincible,
they fly right into you.  Not nice, but it works very well.  The time
window is surprisingly long.

================================================================================
Send corrections, suggestions, additions, ect. to woodcock@sdf.lonestar.org
-- 
--
THANX...Gregg   woodcock@sdf.lonestar.org   bn202@cleveland.freenet.edu
day 214.684.7380   night 214.530.2495   *I'll buy your used Vectrex stuff!*
Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex