Odd Vectrex problem, games not starting...

[STKD]

I've hunted around and can't find anything about this one but hopefully someone here might be more technically familiar with the console. Basically I turned my Vectrex on for the first time in a few months today, and it will boot up (with startup sound), display the title of whatever game is inserted (or Minestorm if no cart is), show the "Player 1" screen and then... it just sits there on that screen. Never goes any further.

I've tried it with the half dozen games I own and various working controllers and that's all it will do. It's been safely stored in a cupboard and I never had any problems with it before. I can't find anything relating to this problem online but I really want to get it sorted out - by myself, if possible.

Anyone encountered this? Any suggestions?

[Space Fury]

First off:
Can you change the setting of Player 1 to Player 2 with the controller?

Knowing that it freezes up at the same point on every game, have you tried pressing the controller button DURING the system intro or cartridge intro?

Have you tried the reset button to cycle through once it froze or did you just turn it off and on again? There is a difference with a warm boot and a cold boot..

Did you look at the pins in the controller port?
Make sure one hasn't receded a bit. A needle-nose pliers fixes this by gently pulling the pin even with the others.

You stated that you tried other controllers:
I believe one of the games run on the 2nd controller port. Don't remember which one, could be Hyper Chase or Heads Up... This could determine if its your controller port 1 or not.

If none of this helps:
Have you ever opened your Vectrex?
If you have in the past, you may want to see if the chips inside are pushed down all the way into their sockets.
This of course only matters if you have a Vectrex with socketed chips..

Hope something I mentioned helps you..

SF