I do miss...

[Aswald]

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=A&game_id=6939

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=A&game_id=6940

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=B&game_id=7059

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=T&game_id=10065

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=W&game_id=10401

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9754

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9773

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9781

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9770

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=A&game_id=6925

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=R&game_id=9326

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9647

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9658

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=B&game_id=7139

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=M&game_id=8601


...vector games.

[christhegamer]

We all do, my friend :(

[Kid Ice]

Why did they stop making those games? I have heard that the graphics technology was not reliable...kind of hard to believe with my Vectrex still kicking it after all these years.

Well the good news is at least there a few modern games that emulate the vector look like Rez and Geometry Wars.

[klausien]

Big time agreed. One of the reasons I love Rez so much is the tribute to vector graphics in its visuals. I have already mentioned this in a homebrew thread and the system is not vector monitor based, but Red Alarm on the VB makes me dream of a VB homebrew with 3D versions of the Atari vector games. Imagine Battlezone with real depth. Asteroids with background separation. Tempest. Star Wars. Need I say more?

Unfortunately, this, or any other sort of vector revival will most likely never come to pass. :(

Vector graphics are aesthetically beautiful. The super bright shots in games like Asteroids are also amazing as CRTs can't replicate the effect. That is what kills me with the various comps and MAME emulation of these games.

[Pantechnicon]

Hear hear. I've had a vector fetish for as long as I can remember.

/me hugs my Vectrex and Lunar Lander cab.

[Aswald]

Last time I was able to play a vector game was in late 1998, during breaks while serving jury duty. It was an Asteroids machine in a bar just a block away.

Vectrex...now, that would be a great garage sale find!

[Aswald]

If I recall, the problem was with color vector displays- they had a tendency to overheat and catch fire (not good). Black and white displays were o.k., though, and color overlays were harmless, and added a wonderful touch, like in Star Castle.

[50TBRD]

Next to my SNES, I wouldn't trade my Vectrex for anything. It amazes me averytime I see a new game developed for it. I'd like to make a game myself but there's a lot that I need to learn between now and then and my efforts on all my activities are stretched pretty thin with all the hobbies that i have and my demands with work and school. If only I could get paid to do nothing.

[Aswald]

The unbelievable stupidity of the marketers and "experts" of that era still astonishes me, over 20 years later.

With the insane popularity of games like Asteroids, Tempest, and the like, how the hell did they EVER get the idea that vector was "dead?"

[Arcade Antics]

The unbelievable stupidity of the marketers and "experts" of that era still astonishes me, over 20 years later.

With the insane popularity of games like Asteroids, Tempest, and the like, how the hell did they EVER get the idea that vector was "dead?"
They didn't.

As you already stated, vector games were more difficult to keep running properly, so operators favored the raster games. Less downtime, less maintenance, more profit. Operators didn't give a rat's ass how groovy the vector games were; they wanted games that made money without any fuss.


Vectrex...now, that would be a great garage sale find!
There are always lots of Vectrex consoles on feeBay, I've seen several go for low, low prices lately. Sure, shipping will be a little bit extra since it's heavy, but it's worth it.

Or you could always purchase your own coin-op. A friend of mine just bought a *mint* Gravitar, thing looked like it just rolled off the assembly line. Sooooo sweet. :D

[c0ldb33r]

Well the good news is at least there a few modern games that emulate the vector look like Rez and Geometry Wars.
OMG... could you imagine Rez with true vector graphics? @_@

*drool*

[NeoZeedeater]

I love vector graphics games, especially Atari's although the Cinematronics and Gremlin stuff is good too. I was also hoping the Virtual Boy would become the new home of them after playing Red Alarm but it never happened.

[Vectorman0]

I've wondered why vector graphics were dropped too. Could one of the reasons have been that as vector graphics evolved, they would have become more like raster graphics?