Homebrew Vectrex lightpens - UPDATE: Available now!

[recycledgamer]

I made a batch of homebrew Vectrex lightpens to help raise some scratch for my CGE trip. I'm offering them here to DP members for a substantial discount from what I will be selling them for on eBay/GameGavel.

About my homebrew lightpen:

• It's based on a schematic posted to the Vectrex Usenet forum by Tony Duell in 1995 as well as a revised schematic from PlayVectrex.com
• Uses a custom printed circuit board that I designed and produced
• Pen itself is a re-purposed marker shell.
• Cord is re-purposed from a Sega Genesis controller and modified for the Vectrex controller ports.
• Laminated label with custom Vectrex art
• Behaves just like the original Vectrex light pen

I have put many hours into producing these lightpens over the past few weeks. Despite the recycled case and cord they are very solid and well built. I will warrant them against defects for a year.

The lightpen requires a lightpen-compatible Vectrex game cartridge: Art Master, Melody Master or AnimAction. There are also a couple of prototype/homebrew games on some of the various multicarts out there. I have the 1.0 version of the Sean Kelly cart and it includes a lightpen-compatible prototype called Engine Analyzer (which doesn't really do much).

The lightpen should be plugged into port two and a standard controller into port one for most lightpen games. (Lightpen goes in port 1 for Engine Analyzer)

You can see the lightpen in action as well as the process I went through to make them in this YouTube video. Even if you are not interested in buying one, I hope you will find the video interesting and entertaining.

$35 shipped anywhere in the US. I'll ship internationally as well for a bit extra. I can do PayPal and USPS money orders. PM me for payment details.

I have more than 10 available at this point. I'll follow up in this thread if I run out.

Chuck
RecycledGamer

[recycledgamer]

I'm considering selling a kit as well. I'd include the marker case, but you would supply your own Genesis controller cord. The kit would probably sell for around $18.

Any interest in that?

Chuck

[y-bot]

I've seen one of these babies in action and it works great! I also really like the "making of" videos on Youtube. Good luck with your sales.

y-bot

[swlovinist]

These are great products. Chuck does an amazing job and worked his butt off making these. Any vectrex fan should be all over this. A++++

[recycledgamer]

Hi all,

If you didn't get a crack at my first batch of repro Vectrex lightpens, now is your chance to get one! I made a new label for the lightpen that is more like the art on the original lightpen. I also created a package design with a label I designed to look like the art on the original lightpen box.

I have a batch available for DP members that are done now and ready to ship - this is NOT a pre-order!

$35 shipped (US and Canada) for a lightpen only
$40 shipped (US and Canada) for a lightpen AND the custom package (see last photo)

Here's my original "making of" video: Go to YouTube

PM me if interested and I will send you my PayPal address.

Chuck