Vector Games

[Aswald]

When was the last time- if ever- you played an arcade vector graphics machine?

For me, it was back in 1998(!). It was in a bar near the courtroom where we were serving jury duty-

The game was Asteroids.


As for color vector games, the last ones I can remember was back in 1987 or 1988: Major Havoc (1987 for sure, in the Hoe Bowl bowling place near Dutchess Community College), and Space Duel either in 1987 or 1988.

Funny thing is, after 1987, I have no memories of having played any vector game until that one time in 1998.

[Compute]

Last week when I was on vacation in Portland we hit up Ground Kontrol a few times.. I think I played just about everything vector there: Asteroids, Tempest, Star Wars..I think that was it.

[Baloo]

Yesterday, when I played my Vectrex, lol.

EDIT: But in all seriousness, about 2 years ago I played Star Wars in an arcade up in Seaside Heights I believe it was. Star Wars is one of my favorites, since I got it through Star Wars Rogue Squadron Rebel Strike on Gamecube.

[Aswald]

Last week when I was on vacation in Portland we hit up Ground Kontrol a few times.. I think I played just about everything vector there: Asteroids, Tempest, Star Wars..I think that was it.

Yours is a very interesting answer.


Color vector graphics machines were notoriously unstable; that you could play games like Tempest and Star Wars in 2010 is nothing short of amazing. Especially as it cannot be easy to get replacement parts.

How lucky you are!

[98PaceCar]

Yours is a very interesting answer.


Color vector graphics machines were notoriously unstable; that you could play games like Tempest and Star Wars in 2010 is nothing short of amazing. Especially as it cannot be easy to get replacement parts.

How lucky you are!

Lots of people like to believe this, but honestly, the Atari color vectors are no worse than a normal raster monitor. The only ones that were really unstable were the G08 line that was used in the Sega games and the only issue those really had was a tendency to let the magical flame out of a couple resistors.

Between my collection and that of a close friend, we are only missing 2 Atari vector games (Asteroids Deluxe and Quantum) and all of them run like a fine watch. In fact, it's possible to do a build up of the Amplifone (later Atari vectors) from all new, modern parts. Can't beat that for ease of maintenance.

I have a harder time keeping vintage Williams games running than any of the vectors I'm around. They seem to eat RAM like candy, especially if you try to keep the original power supply intact.

[Pantechnicon]

The last time I played a cab with real (vs emulated) vectors was in 2008 at the 1984 Arcade in Springfield, MO, where I met up with Gapporin for a few hours. The game in question was Star Castle, and the machine had just had a refurbished motherboard put in that night. Gapp and I literally watched them slap it in and then turn the machine over to us to give a spin. Hella fun. Star Castle was one of my favorites back around 1981.

[AdamAnt316]

The last time I played a vector arcade game (not counting my own Vectrex, of course) was a couple of years ago, at Funspot. Star Wars and Asteroids, at the least. I have my own Atari Star Wars machine, which I'm planning to restore once I get some funds. Parts are still available, even a replacement for the infamous Amplifone "Dead Red" flyback transformer. Just need to give ArcadeShop a call One Of These Days.......
-Adam

[ubersaurus]

Discounting the vectrex, Asteroids at Gameworks in Auburn Hills last year.

[DDCecil]

Star Castle at CGE2K7. I love that game (though I'm not very good at it).

[InsaneDavid]

Other than Cosmic Chasm on the Vectrex last week, if you mean arcade games, then it would be at last year's California Extreme show. Star Trek, Quantum, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Red Baron, Tailgunner, Major Havoc, Lunar Lander, Space Duel, Gravitar, Asteroids, Asteroids DeLuxe, Armor Attack, Space War, Boxing Bugs, Star Castle and Warrior.

Can't wait until the next show this July.

[MachineGex]

I use to own a Gravitar machine but sold it about 7 years ago. It was a blast and still one of my favorites. It was a pain to keep running. Most people who have owned one or worked one one will agree they require some attention to keep them running. I miss that machine and regret selling it.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Tonight, in my game room.



I'll be honest though, outside of MAME (and my Asteroids machine) I've only played one other Vector and it was an Asteroids Deluxe a few weeks ago. I never played vectors when they were popular. I'd love to play a few but they're not easy to find.

[Thrillo]

Battlezone at an arcade in San Francisco in 2008.
I had been passively seeking out that game since the late '90s, and it was so awesome to finally play it on an actual cabinet with flickery, genuine vector graphics instead of emulated (raster) ones. The fact that it still had the goggle eyepiece was the icing on the cake .

And for the longest time, the Berryessa flea market in San Jose had a not-so-well maintained sit-down Star Wars in it's small arcade. I was always sure to give it plenty of quarters whenever I had the chance to go there. I think it finally died in 2005 or so...

[kedawa]

I don't think I've ever even seen a vector monitor in real life.

[Aswald]

Man, oh, man!

I MUST be living in the wrong area!

Are these machines more easily found than I thought, or are most of you just in certain particular places at the right time (e.g. a classic expo)?

Those games were so great. I just can't figure out why Coleco decided on the sort of images they used with Space Fury and Omega Race, when the CV was quite capable of at least a decent "vector" look. Especially since Omega Race was a single-color game.

[PapaStu]

A few weeks ago when I was over at RetroGMR's house. I got in some Tempest and Asteroids on cocktails.

[BetaWolf47]

When I played Asteroids on GameTap, I believe. Shame, I've never played one outside of emulation.