Meet The Vectrex, The Strangest Game Console Of The '80s

I’m fully aware that I have a basement full of crap, and, yes, to many eyes, my collection of crap really may be analogous to a firm, healthy turd, but if I accept this unpleasant analogy, then I’d have to say one of the most golden, gleaming kernels of corn in that turd would have to be the machine I want to show you today, the Vectrex. The Vectrex is a fascinating machine, a technical dead end, an elegant and fascinating look at a path not taken, technologically. Yes, it’s just another 1980s game console, but I think it’s so much more.

Among the YouTube comments disturbed and revolted by my hair were a number requesting that I focus an episode on this machine, so, for those of you who looked past the Hair Situation long enough to comment about something else, this is for you.

-Jason Torchinsky

Read more:

Follow Jalopnik on:

Drive free or die!

[umakegoodcookies]

People are concerned gaming about refresh rates. Vector monitors were an early solution. I used to make vector monitor systems for research. We always shot for a 1000 Hz refresh rate. Sometimes it would have to be as low as 500. But even beyond that, you could interject something in a refresh (skip to a spot). So, in terms of when things change on the screen you can put things on whenever you want and not wait for a refresh. You'd need a mini-computer for this in the 70's but home computers could run one in the 80's. 

Considering that 3D graphics are entirely vector drawings a modern monitor that didn't depend on refresh rates could just put things up as fast as they are available. One advantage of LCDs is that they don't actually need to be refreshed at all. You can turn a pixel on and just leave it alone. With CRTs you constantly had to update the information. DVI standard included the ability to have no refresh rate and just change what needed changes. There is no technical reason for LCD screens that everyone has now to have a refresh rate at all. They could have something like a refresh rate maximum, but there's no reason for things to be refreshed every screen unless something changes. It's just what we're left with from old raster style CRTs.

[XHobbiesPrime]

I remember wanting one of these as a kid. Mmm, now I almost want one now.

[slebdad]

I still have mine in my attic, armor attack and the submarine game were my favorite, also enjoyed star castle.

[MikeStavola]

It's that one console I've been wanting for 20 years.

[weeksify]

I just found one of these in a dumpster of a goodwill. Came with controller attached and also found two games surprised when I got it home and it worked.

[signdeals]

I used to have one when I was a kid. “Help! Spike” “Oh no, Molly!”

[celestekwasman]

I would like to have one of these again, for Rip Off and Star Castle. There's just no good substitute for a vector graphics screen. They had such a unique look.

[cedric]

We used to hire this out of a local corner shop for £2.50 a day. The 80s were just the best!

[steveedwards]

I bought mine from Woolworths when they first came out. Got berzerk and scramble with it. Still got it now, original packaging, box, and even the Woolworths outer box 👍

[ThePyleDriver]

Got one for xmas right when they came out - it was so great! You need to find the screen overlays and get Scranble :)

[theshepre]

I love Vectrez. I showed my console to my 8th graders a few years back. They loved it, too.

[jareknowak]

The "refresh rate" in Vectrex was determined by the lenght of lines on the screen.
More elements/lines on the screen = less frames.
You can observate it very well in Asteroids.

[gillesbillault]

Hello from France, thanks for press articles about this mythic console 👍👍👍👍

[CaptainLumpyDog]

WTF is a Vectrex? The greatest console ever made. That's what.

[DocMicrowave]

Back in the 80s my brother had a Vextrex. Interesting game console. As well as concept for display.

[midnightmosesuk]

I always enjoyed the aesthetics of vector graphics, the clean lines are very pleasing to the eye. The Vectrex was something I really wanted as a kid but I never got one. Too expensive. Looking on ebay I see they're selling from £700 upwards. I saw one for £2500, but that had everything, a second controller and all the games complete with overlays. A beautiful thing but, man, what a price tag.

[Crstin]

I have one in the box with multiple games, the light pen and the stencils for the pen. My dad bought it new. Edit: I have the overlays and stencils

[pafiro]

Just got one at a garage sale with 8 games and the color screens for $50 CAD.. so hyped rn

[splintronic]

Just bought one with the multicard and all the sheets. Its awesome !!!!

[skidjon]

Fortress of Narzod & Web Wars are two of my faves!