Note from racketboy:Racketboy contributor, Ack returns with another beginner’s lesson in pre-NES gaming hardware — this time we take a look at the Vectrex. BTW,The RetroGaming 101 seriesis aimed at gamers who are just starting out in the classic gaming scene or are curious about an older console that they don’t know much about yet.
Released in the United States in November of 1982, the Vectrex would only last for two short years, and even less time in foreign markets. But in that time, the machine would develop a cult following that has helped spawn one of the most creative homebrew communities for any console. The Vectrex is another example of what the video game community lost in the video game crash of 1983, and in this case, it looks like the public really missed out.
Background Information
Development of the “Mini-Arcade” by Smith Engineering would begin in Spring of 1981, which is later renamed to Vectrex.
General Consumer Electric (GCE) licenses the Vectrex concept.
Vectrex releases in the United States on November, 1982, at $199.
Milton Bradley acquires GCE in Spring 1983, drops the price to $150.
The Vectrex launches in Europe May 1983, and in Japan under the name Bandai Vectrex Kousokusen in June 1983.
March 1984, European production of the Vectrex stops.
Hasbro buys Milton Bradley in Summer of 1983 and begins phasing out the Vectrex.
The Vectrex officially dies in the United States in December 1984.
In 1988, Smith Engineering tries to remake the Vectrex as a handheld, but the idea is scrapped due to GameBoy’s impending release.
MAKE Magazine did a nice little video to get everyone acquainted with the Vectrex
Historical Impact
One of the first consoles to feature a boot screen.
The Vectrex was the only real attempt to bring vector graphics to the home audience via a vector monitor.
This is the first console to feature 3D.
It was also the first truly portable home console, since everything required to play was included.
Unfortunately, the video game crash of 1983 brought about the early demise of this console.
Hardware Specifications
The CPU is a Motorola 68A09, with a speed of around 1.5 Mhz. It features 1 KB RAM and 8 KB ROM.
The CRT is a monochrome Samsung 240RB40. It measures 9¾ x 11½ x 14½ inches.
Color is handled by the screen overlays that would come packaged with games.
The audio is handled by a General Instrument’s AY-3-8912, and features a 3” built-in speaker.
The entire console weighs about 15 lbs.
Strengths
Console has everything, including CRT and built in controllers, required to play.
Features a pack-in game, Minestorm.
Was the only console to bring vector graphics to the home market at a time when many of the top arcade games were done in vector graphics.
Has an extremely active, loyal, and old homebrew community, which has produced multiple emulators, entirely new games, and designed their own peripherals for use on the Vectrex. The available game library has effectively doubled in size in the last 15 years.
Weaknesses
The official game library isn’t very big, and six of the official games require one or the other peripheral.
Screen overlays must be provided for any sort of color.
A lack of shielding between the CRT and audio wires causes a buzzing sound in earlier models.
The pack-in game, Minestorm, has a tendency to crash at level 13. If it does make it past that, the game starts acting weird.
Because the console is built into the CRT, doing internal repairs can be dangerous.
A Vectrex cannot be connected to a normal television, even if the CRT is nonfunctional.
Peripherals
Vectrex 3D Imager
The Vectrex 3D Imager was the first 3D imaging peripheral ever offered on a console, predating the SegaScope 3D. Three official games were built for it, though a fourth official game was never released. Read More Info about the 3D Imager Check eBay for the 3D Imager
VT3600 Lightpen
The VT3600 Lightpen was a light pen designed for usage as a controller in three officially released games. Several other official programs were in the works, though they were never released, though one prototype, Mail Plane, has found its way into the wild. Unfortunately, they can sell for as much as $250 on eBay in complete condition. There are many fans of the system that have made their own to save some case (see below in Hacks & Mods section) Read More info about the Light Pen Check eBay for the Light Pen
VECX is a Vectrex emulator specifically for the PC, Mac, and Linux, designed by Valavan Manohararajah. It utilizes Direct X, and the source code is freely available online. It can be found at www.valavan.net. VECX has also been ported to other consoles, including the Xbox.
PSPVE is a port of VECX to work on the PSP.
ParaJVE is a Vectrex emulator that utilizes Java, designed by Franck Chevassu. It has been designed for usage on the PC, Mac, and Lynux, though Lynux currently experiences problems. It can be found at vectrex-emu.blogspot.com.
DVE, or DOS Vectrex Emulator, was the first Vectrex emulator. It was built specifically for DOS, though it can run on Windows. It was originally designed by Keith Wilkins, and then edited heavily by Christopher Salomon. It can be found at www.arcadeathome.com.
There are also Vectrex emulators for the GP32X(GP32Vecx and VecxGP ) and the Nintendo DS(VectxDS).
Vectrex collecting isn’t exactly for the mainsteam budget collector, but it’s not out of reach.
Since they have a strong collector community and are a bit of novelty item, Vectrex machines can go for about $50 – $150 on eBay depending on the condition and how many games a lot includes.
Note from racketboy:Racketboy contributor, Ack strikes again with another beginner’s lesson in pre-NES gaming hardware — this time we take a look at the Fairchild Channel F. BTW,The RetroGaming 101 seriesis aimed at gamers who are just starting out in the classic gaming scene or are curious about an older console that they don’t know much about yet.
The Fairchild Channel F released in August 1976, at $169.95. Though it is often overlooked in the history of gaming, the Channel F would bring about a revolution in console design, changing the home video game market for the next twenty years. It was originally released by Fairchild Semiconductor, and would be their only console release.
Background Information
The Channel F’s original name was the Video Entertainment System, but was changed to Channel F when Atari released the VCS(Atari 2600) in 1977.
Though Atari was testing their prototype “Stella” at the time, the release of the Channel F would spur them to push for an earlier release then they had planned.
To fight Atari effectively, Fairchild began a redesign of the console, which would later become known as the Channel F System II. When the game market slumped in the late 1970s, they decided to give up on the project, and sold it to Zircon International, who released it in 1979.
Historical Impact
This console was the first to use ROM-based cartridges, something that would serve as a mainstay in the home console industry until the Nintendo 64 and Super Famicom stopped production.
The console also forced Atari to release the Atari 2600 to stay competitive. This served as one reason why Atari was purchased by Warner Communications.
The console also featured a “Hold” button, which would stop the action on screen. This was a precursor to the “Pause” function.
The Channel F also appeared on TV POWWW, a television game show.
Strengths
All cartridges for the console were numbered, and the count was kept low. Fewer than 30 cartridges were ever formally released, so collectors will have an easier time figuring out what they’re missing. Several carts contain more than one game.
The original design incorporated a holding space for the controllers, both of which were hardwired to the console.
The console also saw release in different European nations under different names, and with different games, though these were also numbered.
The console also had a newsletter, published only once in October 1977. It gives detailed information on the first 9 carts, and also previewed carts 10-12 for their November 1977 release.
The controllers were very simple, literally 4-way joysticks on grips that could also be pulled up or down and twisted left or right for 8 different movement methods.
Two Pong clones, called Tennis and Hockey, were built into the console and could be played without a cartridge.
Weaknesses
The original Channel F had a speaker built into the console, though it’s of poor quality. The later version instead used television audio. The Atari 2600 had better audio overall.
The controllers suffer from cheap copper wiring which can break easily and is difficult to replace.
Graphically the console was weaker than the Atari 2600, and it shows.
The game library is extremely limited.
Though a keyboard accessory was unveiled in a sales brochure for the console, it was never released, so there are no accessories for the console whatsoever.
Hardware Specifications
The Channel F utilizes the Fairchild F8 8-bit microprocessor chip. The processor speed is 2 MHz.
Game resolution is 128 x 64 pixels, though only 102 x 58 are visible.
The machine boasts 64 bytes of RAM, with 2 kB of VRAM.
The console carries a max of eight colors, but only a max of 4 per line.
The Channel F audio output is capable of 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 1.5 kHz tones.
The output is a RF modulated composite video signal, with the cord hardwired into the console. The power supply is external.
Hardware Variations
The Fairchild Channel F incorporated a built-in speaker, hardwired controllers, and a very 70s design.
The Channel F System II moved the location of the storage compartment for the controllers, and also lost the internal speaker. The controllers were also removable. It keeps the same chip set as the original.
The Adman Grandstand was the name for the United Kingdom variant of the Channel F, though it looked considerably like the Channel F System II.
The Barco Challenger is the Belgium variant, which was exactly the same as the Italian variant, the Dumont Videoplay.
The Luxor Video Entertainment System was the name of the Swedish variation of the console.
Germany would see the Saba Videoplay in 1978, which would lack the internal speaker and would feature an “Eject” button for cartridges.
This would quickly be followed by the Saba Videoplay 2, which featured slightly different controller design.
The ITT Telematch, again with modified controllers and a redesigned case, would be released in 1978.
The Normende Teleplay would follow these a year later in 1979 with a stylish silver paint job.
Emulation
The Fairchild Channel F can be emulated with the MESS emulator.
There is also a homebrew community for the Channel F. Their wiki is located at VESWiki.com.
Affordibility
The Channel F is often overlooked, so usually prices aren’t too bad. (Between $30 and $50 on eBay depending on condition and packing included) The age of the console works against the buyer, however.
The Fairchild Channel F also doesn’t appear very often on auction sites, so finding it can be difficult. (2 systems listed on eBay at the time of this publication)
Note from racketboy: Special thanks goes to Ack for putting most of this guide together! The RetroGaming 101 series is aimed at gamers who are just starting out in the classic gaming scene or are curious about an older console that they don’t know much about yet.
Originally designed to be a peripheral for the Super Nintendo, Sony’s PlayStation brand would go on a steady climb through the late 1990s to dominate the market for two generations of games. But before it could get there, it would have to go toe to toe with the giants of the 16-bit era, Nintendo and Sega. The PlayStation, sometimes referred to as the PS, PS1, or even PSX, would also see an influx of gamers coming into the field while an older generation began looking for more mature titles. The little gray console would see one of the longest production runs in gaming history, running for over 11 years. Production would finally be halted on March 23, 2006.
Background Information
Originally named the SNES-CD, it was changed to “Sony Play Station” after Nintendo’s deal with Sony soured.
Nintendo dropped the original deal in 1991 after Hiroshi Yamauchi, then president of Nintendo, read the 1988 contract and discovered that Sony would practically have total control over all SNES-CD games.
In 1992, Sony and Nintendo worked out a new deal where the “Play Station” would have a slot for SNES cartridges and Nintendo would own the rights and receive the majority of profit, while Sony’s SPC700 audio chips would still be used for SNES carts. Sony then decided against the deal, changed the name to PlayStation, and dropped the SNES port.
Many third-party companies that were furious with Nintendo then abandoned the console developer and joined Sony, cementing their place on the market. The most notable of these would be Squaresoft.
The console launched in Japan on December 3, 1994, in America on September 9, 1995, Europe, September 29, 1995, and Australia and New Zealand, November 1995.
Historical Impact
The Playstation led the way in the transition from the cartridge format to the CD, though not the first to use CDs.
While memory carts were used on the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64, the PS1 would utilize memory cards via its controller ports, the Sony PlayStation would be the first to utilize the portable memory device effectively
Over 962 million PlayStation games have been sold worldwide.
Proved that third party support was absolutely key to a console’s success.
The general design of Sony’s PlayStation controller has also stayed similar in three generations, the longest of any game company.
Strengths
Featured the Geometry Transformation Engine, which would allow it to process on average 360,000 flat-shaded polygons per second, and 180,000 texture mapped and light-sourced polygons per second.
Could handle up to 16.7 million colors, with 24 bit color depth, resolutions ranging from 256×224 to 640×480, and up to 4000 8×8 pixel sprites at any time
The PlayStation controller, while featuring 8 buttons and a D-pad initially, saw one of the greatest upgrades in the Dual Shock, which featured two Dual Analog sticks built into it in places easily accessible by the thumbs.
Featured large amounts of 3rd party support, including the coveted Squaresoft.
The console was also remembered for its large number of adult-oriented games, such as the Resident Evil series, Silent Hill, Parasite Eve, and Dino Crisis. Nintendo was meanwhile forced to fend off an image as “kiddy.”
The Playstation has one of the most diverse game libraries in the history of the industry – the only console to surpass it was its successor, the Playstation 2.
Fans of Japanese RPGs, 2D scrolling shooters, and platformers will find a wealth of essential games in the PS1 library.
The Playstation is much easier to emulate accurately than both the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64.
Weaknesses
Could only display quickly moving polygons in lower resolutions. Textures also sometimes appeared grainy. The machine was designed with 3D graphics in mind, so 2D graphics had to be saved in as multiple polygon textures.
Games suffered from load times, and were less durable than the cartridges of previous eras. Cases are also fragile and have a tendency to crack.
First generation PlayStations had cases and moving parts for their lasers made out of plastic, which would eventually wear away from friction and heat. Eventually Sony would fix this by replacing these parts with metal ones.
Some early models, especially 100x models, would not run FMVs or streamed audio properly, leading to skipping or freezing. In a few extreme cases the machine would have to be turned over to work. Early consoles also suffered from some overheating problems.
There were many different models released, featuring various ports, S-video, A/V and direct connections. One model could even play Video CDs. The overall amount is a bit mind-boggling, and charts are best used to describe them
The Best Undiscovered Playstation Games – There are plenty of good PS1 games that most people haven’t tried yet. Check these games out to broaden your horizons.
The PS1’s 2D Shooter/Shmup Library – The PlayStation is one of the best consoles to own for fans of 2D shooters. This guide takes a look at pretty much every shmup in the PS1’s library.
Importing & Modifying
PlayStations are region locked, though some early models could play burned games and imports using the swap trick.
Modchips exist that require minimal soldering skills to use, though local and national laws should be considered before installation.
Other mods that require no use of soldering tools do exist, such as the Breaker Pro, though the quality of these devices is debatable.
Emulation
PlayStation 2 is backwards compatible, so PlayStation games will work on it along with Playstation memory cards and Dual Shock controllers.
All existing models of the Playstation 3 are also able to play PS1 games – even those that do not have support for PS2 games.
Emulators to play PlayStation games on the PC, such as ePSXe(including a Linux version), PCSX, PSXeven, and pSX. Tools also exist to emulate PlayStation titles on other formats, including the PSP and iPhone.
The PlayStation garnered considerable third party support for controller design, such as the EA Sports PlayStation Controller, the Namco neGCon Analog Controller, or the Performance Dual Impact Controller. The Namco JogCon is a particularly interesting design, a mixture of standard PlayStation controller and steering wheel.
Joysticks(including the Dual Sticks and ASCIIWARE Specialized Joystick), Dance Pads(such as the Konami Dance Pad), Racing Wheel, and an official Mouse and Mousepad(and a trackball mouse as well) were released for the PlayStation.
Stranger controllers, such as the Agetec Bass Landing Fishing Controller, Reality Quest Glove, Ultra Racer, and even the Naki Finger Dance Pad, were all manufactured for this console. Perhaps the oddest is the Beatmania controller, with five keyboard keys and a mini-turntable.
A wide selection of light guns were made available by such companies as Nyko and Mad Catz. Namco also manufactured and marketed their own light gun, the GunCon(G-Con if you live in Europe), though it only worked with Namco games. Auto-reload pedals were also sold.
Multi taps were manufactured, allowing games to have up to four players. Two multi taps could be combined to allow a maximum of eight players for the biggest games. Link cables were also manufactured to hook two PlayStations together.
A vast array of cheating and import materials, from Code Breakers to Game Sharks to Game Enhancers existed for the console, working via swap tricks, or even plugging into the parallel port found on the back. Some of these doubled as additional memory storage devices.
Other storage devices that used the printer port were available, as well as larger-sized memory cards from third party developers. Sony also released a special memory card, the Pocketstation, which had a variety of features. It could also unlock extra features in some games, and could transfer saves directly to other Pocketstations.
Additional memory storage included Interact’s Dex Drive, which allowed people to upload their saves from their memory cards onto their computers. The PlayStation was also compatible with Blaze Technology’s MPXchanger, as were the Pocketstations.
An official carrying case was also released for the console.
Variations in Hardware
The PlayStation had multiple hardware variations, often changing the type of ports. The SCPH-1000 had S-Video connections. Later models dropped the parallel port first, and then the serial port.
One model, the SCPH-5903, was the only model that could play Video CDs.
The SCPH-700x series standardized Dual Shock, and were released around the time the 10 millionth unit was sold. As a result, Sony released several of these in Midnight Blue.
The SCPH-5552 had an extremely rare Men in Black variant. The case was black and had the film’s logo on the top of its CD lid.
The SCPH-900x series introduced Sound Scope to the PlayStation, but removed the parallel port.
The PS One was a smaller, retooled version of the PlayStation. It lacked the parallel and serial ports, could play all PlayStation games, featured a different interface, and was designed to be very difficult to modchip. Sony also released an LCD screen and an adapter so the console could be used in a car. (See Pictures)
The Net Yaroze was a black PlayStation that featured many of the tools for game development, though not everything. It was also region free, but could not play burned games. Programming was also limited to 2MB of game space. (See Pictures)
Blue and green developer consoles can also be found on the market. They are virtually identical to other PlayStations, though they could play burned games. The difference in color represented the hardware they used: Blue for “Revision B,” green for “Revision C.”
Deciding Between Various PS1 Models
Unless S-Video is absolutely essential, look for a later model, like the 500x series. By that point most of the major hardware issues are fixed, such as the plastic laser pieces.
PSOnes offer portability due to the LCD screen and car adapter, but lack serial ports, so link cables do not work on them. They’re also difficult to mod.
900x series does not include the parallel port, making it incompatible with some of the peripherals, especially some larger memory storage devices. However, there are the only standard PS1 models with Sound Scope.
Dual Shock is standardized in the 700x series, so keep that in mind when selecting controllers!
Advantages PS1 Has Over a PS2
Because there is no reliance on an ejecting CD tray, the PlayStation tends to have a longer lifespan than the PS2.
Certain PlayStation games are not compatible with the PS2, or with specific models. A few will run but experience technical problems.
These games do not work at all: Fighter Maker, Judge Dredd, Monkey Hero, Poy Poy 2
Tobal 2 typically has trouble on the PS2, though may work on later PS2 models. The PAL version is apparently ok.
Final Fantasy V sometimes glitches while saving on PlayStation 2.
Mortal Kombat Trilogy only works on one model PS2, only when it’s the Greatest Hits copy. But even this version freezes when the player beats arcade mode.
PS2 3000X models have trouble running Legend of Dragoon, Lunar Silver Star Story, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete, Metal Gear Solid: Special Missions, and Final Fantasy Tactics
Some games including Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, Driver, and Syphon Filter 3 do not work on the PS2 Slim at all (see full list here) Since some of these are good games, it’s well worth it to pay the extra few bucks to use them.
Many of the peripherals for the PS1 do not work on the PS2, especially anything that used the parallel port.
Affordability
Because the console was basically replaced by a backwards compatible PlayStation 2, PlayStations generally sell for very cheap on eBay, usually less than $20.00. PS Ones can go for slightly more, depending on the peripherals. Developer and rare models can be much more expensive.
PlayStation games can range from dirt cheap to extremely expensive, depending on the rarity and quality of the game. The PlayStation has a large library that many people still have access to because of backwards compatibility on the PS2(and some models of PS3). Some games were also hyped a great deal, and suffer from artificially inflated prices.
