Vectrex - game console company General Consumer Electric (VECT)

52 games Vectrex
 
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Vectrex (VECT)

Vectrex - game console company General Consumer Electric

The Vectrex is an 8-bit game console developed by General Consumer Electric (GCE), later bought by the Milton Bradley Company. Vectrex is unique in that it is the only gaming system to use a vector graphics monitor; no other system, either before or since, has used a similar configuration. Vectrex has been sold to consumers since 1982 for $199; sales of the device ceased in 1984, during a downturn in the game console market.

Unlike most other game consoles that connect to a consumer TV to transmit a bitmap image (that is, game consoles), the Vectrex had its own built-in monitor that displayed vector graphics. The monitor was monochrome, but overlaid with a translucent colored film, different for each game, which gave the illusion of color, and also reduced the flickering effect inherent in vector monitors.

One game was built into the system - "MineStorm" (a similarity to the arcade game Asteroids), other games were supplied on cartridges.

Specifications:

  • Processor: Motorola 68A09 at 1.6 MHz
  • Memory: ROM - 8 KB, RAM - 1 KB
  • Sound: General Instruments AY-3-8912, built-in speaker
  • Monitor: monochrome Samsung 240RB40