3 ms·

There is a lot of jellybean TTL chips on these that are easy to get still. But then there are chips like Pokey's that are no longer made. You either have to s

There is a lot of jellybean TTL chips on these that are easy to get still. But then there are chips like Pokey's that are no longer made. You either have to salvage one from somewhere [0] or get something like an FPGA repro [1]. But that isn't your biggest problem. These are vector games, so your real problem is sourcing the no-longer made vector monitor that is scarce, finicky, and driven by voltages that could kill you. And then there is all the associated high voltage bits like the flyback transformer. The other route to go is to vector mod a plain-jane CRT by rewinding the deflection coils [2]. [0] https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=atari+pokey+chip&Brand=&_dcat=175690 https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=atari+pokey+chip&Brand=&... [1] https://paradisearcadeshop.com/products/pokeyone-v2-fpga-atari-pokey-replacement https://paradisearcadeshop.com/products/pokeyone-v2-fpga-ata... [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci9qiGVMF7s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci9qiGVMF7s

dtx1 3y ago
I recently had the chance to play a Vectrex System in the Nationaal Videogame Museum in the Netherlands and I'm sad to say that modern display tech can't replace these Vector Displays. They have that certain analog vibe to them that you can't replicated with a digital screen no matter how good it is. Sadly, it's really unlikely that anyone is ever going to produce new CRTs again so I would highly suggest to visit your local retro arcades ASAP because these Displays will die and can never be replaced again.
- MegaDeKay 3y ago
  True, but apparently OLEDs get close. Haven't seen them in action though. BTW, I have a color vector machine called Space Duel. Kind of like a 3D color version of Asteroids with an amazing two player co-op mode that has two ships joined together with a short line segment. Each player can rotate and thrust separately. Where the pair of ships goes is the sum of where each ship is trying to go. Just so happens that Space Duel is convertible to Major Havoc as well.
  - dtx1 3y ago
    > True, but apparently OLEDs get close. Haven't seen them in action though. OLEDs get close in terms of response time, Input Lag and are straight up better in regards to contrast, black levels and color quality. But yo aren't getting the subtleties of a CRT like screen curvature, Scan Lines, etc...
    - MegaDeKay 3y ago
      Scan lines??? On a vector monitor???

dtx1 3y ago

I recently had the chance to play a Vectrex System in the Nationaal Videogame Museum in the Netherlands and I'm sad to say that modern display tech can't replace these Vector Displays. They have that certain analog vibe to them that you can't replicated with a digital screen no matter how good it is. Sadly, it's really unlikely that anyone is ever going to produce new CRTs again so I would highly suggest to visit your local retro arcades ASAP because these Displays will die and can never be replaced again.

MegaDeKay 3y ago
True, but apparently OLEDs get close. Haven't seen them in action though. BTW, I have a color vector machine called Space Duel. Kind of like a 3D color version of Asteroids with an amazing two player co-op mode that has two ships joined together with a short line segment. Each player can rotate and thrust separately. Where the pair of ships goes is the sum of where each ship is trying to go. Just so happens that Space Duel is convertible to Major Havoc as well.
- dtx1 3y ago
  > True, but apparently OLEDs get close. Haven't seen them in action though. OLEDs get close in terms of response time, Input Lag and are straight up better in regards to contrast, black levels and color quality. But yo aren't getting the subtleties of a CRT like screen curvature, Scan Lines, etc...
  - MegaDeKay 3y ago
    Scan lines??? On a vector monitor???