This file contains the archives of the rec.games.vectrex NetNews group for the month of Dec-1994 (This date range is approximate as article dates are determined based on arrival time and not the date in the article header). The Vextrex archives, which include game code, technical specifications, the rec.games.vectrex archive and a host of additional information, is available at: ftp://ftp.csus.edu/pub/vectrex/ + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!uop!pacbell.com!well!barrnet.net!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!pipex!lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk!warwick!bham!med165.bham.ac.uk!user From: D.C.Chilton@bham.ac.uk (Derrick Chilton) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: What level? Followup-To: rec.games.vectrex Date: 30 Nov 1994 10:51:14 GMT Organization: University of Birmingham Lines: 22 Distribution: world Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: med165.bham.ac.uk In article , i8852749@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (richard wolber) wrote: > > I have a question. What is the highest level anyone has atained on > minestorm? Another question- does it ever end? I've been playing it > off 'n on for years and have never gotten past level 37 or so. If so > what does the end look like? I gotta know!!!!!!!!!!!! > > Poke > > P.S. This is a really cool newsgroup for those who know! The highest level is 256, it then goes back to level 1. Level 256 if i remember was 4 Magnetic Fireball mines. The score i got was in the 6,000,000 region and took over 5 hours, a pause button was badly needed. Derrick Chilton at D.C.Chilton@bham.ac.uk "A Clash of Steel, a Blinding Light Is this the Start of Chaos Fight" Brock + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!uop!lll-winken.llnl.gov!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!warwick!bham!med165.bham.ac.uk!user From: D.C.Chilton@bham.ac.uk (Derrick Chilton) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Game Compatability Followup-To: rec.games.vectrex Date: 30 Nov 1994 11:57:29 GMT Organization: University of Birmingham Lines: 9 Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: med165.bham.ac.uk Hi does any know of any problems running carts fromm overseas, ie will Brtish Vectrex play U.S carts, and will U.S Vectrex run British carts Any answers will be greatly appreciated. Derrick Chilton at D.C.Chilton@bham.ac.uk "A Clash of Steel, a Blinding Light Is this the Start of Chaos Fight" Brock + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!decwrl!ames!night.primate.wisc.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!swiss.ans.net!prodigy.com!usenet From: APDF35D@prodigy.com (CLINT DYER ) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Game Compatability Date: 1 Dec 1994 07:56:55 GMT Organization: Prodigy Services Company 1-800-PRODIGY Lines: 9 Distribution: world Message-ID: <3bjvk7$ee2@usenetw1.news.prodigy.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: inugap4.news.prodigy.com X-Newsreader: Version 1.2 >Hi does any know of any problems running carts fromm overseas, ie will >Brtish Vectrex play U.S carts, and will U.S Vectrex run British carts >Any answers will be greatly appreciated. Hey! I just got 2 games from the UK (they have bigger instruction manuals (with foreign languages in them), but the carts seem to be the same) and they work fine on my system! Just thought I'd let you know. Clint + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!uop!lll-winken.llnl.gov!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!sequent!muncher.sequent.com!moo From: moo@sequent.com (Frank Branham) Subject: Re: Dark Tower Message-ID: <1994Dec1.002138.10537@sequent.com> Keywords: dark tower Sender: usenet@sequent.com (usenet ) Nntp-Posting-Host: sequent.sequent.com Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc. References: <3bde8q$igl@milo.mcs.anl.gov> Date: Thu, 1 Dec 94 00:21:38 GMT Lines: 12 Wow!! I was starting to think that Dark Tower was a rumor. Did this really make it into production? The 12K cartridge poses some problems, and we'll probably just have to duplicate the cartridge pinout to reproduce the puppy. btw, how did the owner come by the cartridge? I've always suspected that there was a crate of Dark Tower cartrigdes sitting around in an warehouse somewhere covered in dust. Moo Frank Branham + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!EU.net!sun4nl!ruuinf!ruu.nl!zeist From: zeist@serc.nl (Bob van Zeist) Subject: Re: Game Compatability Message-ID: <1994Dec1.084906.20117@cc.ruu.nl> Sender: usenet@cc.ruu.nl Organization: Software Engineering Research Centre - Netherlands X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] References: Date: Thu, 1 Dec 1994 08:49:06 GMT Lines: 22 Derrick Chilton (D.C.Chilton@bham.ac.uk) wrote: : Hi does any know of any problems running carts fromm overseas, ie will : Brtish Vectrex play U.S carts, and will U.S Vectrex run British carts No garantees here, but I once traded a Vectrex game that worked on my European version (are there distinct versions of the console, or is it just the power supply that's different 110 vs. 220 Volts?) for a cart that worked on a U.S. system. Works great! There are no special marks on the cart to indicate if they are for other Vectrex systems. So I wouldn't expect any problems. Hope this is of any help. Greetings, Bob. ============================================================================== Name : Bob van Zeist | SERC (Software Engineering Research Centre) E-mail: zeist@serc.nl | P.O. Box 424, 3500 AK Utrecht, The Netherlands WWW : http://www.serc.nl | Tel: +31-30-545412, Fax: +31-30-545948 ============================================================================== + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!swrinde!pipex!uunet!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsbf01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: jimofoz@aol.com (Jim of oz) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Amazing Date: 2 Dec 1994 22:40:20 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 6 Sender: news@newsbf01.news.aol.com Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3bopb4$m92@newsbf01.news.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf01.news.aol.com Here I've had my Vectrex sitting in its box (still have receipt for $117 back in 83) and I find this topic. I pulled it and 15 cartridges out and YES, it still buzzes (and now I know why) and still works well. Take that you nasty nefarious needle-like Nardoz. Jim Kajpust + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!nott!bcarh189.bnr.ca!bcarh8ac.bnr.ca!corpgate!crchh327.bnr.ca!woodcock From: woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 3 Dec 1994 03:30:43 GMT Organization: Bell-Northern Research; Richardson, Texas, USA Lines: 17 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3bofgm$a3q@magicnet.magicnet.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: crchh75b.bnr.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Jon R. Taylor (jtaylor@magicnet.net) wrote: > In <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca>, woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) writes: > >OK, I finished ALL of the upgrade procedures (even the 2 that Mark > Will any other _new_ multicarts be made? I would like to buy a few. Yes, I have licensed the multicart technology from Mark and will be revising it to incorporate some newly discovered games (yes; there is more than just Dark Tower coming but the games are on disk and the funky computer that runs them doesn't have a monitor). That being the case, I will not be going into production for probably another year (hey; I've got a REAL life). -- THANX...Gregg day 214.684.7380 night UNLIST/PUBL TEXAS NOT CANADA! woodcock@bnr.ca or woodcock@nt.com or bn202@cleveland.freenet.edu *CLASSIC VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR BUY/SELL/TRADE NON-COMPUTER (ARCADE/HOME)* "If you quote me on this I'll have to deny it; I won't remember because I have such a bad memory. Not only that, but my memory is *terrible*." + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!xnet!quake.xnet.com!bbs!skelly From: skelly@bbs.xnet.com (Sean Kelly) Message-ID: Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> Date: 3 Dec 94 01:53:10 CST Organization: XNet Public Access Internet, Naperville, IL (708-983-6435) Lines: 12 >at random. I am going to pack them up this weekend and I will post >who the lucky random selections are then. This kind of cracks me up. People that have been waiting as long as a year and a half are finally getting what they paid for and they're considered "LUCKY"?? I'd really hate to see how an unlucky person would be treated! I realize this has nothing to do with you Gregg and it's not your fault. If you didn't pick up where the other dude left off, who knows when these people would get their carts... Sean Kelly skelly@bbs.xnet.com + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: overlays From: david.shadoff@canrem.com (David Shadoff) Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!torn!uunet.ca!uunet.ca!portnoy!canrem.com!david.shadoff Distribution: world Message-ID: <60.2360.4196.0N1C19B9@canrem.com> Date: Thu, 1 Dec 94 23:44:00 -0500 Organization: CRS Online (Toronto, Ontario) Lines: 14 When I last went browsing in the Vectrex archives, I found a scanned version of one game's overlay (good quality scan, I might add). I converted the image to postscript and printed it on a Tektronix color wax thermal transfer printer, and it looks good (too bad, they didn't have any overhead transparencies at the time). Has anyone done scans for any of the other games' overlays ? - Dave /===================================================================\ | David Shadoff | Usenet: david.shadoff@canrem.com | \===================================================================/ --- * DeLuxe2 1.21 #7291 * IBM a technology stock ? Interesting concept. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu!quip.eecs.umich.edu!dmuntz From: dmuntz@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Dan Muntz) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 3 Dec 1994 06:14:00 GMT Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept. Lines: 3 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3bp2b8$mll@zip.eecs.umich.edu> References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3bofgm$a3q@magicnet.magicnet.net> <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: quip.eecs.umich.edu Will the binaries be made available for ftp in the interim? -Dan + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!decwrl!olivea!nntp.msstate.edu!gatech!swrinde!pipex!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower Date: 4 Dec 1994 00:02:58 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 21 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3br0vi$5cu@sundog.tiac.net> References: <3bde8q$igl@milo.mcs.anl.gov> <1994Dec1.002138.10537@sequent.com> <3bm2mq$5oo@sundog.tiac.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Sean Kelly (skelly@bbs.xnet.com) wrote: : It can access 32k and you're absolutely right in wondering what the hell they : did it that way for. One problem that I have encountered is in one of the : address lines (or what is listed as an address line in the service manual) : acting wierd. But they should have been able to put it on one chip - I really : don't understand why they did it this way... Well, like the guy said, he doesn't know whether it is banking or just doing address decoding. It might still be linear. In 1984, it might still have made sense to use multiple lower capacity chips instead of one larger capacity chip. For instance, in 1982 they used 2 OS ROMs on the 1200XL operating system. Both 8K, but a lot of wasted room on the 2nd. It's still linear. The previous one on the 800 uses 4 chips I think. One for Ataribasic, 2 for the OS, and 1 for the floating point package. The real XL/XEs use single 16K ROMs. You can see the trend. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!crl.dec.com!caen!usenet.coe.montana.edu!netnews.nwnet.net!serval.net.wsu.edu!wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu!i8852749 From: i8852749@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (???) Subject: Just a test, Ignore... Message-ID: Sender: news@serval.net.wsu.edu (News) Organization: Washington State University X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4 Date: Sun, 4 Dec 1994 07:56:11 GMT Lines: 3 Just a test, ignore this. I need to see if something's wrong w/ my account. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!rjung From: rjung@netcom.com (Robert A. Jung) Subject: Re: Multicart update... Message-ID: Organization: Southern California Lynx Enthusiasts References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3bofgm$a3q@magicnet.magicnet.net> <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 01:22:17 GMT Lines: 25 In article <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) writes: >Yes, I have licensed the multicart technology from Mark and will be >revising it to incorporate some newly discovered games (yes; there is >more than just Dark Tower coming but the games are on disk and the >funky computer that runs them doesn't have a monitor). That being the >case, I will not be going into production for probably another year Gee, this is a bit depressing. Those of us who ordered Mark's Multicart have waited god-knows-how-long for it, and now it sounds like, when they'll finally arrive, we'll get the satisfaction of knowing that there are more games out there, that will require another Multicart purchase and another god-knows-how-long wait if we really want to get 'em. This is not meant as a flame to either you or Mark; it's just that, as a Vectrex owner who'd love to have a complete collection of games, it feels like an impossible task... --R.J. B-) //////////////////////////////////////|\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Send whatevers to rjung@netcom.com | If it has pixels, I'm for it. --------------------------------------+------------------------------Lynx up! "You weren't chosen because you are the best pilot in the Air Force. You were chosen because you are the class clown and frankly, you're expendable." + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!xnet!quake.xnet.com!bbs!skelly From: skelly@bbs.xnet.com (Sean Kelly) Message-ID: Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower References: <3bde8q$igl@milo.mcs.anl.gov> <1994Dec1.002138.10537@sequent.com> <3bm2mq$5oo@sundog.tiac.net> <3bo63t$e5l@umd5.umd.edu> <3bofjj$a3q@magicnet.magicnet.net> Date: 5 Dec 94 00:02:16 CST Organization: XNet Public Access Internet, Naperville, IL (708-983-6435) Lines: 22 jtaylor@magicnet.net (Jon R. Taylor) writes: >In <3bo63t$e5l@umd5.umd.edu>, fcawth@jjarray.umd.edu (Fred Cawthorne) writes: >>That extra chip he mentioned is probably just for address decoding. The >>extra 4K rom does need to get selected somehow... Hopefully, it is just >>linearly mapped. Maybe someone near this guy could make a little >>vectrex cart. socket and plug it into his eprom reader and read in the whole >>64K address space. I'm sure we can sort it all out after the fact. > >Is their any chance that other 4k chip is actually an EEPROM? If I remember >correctly, Dark Tower was _supposed_ to have a save-game feature. >Anyone else remember? > Hmmmm....that's an interesting thought. From the numbers on the smaller chip, it's a 2532 EPROM. I don't believe their is a pin-compatible 2532 EEPROM although I could be wrong. The EEPROM version of a similar device is the 2832 which is pin-compatible with the 2732 which is slightly different than the 2532. Yikes!!! That doesn't even make sense to ME!! Sean Kelly skelly@bbs.xnet.com + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!nott!nbkanata!newshost.newbridge.com!woodward From: woodward@Newbridge.COM (Mark Woodward) Subject: Re: Multicart update... Message-ID: Sender: usenet@Newbridge.COM Organization: Newbridge Networks Corporation References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3bofgm$a3q@magicnet.magicnet.net> <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 13:13:53 GMT Lines: 36 In article , Robert A. Jung wrote: > > Gee, this is a bit depressing. Those of us who ordered Mark's Multicart >have waited god-knows-how-long for it, and now it sounds like, when they'll >finally arrive, we'll get the satisfaction of knowing that there are more >games out there, that will require another Multicart purchase and another >god-knows-how-long wait if we really want to get 'em. > > This is not meant as a flame to either you or Mark; it's just that, as a >Vectrex owner who'd love to have a complete collection of games, it feels >like an impossible task... > I understand what you are saying. I can not speak for Gregg but I might be persuaded to reprogram the multicart eprom to include newly found games. However because of my lack of forsight I did'nt put the eprom in a socket so I'd have to have the whole thing to pull the eprom out (unless someone you know could do it and just send me the eprom). The problem is with the 12K Dark Tower cart, the current multicart only knows about 8K blocks the second rev will be able to handle this. I'll try and make it backwards compatable so the fix can be applied to the first rev carts but I'm not promising :> With the 2M eprom you'll lose the two hacked minestorms for the two new games but the board will support a 4M eprom (at least I thought of that) for up to 32 more games. If anyone who has a multicart from me already and wants an upgrade get in touch with me. The deal is you cover postage both ways and the chance the eprom might get damaged while desoldering (slim but still a chance) and I'll do it. Mark -- Mark C.R Woodward woodward@newbridge.com Relax, Dont worry... Load up Linux Real computers dont run MS-DOS + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!swiss.ans.net!jabba.cybernetics.net!jav From: jav@cybernetics.net () Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 5 Dec 1994 04:42:55 GMT Organization: Cybernetx, Inc. Lines: 14 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3bu5of$53d@jabba.cybernetics.net> References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3bto5q$34f@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: server0.cybernetics.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Gregg Woodcock (woodcock@bnr.ca) wrote: : Gregg Woodcock (woodcock@bnr.ca) wrote: : > OK, I finished ALL of the upgrade procedures (even the 2 that Mark : > forgot about until I mentioned that none of the carts worked) but : > there is a problem; only *4* out of the 15 carts I upgraded actually : > work properly. : New update; the latching problem is solved and all but *3* of the : carts work (i.e. 12 of them). I will be sending them out early next : week... For us who came in late, what does this upgrade do? + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: A couple of repair/diagnostic questions Message-ID: <5DEC199416182810@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 15:18:00 GMT Lines: 25 Hi.... I spent most of friday evening making ARD's trivial dual-cart (more details in another posting - basically it's a way to use a 2764 EPROM with a vectrex without ripping apart a cartridge and without etching a PCB), and one of the things I burnt into the EPROM was the test cartridge. Now, I have a couple of questions. a) The checksum of my system ROM is not the same as the one given in the service manual. I have a UK Milton-Bradley vectrex. Is there a problem with my unit (It seems to work fine). b) The focus of my unit is not as good as I would have hoped. Maybe I am just used to Tektronix,DEC and HP vector units :-). Anyway, there's no focus control that I can find. Does this mean that the EHT needs adjusting? (I have a good 'scope and an EHT meter), or is the focus always not that good? -tony -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: How do the lightpen and 3D imager work? Message-ID: <5DEC199416210641@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 15:21:00 GMT Lines: 15 Having obtained a vectrex, my next problem is to make as many of the add-ons as possible. So, can anyone tell me (or give me a pointer to) the theory of operation of the light pen (I assume it's a phototransistor feeding one of the joystick switch inputs - but which one), and the 3D imager (I know it's a motor driving a spinning disk. Presumably there's a sync pulse/index pulse from the disk fed into a joystick switch input - but which one?). Thanks in advance. -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!names.maricopa.edu!genesis.mc.maricopa.edu!ken From: ken@genesis.mc.maricopa.edu (ken kuhns) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Vectrex games on disk.. Date: 5 Dec 1994 16:34:38 GMT Organization: Maricopa Community Colleges Lines: 19 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3bvfeu$3po@names.maricopa.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: genesis.mc.maricopa.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] I remember a couple of months ago I saw an article posted on this group by someone (whose name I can't remember) who said he had a bunch of Vectrex games saved on those old 8" floppy disks. He also said that someone stole his 8" floppy drive. About 1 week ago, I saw one of these drives at a local thrift store. I don't know who manufactured it, and I can't remember how much they wanted for it, but if there is any interest shown in it, I'll go pick it up and ship it out for the cost of the drive +shipping... -- +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Ken Kuhns Computer Maintenance Assistant, Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ| +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | ken@genesis.mc.maricopa.edu I know I should say no, but | | kuhns@mc.maricopa.edu it's kind of hard when she's | | kkuhns@next.mc.maricopa.edu ready to go. --Offspring | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **** The opinions expressed in this message are not those of the **** | | **** Maricopa Community College District or its employees. **** | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: ARD's trivial dual-cart Message-ID: <5DEC199416472747@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 15:47:00 GMT Lines: 123 Here's how to build a vectrex cartridge with no PCB etching. The main problem is to find something that will fit into the vectrex's cartridge slot. I have found that home etching of edge connectors is difficult as you can't gold-plate them, so I looked around for something ready-made. In one of my many junk boxes I found a 34 pin edge-connector - header socket adaptor that was designed to allow you to use a 3.5" drive with an old-style cable. Since my PC had both types of connector, I hadn't used the adaptor whjen I put the drive in. The nice thing was that all 34 pins were separate - the pins that would have been grounded in the original application were not linked together. Anyway, here's what you need 1 34 pin edge connector to header socket adaptor. All 34 pins must be separate. 1 28 pin wire-wrap DIL socket 1 2764 EPROM programmed with the 2 4K games of your choice 1 piece of 0.1" stripboard (veroboard), 16 strips by about 1 " 1 10k resistor. 1 3 pin 0.1" header plug and 1 2 position shorting link (like you use to select addresses/IRQs on PC cards) Wire, solder, etc. Now, here's how to make it 1) Bend pins 15-28 on the IC socket through 90 degrees, so they stick out horizontally from the side of the socket. 2) cut pin 28 down, rotate it round, and solder it to pin 27 alongside it. 3) Insert pins 27-15 into the top left holes of the edge connector adaptor. When the unit is finally assembled, pin 27 will connect to pin 2 of the vectrex's edge connector (top front) 4) Place the piece of stripboard over the remaining 14 pins from the IC socket, copper strips upwards Press down well. The edge of the stripboard should but against the adaptor. IC socket | V ________ stripboard |--|___| | | ----| | | V ----| |--------------- |--|--+ + ^ ^ ^ ^ | | | | | | | pins 1-14 soldered to stripboard | | Pin soldered to stripboard | Off-cut pin making connection to header socket edge-connector - header adaptor 5) Solder pins 1 and 14 to the stripboard. 6) Cut off the 14 pins from the IC socket about 1.5mm above the stripboard. Keep the offcuts 7) Insert the offcuts into the lower row of holes in the adaptor corresponding to the IC socket pins 3-14. 8) Solder the off-cut pins in place. Also solder the remaining IC socket pins to the stripboard. 9) Use a piece of wire to link the top strip on the stripboard (IC pin 1) to pin 27,28. 10) Connect the 10k resistor between pin 1 and 2 on the IC socket. It can stand vertically alongside the socket 1 28 + o o + = 10k resistor (standing vertically) *| o o -> adaptor * | o o | o o * = 3 pin header plug | o o * | o o * | o o | o o | o o | o o | o o | o o | o o *| o o *| * 11) Fit the 3 pin header plug so that the top pin connects to pin 14 of the socket. The other 2 pins should be unconnected. 12) Use a wire link (| in the above diagram) to link the middle pin on the header plug to pin 2 on the IC socket. 13) Check your work. Make sure there are no shorts or solder bridges. 14) Turn off the vectrex. Plug it into the socket as far forward as possible. The rear 2 vectrex pins are not used. 15) Turn on the vectrex. Check that minestorm runs normally 16) Turn off the vectrex, remove the unit, fit the EPROM. Pin 1 is towards the front of the unit when it's in use 17) Plug it in again. Turn on. The second game (addresses 1000-1FFF) should now run. 18) To select the first game, fit a link on the header plug between the front 2 pins (effectivly linking pin 2 to pin 14). Store the link on the rear 2 pins to select the second game. -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!uop!pacbell.com!well!barrnet.net!agate!spool.mu.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu!quip.eecs.umich.edu!dmuntz From: dmuntz@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Dan Muntz) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 5 Dec 1994 15:28:22 GMT Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept. Lines: 11 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3bvbim$626@zip.eecs.umich.edu> References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: quip.eecs.umich.edu In article , Mark Woodward wrote: #If anyone who has a multicart from me already and wants an upgrade get in touch #with me. The deal is you cover postage both ways and the chance the eprom might #get damaged while desoldering (slim but still a chance) and I'll do it. Will these new games be added to the vectrex archives so those of us with EPROM programmers can play them? -Dan + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!newsfeed.ksu.ksu.edu!cis.ksu.edu!mac From: mac@cis.ksu.edu (Myron A. Calhoun) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: List of Carts Date: 5 Dec 94 19:48:56 GMT Organization: Kansas State University Lines: 110 Distribution: inet Message-ID: References: <3btrml$3sm@jabba.cybernetics.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: depot.cis.ksu.edu X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.0 #5 (NOV) jav@cybernetics.net () writes: >Anyone have a list of the carts made for this machine. >I have about 18 of them I may wish to sell. Here is something I saved a long time ago: ------------ cut here ------------ cut here ------------ cut here ------------ From: dean@eoin.infoserv.com (dean dierschow) Date: 2 Feb 92 05:31:03 GMT Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Wanted : Star Castle >... does anyone have a complete list of all games ever made for the Vectrex?.. This is a list from a newsletter I subscribe to. It may or may not be accurate. The information is credited to Al Backiel. ROM RAM 8k 2k AnimAction (for light pen) 4k Armor..Attack 4k Art Master (for light pen) 4K Bedlam 4k Berzerk 8k Blitz! 4k Clean Sweep 4k Cosmic Chasm 8k Crazy Coaster (for 3-D imager, with color wheel) 8K Fortress of Narzod 8k Heads-Up Soccer 4k Hyperchase 8k Melody Master (for light pen) 4k Mine Storm (internal to console) 8k Mine Storm (for 3-D imager, with color wheel) ?? Mine Storm II 8k Narrow Escape (for 3-D imager, with color wheel) 8K Polar Rescue 8K Pole Position 4k Rip Off 4k Scramble 4k Solar Quest 4K Space Wars (Supposedly has some strange bugs; once found, there are whole new game strategies :) 8K Spike 8K Spinball 4K Star Castle 4k Starhawk 4k Star Trek 8K Web Wars Accessories ----------- Light Pen 3-D Imager "Control Panels" Owner's Manual Service Manual The following games and accessories were planned but never released =================================================================== Cartridges ---------- Art Master II Art Master III Art Master IV Basic Science Create-A-Game/Maze Dark Tower Exploring the Solar System Flipout Mail Plane Pitcher's Duel Pole Position (for 3-D imager) Power Trip Sock It Tour de France Accessories ----------- Touch-Sensitive Screen Carrying case Computer Adaptor with BASIC Computer Keyboard Printer Disk Driver/Wafer Tape Drive Modem Computer Software: Create Your Own Video Game Music Maestro Art Program in LOGO Basic Science Solar System Word Processing =========== From: plucas+@andrew.cmu.edu (Peter Lucas) Date: 5 Feb 92 04:36:26 GMT I have original copies of all of the games in the "released" list posted by Dean Dierschow, so I can confirm that they all exist.... ------------ cut here ------------ cut here ------------ cut here ------------ --Myron. -- # Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, jury, witness, and cartridge. # Myron A. Calhoun, PhD EE; Assoc. Prof. (913) 532-6350 work, 532-7353 fax # Amateur packet radio: W0PBV@N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NOAM 539-4448 home # NRA Life Member and Certified Instructor (Home Firearm Safety, Rifle, Pistol) + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Dark Tower Message-ID: <5DEC199421384839@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3bde8q$igl@milo.mcs.anl.gov> <1994Dec1.002138.10537@sequent.com> <3bm2mq$5oo@sundog.tiac.net> Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 20:38:00 GMT Lines: 35 In article , skelly@bbs.xnet.com (Sean Kelly) writes... >krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) writes: > >>Frank Branham (moo@sequent.com) wrote: >>Let me get this straight, the 12K cart banks instead of being linear? I >>thought the Vextrex cart port could address 32K linearly. Banking seems >>like a waste of time. >> >> >> > >It can access 32k and you're absolutely right in wondering what the hell they >did it that way for. One problem that I have encountered is in one of the >address lines (or what is listed as an address line in the service manual) I thought (based on my hacking about inside) that A0-A14 were directly connected between the 68A09 and the cartridge socket. Oh, there may be series terminating resistors. Are we sure this thing is banked. Remember hte 14K ROM in the TRS-80 model 3 was 3 chips - a 8K, a 4K, and a 2K. Maybe somebode could post the markings that appear on the chips in this cartridge. We know that there seem to be 2 ROMs (or maybe RAM/EEPROM/whatever). What elses is there? I could probably make a guess as to the functions based on the numbers... >Sean Kelly >skelly@bbs.xnet.com -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!nott!nbkanata!woodward From: woodward@Newbridge.COM (Mark Woodward) Subject: Re: ARD's trivial dual-cart Message-ID: Sender: usenet@Newbridge.COM Organization: Newbridge Networks Corporation References: <5DEC199416472747@siva.bris.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 21:44:04 GMT Lines: 26 I think Radio Shack sells a small board that has an edge connector on one side and perf board on the other. You might have to trim the edge connector to fit in the vectrex but it should work. You can take this design one step further and use a 2M EPROM and 5 jumpers. Program the eprom with all the games on 8K boundaries and connect the 5 high [A14-A15] order addresses to 5 jumpers (one per jumper). Next connect the other side of the jumers together and then to ground. Lastly wire 5 4.7K resistors (1K - 10K will do) one to each address line then to +5V. ie... {X 5} +5V | [ ] 4.7K | A14--------0 0----- GND Now all you have to do is jumper the binary number of the game you want and you can access 32 games. However you dont get a menu.... :> -- Mark C.R Woodward woodward@newbridge.com Relax, Dont worry... Load up Linux Real computers dont run MS-DOS + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!milo.mcs.anl.gov!hera!hoffberg From: hoffberg@hera.aps.anl.gov (Mike Hoffberg) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower Date: 6 Dec 1994 01:39:35 GMT Organization: Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago Illinois Lines: 27 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3c0fcn$fs9@milo.mcs.anl.gov> References: <3bm2mq$5oo@sundog.tiac.net> <5DEC199421384839@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: hera.aps.anl.gov In article <5DEC199421384839@siva.bris.ac.uk> ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) writes: >In article , skelly@bbs.xnet.com (Sean Kelly) writes... >>krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) writes: >> >>>Frank Branham (moo@sequent.com) wrote: >>>Let me get this straight, the 12K cart banks instead of being linear? I >>>thought the Vextrex cart port could address 32K linearly. Banking seems >>>like a waste of time. >Maybe somebode could post the markings that appear on the chips in this >cartridge. We know that there seem to be 2 ROMs (or maybe RAM/EEPROM/whatever). >What elses is there? I could probably make a guess as to the functions based on >the numbers... > I thought I did this once... HN462532G (Hitachi) - 2532 TMS2564JL-45 (TI) - 2564 MIKE -- Michael Hoffberg /.\ "Surprisingly tender and tasted hoffberg@phebos.aps.anl.gov // \\ Argonne somewhat like chicken." mike@anl.gov //_O_\\ National Standard Disclaimer Applies /__| |__\ Lab Boola! Boola! + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!swiss.ans.net!jabba.cybernetics.net!jav From: jav@cybernetics.net () Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Umm I meant SPINBALL not PINBALL Date: 6 Dec 1994 01:40:22 GMT Organization: Cybernetx, Inc. Lines: 8 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3c0fe6$brn@jabba.cybernetics.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: server0.cybernetics.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Opps did I say I had PINBALL I meant SPINBALL heheheh (REMOVING FOOT FROM MOUTH) + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!news.cs.utah.edu!asylum.cs.utah.edu!galt From: galt@asylum.cs.utah.edu (Greg Alt) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 5 Dec 1994 23:24:04 GMT Organization: University of Utah Computer Science Lines: 14 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3c07ek$mee@magus.cs.utah.edu> References: <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: asylum.cs.utah.edu In article woodward@Newbridge.COM (Mark Woodward) writes: >However because of my lack of forsight I did'nt put the eprom in a socket >so I'd have to have the whole thing to pull the eprom out (unless someone I suppose this is the one main lesson to learn from the multi-cart experience. It sounds like much of the problem was that the EPROMS weren't in sockets. I know that in the future, I will always use sockets for my EPROMS. Even if it seems like there will be no reason to ever take the EPROM out, there just might be some bug in the design that will require it later (or you might want to reprogram the EPROM). Well, I guess you learn from your mistakes, and we get to learn also... Greg + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!wupost!math.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!nott!bcarh189.bnr.ca!bcarh8ac.bnr.ca!corpgate!crchh327.bnr.ca!woodcock From: woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Last bacth of Woodward multicart recipients... Date: 8 Dec 1994 15:22:42 GMT Organization: Bell-Northern Research; Richardson, Texas, USA Lines: 45 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3c78c2$mhr@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: crchh75b.bnr.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] OK, here are the people listed to receive the remaining Vectrex multicarts. These 5 guys' carts have already been mailed since I was mailing other stuff to them anyway. Jerry G Fred Horvat Russ Perry Jr. Bill Zandrew These 6 guys' carts will be mailed today and were selected randomly from the remaining people. Greg Alt Pete Ashdown M. Hoffberg Robert Jung Gary Lake Richard Woan These 4 guys' carts still have problems even though the upgrades are finished. I am debugging them now and they should still arrive before Christmas. Matthew Archambeau John Daniels (No RAM) Michael Packard Marshall Ramsey If your name is not in this list and you sent money to Mark Woodward, CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY but do not contact me since I have nothing to do with it; he provided me with the above names/addresses and the unfinished carts. If you want to get on the waiting list for the next batch (no deposit required at this point) then email me back with your name, address, and telephone number and I will contact you when the time is right. -- THANX...Gregg day 214.684.7380 night UNLIST/PUBL TEXAS NOT CANADA! woodcock@bnr.ca or woodcock@nt.com or bn202@cleveland.freenet.edu *CLASSIC VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR BUY/SELL/TRADE NON-COMPUTER (ARCADE/HOME)* "If you quote me on this I'll have to deny it; I won't remember because I have such a bad memory. Not only that, but my memory is *terrible*." + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: ARD's trivial dual-cart Message-ID: <6DEC199410122010@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <5DEC199416472747@siva.bris.ac.uk> Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 09:12:00 GMT Lines: 34 In article , woodward@Newbridge.COM (Mark Woodward) writes... > >I think Radio Shack sells a small board that has an edge connector on one side >and perf board on the other. You might have to trim the edge connector to I looked for that, but it seems it is no longer available in the UK. Places like RS components (Electromail) and Farnell almost certainly sell something that would do (e.g. double-sided 43 pin old-style plug-in cards), but I wanted to try out the test ROM quickly >fit in the vectrex but it should work. >You can take this design one step further and use a 2M EPROM and 5 jumpers. Again, yes, of course. I wanted to make the test ROM on its own, so I could check the video alignment. I then found 27C64's were a lot cheaper than 2732's, so the choice was obvious. A full multi-cart, and maybe a PC-hosted developement system are somewhere on my to-do list :-) >Program the eprom with all the games on 8K boundaries and connect the 5 high >[A14-A15] order addresses to 5 jumpers (one per jumper). Next connect the other >side of the jumers together and then to ground. Lastly wire 5 4.7K resistors >(1K - 10K will do) one to each address line then to +5V. ie... {X 5} In my design you could use 1k-10k (or maybe even a bit higher) resistors. 10k was the first think I found in the junk box. >-- > Mark C.R Woodward woodward@newbridge.com -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: List of Carts Message-ID: <6DEC199410142169@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3btrml$3sm@jabba.cybernetics.net> Distribution: inet Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 09:14:00 GMT Lines: 19 In article , mac@cis.ksu.edu (Myron A. Calhoun) writes... >This is a list from a newsletter I subscribe to. It may or may not be >accurate. The information is credited to Al Backiel. [...] I'm not sure if it was ever released to the public (I guess not), but there was a test/diagnostic cartridge. It was 4k. >4k Star Trek 4k Test ROM >8K Web Wars >--Myron. -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!pipex!bnr.co.uk!corpgate!crchh327.bnr.ca!woodcock From: woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 5 Dec 1994 15:35:37 GMT Organization: Bell-Northern Research; Richardson, Texas, USA Lines: 24 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3bvc09$aar@crchh327.bnr.ca> References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3bto5q$34f@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3bu5of$53d@jabba.cybernetics.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: crchh75b.bnr.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] jav@cybernetics.net wrote: > Gregg Woodcock (woodcock@bnr.ca) wrote: > : Gregg Woodcock (woodcock@bnr.ca) wrote: > : > OK, I finished ALL of the upgrade procedures (even the 2 that Mark > : > forgot about until I mentioned that none of the carts worked) but > : > there is a problem; only *4* out of the 15 carts I upgraded actually > : > work properly. > : New update; the latching problem is solved and all but *3* of the > : carts work (i.e. 12 of them). I will be sending them out early next > : week... > For us who came in late, what does this upgrade do? It is an update of the original (flawed) design to get it to work with US made machines which have a slightly different HW setup than most other market's versions of the Vectrex. You don't "get" anything other than a (hopefully) working cart! -- THANX...Gregg day 214.684.7380 night UNLIST/PUBL TEXAS NOT CANADA! woodcock@bnr.ca or woodcock@nt.com or bn202@cleveland.freenet.edu *CLASSIC VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR BUY/SELL/TRADE NON-COMPUTER (ARCADE/HOME)* "If you quote me on this I'll have to deny it; I won't remember because I have such a bad memory. Not only that, but my memory is *terrible*." + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.moneng.mei.com!uwm.edu!reuter.cse.ogi.edu!hp-cv!hp-pcd!hpcvusn!fred From: fred@cv.hp.com (Fred Taft) Subject: 3-D Goggle Information Sender: news@hpcvusn.cv.hp.com (/usr/spool/news) Message-ID: Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 17:29:04 GMT Nntp-Posting-Host: hpcvusd.cv.hp.com Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Lines: 12 I am in the process of reverse-engineering the code for Narrow Escape; I'm about 85% of the way through it. It's pretty interesting seeing what they did. Too bad we don't have any documents describing the general algorithms used to produce 3-D visuals. Does anyone have such a document? Has anyone taken the time to document the 3-D goggle hardware (i.e. a schematic)? If so, I would be really interested in seeing the information. Thanks! Fred Taft fred@hpcvusc.cv.hp.com + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Dark Tower Message-ID: <6DEC199420452826@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3bm2mq$5oo@sundog.tiac.net> <5DEC199421384839@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3c0fcn$fs9@milo.mcs.anl.gov> Distribution: inet Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 19:45:00 GMT Lines: 53 In article <3c0fcn$fs9@milo.mcs.anl.gov>, hoffberg@hera.aps.anl.gov (Mike Hoffberg) writes... >I thought I did this once... I don't recall seeing it. Maybe I missed it first time round > > >HN462532G (Hitachi) - 2532 4K*8 EPROM I think. >TMS2564JL-45 (TI) - 2564 8K*8 EPROM So, we certainly have 12Kbytes of ROM, no RAM, not EEPROM or whatever. I thought there was at least 1 TTL (74xx) chip in there. Those could be the clue we need. If there are only gates (like 7400, 7432, etc) then it's likely that they are simply used as an address decoder to select between the 2 ROMs. The same is true if there is a decoder chip like a 74139 or 74138. However, if there are some flip-flops (like 74174, 74175, etc) then it's probably banked. The question remains : Why would anyone want to bank 12K of ROM in a vectrex slot. It doesn't make sense. The software is harder to write. The select logic is more complex. You need more chips. To select between the 2 ROMs you could use a single 74ls00 chip like this if you're not trying to bank them. +-----|\ CS* from Vectrex ------| | )o-----+-----|\ +-----|/ | | )o-------CS* to high ROM (4K?) A13 ---------------+------------------)-----|/ | | | |-----|\ | +----|\ | )o-------CS* to low ROM (8K?) |-----| | )o----------|/ +----|/ I suppose you could use that VIA port line on the cartridge slot as a bank select line, just use it instead of the A13 signal above. But somehow I doubt it was used that way. > >MIKE -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!newsfeed.ksu.ksu.edu!cis.ksu.edu!mac From: mac@cis.ksu.edu (Myron A. Calhoun) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Vectrex games on disk.. Date: 6 Dec 94 21:12:58 GMT Organization: Kansas State University Lines: 16 Distribution: inet Message-ID: References: <3bvfeu$3po@names.maricopa.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: depot.cis.ksu.edu X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.0 #5 (NOV) ken@genesis.mc.maricopa.edu (ken kuhns) writes: > I remember a couple of months ago I saw an article posted on this group >by someone (whose name I can't remember) who said he had a bunch of Vectrex >games saved on those old 8" floppy disks. He also said that someone stole >his 8" floppy drive. About 1 week ago.... I OWN several 8" drives and have them connected to computers. If someone wants stuff (including stuff written on CPM disks) xferred from 8" to 5.25" or 3.5" DOS-type disks, contact me. --Myron. -- # Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, jury, witness, and cartridge. # Myron A. Calhoun, PhD EE; Assoc. Prof. (913) 532-6350 work, 532-7353 fax # Amateur packet radio: W0PBV@N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NOAM 539-4448 home # NRA Life Member and Certified Instructor (Home Firearm Safety, Rifle, Pistol) + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk!pipex!bnr.co.uk!corpgate!crchh327.bnr.ca!woodcock From: woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex,rec.games.video.classic Subject: [Vectrex] FAQ Date: 6 Dec 1994 21:10:52 GMT Organization: Bell-Northern Research; Richardson, Texas, USA Lines: 990 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3c2k0s$r2r@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: crchh75b.bnr.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Xref: csus.edu rec.games.vectrex:2280 rec.games.video.classic:12959 Expires: 01 Jan 1995 +-----------+ |Vectrex====| | +-------+ | Vectrex "Frequently Asked Questions" List! Created: 9/1/92 | | # + *| | version 3.2 Copyright worldwide (c) 1994 | | : X | | Created and maintained by Gregg Woodcock (woodcock@bnr.ca) | | : . .| | | | A <=>| | This list will be reposted on the first day of every month. | | . | | | | X + | | @@@ | | * x | | @@ @@@ | +-------+ @@@ +---@----+ | ### # Q@@ / ! oooo / | ### OO | +--------+ +-----------+ This file is copyrighted (c) 1994 by Gregg Woodcock but may be distributed in part or in whole by anyone for any purpose (commercial or otherwise) provided proper credit is given to me and the individual contributors. If you do use the FAQ, I would appreciate it if you send me a copy of whatever you are doing with it. My plan is to have a 'newbie' part and a 'techie' part. I still need some more information about the following questions for it: Can a pause switch be built? (YES) Can the overlays be reproduced (MAYBE) Can a 3D color disk be made? (MAYBE; I am going to try with "shrinky-dinks") How does the light pen work and can one be built? (YES) How does the 3D imager work and can a Sega imager be converted? (MAYBE) ================================================================================ Q. Is there a way to make a Vectrex joystick perhaps with autofire capability? Brian Holscher has designed a flexible way to convert a Sega Genesis controller for use with the Vectrex. He will build one for you for a small fee or if you check the archives, you will find a file describing how to build one yourself (it is more complex than you will probably be expecting). Here is the first part of that file: This information including schematics is copyright 1994 by Brian Holscher. This information is free for distribution as long as its not used for commercial purposes. Using Sega Controllers with Vectrex (Revision 2.0a) This Section explains: 1. How to convert a Sega Controller to work with Vectrex. 1. How to make a Sega Controller to Vectrex Adaptor. 2. Where to purchase a converted Sega Controller. 3. Where to purchase a Sega to Vectrex controller adapter. BACKGROUND Since my Vectrex controller is flaky, I bought a cheap Sega Controller and converted it to work on the Vectrex. From there I added some nice features like autofire and re-programmable buttons. I decided to post schematics for those who want to make Vectrex controllers. After talking with others on the net, I decided to build a Sega to Vectrex adapter. This is a little harder than converting controllers, but I got one to work. This posting includes info and schematics for both. For those who don't want the hassle of making your own controllers, I'm offering converted controllers and adapters for sale. I'm also offering a preprogrammed micro-controller for sale. LIMITATIONS The Sega Controller is a digital controller. The Vectrex control panel is an analog controller. Games like Minestorm don't look at the analog values of the joystick and only look to see what direction the joystick is moved. Games like Minestorm work with these converted Sega controllers. Games like HyperChase look at how far the joystick moves in a direction and are not fun to play with these converted controllers. All (known) games work with these converted controllers and adaptors with 2 exceptsion. Hyperchase (all game variations) and Starhawk (game variation #2 only) are completely unplayable due to the need for analog controller data. FEATURES This design incorporates a micro-controller for additional functionality. The micro-controller allows the user to program which Sega Controller button maps to which Vectrex button. This is useful since the 4th button (called Start) on the Sega Controller is a smaller and inconveniently located since it is normally reserved for starting games on Sega systems. The micro-controller even allows reprogramming of the button assignments in the middle of a game. Another feature is auto-fire. Any button can be set to auto-fire. This means that the micro-controller presses the button over and over again instead of the player. CONTROLLERS VRS ADAPTERS Adapters give you the advantage of using any Sega Controller with Vectrex and still be able to use it on the Sega system. If you don't have a Sega controller, a converted controller is less cost than an adaptor plus the cost of a Sega controller. Another slight advantage is that the LED thats informs the user during button reprogramming and auto-fire is easier to see on a converted controller. The micro-controller is optional if you are converting your own Sega controller. However, the micro-controller is required for the adapter. BUYING CONVERTED CONTROLLERS If your don't want to convert a controller or make an adapter yourself, you can purchase them from me. You can also purchase a preprogrammed micro-controller from me. Sourme Code for Micro-controller ------- Free if you ask nicely. Preprogrammed Micro-controller -------- $20 (The includes Xtal and Xtal capacitors) Converted Sega Controller ------------- $45 Sega to Vectrex Adaptor ------------- $45 Shipping is included. Send email to brianh@ichips.intel.com and we will work out the details. ================================================================================ Q. What is Vectrex? Here it is in layman's terms: Vectrex is one of the most inspired video game machines ever produced (but similar things were said about the Edsel and Titanic). Its point of distinction is the fact that it uses vector "line" graphics (as opposed to raster "pixel" graphics). This is the same type of screen used in such arcade classics as Space Wars, Asteroids, Battlezone and Tempest. The machine has a 9 x 11 inch black and white screen and comes with a built-in Asteroids clone called Minestorm. The games come with plastic overlays that slide over the screen to cut down on flicker and give some illusion of color. It uses one of the most advanced 8 bit processors, the 68A09 (6809 with 1.5MHz clock speed), and a popular and excellent sound chip, General Instruments AY-3-8192, which can produce a wide range of noises. Also included is a 1.5 inch, self-centering, joystick with 4 buttons on the right. It uses an analog/potentiometer system allowing differing degrees of directional input. The machine's footprint takes up a little less than a square foot of a desk (in fact, it quite resembles a jet black Macintosh SE sans mouse and keyboard), and can be operated easily in that area. The joystick is connected via a springy telephone-like cord and can be folded into the base of the machine for portability. The machine is moderately transportable and very well constructed but, alas, very much extinct. It made its debut late in 1982 and was quite scarce by the end of 1984 due to the Great Video Game Depression of '82 which forced Milton Bradley (who bought the rights to the Vectrex from General Consumer Electronics (GCE)) to discontinue production due to to poor sales. After this, the rights to the Vectrex and all related materials were returned to the original developers, Smith Engineering. Smith Engineering has graciously condoned the not-for-profit circulation of any duplicatable materials including games and manuals and is happy to see it is still 'alive' in certain circles. Here are some more detailed snippets from the service manual: As a general description, the HP3OOO is a self-contained video game system intended for home use. The system includes its own 9" B&W monitor screen and 3" permanent magnet speaker. Plug-in ROM type cartridges are available offering arcade type video and sound game play. No external TV receiver hookup is needed or provided for. A front panel storable controller allows control over the game via joystick and push button action switches. For two player operation a second controller identical to the single player controller is available as an accessory product. Both controllers attach to the main game console through nine wire coiled telephone style cables. There is a consumer power switch/volume control on the front panel as well as a game reset button. A consumer adjustable brightness control is located on the main console rear housing. For the technical description which follows, the reader is encouraged to refer to the block diagram and schematic [not included here]. The HP3OOO is a microprocessor based, vector scan system using a standard 9" black & white CRT as its video display device. The microprocessor (MPU) is the Motorola 68A09 device. The MPU operates at 1.6 MHz from a 6 MHz external Xtal. An internal divide by 4 circuit generates the MPU 1.6 MHz "E" clock signal used in the system. Program memory is stored in the 8K x 8 bit 2363 type ROM. This ROM contains common subroutines, the "executive" or assembler instructions plus one complete game. Two 1K x 4 bit 2114 type static RAMS provide storage locations for data indicative of locations of objects, game status, and various other information needed by the microprocessor during game operation. Peripheral Interface Adaptor (PIA) Chip, has two 8 bit peripheral ports which interfaces the MPU with peripheral devices and external signals. One of the PIA ports interfaces the General Instrument AY-3-8912 sound-I.O. chip with the MPU and also drives the digital to analog converter chip MC1408. The other PIA port is used as control lines for the sound chip, selector control for the multiplex chip and as a means to read the A/D comparator that's used in the joystick successive approximation circuitry. Sound is either MPU generated directly or by use of the AY-3-8912 sound chip. The AY-3-8912 sound chip is a programmable sound generator containing 3 tone generators and wave shaping circuitry. This chip also has a single 8 bit I.O. port used to read the status of each of the hand controller's 4 action switches. The standard TTL device types 74LS00 and 74LS32 are used as control line decoders to allow the MPU to select the appropriate circuit element to be addressed at any particular time. The analog processing section includes digital to analog converter (DAC) chip type MC1408, dual 4 channel multiplexer/demultiplexer chip type CD4052, and dual channel op-amps types LF353 and LF347. DAC chip MC1408 receives an 8 bit word at data terminals D0-D7. DAC output (pin 4) is current source. One section of IC LF353 is used to change this current to a voltage representative of the 8 bit digital word received by the DAC chip. The LF353 voltage is applied to an input of the dual 4 channel multiplexer (MUX) chip CD4052. This same voltage (designated "DAC" on the schematic) is the X-axis drive signal. The CD4052 MUX chip serves two purposes: it selectively couples, under MPU control, the output of the DAC current/voltage converter to one of 4 places and is used to selectively couple the inputs from the joystick pots to the voltage comparator IC LF353. ================================================================================ Q. What games were released or on the drawing board before Vectrex died? Production # Name (Notes) [Size or NR=Not Released] ------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- VT 3000 Minestorm (built-in game; Asteroids clone) [4K] VT 3101 Cosmic Chasm (1st home game ported to arcade) [4K] VT 3102 Rip Off (Cinematronics arcade port) [4K] VT 3103 Scramble (Konami arcade port) [4K] VT 3104 Solar Quest (Cinematronics arcade port) [4K] VT 3105 Space Wars (Cinematronics arcade port) [4K] VT 3106 Starhawk (Cinematronics arcade port) [4K] VT 3107 Star Trek (AKA Star Ship in Europe) [4K] VT 3108 Web Wars (AKA Web Warp in ?????) (best game?) [8K] VT 3109 Star Castle (Cinematronics arcade port) [4K] VT 3201 Hyperchase (very bad driving game) [4K] VT 3202 Blitz! Action Football [8K] VT 3203 Heads-Up Action Soccer (AKA Soccer in Europe) [8K] VT 3204 Spinball (AKA Flipper in Europe) (has PAUSE!) [8K] VT 3205 Pitcher's Duel -OR- Batter Up Action Baseball [NR] VT 3206 Pole Position (Atari/Namco arcade port) [8K] VT 3301 Armor Attack (Cinematronics arcade port) [4K] VT 3302 Berzerk (Stern arcade port; high levels crash)[4K] VT 3303 Clean Sweep (Pac-Man clone) [4K] VT 3304 Fortress of Narzod (great shooter) [8K] VT 3305 Bedlam (Tempest clone) [4K] VT 3306 Spike (It talks! Originally called Buster?) [8K] VT 3307 Dark Tower (does anybody have this?) [??] VT 3308 Polar Rescue (Good subhunt game) (has PAUSE!) [8K] VT 3600 Light Pen (Hardware; required for 360X games) VT 3601 Art Master (light pen) (pack-in game) [4K] VT 3602 Melody Master (light pen) [8K] VT 3603 Mail Plane (light pen) (completed???) [NR] VT 3604 Animaction (light pen) [8K+2K RAM] VT 3630 3-D Imager (Hardware; required for 363X games) VT 3631 3-D Pole Position (3-D) (completed?) [NR] VT 3632 3D Minestorm (3-D) (pack-in game) [8K] VT 3633 Narrow Escape (3-D) (same color disk as CC) [8K] VT 3634 Crazy Coaster (3-D) (same color disk as NE) [8K] VT ???? Test Cartridge (issued to repair centers only)[??] The following games and accessories were planned but never released: Cartridges: Art Master II Art Master III Art Master IV Basic Science Create-A-Game/Maze Exploring the Solar System Flipout Mail Plane Pitcher's Duel Pole Position (for 3D imager) Power Trip Sock It Tour de France Accessories: Touch-Sensitive Screen Computer Adaptor with BASIC (prototypes rumored to exist) Computer Keyboard Printer Disk Driver/Wafer Tape Drive Modem Computer Software: Create Your Own Video Game Music Maestro Art Program in LOGO Basic Science Solar System Word Processing ================================================================================ Q. What miscellaneous Vectrex items might my collection be missing? Here is a list of most of the extra stuff that isn't a cart, overlay, box or regular manual... Reply-To: woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) * Orange 5"x3.75" sheet notifying us of GCE's change of address * "IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS" addendum to Owner's Manual (No. 98722-072). This listed 17 things you shouldn't do * Canadian addendum to Onwer's Manual for warranty info (pg 11/12) * Manual for the Control Panel (Joystick) * White 5.5"x3" manuals for the Light Pen and 3D Glasses * White 3"x4" 3D Imager addendum describing how to work the latch * White 3.5"x4.5" 3D Crazy Coaster addendum telling how to survive underpasses * White 4"x6" Minestorm addendum (P/N 140028-1) describing wave 13 bug * White 2.5"x2.5" addendum to the Star Trek manual describing self-play bug * A catalog of games (same size as regular manuals) from "Triton" * A catalog of games (same size as regular manuals) called "Passport" * A 7.5"x3.5" pamphlet listing HW and games called "High Performance Machine" * Vectrex unit warranty registration card (and Owner's Club form) * Electronic Games Magazine subscription form (44% off for Vectrex players) * Custom Designed Accessories for your Vectrex Arcade System order form listing a collapsable carrying case ($14.95) and a vinyl dust cover ($5.95). * carrying case for the Vectrex * protective dust cover for the Vectrex * Service Manual * Test Cart * The first (and only?) issue of the Owner's Club magazine "Passport" ================================================================================ Q. Where is the Vectrex ftp archive and what is there? The ftp Vectrex information archive is at ftp.csus.edu (130.86.90.1) and is maintained by John F. Sandhoff . There are binary listings (2 flavors; pure binary from the ROMs, and Motorola "S-format" dumps) for most of the games along with instructions on how to burn Eproms. There are several commented examples of code demonstrating how to write both music and graphics. There is also a copy of the service manual and much more. Almost all of the stuff is bundled into a compressed file called "vectrex.tar.Z". There are plenty of experiments to keep an eager hacker busy. Recently, some GIF/JPEG files were added showing some of the screen overlays (there are also GIFs of the 2 color wheels). Also, text files of the manuals for most, if not all, of the games are there. David Wright will be putting the vectrex stuff up his email server. If you don't have FTP access, this may work for you. If you want to try and get at it, the email server is at "impinfo@Prism1.COM". If your site doesn't like that, try "prism1!impinfo@NCoast.ORG". To receive a list of the files available place "send vect.index" in the message body. You can also add "send help" to get a complete set of instructions. Be aware that some of these files are huge and may push you over your mailbox or disk space quota immediately. ================================================================================ Q. Isn't copying the games by burning EPROMs stealing or violating a copyright? If the system is "dead" then no money is lost by making copies of something which otherwise would never be available. Even so, it is a fuzzy matter and technically the answer should probably be, "YES." Fortunately, Smith Engineering has given Usenetters permission to make copies of all Vectrex related materials (manuals, games, overlays, etc.) as long as it is for distribution to members of the group and as long as it is not for profit. ================================================================================ Q. I ordered a multi-cart from Mark Woodward well over a year ago and paid him in advance. I am having trouble getting hold of him and I still haven't received my cart. Did I get ripped off? Here is everything I know. The multi-carts came back from the fabricator shortly after everybody got their orders in and Mark built them and started sending them out. It turns out that there are 2 different hardware designs for the Vectrex and Mark had the less common version. Unfortunately this first multi-cart design is incompatible with the most common version of the Vectrex hardware and most of the multi-carts had to be sent back to Mark for repair (and he stopped sending the originals out, also). Mark then had to do several expensive and time consuming things; he had to locate and purchase one of the other versions of the Vectrex, he had to redesign the PCB and find a way to make the new design backward compatible with the old design so that he could reuse the PCBs, he had to rewrite the software which meant he had to unsolder the EPROMs (since they weren't socketed) and erase them, reprogram them, and solder them back on. He then has to upgrade the PCB by cutting several traces and soldering on several jumpers. As you can see, fixing all these PCBs takes a LONG time and a lot of effort (and money since he has to pay double-shipping for all the carts that did go out). To complicate matters, Mark changed email addresses (and jobs?), and was blessed with the birth of a new baby creating a large drain on his "free" time. I am not excusing his tardiness and I agree that even considering these circumstances the delay is still too long to excuse. I am just trying to give you all some background as to how a good idea went very wrong. I talked to Mark sometime around the beginning of September and he told me that as of that date alm international orders had been filled and that there were exactly 15 USA orders left to be retrofitted. I offered to do the retrofits for him and he agreed to send the materials to me. He decided to send the stuff to be fixed immediately and it arrived sometime around Halloween and I have been working on them ever since. I have completed all repairs several times only to have a couple of other neccessary repairs creep up. I just recently (beginning of December) got MOST of the carts working (all of the 15 except 3) and will be mailing them out to people the 1st week in December. After I get them all working, I will post a list of the people who are on the list to get them and you can take it up with Mark from there. At that point we should be able to acount for everyone who sent in money and those of you that did that aren't on my list or haven't received your cartridge have a legitimate complaint. ================================================================================ Q. Do I have to make my own multi-cart; can't I just buy one from somebody? No; I mean, Yes, err... There are at least 5 people making multi-carts for resale on the net but the best ones (by far) are being made by Mark Woodward . If you do not have email, you can reach him by phone at 613/591-3600 during the day time (EDT zone).. A person with the initials SK is also making them but since he has never answered my email and has not given me permission to distribute contact information for him, I cannot include it in the FAQ. Mark is making multi-carts which don't require an old cart to be cannibalized since he is getting PCBs made up for the job. His carts allow you to select the games via a menu on the Vectrex screen instead of by flipping dip switches as all the others do. The carts support the RAM for Animaction and include a 'pause' button allowing you to pause any of the games (my idea; thank you :). They contain all the released games plus the Test Cart and 2 hacked versions of Minestorm (infinite lives and more shots). The price breakdown is as follows... $30 PCB + S/W selection $20 EPROM (unless you can send me one) $5 RAM (Optional) If he builds it for you then there is $5 charge for miscellaneous parts and you are obligated donate $10 to a local charity to cover his time. This is in the spirit of the Smith Engineering agreement for 'not-for-profit' duplication. The only 'profit' he get is from the s/w selection code which he deserves and is entitled to because he wrote (owns) it. The games have been generously donated by Smith Engineering and the parts are sold at cost (with a little to cover shipping). To 1 complete, ready-to-play multicart costs $60. The PCBs are made at a professional manufacturer and include plated through holes, etc. No hack and slash job here :> If you want to build it yourself he can provide you with the PCB, a programmed EPROM (or disk if you can blast your own) and a parts list. At this point, Mark is not planning on doing a second batch after the fiasco of the first batch. If he does not change his minde, I will probably take the project on myself. This FAQ will be updated as the situation changes. ================================================================================ Q. How do I play ? Simple, read the manual. WHAT; you don't have a manual? OK then, read the screen overlay (it lists the functions of all the buttons). You don't have the screen overlay either? In that case most (maybe all by now) of the manuals have been transcribed into text files and made available via ftp. YOU DON'T HAVE FTP EITHER? OK, I'll tell you what; in the spirit of Smith Engineering's generosity, I will volunteer my services as Vectrex copy shop. I have all of the overlays and manuals (as well as some extra stuff like the service manual, "Passport" magazine, the "Triton" and "Passport" catalog pamphlets, and the "High Performance Machine" pamphlet) and am willing to make copies for free to anybody that is willing to play by my "rules". You must send a Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope (SASE) along with a listing of everything that you want photocopies of (black and white copies only; if you want color overlay copies, send $2.50 for each one since color copies cost $$$). You will receive double sided copies unless you specifically request single sided ones. I will fill the orders only about once a month so don't hold your breath for a quick return. Please note that these will not be replicas in any particular sense. I will be copying them as you would a book (I WILL NOT REMOVE THE STAPLES TO REPLICATE THE SHEETS TO FACILITATE MAKING EXACT DUPLICATES). If you want exact duplicates, you will need to modify the copies I send you (I am trying to keep my effort to a minimum). If I need to fold something to fit it in your SASE, then I will, so keep that in mind if you want unfolded stuff. The amount of postage is left up to you to figure out; I am just going to copy, stuff, and send; I will not verify sufficient postage. Tips are appreciated (particularly if you are asking for a *lot* of copying) but not neccesary nor required; this is a free service. Send SASE to: Gregg Woodcock 2930 Dukeswood Drive Garland, TX 75040-8770 U.S.A P.S. If you take advantage of either of these services, it would be nice if you would "pay the community back" by transcribing at least one document that is not currently at the ftp site and uploading it (or emailing it to me and I will get it there). I am pretty sure none of the "extra" stuff I have has been transcribed yet. P.P.S. If you have an original service manual, please contact me so I can get an copy of it (or buy it from you). The copy I have is Nth generation and is very hard to read... ================================================================================ Q. How can I make a copy of a screen overlay? With the advances made in the past 2 years in color scanners, copiers and priners, it is now possible to make a near exact duplicate with the push of a (few) button(s). 0. First you need an original overlay, prefereably one with little fading. 1. If you want a "rough" copy, simply get a good high end color photocopy onto acetate (those overhead projector plastic sheets). 2. If you want a better copy, you scan the image, preferably in color. I think 150 dpi is okay though some people may want to go for maximum resolution. 3. Then you need a good paint program, I used Adobe Photoshop to do some preliminary clean-up work, but I have a feeling it would take quite a bit of work to make a perfect overlay. 4. Prining--the critical part. You need a color printer that can do acetate (animation cel) printouts. Unfortunately, no color printer can work on thick sheets, which brings us to 5. 5. You need go to to a hobby shop and get a piece of .045 thick clear sheet of [poly]styrene. Its prtty cheap. 6. The only part I haven't worked out, bonding the acetate overlay to the styrene. It is probable that there are some mucho expensive color printers that professional print shops use that can print onto any thickness sheets but I haven't done much looking. Thanks to Noel for this info. ================================================================================ Q. My Vectrex is very noisy; is there anything I can do to make it any quieter? Here is what Daniel A Muntz said helped him: The noise isn't digital in nature and it closely follows the video. It also isn't a power supply problem; isolating the audio input of the amplifier from the sound circuit revealed no noise at all. It seems the noise is generated in two ways: 1: By induction; Moving the audio cable around makes the noise less or more prominent. It is at minimum when the cable is placed in its original manufactured groove. Good design since that's farthest from the CRT yoke. 2: By ground impedance; Although all supplies are clean the hum is still present in the modulated dc difference between the two boards. A definite improvement can be achieved by doing the following: 1: Rewiring the ground between the digital and video board. 2: Shielding audio circuit and changing cable to volume pot to a better shielded one. ================================================================================ Q. My joystick wont auto-center anymore; can I fix it? (A.K.A. How do I get inside or open up my joystick?) You can't make it "good-as-new", but you can repair it so that is is usable again. You must first get past the sticker on the top of the joystick to get at the 5 screws that hold it together (4 are about 3/8" in from the sides and 1/2" from the top/bottom ahd the last is about 1/2" tot hte right of the cable). Just feel around and you should be able to find where the holes are. You can either try to peel off the sticker (difficult to do without damaging it but possible if you are careful) or simply punch 5 holes in it so you can remove the screws (leaving most of the sticker intact). Now that you have the joystick open, remove the broken spring that used to center the joystick. Use the core from the largest available guitar string to replace the spring you just removed. If you snip off one end you can remove the (usually gold) wire wrapped around a core wire by pulling on the gold wire. Credit goes to Dan Muntz once again for this clever solution and to Mike Packard for details about the screws. ================================================================================ Q. Are there tricks or cheats for any Vectrex games? YES! (Vectrex had cheats back when they were still known as bugs): ARMOR ATTACK: If you crank the brightness all the way up, you are able to see the helicopter's position as soon as you hear it (even thought it is off the screen). BEDLAM: You can see a special author title screen that proclaims, "PROGRAMMED BY WILLIAM HAWKINS GT 1982" if you follow the instructions found in the "STAR CASTLE" entry below. I discovered this by trying the "original" Star Castle trick on other games that I knew Bill wrote. This screen is different from all the similar ones in that it plays music too! You are treated to the melody line that accompanies the lyrics "Oh I wish I was from the land of cotton". The screen ends when the tune finishes and releasing buttons has no effect. BERZERK: The hunt for this egg began thanks to Pete Rittwage who first reported it but could not reproduce it. Even after confirming the trick with Chris King, the author of the game, nobody was able to find it because Chris had forgotten exactly what was required to activate it! Then along came net.hero Fred Taft with the answer after disassembling the object code. Before your man stops flashing when you kill your last man, press and hold down only the 1, 3, and 4 buttons on the player 1 control panel. When the "GOT YOU HUMANOID" summary screen appears with your socre, there will be the author's initials in the lower right corner ("CMK"). This screen will stay for about 90 seconds before going back to the game select screen and you cannot get out of it by pressing buttons. BLITZ!: If you get a 1st and inches (1 and 0 to go), as long as you stay on the 0 yd line, you keep getting first downs. Thanks to Adam Fox for this one. COSMIC CHASM: You can see a special author title screen that proclaims, "PROGRAMMED BY WILLIAM HAWKINS GT 1982" if you follow the instructions found in the "STAR CASTLE" entry below. I discovered this by trying the "original" Star Castle trick on other games that I knew Bill wrote. FORTRESS OF NARZOD: If you can somehow manage to kill the "Mystic Hurler" (you know, the BossAtTheEndOfTheWave guy that looks like a gorilla) at the same time he kills you, your lives remaining will turn into the infinity sign (oo) and you will have 255 lives. It is not known for sure if your lives in reserve value has to be zero for this to work (probably so since this bug is most likely due to an accidental underflow from 0 to -1 which assumably would trigger the software to be in virtual infinite play mode to aid play/beta testing). The author takes credit for this one! MINESTORM: The brightness trick allows you to see the "invisible" mines. RIPOFF: You can see a special author title screen that proclaims, "PROGRAMMED BY WILLIAM HAWKINS GT 1982" if you follow the instructions found in the "STAR CASTLE" entry below. I discovered this by trying the "original" Star Castle trick on other games that I knew Bill wrote. SPACE WARS: Either ship is invincible after being hit, while pieces are in the air. This may not sound like much, or maybe this was intentional, but I've played against people who make this their entire strategy. They skim the edge of the Star in the middle, just to knock off a tail section or something, and then while they are invincible, they fly right into you. Not nice, but it works very well. The time window is surprisingly long. SCRAMBLE: A quote from Paul Allen Newell, developer of the game: I remember going thru long discussions with management about giving the programmers credit on the games. Western Technologies and/or GCE didn't approve it and most of the programmers hide their names somewhere in the games. My "Easter Egg" can be located in "Scramble" by doing the following. If you have two controllers with joystick and buttons, put them both in; otherwise, use the single one in the usual position. While "Scramble" is displaying its "game # player #" section, move the joystick so it is "down". When "Scramble" starts, keep it in this down position so your plane crashes on the floor BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS START. Do this for all you ships, DO NOT PUSH ANY BUTTONS TO FIRE BOMBS OR BULLETS. When it is over, the display "end" will come up. WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY BUTTONS, unplug the main controller and move it to the "player two" plug (if you have two controllers, this step is not necessary). Then, with the "player two" controller, PUSH ALL FOUR BUTTONS SIMULTANEOUSLY. They must all go down at the same time. Repeat until you get all four down at the same time. You'll know when you see the word "end" change into something else. This is the first time I have documented the method, having only mentioned it to friends or hinted to others. Enjoy! (Thanks a LOT to Stefan Herr for digging up this one-of-a-kind jem). SPIKE: If you position the door ALMOST all the way to the right of the screen, then jump into it, so as to be jammed between the door, and the little space that is left; the game freaks out, you will be pushed forward about 47,000 points, and the difficulty will be increased proportionally. STAR CASTLE: This is the most extravagant egg of all the Vectrex games. The designer put in his own title screen which brazenly proclaims "PROGRAMMED BY WILLIAM HAWKINS GT 1983". A quick caveat; this only works on a cold restart (i.e. the first time you turn the game on) and will not work if you start the game over by pressing the reset button. However, it will work with the software selectable muticarts if Star Castle is the first game you select after turning the game on. To get the screen to appear you must push the 1, 2, and 4 keys on the player 1 control panel before the Star Castle title screen music finishes playing. If those 3 buttons are down when tune ends, the author title screen will appear. It will last for about 2 seconds or until you release one of the buttons. It is my guess that the GT stands for Georgia Tech and the 1983 is the year the software was written. (MANY thanks to Fred Taft for discovering this after disassembling the object code). WEB WARS: You can see a special author title screen that proclaims, "PROGRAMMED BY WILLIAM HAWKINS DUNCAN MUIRHEAD PATRICK KING GT 1983" if you follow the instructions found in the "STAR CASTLE" entry above. I discovered this by trying the "original" Star Castle trick on other games that I knew Bill wrote. This screen is different from all the similar ones in that the font size is about 3 times as big. ================================================================================ Q. What is the history of the Vectrex? A. Thanks a lot to Stefan Herr for the following information he dug up while researching an article for a European gaming magazine. If you have any additions or corrections, please contact both of us. Thanks also to Chris King who sent me personal email to fill some gaps. VECTREX TIMETABLE ----------------- End 1980/Spring 1981: The development of Vectrex starts with an idea by Jay Smith, head of Western Technologies/Smith Engineering, and his talented staff for a small, vector scan table top game they call "Mini Arcade". It is possible that the real inspiration for the product may have actually come from Gerry Karr and/or John Ross. Spring 1981: The Vectrex idea is optioned to Kenner (known for their "Star Wars", "Care Bears", "Batman" and "Batman Returns" figures). Vectrex planned to have a 5" black and white tube. 06/1981: Paul A. Newell is hired by Western Technologies to join the "Atari reverse engineering project" group (aim: be able to write games for the VCS 2600) which at that point consisted of Mark Indictor and John Hall. 07/1981: Kenner declines to pursue the Vectrex. 08 or 09/1981: The Vectrex concept is licensed by GCE (General Consumer Electronics). GCE's president Ed Krakauer had the vision to see the great potential of the system. To enhance its appeal, GCE asks that the screen be increased to 9-inches. Autumn 1981: The Atari project is cancelled and the three Atari people (M.I., P.N., J.H.) start work on the Vectrex project. John Ross designs the hardware, Gerry Karr works together with John Hall on the system ROM (called "The Executive"). In the beginning it is planned to use a 6502 processor which turns out to be too slow. For this reason the 6809 is used finally. Jan 1982: Bill Hawkins and Chris King join the Western Tech. They were both students at Georgia Tech at the time and are hired by Ed Smith as "Cooperative Education" students. They are supposed to work for three months and then go back to school. Duncan Muirhead joins a week or two afterwards. He had just dropped out of a Physics PHD program at UCLA. ??: A strict timetable demands that the first 12 games and the hardware should be ready in June 1982. ??: John Hall later exclusively works on "Mine Storm" while Gerry Karr works on The Executive alone. Gerry starts over from scratch and changes the name to the RUM (Run Time Monitor). In the end, a number of people contribe to the RUM, most notably Duncan Muirhead who handled most of the heavy trig stuff. 04/1982: Paul Newell finishes "Scramble". Mine Storm, Bezerk, Scamble, Rip Off, and Star Trek were all completed at the same time. 06/1982: The Vectrex is introduced to the public on the Summer-CES in Chicago. Summer 1982: Mark Indictor, John Hall and others are directly hired by GCE to write more games. Paul Newell and Duncan Muirhead leave Western Technologies to join Simutrek, a company developing arcade laser disc games ("Cube Quest"). Chris King leaves 6 months later. Noah Anglin (former vice president of Atari) was hired by GCE as a consultant to watch over the development of Vectrex. It was a good deal for him since he recruited the core of the software guys for his new company, Simutrek, from Western Technologies. Unfortunatly, this wasn't enough. Simutrek died on the vine. ??: Mark Indictor and his family move about two hours out of Los Angeles and he writes games in the seclusion of a pine forest at 5,000 ft. He even has an NBC news crew come up and interview him for a news show on weird computer hackers and their life styles. Late summer 82: Start of mass production. 11/1982: Vectrex is available in the USA for $199. Very positive reviews in the magazines. Paul Newell's "Scramble" gets the "Arcade Award" of the "Electronic Games" magazine for the best "Mini-Arcade game" (a category which is founded exclusively for the Vectrex). Spring 1983: GCE is acquired by Milton Bradley (MB). 03/1983: Vectrex is announced in the German "Telematch" magazine for the first time in Germany. Summer 1983: Distribution begins in Germany and many other west European countries by Milton BradleyB (German office located in Fuerth). 1983: Several efforts fail in developing a color Vectrex. One obvious project is to use a color TV tube; however, this is always too expensive. Another is to use a projection TV with three vector scan tubes. It works well but is commercially impractical. Yet another effort is to use two layers of color phosphor on a black and white type TV tube. By varying the high voltage level, the electron beam would excite the bottom layer or the top layer. However the high voltage cannot be changed rapidly enough to keep up with the scan. 02/1984: "Artmaster Lightpen", "Star Castle", "Polar Rescue", "Animaction" and "Pole Position" presented on the "Nuernberger Spielwarenmesse" (Germany's most important show for the toy industry). around 02/84: 3D-Imager is presented at the Winter-CES in Las Vegas. 31/03/1984: End of Vectrex in Germany: MB in Fuerth announces stop of sales on this date. Rest of 1984: Vectrex is phased out as Hasbro buys Milton Bradley and video game fever comes crashing down (probable reason: home computer fever). Rummage sales in Germany (mainly in stores of the METRO-chain, which had bought the rest of MB's stock) close out Vectrex equipment at bargain prices. 1988: Western Technologie/Smith Enginerring tries to resurrect Vectrex as a handheld unit. It is to be based on the Sinclair flat TV tube, which has fast static deflection at low power consumption and low cost. However, the impending introduction of GameBoy causes the idea to be scrapped. 10/1993: A feature about the 10th anniversary of the Vectrex is published in the German "Video Games" magazine. Contains technical descriptions, pictures of Jay Smith and Mark Indictor, a Vectrex history and a list of games and accessories. The article is based on information collected by the author (Stefan Herr) from the Usenet Vectrex newsgroup, various FTP archives, many emails from several former Vectrex developers and a historical overiew about the development by Jay Smith. There are not very many evidences of the existance of a computer keyboard with a BASIC cartridge (or something similar) for the Vectrex. The only known hints are from an article in an old issue of "Creative Computing" magazine (in the first couple of pages they do a ranking of computers' speed based on some simple benchmark. There is an entry for the vectrex in it using Vectrex basic) and an article about new computers starting on page 114 of the October, 1983 issue of Popular Science (A chart in the article indicates that the keyboard was to include 16K of RAM, expandable to 64K. The article goes in to great detail about the computer add-on. Thanks to Joshua See who is unfortunately disconnected from the Internet.) It is the issue that reviewed the original Macintosh (1984?). LIST OF PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE VECTREX DEVELOPMENT --------------------------------------------------- Jeff Corseglia Main game desginer (titles unknown) John Hall (*) Worked on The Executive Author of Mine Storm Bill Hawkins Author of Bedlam Author of Cosmic Chasm Author of Rip Off Author of Star Castle Author (with 2 others) of Web Wars Mark Indictor (*) First duties during development: Software for communication with the ICE (In-Circuit-Emulator) Star Trek Games: for Western Technologies: Star Trek for GCE Spinball Polar Rescue Mail Plane (not published, for use with Lightpen) Tour de France (not published) Gerry Karr Took over The Executive project after John Hall concentrated on Mine Storm Chris King Author of Berzerk Author of Hyperchase Patrick King (related to Chris?) Author (with 2 others) of Web Wars Ronald J. Logsdon Author of Melody Master Kim Martin Digitized the Scramble landscapes Beta-tester (mainly for Scramble) Richard "the mouse" Moskowski Programmed games (titles unkonwn) Designed game watches prior to Vectrex Duncan Muirhead Joined WT at the end of 1981 (or beginning of 1982) Author of Armor...Attack Author (with 2 others) of Web Wars Walter Nakano Model builder; co-designed the external case 1-2 years before the Macintosh! Paul Allen Newell (*) Sole author of Scramble Gary Niles Executive Officer of some kind Mike Purvis "Hardware Tech" (responsibilities unknown) John Ross Developer of the hardware Tom Sloper Main game desginer (titles unknown) Went on to work high up at Activision but has left for now. Ed Smith (Jay's brother) Manager of enginerring during early development Before Vectrex, he worked at Harris in Orlando and frequently used GA Tech Co-ops Hired a bunch of ex-Harris guys to work at a new Wester Technologies branch office in Orlando where a number of games were written Jay Smith Founder and president of Western Technologies/Smith Engineering Colin Vowels Model builder; co-designed the external case 1-2 years before the Macintosh. (*): These persons worked on the "Atari reverse engineering" project. Only one of the three games that were created by that group was released (the one written by Paul Newell). Anyway, the whole project was cancelled later because the competition (e.g. Activision) was too big. Other people involved (this list does not claim to be complete) were David Blair, Alan Cobb, Jeff Corsiglia, Ed Faris, Joel Hassell, Don Herndon, Ed Horton, Bill Hudson, Kevin Hudson, Nolan Johnson, Steve Marking, Lori Pearsall, and Bob Rutowski. Sources: Electronic mails from Mark Indictor, Paul Newell, Chris King, Ronald J. Logsdon, personal letter from Jay Smith, several articles from "Electronic Games" magazine (provided by Paul Newell), article from "Creative Computing" magazine (provided by Dion Dock). ================================================================================ Send corrections, suggestions, additions, ect. to woodcock@bnr.ca -- THANX...Gregg day 214.684.7380 night UNLIST/PUBL TEXAS NOT CANADA! woodcock@bnr.ca or woodcock@nt.com or bn202@cleveland.freenet.edu *CLASSIC VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR BUY/SELL/TRADE NON-COMPUTER (ARCADE/HOME)* "If you quote me on this I'll have to deny it; I won't remember because I have such a bad memory. Not only that, but my memory is *terrible*." + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!spool.mu.edu!torn!nott!bcarh189.bnr.ca!bcarh8ac.bnr.ca!corpgate!crchh327.bnr.ca!woodcock From: woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 5 Dec 1994 00:51:06 GMT Organization: Bell-Northern Research; Richardson, Texas, USA Lines: 15 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3bto5q$34f@crchh327.bnr.ca> References: <3bnhgd$3fr@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: crchh75b.bnr.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Gregg Woodcock (woodcock@bnr.ca) wrote: > OK, I finished ALL of the upgrade procedures (even the 2 that Mark > forgot about until I mentioned that none of the carts worked) but > there is a problem; only *4* out of the 15 carts I upgraded actually > work properly. New update; the latching problem is solved and all but *3* of the carts work (i.e. 12 of them). I will be sending them out early next week... -- THANX...Gregg day 214.684.7380 night UNLIST/PUBL TEXAS NOT CANADA! woodcock@bnr.ca or woodcock@nt.com or bn202@cleveland.freenet.edu *CLASSIC VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR BUY/SELL/TRADE NON-COMPUTER (ARCADE/HOME)* "If you quote me on this I'll have to deny it; I won't remember because I have such a bad memory. Not only that, but my memory is *terrible*." + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!swiss.ans.net!jabba.cybernetics.net!jav From: jav@cybernetics.net () Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: List of Carts Date: 5 Dec 1994 01:51:17 GMT Organization: Cybernetx, Inc. Lines: 4 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3btrml$3sm@jabba.cybernetics.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: server0.cybernetics.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Anyone have a list of the carts made for this machine. I have about 18 of them I may wish to sell. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!pipex!bnr.co.uk!corpgate!crchh327.bnr.ca!woodcock From: woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 9 Dec 1994 19:09:29 GMT Organization: Bell-Northern Research; Richardson, Texas, USA Lines: 22 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3caa19$591@crchh327.bnr.ca> References: <3bofgm$a3q@magicnet.magicnet.net> <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> <10967.9412091308@thor.cf.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: crchh75b.bnr.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] David Wooding (wdrdsw@thor.cf.ac.uk) wrote: > woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) writes: > |Yes, I have licensed the multicart technology from Mark and will be > |revising it to incorporate some newly discovered games (yes; there is > |more than just Dark Tower coming but the games are on disk and the > |funky computer that runs them doesn't have a monitor). That being the > |case, I will not be going into production for probably another year > Couldn't you whet our appetites a bit? How about some descriptions of > what else is out there, and what is rumoured to be out there (I missed > the Dark Tower write-up)? I love all that mystery..... OK, the 2 unreleased games my friend THINKS he has based on disks labled "MASTER: complete" are Tour De France and Mail Plane. I know; probably the most boring of the potential candidates (certainly nothing like Dark Tower) but at least they are NEW! -- THANX...Gregg day 214.684.7380 night UNLIST/PUBL TEXAS NOT CANADA! woodcock@bnr.ca or woodcock@nt.com or bn202@cleveland.freenet.edu *CLASSIC VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR BUY/SELL/TRADE NON-COMPUTER (ARCADE/HOME)* "If you quote me on this I'll have to deny it; I won't remember because I have such a bad memory. Not only that, but my memory is *terrible*." + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!ub!dsinc!newsfeed.pitt.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!caen!zip.eecs.umich.edu!quip.eecs.umich.edu!dmuntz From: dmuntz@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Dan Muntz) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multicart update... Date: 9 Dec 1994 19:31:58 GMT Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept. Lines: 12 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3cabbe$2pi@zip.eecs.umich.edu> References: <3bofgm$a3q@magicnet.magicnet.net> <10967.9412091308@thor.cf.ac.uk> <3caa19$591@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: quip.eecs.umich.edu In article <3caa19$591@crchh327.bnr.ca>, Gregg Woodcock wrote: > >OK, the 2 unreleased games my friend THINKS he has based on disks >labled "MASTER: complete" are Tour De France and Mail Plane. I know; >probably the most boring of the potential candidates (certainly >nothing like Dark Tower) but at least they are NEW! 3d Pole Position would have been nice. That's the only other unreleased title I recall seeing in vectrex docs. -Dan + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!hboao017 From: hboao017@huey.csun.edu (jeff birchell) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: FORSALE(CA) VECTREX-EXCELLENT! Date: 12 Dec 1994 00:40:03 GMT Organization: Calstate University Northridge Lines: 25 Message-ID: <3cg653$44a@nic-nac.CSU.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: huey.csun.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] I'm selling a Vectrex system, in EXCELLENT original comdition. It has only been used very little, and was in storage most of its life. The control panel is very excellent with NO signs of wear at all. The monitor unit is very excellent as well. No stratches, basically like new. There are four games that come with this unit: MineSweeper (of course) BUT no overlay Berzerk StarHawk Bedlam All except the Minesweeper come with their original overlays that are stored in their paper envelopes. All are in great condition. AND this system comes in its ORIGINAL box with original foam unbroken, and is a must for any collector. I will ship this system in its box WITHIN a box so that it stays protected. Asking $265 PLUS shipping if necessary. I am located in Southern California. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!decwrl!ames!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!cf-cm!thor.cf.ac.uk!wdrdsw From: wdrdsw@thor.cf.ac.uk (David Wooding) Subject: Re: Multicart update... Message-ID: <10967.9412091308@thor.cf.ac.uk> Sender: wdrdsw@thor.cf.ac.uk (David Wooding) Organization: University of Wales College at Cardiff References: <3bofgm$a3q@magicnet.magicnet.net> <3boop3$c1v@crchh327.bnr.ca> Date: Fri, 9 Dec 1994 13:08:03 GMT X-Mailer: Cardiff Computing Maths PP Mail Open News Gateway Lines: 22 woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) writes: |Yes, I have licensed the multicart technology from Mark and will be |revising it to incorporate some newly discovered games (yes; there is |more than just Dark Tower coming but the games are on disk and the |funky computer that runs them doesn't have a monitor). That being the |case, I will not be going into production for probably another year Couldn't you whet our appetites a bit? How about some descriptions of what else is out there, and what is rumoured to be out there (I missed the Dark Tower write-up)? I love all that mystery..... Dave (who only has minestorm, unbelievably, but is hanging on for a multicart) P.S. It looks like the future is in a PC link up to the port. Once that is available, the potential for coding of new programs in unlimited. -- Dr.David Wooding (wooding@cardiff.ac.uk) UWCM, Cardiff, Wales, UK ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Mornington Crescent List: send email with the words subscribe mornington-crescent (in message body) to majordomo@mono.city.ac.uk + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!decwrl!pa.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!jac.zko.dec.com!crl.dec.com!crl.dec.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!Germany.EU.net!EU.net!sun4nl!news.nic.surfnet.nl!utciva.civ.utwente.nl!usenet From: J.r.SMith@student.Utwente.nl (John Robin Smith) Subject: MAILING VECTREX GAMES ?! Message-ID: Sender: usenet@Utwente.NL ((UT-utciva)USENET News System) Reply-To: j.r.smith@student.utwente.nl Organization: Universiteit Twente X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.92.2 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1994 12:52:08 GMT Lines: 7 I read an article about mailing Vectrex games ?!?! I still own a vectrex [And I'm still a littlebit proud on it, because it sure was a good system], but I'm wondering.. are there still any games available ?! John Robin Smith + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!zephyr.water.ca.gov!sunnyboy.water.ca.gov!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!sgiblab!uhog.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news.bu.edu!sheba!lubars From: lubars@bu.edu (Steve Lubars) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: What level? Date: 9 Dec 1994 18:36:49 GMT Organization: Boston University Lines: 19 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3ca841$g0f@news.bu.edu> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: sheba.bu.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] richard wolber (i8852749@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu) wrote: : I have a question. What is the highest level anyone has atained on : minestorm? Another question- does it ever end? I've been playing it : off 'n on for years and have never gotten past level 37 or so. If so : what does the end look like? I gotta know!!!!!!!!!!!! : : Poke At level 84 (or 89?) Minestorm completely froze on me. I had over 4 million points and 9 extra ships. Someone posted something about magnetic fireball mines at level 256 -- this occurs _way_ earlier, within the first dozen levels. My Minestorm has lots of other bugs in it -- it skips from level 17 to 19, and 31 to 34 (or something like that). Also, there are several levels where all of the mines are invisible (maybe that's not a bug). Steve Lubars lubars@athena.mit.edu + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!malgudi.oar.net!mercury.wright.edu!stu1084 From: stu1084@alpha.wright.edu (Christopher Shamis) Subject: Re: What level? Message-ID: Sender: news@mercury.wright.edu (USENET News System) Organization: Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 45435 X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] References: <3ca841$g0f@news.bu.edu> Distribution: inet Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 06:13:10 GMT Lines: 13 : At level 84 (or 89?) Minestorm completely froze on me. I had over : 4 million points and 9 extra ships. Someone posted something about : magnetic fireball mines at level 256 -- this occurs _way_ earlier, : within the first dozen levels. : My Minestorm has lots of other bugs in it -- it skips from level 17 to 19, and : 31 to 34 (or something like that). Also, there are several levels where all : of the mines are invisible (maybe that's not a bug). If you get program errors at level 34+ then you have to realize that you are just as flawed as the program for getting that far in the first place. (PS, My mine-storm restarts the machine at level 40) + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu!quip.eecs.umich.edu!dmuntz From: dmuntz@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Dan Muntz) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multigame adapter Date: 16 Dec 1994 16:35:01 GMT Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept. Lines: 22 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3csfjl$mqk@zip.eecs.umich.edu> References: <3cr7eq$367@darkstar.UCSC.EDU> <3csbcl$l1v@masala.cc.uh.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: quip.eecs.umich.edu In article <3csbcl$l1v@masala.cc.uh.edu>, James Rich wrote: #own multi-cart. I've found in a cross reference manual a #n eprom that is a 27c010a-20 that might be suitable for the #task. Its supposed to be a 128k x 8, 200ns deal.. is this #correct? I figure it will fit 16 games on 8k boundaries... #we intend to use a bank of 8 dip-switches, flipping them 4 SPDT switches work nicely (allowing you to address 16 games on 8k boundaries). If you can get it, I recommend 27c020 and 5 switches so you can fit everything in the archives on one chip (although you can also use two 27c010 and make the 5th switch DPDT to do chip select, but I digress). #in the vectrex.tgz file. I am assuming that these are #self contained binaries, in that.. they can be burned #into the eprom and load themselves like a cartridge does #by itself... no 'loader' necessary. Is this the case? Yes. -Dan + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsfeed.pitt.edu!uunet!george.inhouse.compuserve.com!news.inhouse.compuserve.com!news.production.compuserve.com!news From: James Carter <73367.2667@CompuServe.COM> Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Games you'd like to C Date: 16 Dec 1994 19:49:43 GMT Organization: via CompuServe Information Service Lines: 25 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3csr0n$in9$1@mhadf.production.compuserve.com> References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> >Which types of games did they never cover with the Vectrex? Here’s some you missed, with thanks going to KLOV: Asteroids Deluxe {Atari '80, Vector, BnW} Aztarac {Centuri '83, Vector} Black Widow {Atari, Vector} Boxing Bugs {Cinematronics '81, Vector} Empire Strikes Back {Atari, Vector} Major Havoc (The Adventures Of) {Atari '84, Color Vector} Omega Race {Midway '81, BnW, Vector} Quantum {Atari '83, Vector} Quasar(?) {, Vector} Rear Guard {Exidy, Vector} Rocket Racer {Rock-Ola '83, Vector} Space Duel {Atari '81, Vector, 2P} Space Fury {Sega '81, Vector} Speed Freak {Vectorbeam '77, BnW, Vector, 700 produced} Star Trek {Sega '83, Vector} Star Wars {Atari '83, Vector, 3D} Sundance {Cinematronics, BnW (Yellow), Vector} Tac Scan {Sega, Vector} Tailgunner {Cinematronics, BnW, Vector, 3D} Tempest {Atari '80, Vector, 3D} War of the Worlds {Cinematronics, Vector} Warriors {Cinematronics, 2P, BnW, Vector} + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!newsserver.sdsc.edu!news.tc.cornell.edu!caen!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!news.hal.COM!decwrl!netcomsv!netcomsv!damar!starlinx!Rick.Swang From: Rick.Swang@starlinx.damar.com (Rick Swang) Date: 16 Dec 94 14:03:26 -0800 Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: *** Games systems for sale, some classic *** Message-ID: <92d_9412161500@damar.com> X-Mail-Agent: GIGO+ sn 115 at damar vsn 0.98w32 X-FTN-To: zbytes@interaccess.com Organization: Damar Enterprises Lines: 7 I am interested in maybe a trade for your Vectrex plus all accessories. I have for trade a Vic 20 with several carts,books etc. that I would like to trade. Let me know what we can maybe do. Rick + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!coyote.csusm.edu!tdiaz From: tdiaz@coyote.csusm.edu (Tony Diaz) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Last bacth of Woodward multicart recipients... Date: 17 Dec 1994 07:51:48 GMT Organization: California State University San Marcos Lines: 27 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3cu5ak$ns8@coyote.csusm.edu> References: <3c78c2$mhr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3cqpev$8ep@magus.cs.utah.edu> <3cs47j$kra@sundog.tiac.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: coyote.csusm.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Glenn M. Saunders (krishna@max.tiac.net) wrote: > My advice to those who are fed up with their Multicart situation > is to demand a refund and order a multicart from Sean. It'll be fast, > and it'll work. No menu but who gives a shit? You want to wait 2 years > for a menu? It sounds like those multicarts have been hacked so many > times that their wiring is as convoluted as the Millenium Falcon's > hyperdrive circuits. Sean's dipswitched cart, while some may not care for the lack of a menu, is a first class item. It worked flawlesly, and came in a timely manner. I've even misplaced the paperwork for it, but still have fun randomly switching games. I'm sure it's here someplace, if not I'll just have to 'hack' them all out again. :) Now for another question, about these games that are not included, where can I get a ROM image from, I can just make it here, or heck, with some swapping I could add it to this multicart I have. Just have to add a machine pin socket to the PCB so I can have different game 'sets'. -- tdiaz@coyote.csusm.edu Apple // Forever! root@space-bar.admin.fnet.org The Power ][ Be Your Best The Space Bar BBS (USR v.Everything) 619/433-4653 Apple ][ & Classic Gaming Atari 2600/5200/7800 - Intv - ColecoVision - Odyssey^2 - Fairchild - Vectrex + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Games you'd like to C Date: 17 Dec 1994 01:52:58 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 14 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3ctg9q$hd7@sundog.tiac.net> References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> <3csr0n$in9$1@mhadf.production.compuserve.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] James Carter (73367.2667@CompuServe.COM) wrote: : Warriors {Cinematronics, 2P, BnW, Vector} This is that knight game, right? I think I saw it once. It was great. Vector virtual fighters kinda. Hazy memories, though. -- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.cs.columbia.edu!news.pipeline.com!uunet!dockmaster.phantom.com!usenet From: Andrew Grider Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: All in one cart? Date: 17 Dec 1994 00:55:23 GMT Organization: [MindVox] / Phantom Access Technologies / (+1 [212] 989-2418) Lines: 6 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3ctctr$4c1@dockmaster.phantom.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: grider.phantom.com I heard a rumour that there is a Vectrex cartridge that contains all of the games for $60. I am very interested in this. If anyone can give me information on this or a phone number for a supplier I would really appreciate it! Thanks! Andrew Grider + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!decwrl!lll-winken.llnl.gov!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!news.cs.utah.edu!asylum.cs.utah.edu!galt From: galt@asylum.cs.utah.edu (Greg Alt) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Last bacth of Woodward multicart recipients... Date: 16 Dec 1994 01:10:55 GMT Organization: University of Utah Computer Science Lines: 39 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3cqpev$8ep@magus.cs.utah.edu> References: <3c78c2$mhr@crchh327.bnr.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: asylum.cs.utah.edu In article <3c78c2$mhr@crchh327.bnr.ca> woodcock@bnr.ca (Gregg Woodcock) writes: >These 6 guys' carts will be mailed today and were selected randomly from >the remaining people. > >Greg Alt Well, I got the cartridge in the mail yesterday and was very excited. I got out the vectrex, blew off 1.5 years of dust, and plugged it in. I then plugged in the multicart and turned it on, and was very pleased to see the menu of games. I immediately went to Star Castle, as it was one of my favorites a long time ago. I get the title screen, and then it puts me into the game. The moment the game screen appears, the machine locks up. I tried it again several times, and it would sometimes lock up, sometimes go back to the title screen. I tried other games, and nearly all of them did similar things, some more spectacular than others. I thought that maybe it was just a dirty cartridge slot, but all of my cartridges worked fine. I spent a long time cleaning it out (it was pretty dirty). Then I put the multicart back and tried it again. Same exact stuff. I eventually got to play several games of Star Castle, because one of the other games locked up and warped me over to Star Castle, which worked until I hit the reset button. Anyway, as you can guess, I'm bummed. Has anyone else had problems? I assume that Gregg Woodcock tested the carts before shipping, so either it was damaged in shipping (it looks fine), the original bug wasn't actually fixed, the bug fix wasn't necessary for my system and has actually made things worse, or there is a new bug. I don't know. I'm hoping that it is as simple as a cold solder joint, but I didn't see any problems (I'm not much of a hardware guy, so I wouldn't know what else to look for...). I would be very happy if it is possible for me to fix something easy on it to get it working... Any ideas? If Woodward or Woodcock would contact me thru email, I'll try to give a better description of what is going wrong if that would help. Greg + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!chnews!ornews.intel.com!news.jf.intel.com!news.jf.intel.com!brianh From: brianh@pdx031.intel.com (Brian Holscher) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Vectrex for Sale Date: 16 Dec 1994 22:14:53 GMT Organization: Intel Corp., Hillsboro, Oregon Lines: 34 Distribution: usa Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: pdx031.intel.com Posted for a friend. Vectrex Unit Extra Joystick Armor Attack Scramble Star Trek Solar Quest $125 + Shipping No boxes or overlays. His name is Kevin, you can call him at (206) 365-3251 or you can send me email: brianh@ichips.intel.com Brian Holscher Intel Corportation brianh@ichips.intel.com -- Brian Holscher brianh@ichips.intel.com 696-4522 + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!ncar!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu!panix!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!news.uh.edu!jera4135 From: jera4135@menudo.uh.edu (James Rich) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Multigame adapter Date: 16 Dec 1994 15:23:01 GMT Organization: University of Houston Lines: 28 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3csbcl$l1v@masala.cc.uh.edu> References: <3cr7eq$367@darkstar.UCSC.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: menudo.uh.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Heather Katherine Wentworth (tamarand@cats.ucsc.edu) wrote: : Has anyone written up schematics for the multigame carts? : The EProms I have programmed have games either every 8 or 16k. : Since that's the size and all :) Hi, I am (with the help of a friend) going to try making my own multi-cart. I've found in a cross reference manual a n eprom that is a 27c010a-20 that might be suitable for the task. Its supposed to be a 128k x 8, 200ns deal.. is this correct? I figure it will fit 16 games on 8k boundaries... not all of them, but then again its 1/2 the cost of the 1M eproms (I'm on a budget here! :) ). To select the games we intend to use a bank of 8 dip-switches, flipping them to the binary address of the game desired. Now, the only other question is in regards to the binary images found in the vectrex.tgz file. I am assuming that these are self contained binaries, in that.. they can be burned into the eprom and load themselves like a cartridge does by itself... no 'loader' necessary. Is this the case? Is this what you did? Please let me know, before I spend a bunch of time/money trying this deal. I will promise to update this group on my progress, but it may take a week or so before I actually get the chance to try this, Holiday shopping and all! :). thanks in advance for all help/advice.... James Rich jera4135@menudo.uh.edu (account expires soon, reply here if possible) + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!swiss.ans.net!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsbf01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: davidf1938@aol.com (DavidF1938) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Fix sad Vectrex Date: 17 Dec 1994 19:20:17 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 8 Sender: news@newsbf01.news.aol.com Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3cvv81$d1m@newsbf01.news.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf01.news.aol.com I have about 75% of the games, the 3D goggles and the light pen, and two controllers -- but the unit itself is kaput. Instead of a nice vector lines I get garbage. Anywhere in the world I can get this fixed? David + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!cats.ucsc.edu!tamarand From: tamarand@cats.ucsc.edu (Heather Katherine Wentworth) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Multigame adapter Date: 16 Dec 1994 05:09:46 GMT Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz Lines: 5 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3cr7eq$367@darkstar.UCSC.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: am.ucsc.edu X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.0 #1 (NOV) Has anyone written up schematics for the multigame carts? The EProms I have programmed have games either every 8 or 16k. Since that's the size and all :) + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!newsserver.sdsc.edu!news.tc.cornell.edu!news.cac.psu.edu!news.pop.psu.edu!psuvax1!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Games you'd like to C Message-ID: <19DEC199416490673@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> Distribution: inet Date: Mon, 19 Dec 1994 15:49:00 GMT Lines: 19 In article <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net>, krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) writes... > A few notes on this list. There WAS a Lunar Lander vector game. >I think Atari made it. I liked it because the vector allowed for more There was a Lunar Lander for the DEC GT40 - a vector terminal consisting of a PDP11/05 processor, a VT11 1024*768 vector display, and 8K of core memory. It wasa fun game. The GT40 was probably one of the first desktop computers with vector display, and is a system well worth preserving. >A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A > -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!newsserver.sdsc.edu!news.tc.cornell.edu!news.cac.psu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Fix sad Vectrex Message-ID: <19DEC199417021223@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3cvv81$d1m@newsbf01.news.aol.com> Distribution: inet Date: Mon, 19 Dec 1994 16:02:00 GMT Lines: 63 In article <3cvv81$d1m@newsbf01.news.aol.com>, davidf1938@aol.com (DavidF1938) writes... >I have about 75% of the games, the 3D goggles and the light pen, and two >controllers -- but the unit itself is kaput. Instead of a nice vector >lines I get garbage. > >Anywhere in the world I can get this fixed? I don't know.... If you were in the UK, I'd take a look at it. A few suggestions: The service manual is on the ftp site. Although it's a poor-quality copy, given that manual and the machine, a good service engineer should be able to sort it out. Maybe you could find a local electronics enthusiast who would take a look. If you know something about electronics, you could take a look yourself. Before you dive in though, there are DANGEROUS VOLTAGES inside the vectrex. Apart from mains (which is pretty well enclosed), there is the 5.8kV supply to the CRT (nasty, but it _shouldn't_ kill you, and anyway it's well insulated), and also some high (few hundreds) voltages on the analogue PCB (the vertical one on the left looking from the rear), and also on the CRT base. Also, of course, the CRT itself is dangerous because it could violently implode and spray broken glass over a wide area. But, if you know what you are doing (or know a friendly TV repairman who will show you what to do), you can probably repair it. OK, now for a few tests and questions : 1) Check the supply lines to the digital PCB. There are 4 connections, shown in the service manual, ground, +5v, -5v, and -13V. You can check these with a voltmeter, relative to the ground line 2) Does the machine seem to start up OK apart from the display. Is the sound normal? Do other cartridges give the right start-up music, and seem to play, apart from the display. If so, you probably have an analogue problem _after_ the DAC. Use the test cartridge (on the ftp site), and see if the CPU sound test passes. If so, the DAC and the output port that drives it are probably OK, and you should go through the setting up procedure for the DAC offset (you need a 'scope), and the vector alignment. Hopefully you can find a waveform that's off. If you get stuck you could try replacing components in the vector generator, starting with the 4052 analog mux. 3) If the machine does not start correctly, you probably have a digital fault. Now, this is decidly non-trivial to trace without a logic analyser (and if you have one of those you probably don't need my notes :-)), but you could start by looking for activity on the address and data pins of the 6809 (or cartridge socket). If the address pins seem to be missing, check for shorts and then replace the 6809. The only (simple) way to find data line faults is to swap out the 6809, the 6522, the 2114's and the ROM. 4) If you like lucky-dip servicing, the most unreliable chips in the vectrex are the 2114 RAMs. I've replaced many such devices in other machines. If one of those failed, the CPU could lose its stack, the vector data, and more. If you're feeling lucky, replace the pair (about $3 each I guess). It might get you back to life. > >David > -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!uop!lll-winken.llnl.gov!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!emory!gatech!udel!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Vectrex Programming interface Date: 19 Dec 1994 05:09:13 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 17 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] What exactly was described several months ago? Wasn't it an interface to go from a parallel port to a RAMCART to download code to? I think step one in getting people programming for the Vectrex is to build an interface to let you download code easily to it. Not necessarily a complex DMA interface, but something serial or parallel. Not everyone wants to deal with EPROM burners, and even those who have them know that it is still rather slow debugging this way. If an interface that any computer with a standard parallel or serial interface could hook up to were available to netters, everyone could get them, and new games could be played without EPROMs (although you'd eventually want to burn one for simplicity). + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!newsserver.sdsc.edu!news.tc.cornell.edu!news.cac.psu.edu!news.pop.psu.edu!psuvax1!uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface Message-ID: <19DEC199417070590@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> Distribution: inet Date: Mon, 19 Dec 1994 16:07:00 GMT Lines: 45 In article <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net>, krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) writes... > >What exactly was described several months ago? Wasn't it an interface to >go from a parallel port to a RAMCART to download code to? I've been thinking (in private) about porting the S100 system to a PC. It should be relatively simple to do > >I think step one in getting people programming for the Vectrex is to >build an interface to let you download code easily to it. Not >necessarily a complex DMA interface, but something serial or parallel. > >Not everyone wants to deal with EPROM burners, and even those who have >them know that it is still rather slow debugging this way. Indeed. Of course you can use an EPROM emulator (if you own one) with the vectrex. Use e.g. ARD's trivial cart to link the emulator cable to the cartridge connector. > >If an interface that any computer with a standard parallel or serial >interface could hook up to were available to netters, everyone could get >them, and new games could be played without EPROMs (although you'd >eventually want to burn one for simplicity). I've been thinking about building a cartridge with 8K of RAM (a 6264), a 6821 parallel chip, and a small ROM. On boot-up, the ROM is mapped both at 0000 and 2000 hex. The vectrex executes the lower copy, which then jumps to the higher copy, and swiches out the lower copy, replacing it with RAM. The ROM contains a program that reads bytes in over the 6821 (wired as an input port - it should connect to a PC parallel port easily!), and stores them in RAM. When the program is loaded, it then jumps to the routine in ROM that checks for a cartridge. Said routine then finds the copy that's been loaded (not the ROM, the RAM) at location 0, and executes it. What do you think? It should only be about 6 chips... > > -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!newsserver.sdsc.edu!news.tc.cornell.edu!news.cac.psu.edu!news.pop.psu.edu!psuvax1!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Notes on a light pen Message-ID: <19DEC199417104278@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department Date: Mon, 19 Dec 1994 16:10:00 GMT Lines: 20 I've been experimenting with a home-made light-pen for my vectex. It's not ready to post yet (but I will do when it's finished), but the following may help The light pen simply needs to provide a -ve going TTL pulse on pin 4 of the left input (switch 7 I think). This interrupts the 6809. The light pen draws its power from pin 7 (+5V) and pin 8 (0V) of said socket. The main problem seems to be finding a connector that fits the vectrex. It's a 9-pin D, all right, but most sockets won't fit through the front panel. You can cut/file one to fit, but then you can't fit a hood to clamp the cable. Any suggestions? Still, a home-made light-pen is certainly possible. -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Last bacth of Woodward multicart recipients... Date: 16 Dec 1994 13:20:51 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 14 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3cs47j$kra@sundog.tiac.net> References: <3c78c2$mhr@crchh327.bnr.ca> <3cqpev$8ep@magus.cs.utah.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] My advice to those who are fed up with their Multicart situation is to demand a refund and order a multicart from Sean. It'll be fast, and it'll work. No menu but who gives a shit? You want to wait 2 years for a menu? It sounds like those multicarts have been hacked so many times that their wiring is as convoluted as the Millenium Falcon's hyperdrive circuits. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Games you'd like to C Date: 16 Dec 1994 13:45:37 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 55 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Which types of games did they never cover with the Vectrex? There were several. Nothing against the vec. The great thing is that it managed to pull off some genres that you'd think were NOT well suited to vector presentation. Here is a list and I'll star those that are pretty unusual in how they were originally meant for raster graphics and you'd think it wouldn't translate well, but they pulled it off in vector: PacMan Clone * Soccer * Football Berzerk * Cinematronics ports Tempest clones Driving (Pole Position) * Subsim Space 3Dish 2D tank battle Asteroids clone Platform run and jump * Scramble clone RPG (Dark Tower?) I know I'm forgetting something. Here is a list of stuff which I think could be done these days (no worry about memory, you've got 32K to work from let alone banking, split it up between ROM and RAM, whatever): Battlezone Red Baron or any other flight sim Star Raiders clone Tetris 3-D maze (ala Wolf3D, Midimaze, Doom) Lunar Lander! Gravitar Stargate Gorf/Phoenix ripoff (aborbs Invaders scenario) Baseball/Hockey A few notes on this list. There WAS a Lunar Lander vector game. I think Atari made it. I liked it because the vector allowed for more precision movements/rotation, etc. As for the 3D games, Polar Rescue shows you that ANYTHING 3D is possible. It uses kind of a Wing Commander 3D cheat, using various angles on the subs and scaling them instead of true polygons. However, simple true polygons ala Battlezone shouldn't be that tough. Anyone game? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!milo.mcs.anl.gov!hera!hoffberg From: hoffberg@hera.aps.anl.gov (Mike Hoffberg) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Dark Tower Date: 20 Dec 1994 00:29:49 GMT Organization: Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago Illinois Lines: 312 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov> NNTP-Posting-Host: hera.aps.anl.gov OK, So I downloaded both EPROMs from a Data IO, at first it could not read one of them, boy was I worried... Here are the two uuencoded files. At the moment I do not have enought time to draw up a schematic of the cart. I suspect that the extra chip in the cart was used as a chip select (74LS00). One eprom is a 8K, the other is the 4K... darkt32.hex, darkt64.hex I don't know what order they should be in, so until I figure out the order, someone else can play around with them. Also if this is not the best format for them, feel free to tell me how to convert them. MIKE (happy holidays) begin 666 darkt32.hex M,S8J(J(B*R(J(C@S.#8Z,SHS(B8B)B(B(B(S.#,S,S,S,RLB*R(J(BHB.C,Y M,S@S.C,B(B(B(B(B(C,S,S8S,S8S____(BLB+"(],SXS/S,X,____R(B(B(B M,S,S,S,U,S8E__\F(F(B*3-C,S8S,S,V(((@H"# (-H@]"$4(3(A4@4&!0<% M" 4)! 4$!@0'! @$"0,% P8#!P,( PD ,' P@#"00'! @$"04'!0@%"08' M!@@&"0<(!PD("0 !0D&!P8(!@D'!P<(!PD(!P@(" D)" D) '!@<'!P@' M"0@&" <(" @)"08)!PD("0D <#!P0'!0<&!P<( P@$" 4(!@@'"0,)! 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end ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- begin 666 darkt64.hex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urprisingly tender and tasted hoffberg@phebos.aps.anl.gov // \\ Argonne somewhat like chicken." mike@anl.gov //_O_\\ National Standard Disclaimer Applies /__| |__\ Lab Boola! Boola! + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!news.primenet.com!krishna From: krishna@primenet.com (Glenn Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface Date: 19 Dec 1994 23:09:14 GMT Organization: Primenet Lines: 24 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d53qq$556@news.primenet.com> References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199417070590@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: usr1.primenet.com X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] PDP11 Hacker ..... (ard@siva.bris.ac.uk) wrote: : I've been thinking about building a cartridge with 8K of RAM (a 6264), a 6821 : parallel chip, and a small ROM. On boot-up, the ROM is mapped both at 0000 and : 2000 hex. The vectrex executes the lower copy, which then jumps to the higher : copy, and swiches out the lower copy, replacing it with RAM. The ROM contains a : program that reads bytes in over the 6821 (wired as an input port - it should : connect to a PC parallel port easily!), and stores them in RAM. When the : program is loaded, it then jumps to the routine in ROM that checks for a : cartridge. Said routine then finds the copy that's been loaded (not the ROM, : the RAM) at location 0, and executes it. Limiting the interface to 8K is pointless. The Vectrex supports 32K linear addressability through the cart port. The purpose of this should not be just another means to take the games off ftp and make them run on the Vectrex. We already have at least one RELIABLE multicart manufacturer. The goal should be to support 32K and be able to use it as all RAM or ROM or whatever. For instance, Animaction has RAM in addition to ROM on the cart. There is a little RAM inside the Vec, but if you are going to go to a full 32K for a new game, you might as well program it for all RAM. Writing for ROM is way too limiting. It's not like we have to worry about 1982 ram prices, there is no need to develop the same way they did 12 years ago! + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!news.primenet.com!krishna From: krishna@primenet.com (Glenn Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Games you'd like to C Date: 19 Dec 1994 23:14:47 GMT Organization: Primenet Lines: 25 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d5457$556@news.primenet.com> References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199416490673@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: usr1.primenet.com X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] PDP11 Hacker ..... (ard@siva.bris.ac.uk) wrote: : There was a Lunar Lander for the DEC GT40 - a vector terminal consisting of a : PDP11/05 processor, a VT11 1024*768 vector display, and 8K of core memory. It : wasa fun game. : The GT40 was probably one of the first desktop computers with vector display, : and is a system well worth preserving. So I guess there is a precedence for a vector text terminal, since I'm sure the GT40 had to support a text mode of some type. The notion of the Vectrex computer addon is still a little alien to me because I wonder how funky a full page of text would look, like how flickery. I realize it has ROM routines for text, but I fear that a full page disaply might wig out the machine or be really slow to scroll, etc... The GT40 sounds familiar, I think that was what the first light pens used to work with for early CAD-CAM programs. Yes, both Space War and Lunar Lander resurfaced as arcade games after making history on '60s mainframes. It is rather baffling that LL never made an appearance on the Vec... + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!news.cs.utah.edu!asylum.cs.utah.edu!galt From: galt@asylum.cs.utah.edu (Greg Alt) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Notes on a light pen Date: 19 Dec 1994 23:10:53 GMT Organization: University of Utah Computer Science Lines: 12 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d53tt$an3@magus.cs.utah.edu> References: <19DEC199417104278@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: asylum.cs.utah.edu In article <19DEC199417104278@siva.bris.ac.uk> ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) writes: >The main problem seems to be finding a connector that fits the vectrex. It's a >9-pin D, all right, but most sockets won't fit through the front panel. You can >cut/file one to fit, but then you can't fit a hood to clamp the cable. Any >suggestions? Get an extension cord for Sega Genesis controllers. They have all 9 wires, and the connector should almost fit. A bit of filing should make it work. They cost about $5 a piece in the U.S. Greg + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu!quip.eecs.umich.edu!dmuntz From: dmuntz@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Dan Muntz) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower Date: 20 Dec 1994 03:09:04 GMT Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept. Lines: 21 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d5hsg$ddp@zip.eecs.umich.edu> References: <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov> NNTP-Posting-Host: quip.eecs.umich.edu In article <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov>, Mike Hoffberg wrote: > >Here are the two uuencoded files. At the moment I do not have enought >time to draw up a schematic of the cart. I suspect that the extra >chip in the cart was used as a chip select (74LS00). > >I don't know what order they should be in, so until I figure out the >order, someone else can play around with them. > >Also if this is not the best format for them, feel free to tell me how >to convert them. It works! The 8k chunk goes before the 4k one. Format is perfect. So, what's the goal of this game? You seem to run around a forest picking up objects (I can't tell what they are, but it _sounds_ like they're good to pick up). Also, are there any controls besides the joystick and button 1 for inventory? -Dan + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!ub!news.kei.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface Message-ID: <20DEC199410525612@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199417070590@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d53qq$556@news.primenet.com> Distribution: inet Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 09:52:00 GMT Lines: 64 In article <3d53qq$556@news.primenet.com>, krishna@primenet.com (Glenn Saunders) writes... >PDP11 Hacker ..... (ard@siva.bris.ac.uk) wrote: > >: I've been thinking about building a cartridge with 8K of RAM (a 6264), a 6821 >: parallel chip, and a small ROM. On boot-up, the ROM is mapped both at 0000 and >: 2000 hex. The vectrex executes the lower copy, which then jumps to the higher >: copy, and swiches out the lower copy, replacing it with RAM. The ROM contains a >: program that reads bytes in over the 6821 (wired as an input port - it should >: connect to a PC parallel port easily!), and stores them in RAM. When the >: program is loaded, it then jumps to the routine in ROM that checks for a >: cartridge. Said routine then finds the copy that's been loaded (not the ROM, >: the RAM) at location 0, and executes it. > >Limiting the interface to 8K is pointless. The Vectrex supports 32K >linear addressability through the cart port. The purpose of this should True. OK, how about using a 32K ram chip (like a 62256), and a memory map something like : ---------------------- | |ROM copy 2| | RAM |__________| | | | | |ROM copy 1| ---------------------- Then, at boot it the vectrex executes ROM (boot /download ROM) copy 1. This jumps to copy 2, and pages out copy 1. That allows for 16K of RAM. If you like, once the program has loaded, _it_ can page out ROM copy #2, and have access to the full 32K ram space Hey... a bit more logic, and we can locate the scond copy of ROM at the very top of the cartridge space. Then we probably get 28-30K of RAM for downloading into, and 2K that can be used as storage by the program (only). PALs are cheap now... >not be just another means to take the games off ftp and make them run on >the Vectrex. We already have at least one RELIABLE multicart >manufacturer. The goal should be to support 32K and be able to use it Multi-carts have the disadvantage that as new games are found they have to be modified to include them. I'd prefer someting a little more universal. >as all RAM or ROM or whatever. For instance, Animaction has RAM in >addition to ROM on the cart. There is a little RAM inside the Vec, but >if you are going to go to a full 32K for a new game, you might as well >program it for all RAM. Writing for ROM is way too limiting. It's not >like we have to worry about 1982 ram prices, there is no need to develop >the same way they did 12 years ago! I never said _anything_ about not having write_access to the RAM from the vectrex side. In fact, as I intend to use the vectrex CPU to load the RAM, it must be able to write to it. I assume that no vectrex games try to write to the ROM to ensure that they are not running from RAM (if you see what I mean). Some microcomputer ROMs did, to prevent people using a RAM cartridge to pirate them > -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!ub!news.kei.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Dark Tower Message-ID: <20DEC199410562160@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov> Distribution: inet Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 09:56:00 GMT Lines: 33 In article <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov>, hoffberg@hera.aps.anl.gov (Mike Hoffberg) writes... >OK, >Here are the two uuencoded files. At the moment I do not have enought Thanks... They will be interesting >time to draw up a schematic of the cart. I suspect that the extra >chip in the cart was used as a chip select (74LS00). I posted a possible schematic, assuming a linear address space a couple of weeks back. So, the extra chip was a '00. That makes a lot of sense. > >One eprom is a 8K, the other is the 4K... > >darkt32.hex, darkt64.hex > >I don't know what order they should be in, so until I figure out the >order, someone else can play around with them. My guess is that the 8K one comes first. It would be simpler to map the 8K chip on an 8K boundary. >MIKE (happy holidays) >-- >Michael Hoffberg /.\ "Surprisingly tender and tasted -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!trib.apple.com!gallant.apple.com!apple.com!uuwest!alcyone!max From: max@alcyone.darkside.com (Erik Max Francis) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Games you'd like to C Message-ID: Date: Fri, 16 Dec 94 22:20:18 PST References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> Organization: &tSftDotIotE Lines: 15 krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) writes: > Here is a list of stuff which I think could be done these days (no worry > about memory, you've got 32K to work from let alone banking, split it up > between ROM and RAM, whatever): ... Don't forget Major Havoc! Now _that_ is something I'd like to see people do in 32K. Erik Max Francis, &tSftDotIotE ...!uuwest!alcyone!max max@alcyone.darkside.com San Jose, CA ... GIGO, Hg, Omega, Universe, Psi ... ICBM: 37 20 N 121 53 W _ H.3`S,3,P,3$S,#$Q,C`Q,3,P,3$S,#$Q,3`Q,3,P,C$Q,#(Q.#`-"C`- ftmfbs kmmfa mc2 / \ Omnia quia sunt, lumina sunt. ("All things that are, are lights.") -><- \_/ + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!milo.mcs.anl.gov!hera!hoffberg From: hoffberg@hera.aps.anl.gov (Mike Hoffberg) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower Date: 20 Dec 1994 15:11:32 GMT Organization: Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago Illinois Lines: 80 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d6s74$nml@milo.mcs.anl.gov> References: <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov> <3d5hsg$ddp@zip.eecs.umich.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: hera.aps.anl.gov JOYSTICK: Moves Warrior forward and backward and right and left BUTTON 1: (POSSESSIONS) Press and hold to view listing of all your possessions, remaining number of warriors and current score. Release to return to game. BUTTON 2: (FIRE LEFT/ARROW) Press to select game option. Press to fire left in Brigand Sequence. Press to move arrow in the Riddle of the Keys. BUTTON 3: (FIRE STRAIGHT / KEY SELECT) Press to fire straight in the Birgand Sequence. Press to select key type in Riddle of the Keys. BUTTON 4: (FIRE RIGHT/TEST) Press to fire right in Brigand Sequence. Press to open the chests in the forest. Press to test your solution in the Riddle of the Keys. Three skill levels - 1 hardest (no keys) - 4 easiest (Silver, Bronze, Brass keys) Object: Your goal is to unlock the dooor of the Dark Tower by solvingt the riddle of the keys. To solve th riddle, you must first find four different keys scattererd throughout the forest and hten cfind and enter the Dark Towre itself. Alon the way, you will encounter a series of hazards an mysteris. Tread carefully... you never know where dangers lurk! (synopsis) Buying a healer will help fight the plague, prevelant in the zone of death (dead trees). Fog places you randomly in the forest. The map of the forest is always the same PINE TREES DEAD TREES (Zone of Death) DARK TOWER ELM TREES MAPLE TREES (the dark tower is in the center, the entire world is a grid) Different types of chests... Treasure Do-Nothing Fog Plague Brigand Magician (he lets you buy stuff) The Dark Tower is only visible when you have all of the keys. It is located near the center of the map. Move towards the entrance of the door. Now select the order of the keys, each key must be used once. Button 4 will test the solution. If you are correct the game will end. If you are incorrect, the correctly placed keys will stay lit for a few seconds and you will be placed randomly in the forest, if you have a scout, you will be placed outside the castle. MIKE -- Michael Hoffberg /.\ "Surprisingly tender and tasted hoffberg@phebos.aps.anl.gov // \\ Argonne somewhat like chicken." mike@anl.gov //_O_\\ National Standard Disclaimer Applies /__| |__\ Lab Boola! Boola! + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Games you'd like to C Message-ID: <20DEC199410442875@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199416490673@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d5457$556@news.primenet.com> Distribution: inet Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 09:44:00 GMT Lines: 60 In article <3d5457$556@news.primenet.com>, krishna@primenet.com (Glenn Saunders) writes... >PDP11 Hacker ..... (ard@siva.bris.ac.uk) wrote: >: There was a Lunar Lander for the DEC GT40 - a vector terminal consisting of a >: PDP11/05 processor, a VT11 1024*768 vector display, and 8K of core memory. It >: wasa fun game. > >: The GT40 was probably one of the first desktop computers with vector display, >: and is a system well worth preserving. > >So I guess there is a precedence for a vector text terminal, since I'm >sure the GT40 had to support a text mode of some type. The notion of the It did, but in a totally wierd way. When you displayed a character, the unit draw a little 5*7 raster at the current 'pen' position, and modulated the intensity to display the right character. There was a bit-mapped character generator in there!. The HP1350 (another vector display unit of about the same time) actually plotted the characters as a series of vectors, like the vectrex does. >Vectrex computer addon is still a little alien to me because I wonder how >funky a full page of text would look, like how flickery. I realize it >has ROM routines for text, but I fear that a full page disaply might wig >out the machine or be really slow to scroll, etc... I suspect that both the GT40 and the HP1350 copuld display vectors a lot faster than the Vectrex. > >The GT40 sounds familiar, I think that was what the first light pens used >to work with for early CAD-CAM programs. There was a light pen (it was an option according to the schematics), but it wasn't the first. In fact earlier DEC displays, had light pen options. The GT40 (VT40/VT11) was a hardware vector display. You set up a list of vectors in memory, and pointed the GT40 display unit to the start of the list. There were special values in the list to change modes (e.g. go to text mode), and to jump to a new address. The list was in effect an endless loop program for the display generator. Earlier DEC displays were more like the vectrex. You had X and Y DACs and you had to drive them in software to move the beam around. > > >Yes, both Space War and Lunar Lander resurfaced as arcade games after >making history on '60s mainframes. > >It is rather baffling that LL never made an appearance on the Vec... Indeed. I suspect the GT40 version could be (easily) ported. > > -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Games you'd like to C Date: 21 Dec 1994 01:32:03 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 16 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d80ij$5s@sundog.tiac.net> References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Erik Max Francis (max@alcyone.darkside.com) wrote: : Don't forget Major Havoc! Now _that_ is something I'd like to see : people do in 32K. I failed to mention the latter vector games like Major Havoc and things like Star Wars and Empire because they can push more vectors than the Vectrex can do reliably. The compromise would be flicker if they were possible at all. Major Havoc also requires a rotor controller. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Games you'd like to C Date: 21 Dec 1994 01:34:22 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 17 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d80mu$5s@sundog.tiac.net> References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199416490673@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d5457$556@news.primenet.com> <20DEC199410442875@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] PDP11 Hacker ..... (ard@siva.bris.ac.uk) wrote: : The GT40 (VT40/VT11) was a hardware vector display. You set up a list of : vectors in memory, and pointed the GT40 display unit to the start of the list. : There were special values in the list to change modes (e.g. go to text mode), : and to jump to a new address. The list was in effect an endless loop program : for the display generator. That sounds just like a display list in the Atari8-bit world. I wonder if Jay Miner was familiar with the GT40? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface Date: 21 Dec 1994 01:52:04 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 25 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d81o4$5s@sundog.tiac.net> References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199417070590@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d53qq$556@news.primenet.com> <20DEC199410525612@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] PDP11 Hacker ..... (ard@siva.bris.ac.uk) wrote: : Multi-carts have the disadvantage that as new games are found they have to be : modified to include them. I'd prefer someting a little more universal. Well, it seems as though your goals are different from mine. You seem to be primarily looking for a way to download existing ROM games to it rather than looking for the most flexible way to write new games. 'as new games are found' There isn't going to be an endless parade of games that appear out of the ether to be burned into revised multicarts. Only a small number of them. What _I_ would do is leave my own multicart alone and reserve a 2nd multicart for the unreleased stuff instead of sending my only multicart all over. The way the multicarts are set up, at least mine, they don't HAVE any more dip switch settings for any other games so no new games could be added to them anyway. So I don't see why you are so squeamish about multicarts. Having to have 2 rather than just 1 cart is not that much of a problem. Certainly better than having dozens of carts all over the place. Plus, you get a hardware pause switch that works with most games. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news.kei.com!newshost.marcam.com!uunet!xnet!quake.xnet.com!bbs!skelly From: skelly@bbs.xnet.com (Sean Kelly) Message-ID: Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199417070590@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d53qq$556@news.primenet.com> <20DEC199410525612@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d81o4$5s@sundog.tiac.net> Date: 22 Dec 94 01:56:39 CST Organization: XNet Public Access Internet, Naperville, IL (708-983-6435) Lines: 21 >There isn't going to be an endless parade of games that appear out of the >ether to be burned into revised multicarts. Only a small number of them. >What _I_ would do is leave my own multicart alone and reserve a 2nd >multicart for the unreleased stuff instead of sending my only multicart >all over. The way the multicarts are set up, at least mine, they don't >HAVE any more dip switch settings for any other games so no new games >could be added to them anyway. Ahhh but if you look closely, the board I designed for that multi-cart has one extra pair of holes at the end of the DIP switch to allow for the use of a 6-position switch which would give access to 64 games with a 4-meg EPROM if you really wanted to mess with it. However, we're not talking about a $500 piece of hardware here. A second cart isn't going to set anyone back all that much. I did figure out how I could re-design my board to allow for the inclusion of Dark Tower, but I am also working on getting Tour De France from someone else that claims to have it and want to see if that pans out before making any changes. Sean Kelly skelly@bbs.xnet.com + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!news.pop.psu.edu!hudson.lm.com!netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov!wiretap.spies.com!times.aux.apple.com!mumbo.apple.com!gallant.apple.com!apple.com!uuwest!alcyone!max From: max@alcyone.darkside.com (Erik Max Francis) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower Message-ID: Date: Tue, 20 Dec 94 07:01:40 PST References: <3d5hsg$ddp@zip.eecs.umich.edu> Organization: &tSftDotIotE Lines: 30 dmuntz@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Dan Muntz) writes: > It works! The 8k chunk goes before the 4k one. Format is perfect. > So, what's the goal of this game? You seem to run around a forest > picking up objects (I can't tell what they are, but it _sounds_ like they're > good to pick up). Also, are there any controls besides the joystick and > button 1 for inventory? What kind of hardware does one need to download programs into the Vectrex? Dark Tower, by the way (if it's the same game which it sounds like it is from previous discussions here) was an electronic board game where players walked around on a map and attempted to build an army to attack the Dark Tower in the map center; to do this you needed warriors (and food to feed them) and three keys (bronze, silver, and gold). At the entrance to the Tower was a puzzle, where you had to find the right sequence of the three keys to unlock the Tower, and then you fought the final battle with some unknown number of bad guys (brigands) in the Tower. When you beat them, you won. There were of course many sites around the map where you could encounter treasure (including the keys) and brigands. It was quite an entertaining game. Erik Max Francis, &tSftDotIotE ...!uuwest!alcyone!max max@alcyone.darkside.com San Jose, CA ... GIGO, Hg, Omega, Universe, Psi ... ICBM: 37 20 N 121 53 W _ H.3`S,3,P,3$S,#$Q,C`Q,3,P,3$S,#$Q,3`Q,3,P,C$Q,#(Q.#`-"C`- ftmfbs kmmfa mc2 / \ Omnia quia sunt, lumina sunt. ("All things that are, are lights.") -><- \_/ + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csusac!zimmer!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!gatech!newsfeed.pitt.edu!hudson.lm.com!netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov!wiretap.spies.com!times.aux.apple.com!mumbo.apple.com!gallant.apple.com!apple.com!uuwest!alcyone!max From: max@alcyone.darkside.com (Erik Max Francis) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Dark Tower part of a multicart? Message-ID: <1ZyNXc11w200w@alcyone.darkside.com> Date: Tue, 20 Dec 94 19:17:35 PST Organization: &tSftDotIotE Lines: 21 I've heard of a lot of discussion about Dark Tower here for the Vectrex; Dark Tower was one of the games I played a lot as a kid, so I'd be more than happy to find a version of it for the Vectrex -- even if it's miserable, I'd enjoy it for nostalgic purposes. I get the impression from the discussions here that the cartridge was never officially released (or at least not widely released); is it available anywhere? (Someone just posted instructions for it, so I figure it can't be too far away.) Failing that, the software for Dark Tower is obviously available, as people are posting it here and playing around with it. Is it presently available on any multicart? As an aside, I'm looking to buy a multicart -- which one should I buy? Erik Max Francis, &tSftDotIotE ...!uuwest!alcyone!max max@alcyone.darkside.com San Jose, CA ... GIGO, Hg, Omega, Universe, Psi ... ICBM: 37 20 N 121 53 W _ H.3`S,3,P,3$S,#$Q,C`Q,3,P,3$S,#$Q,3`Q,3,P,C$Q,#(Q.#`-"C`- ftmfbs kmmfa mc2 / \ Omnia quia sunt, lumina sunt. ("All things that are, are lights.") -><- \_/ + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!xnet!quake.xnet.com!bbs!skelly From: skelly@bbs.xnet.com (Sean Kelly) Message-ID: Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower References: <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov> <3d5hsg$ddp@zip.eecs.umich.edu> Date: 21 Dec 94 00:45:21 CST Organization: XNet Public Access Internet, Naperville, IL (708-983-6435) Lines: 34 >>Also if this is not the best format for them, feel free to tell me how >>to convert them. > >It works! The 8k chunk goes before the 4k one. Format is perfect. >So, what's the goal of this game? You seem to run around a forest >picking up objects (I can't tell what they are, but it _sounds_ like they're >good to pick up). Also, are there any controls besides the joystick and >button 1 for inventory? > The file extension on the files once you decode them is "HEX" but the images are actually binary to avoid any confusion. I have typed up how you go about buring the game and playing it from one EPROM.... ----------------------- For those of you with EPROM programmers that would like to know how to get the Dark Tower that was posted here yesterday to work, here's what you do: Combine the two binary chip images into one file with the "64" file first Remove the chip from an 8k game (I used Blitz) Cut the traces going to edge connectors #10 & #16 Run the following wires: Pin #26 on EPROM -> Edge Connector #31 Pin #23 on EPROM -> Edge Connector #10 Pin #20 on EPROM -> Edge Connector #16 Plug it in and you're ready to play. It uses a 27128 EPROM by the way. Sean Kelly skelly@bbs.xnet.com + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface Date: 21 Dec 1994 20:13:00 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 14 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3da28c$6bd@sundog.tiac.net> References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> <3d53qq$556@news.primenet.com> <20DEC199410525612@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d81o4$5s@sundog.tiac.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Mark Woodward (woodward@Newbridge.COM) wrote: : Most? Which ones does'nt yours work with? If you catch certain games at the wrong moment, when you come back, it is like a lockup so it stays black. This is the Kelly multicart. I don't know about yours, but I'd suppose the switch works identically. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!borcore.usbr.gov!csn!ub!news.kei.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower Date: 21 Dec 1994 20:17:00 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 25 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3da2fs$6bd@sundog.tiac.net> References: <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov> <3d5hsg$ddp@zip.eecs.umich.edu> <3d6s74$nml@milo.mcs.anl.gov> <3d9s0b$lv@nic.umass.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Brian D Hanechak (hanechak@titan.ucs.umass.edu) wrote: : This game seems very similar to a board game I have called "Dark Tower." : There are the three keys required to get in, and you did have to figure : out the order. Also, occasionally you had to fight Brigands.... : I'm really interested in hearing about this, and the idea of creating a : computer interface would be the best, to accomodate new games. One thing about the interface. I don't like the idea of platform-specificity. People are talking about Eprom emulators for the 'PC' and stuff like that. That's why I mentioned using the serial or parallel port of ANY computer and downloading raw data to it in some fashion so that any machine with standard ports could use it. For instance, supposedly there is a good 6809 cross assembler for the Amiga. I'd therefore want to give it a shot on my 1200. If it's basic enough to use a standard port, someone could write native assembly on their CoCo and write it over from there! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface Message-ID: <21DEC199411131999@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199417070590@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d53qq$556@news.primenet.com> <3d81o4$5s@sundog.tiac.net> Distribution: inet Date: Wed, 21 Dec 1994 10:13:00 GMT Lines: 55 In article <3d81o4$5s@sundog.tiac.net>, krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) writes... >PDP11 Hacker ..... (ard@siva.bris.ac.uk) wrote: >: Multi-carts have the disadvantage that as new games are found they have to be >: modified to include them. I'd prefer someting a little more universal. > >Well, it seems as though your goals are different from mine. You seem to >be primarily looking for a way to download existing ROM games to it >rather than looking for the most flexible way to write new games. I'm interested in doing both. Well, actually, I'd probably start by tweaking existing games, rather than writing new ones from scratch. There seems to be no disadvantage in keeping the games on disk, and downloading them as needed, rather than in a multi-cart ROM. If I wanted to seriously develop new software, I'd try to get the 6809 in-circuit emulator card for my Tekky development system :-). Actually, that's not a bad idea..... > >'as new games are found' > >There isn't going to be an endless parade of games that appear out of the >ether to be burned into revised multicarts. Only a small number of them. >What _I_ would do is leave my own multicart alone and reserve a 2nd >multicart for the unreleased stuff instead of sending my only multicart >all over. The way the multicarts are set up, at least mine, they don't >HAVE any more dip switch settings for any other games so no new games >could be added to them anyway. Exactly. But, if as you say, we are going to develop new games then hopefully we'll get enough to fill a 2nd, 3rd,... multicart. It's not going to take me much longer to develop the interface/ram cart than to build a multi-cart. Most of the time is laying out the board and etching it, or wire-wrapping a prototype. OK, so there's a bit of software development for the downloader ROM, but not much. > >So I don't see why you are so squeamish about multicarts. Having to have >2 rather than just 1 cart is not that much of a problem. Certainly >better than having dozens of carts all over the place. I'm not. But, there's a practical reason, maybe a bit silly. By the time I've ordered a multi-cart from the USA, and had the postal service mangle it a few times, I might as well have built the interface. OK, I could build my own multi-card using DIP switches - that would be easy, but I prefer a bit more of a challenge. I got the vectrex not to play games on but to play with. The machine is properly documented, and I want to expand it. This seems like the obvious first project. -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!nott!nbkanata!woodward From: woodward@Newbridge.COM (Mark Woodward) Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface Message-ID: Sender: usenet@Newbridge.COM Organization: Newbridge Networks Corporation References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> <3d53qq$556@news.primenet.com> <20DEC199410525612@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d81o4$5s@sundog.tiac.net> Distribution: inet Date: Wed, 21 Dec 1994 14:03:36 GMT Lines: 37 In article <3d81o4$5s@sundog.tiac.net>, Glenn M. Saunders wrote: >There isn't going to be an endless parade of games that appear out of the >ether to be burned into revised multicarts. Only a small number of them. Unfortunatly :< >What _I_ would do is leave my own multicart alone and reserve a 2nd >multicart for the unreleased stuff instead of sending my only multicart >all over. The way the multicarts are set up, at least mine, they don't >HAVE any more dip switch settings for any other games so no new games >could be added to them anyway. Thats the benifits of using a s/w selection method. It makes it easy to add more games (upto 256) by just upgrading the eproms and menu s/w. I have learned my lesson though and the eprom is in a socket for easy exchange. If anyone with my multicart wants it upgraded to include the Dark Tower image get in touch with me. You'll lose two games (12K needed) which will be the hacked minestorms. > >So I don't see why you are so squeamish about multicarts. Having to have >2 rather than just 1 cart is not that much of a problem. Certainly >better than having dozens of carts all over the place. > >Plus, you get a hardware pause switch that works with most games. > Most? Which ones does'nt yours work with? -- Mark C.R Woodward woodward@newbridge.com Relax, Dont worry... Load up Linux Real computers dont run MS-DOS + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!uhog.mit.edu!news.mtholyoke.edu!news.umass.edu!nic.umass.edu!titan.ucs.umass.edu!hanechak From: hanechak@titan.ucs.umass.edu (Brian D Hanechak) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Dark Tower Date: 21 Dec 1994 18:26:19 GMT Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst Lines: 9 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3d9s0b$lv@nic.umass.edu> References: <3d58ht$eti@milo.mcs.anl.gov> <3d5hsg$ddp@zip.eecs.umich.edu> <3d6s74$nml@milo.mcs.anl.gov> NNTP-Posting-Host: titan.ucs.umass.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] This game seems very similar to a board game I have called "Dark Tower." There are the three keys required to get in, and you did have to figure out the order. Also, occasionally you had to fight Brigands.... I'm really interested in hearing about this, and the idea of creating a computer interface would be the best, to accomodate new games. - Brian + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!spool.mu.edu!torn!nott!nbkanata!woodward From: woodward@Newbridge.COM (Mark Woodward) Subject: Re: Vectrex Programming interface Message-ID: Sender: usenet@Newbridge.COM Organization: Newbridge Networks Corporation References: <3d34hp$mmc@sundog.tiac.net> <3d81o4$5s@sundog.tiac.net> <3da28c$6bd@sundog.tiac.net> Distribution: inet Date: Thu, 22 Dec 1994 13:50:41 GMT Lines: 23 In article <3da28c$6bd@sundog.tiac.net>, Glenn M. Saunders wrote: > >If you catch certain games at the wrong moment, when you come back, it is >like a lockup so it stays black. This is the Kelly multicart. I don't >know about yours, but I'd suppose the switch works identically. > Sometimes with mine you catch the game at the wrong time and get a continuous tone. With games like Hyperchase and Pole Position which have 'background' sounds it happens all the time. I havent had one lock up after unpauseing it but then again I havent paused every game extensivly, I just ignore everything else when I'm playing :> Is the switch debounced? If its just wired to halt and gnd with a pull up then when the switch is closed it might cause multiple halt signals which in turn will confuse the hell out of the 6809. Mark -- Mark C.R Woodward woodward@newbridge.com Relax, Dont worry... Load up Linux Real computers dont run MS-DOS + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!element From: element@netcom.com (Element) Subject: 3D goggles and light pen Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL1] Date: Sun, 25 Dec 1994 09:43:32 GMT Lines: 10 If anybody has a pair of working 3D goggles and and or a light pen they want to sell... I (until) i find them will ALWAYS interested in them. We have $$ and we have $$ and $$$ Thank you Element + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!news.hal.COM!decwrl!tribune.usask.ca!io.innovplace.saskatoon.sk.ca!mac85.trlabs.ca!user From: erker@fermi.trlabs.ca (Greg Erker) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Star Castle code at ftp Date: 23 Dec 1994 16:56:18 GMT Organization: TRLabs (Saskatoon) Lines: 25 Distribution: inet Message-ID: References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199416490673@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d5457$556@news.primenet.com> <20DEC199410442875@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: mac85.trlabs.ca I have just checked out the ftp site (ftp.csus.edu) looking for the code for the Star Castle game. I downloaded the vectrex.tar.Z file and uncompressed and untarred it. Unfortunately the Star Castle code does not appear to be in the file or at the site. Is it stored somewhere else at that site or is it not there? If anyone knows where the file is could you please email me the location or the file. I am planning to burn a single EPROM to install in one of my carts. Star Castle is one of my favorite classic vector games and I always hoped that it would be made for the vectrex. So if I can find the file I will make my own cart. Thanks in advance. Note: I will be away until after new years so email me instead of posting a reply since our system may expire your post before I see it. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to you all. Greg -- Greg Erker, Research Engineer Telecommunications Research Laboratories (TRLabs) #108, 15 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK, CANADA Ph: 306-668-8209 Fax: 306-668-1944 + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!tribune.usask.ca!io.innovplace.saskatoon.sk.ca!mac85.trlabs.ca!user From: erker@fermi.trlabs.ca (Greg Erker) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Vectrex mods/ multi-cart ideas Date: 23 Dec 1994 17:22:36 GMT Organization: TRLabs (Saskatoon) Lines: 47 Distribution: inet Message-ID: References: <3cs5m1$kra@sundog.tiac.net> <19DEC199416490673@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3d5457$556@news.primenet.com> <20DEC199410442875@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: mac85.trlabs.ca I am wondering about the feasibility of installing a faster 6809 into the Vectrex. For existing game you would still need to run at the old speed. But if someone wrote a new game or program that expected the faster 6809 it could be more elaborate or possibly display more vectors with out excessive flicker. Is this at all possible? I realize that you would need a faster EPROM, and maybe a faster built-in ROM, as well as faster RAM. Does the 6809 have a WAIT state pin, or is it like the 6502 where everything had better be done on time or else? A fancier idea would be to (reversibly) modify the vectrex and make it into a vector display only. Then write some screaming fast code on a PC or Mac and drive the vector display from a parallel port. I guess the question from the above two ideas is: is the display rate (ie # vectors) limited by the processor in the vectrex or by the vector hardware itself. Idea number three: Some people have talked about multicarts that use DIP switches to select the game. My idea is to use the hex rotary switches to select the game. These switches are sold by Digi-Key and other places. The switch is rotated with a screw driver or knob to one of 16 positions and the four output pins are correctly connected to the common pin for the binary value of the switch position . With the pins wired to the appropriate upper address lines of the multi-cart EPROM the game selection is made easier (no thinking in binary). That's all for now. See you in the new year. I will be away until Jan 3, so if anyone wants to discuss these ideas please email me (as well as posting if desired) just in case your posting expirers before I return. Regards, Greg -- Greg Erker, Research Engineer Telecommunications Research Laboratories (TRLabs) #108, 15 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK, CANADA Ph: 306-668-8209 Fax: 306-668-1944 + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!gdt!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Lightpen Message-ID: <24DEC199401360323@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department Date: Sat, 24 Dec 1994 00:36:00 GMT Lines: 38 Here's a simple lightpen that I knocked up today. It's not the same as the Genuine Vectrex one (Which I've never seen), but it seems to work OK with art-master. You are welcome to use this schematic for non-commercial use. +--------------------------+--------------------------+----- +5v (7) | | | / / === 4u7 \ 10k \ 2k2 4 --- (Tant) / 10k / +---|\ 6 | \ +-/\/- +----------+ |#)o---+ -+- | | / +---|/ | /// | | | | |/ 5 | +------- | | -------+---| 2N3904 74LS132 +-------- SW7 (4) | | | |\ (+5v=14, Gnd=7) Output / 10nF >\ |/ MEL12 | |\> Photodarlington | +------- Gnd (8) >\ -+- | | /// -+- -+- /// /// Notes ------ 0) Not the official Vectrex lightpen. 1) Pin connections to vectrex left joystick port shown in brackets 2) For some reason, 74LS14 does _not work_ in this circuit. 74LS13 should be OK 3) MEL12 available from Maplin. Do not know of any equivlents 4) Use Seqa extension cable (with plug cut off) to make connection to vectrex. -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!umbc2.umbc.edu!noel From: noel@umbc2.umbc.edu (Noel Tominack, ACS, X3861) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Vectrex gets new fans Date: 27 DEC 94 13:33:03 GMT Organization: University of Maryland Baltimore County Lines: 35 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <27DEC94.13330390@umbc2.umbc.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc2.umbc.edu I went down to visit my parents for Christmas, and on Christmas Eve my brother came by with his two sons and daughter (ages 6, 4, and 2). My mother keeps a Sega Genesis handy for visiting grandchildren and I had my Atari Jaguar and Lynx there too. So what did these children run for as soon as they got there? A Vectrex. My nephews got my two units (with 3 controllers) out along with a couple of Sean Kelly's older multi-carts and just went to it! Those games kept them occupied for hours! It did my heart good to see them go right past Sonic and play something older than they are. So what, you may ask, are their favorite games? Spinball Starhawk Web Wars Armor Attack (partially becuase it was Daddy's favorite) and Minestorm Maybe when they get older I'll wrap up one of my spare units as a Christmas present, along with a good multi-cart. ObVectrexstuff: To Sean Kelly: I have 2 of your early multi-carts (one for the 2K games and another for 4K). When you get your new carts built would it be possible to get a retrofit? __________________________________________ * Noel J. Tominack (noel@umbc2.umbc.edu) | * University of Maryland Baltimore County | * All opinions are mine mine mine! | * ________________________________________| + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!ceylon!sundog.tiac.net!max.tiac.net!krishna From: krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Lightpen Date: 24 Dec 1994 04:45:08 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Lines: 10 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3dg90k$rh8@sundog.tiac.net> References: <24DEC199401360323@siva.bris.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: max.tiac.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Do you think Atari style lightpen/guns would work? -- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!unix.globalone.net!server!davewarner From: davewarner@server.vircom.com () Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Wanted: Vectrex carts! Date: 22 Dec 1994 19:06:50 GMT Organization: GlobalOne Lines: 33 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3dcioa$9d@unix.globalone.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: server.globalone.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Greetings! I purchased a Vectrex base unit and all available games from a toy store just before these beauties disappeared from the market and have loved this machine for the past 8-9 years. The problem is, I'm so sick of the dozen or so games I have that I haven't fired up the Vectrex in quite a while. When I found this newsgroup, my heart soared to see other people out there STILL using their Vectrex and actually playing games that I don't have! So, how do I go about getting these other games that you guys have?? Here is a list of the carts I currently own: Bedlam Clean Sweep Cosmic Chasm Spin Ball Solar Quest Blitz! Armor Attack Scramble Star Trek Rip-Off HyperChase and Berzerk I'm interested in purchasing any carts other that what's listed above, and I am especially looking for games like Star Castle or Tempest. What is this MultiCart I keep reading about? How many games are in it or can be programmed into it and most importantly, how much is it and where can I order one?? I know that there are a bunch of other devices that came out for the Vectrex before it's demise, like the programming module and the 3D goggles, but I'm mainly interested in finding some new cool games to play on this little gem! Any replies here or in E-mail would be greatly appreciated.... -David Warner Internet:davewarner@server.globalone.net + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!uop!pacbell.com!ames!agate!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!pipex!warwick!bsmail!siva.bris.ac.uk!ard From: ard@siva.bris.ac.uk (PDP11 Hacker .....) Subject: Re: Lightpen Message-ID: <28DEC199400423880@siva.bris.ac.uk> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 Sender: usenet@info.bris.ac.uk (Usenet news owner) Nntp-Posting-Host: siva.bris.ac.uk Organization: University of Bristol Physics Department References: <24DEC199401360323@siva.bris.ac.uk> <3dg90k$rh8@sundog.tiac.net> Distribution: inet Date: Tue, 27 Dec 1994 23:42:00 GMT Lines: 30 In article <3dg90k$rh8@sundog.tiac.net>, krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders) writes... > >Do you think Atari style lightpen/guns would work? I don't know. The hardware interface to the vectrex is trivial - an active-low pulse (TTL level) when the pen detects the light from the beam passing it (does that make sense... Well, you know what I mean!). If the Atari unit outputs a TTL pulse, it should be possible to invert it if necessary and use it. I don't know if it would have sufficient resolution to be useful wit hthe vectrex. It's worth a try... Mind you, the lightpen I posted was built with bits from my junk box. There aren't any Atari lightpens in there (that I know of :-) > >-- >AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA >A // RIP Jay Miner ||| | G. M. Saunders | "You are not ready A >A \X/ Amy & Atari/ | \ | krishna@max.tiac.net | for immortality." A >A 1200 6502 series | | -Kosh A >AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA > -tony Bristol University takes no responsibility for the views expressed in this posting. They are the personal views of the user concerned. + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swiss.ans.net!fonorola!inasec.ca!inasec.ca!tursi From: tursi@inasec.ca (Mike Brent) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: Wanted: Vectrex carts! Date: 28 Dec 1994 09:05:10 GMT Organization: InaSec Inc, Ottawa Canada Lines: 11 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3dr9o6$211@inasec.ca> References: <3dcioa$9d@unix.globalone.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: inasec.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Actually... does anyone know a spot where I might be able to get programming docs on the Vectrex? I love the machine... I'm trying to get a friend to part with his, but I'm also a programmer, and I'd like to take a crack at programming for it. (At least, if I did, I know I could get an 'extended loan' of the machine :) ) + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!caen!hearst.acc.Virginia.EDU!murdoch!poe.acc.Virginia.EDU!sjb5q From: sjb5q@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Sol Joseph Bermann) Subject: Re: Vectrex gets new fans Message-ID: Sender: usenet@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU Organization: uva References: <27DEC94.13330390@umbc2.umbc.edu> Distribution: inet Date: Wed, 28 Dec 1994 15:50:30 GMT Lines: 12 Now that was struly a heart-warming Xmas story. I am so sick of "bigger is better". I \, myself, was playing my older bro's Red Baron computer game on his power Mac and realized that in its basic form it was Vectrex...in that it had simulated 3-d graphics. GO VECTREX! And a happy new year. Sol -- There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased that line. Oscar Levant + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Path: csus.edu!netcom.com!psteffen From: psteffen@netcom.com (Paul G. Steffen) Subject: FS: Bare-bones Vectrex Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL1] Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 09:01:13 GMT Lines: 15 I have a Vectrex console without controllers or game carts which I would like to sell. I downloaded all the Vectrex tech manual docs and studied the documented Vectrex ROM source code a few years back with the intention of writing graphics demos, but I never got around to buying the necessary parts. The console seems to work beautifully and the display shows no distortion. Case in perfect condition (at least, last time I looked!) Would prefer to sell to someone in person who can test the system to their own satisfaction rather than ship it. Make an offer if interested... -- _______________________________________________________________________ Paul G. Steffen | 31 Bayview Road, Elkhorn, Ca 95012 psteffn@gnu.ai.mit.edu | From The Center of the Sanctuary psteffen@netcom.com | (Sun/Apollo/Amiga/Atari Hardware Hacker) ----STratoHAK of Tibetan Peach Pie Inc. 680x0 Developers From Hell---- + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!unix.globalone.net!server!davewarner From: davewarner@server.vircom.com () Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Vectrex Multi-Carts? Date: 30 Dec 1994 22:50:56 GMT Organization: GlobalOne Lines: 14 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3e22sg$jka@unix.globalone.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: server.globalone.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Can someone please tell me exactly what the MultiCart is for the Vectrex and how I should go about purchasing one? Are they advertised in any of the electronic gaming magazines? Do they come with games programmed into them or are they just a housing for pre-existing carts?? I really want to get some new games for my Vectrex, but have to receive a reply from anyone selling any...though maybe this Multi-Cart thing would be a viable solution. Thanks!! -David Warner davewarner@server.globalone.net + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!pipex!uunet!newstf01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: cfoster2@aol.com (Cfoster2) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: New owner, has rarities, wants carts! Date: 31 Dec 1994 00:43:24 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 16 Sender: root@newsbf02.news.aol.com Message-ID: <3e2r1s$82@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Reply-To: cfoster2@aol.com (Cfoster2) Hi all -- I've just tripped over a Vectrex in excellent condition at a flea market, and picked it up for a very reasonable price. Now I'm looking for carts. I'd be interested in either trading, or buying. For prospective traders, I have one item of note to trade -- a 3-D headset and Mine Storm 3-D cartridge. However, I don't know if they work (I can't get them to, but I don't know how to work them either). Also, is there any sort of FAQ for this newsgroup? It would be a real help. Thanks, Chris + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!unix.globalone.net!server!davewarner From: davewarner@server.vircom.com () Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Re: New owner, has rarities, wants carts! Date: 31 Dec 1994 06:54:12 GMT Organization: GlobalOne Lines: 15 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3e2v6k$op5@unix.globalone.net> References: <3e2r1s$82@newsbf02.news.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: server.globalone.net X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Cfoster2 (cfoster2@aol.com) wrote: : Also, is there any sort of FAQ for this newsgroup? It would be a real : help. Someone just left me email with directions to the Vectrex FTP site which contains a very thorough FAQ on where/how to get long lost carts. Check out FTP site: ftp.csus.edu Directory: pub/vectrex You should be able to find docs there for the 3D Minestorm! -David Warner Internet:davewarner@server.globalone.net + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!news.starnet.net!wupost!udel!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!news.primenet.com!ip084.phx.primenet.com!mcl096 From: mcl096@primenet.com (patrick mcleod) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: VECTOREX SOFTWARE AND SCHEMATICS Date: Sat, 31 Dec 1994 15:34:24 MST Organization: Primenet Lines: 4 Distribution: inet Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: ip084.phx.primenet.com X-Newsreader: Trumpet for Windows [Version 1.0 Rev B final beta #4] DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF VECTOREX IS STILL IN BUSINESS. I HAVE A SERVICE MANUAL FOR THE GAME UNIT AND THE SOURCE CODE FOR THE MINE GAME. I AM LOOKING FOR A GUY NAME RON LOGSTON WHO USE TO PROGRAME GAMES. CAN ANYBODY HELP???? + - - - - Next Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + Path: csus.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!munnari.oz.au!news.uwa.edu.au!multi.multiline.com.au!not-for-mail From: stranogs@cougar.multiline.com.au (Gerry Strano) Newsgroups: rec.games.vectrex Subject: Wanted - Vectrex Console Date: 1 Jan 1995 13:02:42 +0800 Organization: 1990 Multiline BBS Lines: 13 Distribution: world Message-ID: <3e5d1i$sd3@cougar.multiline.com.au> NNTP-Posting-Host: cougar.multiline.com.au X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Hi All, Wanted a Vectrex console with 240 V @ 50 Hz mains. Does anybody want to sell theirs or have one for sale? Cheers Gerry... |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| | __o | - Gerry Strano | |--------- __o _`\