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The Video Game Console Library - GCE Vectrex

GCE Vectrex

  DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy
Developer Manufacturer Release Date Country(s) Initial Price Model Number Game Releases Overall Rating
Smith Engineering GCE, Bandai,
Milton Bradley		 Nov-82 North America,
Japan, Europe		 $199 USD HP 3000 Around 45 NA
Ratings Reviews Pictures\Video Specs Games\Emulation Models Clones Links
Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release.  Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality) N\A
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile) N\A
Controllers (design, response, feel, use) N\A
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation) N\A
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects) N\A
Media (game media format, design, durability) N\A
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging) N\A
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library) N\A
Innovations (technological industrial strides) N\A
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?) N\A
Collector Value (good collector investment?) N\A
Games Rarity (general availability of games) N\A
Console Rarity (general availability of a system) N\A
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Reviews

DW FACTS
  - by Dark Watcher

The Vectrex was released in November 1982 by General Consumer Electronics (GCE). It wasn't just your average game console. To this day there has never been a videogame system quite like it.

The legendary GCE \ Milton Bradley Vectrex is the world's only standalone vector graphic home video game system. The console was cartridge based like all other consoles, but the unit came with a 9-inch monochrome monitor, an attached joystick and even a built in game called Mine Storm.

While most videogames used raster graphics, which utilize pixels, the Vectrex used sharp vector graphics. If you're not familiar with vector graphics, it's basically a wire frame outline of solid objects and was considered state of the art in the 70s and early 80s.

The Vectrex was capable of only displaying black & white, but used plastic color overlays placed on the screen to give the game a more colorful appearance.

The Vectrex also made its way to Japan. In 1983, Bandai released the unit under the name Bandai Kousokusen for 54,800 yen.

FACT: The original name for the Vectrex would have been the Kenner Mini-Arcade.

The Vectrex almost made a comeback in 1988 when Smith Engineering considered resurrecting the Vectrex as a handheld unit. Milton Bradley thought the $100+ price tag of the unit would make it sell poorly, so the idea was scrapped. A year later Nintendo's Game Boy was released and became a huge success.
 


  HANDS ON REVIEW
 

Coming soon...
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Pictures & Video

Various picture\video media for this console.  Click pictures to enlarge.
GCE Vectrex - Box Front

 GCE Vectrex - Box Front
 GCE Vectrex - Hardware

 GCE Vectrex - Hardware
 GCE Vectrex - Box Back

 GCE Vectrex - Box Back
GCE Vectrex - Light Pen Box

 GCE Vectrex - Light Pen Box (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)

Picture courtesy of Vectrex News		 GCE Vectrex - 3D Imager

 GCE Vectrex - 3D Imager (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)

Picture courtesy of Vectrex News		 GCE Vectrex - 3D Imager Box Contents

 GCE Vectrex - 3D Imager Box Contents (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)

Picture courtesy of Vectrex News
Vectrex Review\Demonstration
Video courtesy of darrylsloan. 		Vectrex User Review - Part 1
Video courtesy of DeanoTheLegend87. 		Vectrex User Review - Part II
Video courtesy of DeanoTheLegend87.
Vectrex Demonstration by Revival Studios
Video courtesy of revivalstudios. 		Vectrex Demonstration by Gamebot
Video courtesy of gamebotonline. 		Vectrex - Light Pen Demonstration
Video courtesy of guhzi6.
Vectrex TV Commercial - Finland
Video courtesy of MoB73. 		Vectrex on TV - "Charles in Charge" pilot
Video courtesy of orion1052003. 		Vectrex TV Commercial - North America
Video courtesy of samcginty.
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Specs

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.
 Processor Type  Processor Speed  Other Processor Information RAM \ Video RAM
Motorola 68A09 1.6 MHz None 1 KB x 4-BIT 2114

Screen Resolution

Color Palette

Polygons \ Sprites

 Audio
N\A Black & White N\A General Instrument AY-3-8912

Media Format

Media Capacity

Games Released

Other Supported Formats
Cartridge 8 KB Around 45 None

Internal Storage

External \ Removable Storage

Game Controllers

Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
8 KB x 8-BIT 2363 ROM None Arcade-style Joystick 3D Imager, Light Pen
Controller Ports Network Ports

Other Ports

Audio \ Video
Two (2) None None N\A

Power Supply

Other Outputs

 Other Details \ Notes
Built-in 110 V None None
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Games & Emulation

Game screen shots and\or videos released for this system.  Click pictures to enlarge.
Vectrex Sample Front - Mr. Boston Clean Sweep

 GCE Vectrex Sample Front - Mr. Boston Clean Sweep (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)

Picture courtesy of Vectrex News		 Vectrex Sample Cart - Mr. Boston Clean Sweep

 GCE Vectrex Sample Cart - Mr. Boston Clean Sweep (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)

Picture courtesy of Vectrex News		 Vectrex Sample Back - Mr. Boston Clean Sweep

 GCE Vectrex Sample Back - Mr. Boston Clean Sweep (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)

Picture courtesy of Vectrex News
Vectrex Games Compilation
Video courtesy of tr0d.		 Fortress OF Narzod Game Footage
Video courtesy of Krombacherkind.		 Bandai Kousokusen Game Compilation
Video courtesy of Japan-Games.com.
Web Wars Game Footage
Video courtesy of Extralounge.		 Flipper Pinball Game Footage
Video courtesy of Krombacherkind.		 Star Trek Game Footage
Video courtesy of TwinGalaxies.
Scramble Game Footage
Video courtesy of SteveBenway.		 Clean Sweep Game Footage
Video courtesy of SteveBenway.		 Cosmic Chasm Game Footage
Video courtesy of SteveBenway.
Third Party Emulatorss
Program Website Description

ParaJVE

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/.../ParaJVE.html

 Vectrex java emulator for Windows, Linux and Mac.
Comes with built-in games and home brews.
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Models

Additional authorized releases for this console.  A big thank you to Vectrex News for providing the pictures of the various models.  Click pictures to enlarge.
GCE Vectrex - US Release

 GCE Vectrex - US Release
 Milton Bradley Vectrex - Canada

Milton Bradley Vectrex - Canada (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)
 Milton Bradley Vectrex - UK

Milton Bradley Vectrex - UK (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)
Milton Bradley Vectrex - Dutch

Milton Bradley Vectrex - Holland (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)
 Bandai  Kousokusen - Japan

Milton Bradley Vectrex - Italy

Milton Bradley Vectrex - Italy (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)
Milton Bradley Vectrex - South America

Milton Bradley Vectrex - South America (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)
 Milton Bradley Vectrex - Germany

Milton Bradley Vectrex - Germany (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)
Milton Bradley Vectrex - France

 Milton Bradley Vectrex - Australia

Milton Bradley Vectrex - Australia (picture courtesy of VectrexNews.com)
 Milton Bradley Vectrex - Sweden
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Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).
No clones were released for this system.
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Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.
Name Website Description
 Vectrex News  http://www.vectrexnews.com/  Excellent website for everything Vectrex!!
The Vectrex Museum http://vectrexmuseum.com/  Excellent new website for hardware, games and history!!
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