In the world of retro consoles, some items stand out due to their rarity or their very specific purpose. The Globe Kiosk for the Vectrex is one of those unique objects that time has nearly erased from memory.
A mini table from European store displays
The Globe Kiosk was used in European shops to showcase the Vectrex. This kind of table wasn’t an ordinary piece of furniture, as its design was anything but discreet.
It looked like a small black table with a narrow base, surrounded by a large translucent blue plastic dome, featuring the European Vectrex logo in yellow letters on the sides. The console sat in the middle, drawing customers’ attention thanks to this futuristic bubble typical of the marketing style of the era. Produced in very limited numbers, the Globe Kiosk is now one of the hardest Vectrex-related items to find. Back then, only a few stores had it, especially since it was a model exclusive to Europe.
An object that has become nearly impossible to find
The rarity of the Globe Kiosk makes it a true grail for collectors. It was never sold to the general public, and only a handful of units seem to have survived. Some were taken apart, lost, or simply thrown away after the Vectrex disappeared from the market. The few remaining examples are often incomplete or in poor condition, as these display stands weren’t built to last more than a few years.
One complete unit resurfaced recently in February 2025, during an online auction. The lot included the Globe Kiosk, a Vectrex console with its controller, and several boxed games. Despite the damaged paint on the stand and a non-functional console, the set sold for 3,000 euros (around 3,260 dollars).
A different but equally striking American display
There was also an American version of the Vectrex display, quite different from the European Globe Kiosk but just as eye-catching. This model, used in some US stores in the 1980s, looked like a large grey and white console with a storage space at the bottom, closed off by a plexiglass door. On the side, the Vectrex logo was prominently displayed, visible from afar. The console sat on top, with a lower space for the controller. Around it, a circular panel featured the console’s name and a few visuals from iconic games. The whole thing had a massive, arcade-like presence, clearly designed to stand out in-store. There are also other similar ones with some variations (different colors, different text…).
The Vectrex at the center of the globe
The Globe Kiosk is a charming promotional item. With its slightly kitschy retro look, it takes us back to a time when you could discover consoles in person, right in the store, controller in hand, under that curious blue globe that caught your eye. It’s the kind of thing you’re happy to know exists, even if you’re unlikely to ever see one in real life. Just knowing it’s out there is a small pleasure in itself.
