Ah, the 80’s ! A blessed era where glitter pants rubbed shoulders with bold shoulder pads, where synthetic music reigned supreme… and where video gaming was just beginning to sparkle in the hearts of both children and adults. It was the dawn of a revolution, an era of discovery and innovation. And among the technological gems of that time, one console stood out for its audacity and uniqueness : the Vectrex.
The magic of vectors
Launched in November 1982, the Vectrex console was an oddity in the video game landscape. Unlike its contemporaries, which used pixels (sometimes quite large on one’s television screen) to display images, the Vectrex harnessed the magic of vectors. Yes, simple straight lines or perfect curves to generate graphics made of black and white!
Equipped with a monochrome screen manufactured by Samsung and originally from an oscilloscope, the brilliant idea behind the Vectrex was to provide a standalone screen so as not to monopolize the TV, often the only one in a household at the time. It was practically an arcade cabinet at home. The Vectrex offered this complete experience, image and sound, with games adapted from or inspired by the biggest hits of the era.
Minestorm
Because what would a console be without games? The Vectrex had about thirty during its operation, such as MineStorm, a game similar to Atari’s Asteroids, integrated into the console, but also a very successful version of Scramble, with its scrolling landscapes, or even Spyke, a board game in perspective and using voice synthesis. Each game cartridge came with a colored plastic “overlay” that was placed on the screen to simulate color. Ingenious, isn’t it ?
Unfortunately, like many shooting stars of the 1980s, the Vectrex did not enjoy the longevity it hoped for. It had the misfortune of launching at the worst possible time, just as the video game crash of 1983 was enduringly shaking this still nascent microcosm.
It was swept away in the wake of this crisis, suffering from a too limited game library and a price above the average market machines (due to its integrated screen), making this console more a collector’s item than a mass product. But for those who knew it, the Vectrex remains a strong symbol of the innovation and creativity of the era.
So, why remember the Vectrex today ? Because it embodies the spirit of adventure and innovation that animated video gaming at its beginnings. It reminds us that sometimes, stepping off the beaten path can lead to truly unique creations. The Vectrex was not just a console : it was an original technological choice and a technical challenge with its unique design, it remains in the memory of players as a machine with a unique look.
