The Vectrex, with its unique monochrome vector screen, offered a truly revolutionary option: a first attempt to introduce 3D relief games, distinguishing the Vectrex as a pioneering machine. At a time when 3D was barely a whisper on the technological horizon, the Vectrex dared to dream in three dimensions.
Titles like 3D MineStorm, 3D Crazy Coaster, and 3D Narrow Escape demonstrated that the Vectrex was not content to follow trends but sought to define them. 3D MineStorm, for example, offered an even more immersive version of the already captivating MineStorm experience, allowing players to literally dive into the heart of the action. These games, thanks to the use of special 3D glasses, created an illusion of depth and volume, engaging players in a truly avant-garde experience.
Relief imaging
Vectrex’s 3D technology combines two principles of relief imaging. First, the operation of the Vectrex’s 3D glasses relied on a rapid alternation of images for each eye, thus creating a perception of depth through the vector screen. Additionally, the red and blue graphics, reminiscent of the glasses used for the first 3D movies, were not actually necessary for creating depth. The appearance of color on the Vectrex’s screen was due to the special 3D glasses connected to the console, whose color wheel spun at high speed, creating the illusion of 3D and color.
3D Glasses
The reception of Vectrex’s 3D games was mixed at the time, partly because of the very high price of the 3D headset and especially the very limited number of games, only 3 games and a fourth that never saw the light of day: Pole Position. Nevertheless, these games reinforced the Vectrex’s status as an avant-garde console, admired for its boldness and ability to explore new playful territories.
Today, the Vectrex’s relief games and its 3D glasses are highly coveted collector’s items, but they paved the way for other attempts that were not much more successful with the public, like Nintendo’s Virtual Boy. Only the 3D DS was a success, but not because of the 3D, but because of the global success of all the Game Boy iterations.
Vectrex’s attempt to integrate 3D into home video gaming remains yet another positive point for this one-of-a-kind console. It was clearly way ahead of its time and allowed a whole generation of dreamers to envision the revolutions to come in video gaming, innovations that are only now reaching maturity, 40 years after MB’s timid but remarkable attempt with the Vectrex in 3D.
