Using
the Vectrex as an X/Y Monitor
Here are some examples of running
VectorMAME on a Vectrex monitor, click on pictures
for larger images.
There are a couple of things to note
about using a Vectrex as a vector monitor:
1) Using the Vectrex is simply a matter of
removing some internal jumpers and connecting our cable
in their place. There is even a hole in the bottom
of the Vectrex that allows our cable to remain in place
with the back cover attached. Those Vectrex guys thought
of everything! (Click
here for more details.)
2) The Vectrex monitor quality is
not that of a true arcade quality monitor. For a
worst case example look at the close up of Temp
est. The high score slopes to the right, the characters
look somewhat like a font from a Tim Burton movie,
and not all endpoints properly line up. Also, you
cannot overscan the Vectrex (you can't drive vectors
off the edge of the screen). When vectors that are
meant to extended beyond the edge of the screen are
drawn, they will fold back on themselves instead.
This is a Vectrex design issue. But all in all the
games look very nice and the Vectrex makes for a
great "Portable Vector Mul
tigame", especially when attached to a laptop.
(Note: Before dedicating a laptop, verify it has
an ECP port and that you can get DOS soundcard drivers
for it!)
The cool thing is that the Vectrex
is running at nearly the same speed as the Wells Gardner
WG6101 vector monitor! The Vectrex vectors take longer
to start and stop, so the endpoint speeds must be set
slower for a Vectrex, however the actual vector drawing
speed is the same as that of a WG6101 monitor.
 Click on each picture to view a larger
image:
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