41 replies to this topic

[tantone56]

Does anybody here have a vectrex? how are they and are they worth buying? Also how much do you think one would sell for because I was on ebay and they semed a little to high at the moment

[ScottHuggins]

Click the search link at the top of this webpage and type in 'vectrex'. You'll see TONS of reviews of it in the Classic Gaming forum. Several within the last 6 months.

Yeah - it's a great little box. I love this thing to death. I think it's worth the few extra $$$ you'll pay to get one. Get two controllers and a Space War game. Two player fun on that thing is unbelievable.

[Ze_ro]

I love my Vectrex. It was one of those things that I knew my collection would never be complete without (Along with a NeoGeo). It's the only home system you'll ever find with vector graphics, which means there are a handful of games that will always be best suited to the Vectrex. Combine that with a great homebrew community (I tell you, Protector & YASI was probably my most worthwhile purchase of the year), and the system is well worth the money.

Unfortunately, since they're a little hard to come by, you can probably expect to pay about $80-100 on eBay, depending on quality. You should also keep in mind that these things are big and very heavy, so shipping is going to be rather large too. I was really lucky in that I got mine locally for only $40 (CDN). When I'm an old man, I'll probably still think of that as my best find as a collector.

If you're not sure whether you'll like it or not, then try out some games on a Vectrex emulator. The creators of the Vectrex have released it (and all it's software) into the public domain so you don't even have to pirate the roms. Of course, since your PC's monitor isn't a vector monitor, you won't get quite the same experience, but it should be enough to help your decision.

--Zero

[NovaXpress]

Is there anyone who doesn't like the Vectrex? I've never met him.

[desiv]

Love my Vectrex!!!

Best retro-purchase I've made...

But I warn you. Be careful when you get one and post about it.

As said, they tend to go for $80 or so on EBay.

I got mine for $60, posted.. and then the replies started...

"$60? I got mine for $45.."

"$45? I got mine for $30 with 2 controllers.."

"$30? You were robbed! I was given mine with all the games and paid to take it!!!"

"Paid cash? You were robbed! I got mine, sealed in box, with all available carts, sealed in boxes, plus a spare Vec and games to actually play on, AND a free house to play them in!!"

"2 story house? You were robbed.."...

and so one..

OK, I might not be remembering all those quotes accurately, but it felt like that.
:-)

Either way, glad I got mine! Well worth it!!!

desiv

[NovaXpress]

There's always someone out there who found a better deal. Screw em. This is a hobby and the games are worth whatever you want to pay. I'd think $300 would be worthwhile for Vectrex fun but you won't have to pay near that much. If you're happy it doesn't matter how much you spent.

[tantone56]

Thats what I tell my friends when they ask "how can you spend that mch on an old game" I just say it makes me happy and gives me hours of enjoyment...they just dont understand

[SS]

NovaXpress said:

Is there anyone who doesn't like the Vectrex?  I've never met him.

I'll second. The Vectrex is "top shelf" classic gaming.

[Ze_ro]

desiv said:

I got mine for $60, posted..  and then the replies started...

"$60?  I got mine for $45.."

No way, $60 is a great price in my opinion. I may have got mine for less, but that was a complete fluke. I would have easily paid $80 for it, and not regretted it at all.

--Zero

[minorleagueguy]

I recently came across my Vectrex with a multi-cart! This thing is great. I still haven't been able to play everything on the cart. To make things better, I just picked up my 2nd Vectrex yesterday from someone local...$50.



minorleagueguy

[christianscott27]

yeah getting a vec off ebay is a hard bullet to bite, luck is fickle though and it may be your only option. my first vectrex came from ebay, it was $60 something and then i had to trade to get a working controller for it. as fate would have it i went to the flea market the same saturday my vec came in the mail and you guessed it, i found one there for $15. another gaming friend of mine badly wanted it so i told it was his if he'd buy me a sean kelly vectrex multicart, done deal since then i've found four other vecs in the wild, two of them minicade coin-ops even, but thats just bragging, i spend a lot of time looking..

so is a vec worth it? yes it is, but you must buy the multicart to really get the most use out of it. individual vec carts can be expensive and hard to get, the SK multi has all of the released titles and many of the homebrews, last time i knew they were about $75. the recent issue of protector/YASI is another good one to get, for the price and quality its a no brainer. overlays are another matter, to me they are nice but not required, same deal with a 2cnd controller.

theres just something cool about having a vectrex in your collection, its easily the most impressive system i have to "non-gamer" friends. everyone who visits my gameroom gets sucked into it, even my mom liked it. its also a big hit with 15 month year old son, must be the bright lights. another great thing about the vec. is the online community, the guys at rec.games.vectrex are always working on exciting new projects and have the know how to help you fix nearly any technical issue.

[SteveW]

I'm dying to play a Vectrex, but I have to wait until mine shows up......

The Vectrex was always one of those consoles that I lusted for when it came out, but I just couldn't get one. I picked up other consoles I wanted but never got when they originally came out, like the Intellivision, but the Vectrex was always just out of reach. Until now, that is. Once I get it, the only other console i'd like to get my grubby mitts on would be the Sega Saturn. Luckily, a co-worker just happens to have one that he'd like to get rid of.

[highinfidelity]

It's an ADORABLE nice little black cutie...

Just think: a vector screen... That's a REALLY outstanding console, if you ask me!

Atari 2600, Vectrex & ColecoVision: that's all I ever needed!!!

[RCorcoran]

I have two (2) Vectrex's. I gave one to Brien King with 11 carts and kept the other with a Multi-cart. I bought mine from http://www.4jays.com (with Multi-cart) and paid $265.00 USD.

Look here:

http://www.4jays.com/vectrex.html

I think it's well worth the price and I play with the Veccy at least once a week.

[tantone56]

thatts umm a lot of money

[holygrailvideogames.com]

I would say that you should expect to pay between $60-$85 for a loose Vectrex that is working with a controller and no games. The price for a Vectrex with a box has gone up quite a bit in the last year or two. With a box, the price would be over $100.

The Vectrex is worth getting. It is a great classic system and the multicart isn't very expensive.

[holygrailvideogames.com]

I would say that you should expect to pay between $60-$85 for a loose Vectrex that is working with a controller and no games. The price for a Vectrex with a box has gone up quite a bit in the last year or two. With a box, the price would be over $100.

The Vectrex is worth getting. It is a great classic system and the multicart isn't very expensive.

[Rob Mitchell]

The Multcart is dated .. but the VecRAM cart is open and can run all the Vectrex game programs. It connects via the serial port on your PC.

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Ze_ro]

With a VecRAM, do you have to constantly have it hooked up to the computer? Or will it retain downloaded stuff so that you can, for example, take it over to a friends house?

Although multicarts are cool, I'd still rather have a collection of original cartridges. Somehow, it seems more authentic.

--Zero

[Malix]

System looks super cool. I have never played one personally but has anyone on here played it with the 3d goggles?

How are they?

[JB]

Malix said:

System looks super cool.  I have never played one personally but has anyone on here played it with the 3d goggles?

How are they?

I WISH I had hte goggles.

[eric_ruck]

The goggles are really wild but only if you're really a die hard collector with some money. I have them (another one of those good deal stories, you don't want to know). The really cool thing is that the games play in color, sort of. Three colors, anyway. But the 3D effect works pretty well.

Rick

[JB]

eric_ruck said:

The goggles are really wild but only if you're really a die hard collector with some money.  I have them (another one of those good deal stories, you don't want to know).  The really cool thing is that the games play in color, sort of.  Three colors, anyway.  But the 3D effect works pretty well.

Rick

Hypothetically, you could have a full-color image using the goggles.
Remember, your TV and computer monitor only output red, green, and blue, and they have millions of colors.
Those are, in fact, the only colors your eye can actually see. Everything else is just a mix of red, green, and blue light as far as the eye is concerned.

[NovaXpress]

Sometime arounf 1991 I was at a rural Ohio department store which had vectrex on clearance. $10 for the goggles and the carts. All my money had been spent on beer. I will never speak of this again.

[JB]

NovaXpress said:

Sometime arounf 1991 I was at a rural Ohio department store which had vectrex on clearance.  $10 for the goggles and the carts.  All my money had been spent on beer.  I will never speak of this again.

*stabs NovaXpress with the SwordQuest sword*