Comments
This object makes sense to me only if, even if there is a display, which is fundamentally different than tracing line with the CRT raster, at least that original process is simulated. If the lines buffer is rendered just with a line drawing algorithm where the line is uniform, I kinda fail to see the point of emulating an object like that. Sure, still kinda a nice gadget, but... And, the ESP32 inside tells me that it is hardly a physical simulation of the CRT reactive surface and the electrons beam. The point of this device was the way the lines were traced without the help of the main CPU of the device, and in a way where pixels didn't make any sense at all. They are lines at the lower of the levels. Failing to do that in the emulation is kinda betraying the device.
Yes to all of that, but also, I think a raster display of sufficiently high DPI can simulate a vector display very well, if and only if they pay attention to the right things. A vector display is visually unique for a few reasons.This object makes sense to me only if, even if there is a display, which is fundamentally different than tracing line with the CRT raster, at least that original process is simulated.- The lines themselves which are honestly the easiest part to fake if the DPI is high enough, past the point of visual distinction.
- The "bloom" or "glow" (phosphor bleed, or whatever the right term is) around the lines
- The temporal effects caused by the screen phosphor continuing to glow even after the beam no longer hits them. The most obvious example is the "streak" left behind the ultra-bright moving bullets in Asteroids which looks absolutely awesome
I have seen incredible examples of vector/CRT emulation when people get creative with RetroArch (or whatever) GPU powered shaders.The only things that emulation can't match (for me) are input latency and the magic of knowing that the process of creating the image is "real" and not "faked."
By ray_v 2025-10-091:00 I agree totally. Seeing one of the real devices with my own eyes was almost a surreal experience - I almost couldn't believe how good it looked given A) the age and B) the size. Such a neat device
By citbl 2025-10-094:15 Yeah they're clearly not targeting people that have played a vectrex in their youth.
The games were nothing to write home about, but the rendering was fun.
You could emulate it with a slow rendering and fade (clear frame with black 99% opacity), but it would have to be perfect. Still, you'd never get the same glow on the drawing point.
By antisol 2025-10-0913:44 Agreed. I read
And my first thought was "but if it has a resolution of 800x600, then they're not vector graphics, are they"built-in 5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 800×600, delivering sharp and bright vector graphics
By neilv 2025-10-0818:06 > The Vectrex Mini captures the full spirit of the original Vectrex [...] AMOLED display with a resolution of 800×600
I played many hours on a Vectrex, and I'd say that the true vector graphics was the spirit.
If this project is able to capture that spirit in 800x600 AMOLED, that will be very impressive, and I will be curious how they did it.
Edit: The Vectrex was a nice piece of creative engineering, within the constraints and opportunities of the time, on a wonderful product. I suppose (if you look at the comments here) it's difficult to make an homage to such a beloved thing, and hit the best notes in how you reveal it. This Mini looks impressive, and hopefully recaptures some of the magic.
> "the console features a built-in 5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 800×600, delivering sharp and bright vector graphics"
So ... NOT vector graphics. Rasterized bitmap versions of vector graphics.
EDIT: Sorry, I'm not saying this isn't cool. I know rasterizing a vector to a sharp bitmapped display can still allow effects to simulate continuously drawn vector artifacts e.g. thin lines, thicker at vertices, refresh, flicker, etc.
By JohnTHaller 2025-10-0816:301 reply I feel like a higher resolution OLED would serve this much better.
I have a working Vectrex I found on the street 12 years ago sitting in my living room.
By WillPostForFood 2025-10-0819:391 reply This is the opposite of what I'd want. Give me an actual vector display, and double the screen size. This is just going to provide an experience like myriad chinese handheld emulators.
Yeah, not really the same. I had a really really complete Vectrex setup, every game (even the stupid ones :-)) AND their overlays, I'm pretty sure every accessory. Which I ended up selling to a guy doing a museum?[1] Anyway it was quite the game for me. I knew eventually it would stop working and then just be a memory but still.
The screen was what really made it, and I get that having a vector scope manufactured would be expensive (it isn't true that nobody makes CRTs any more, but it is true that they don't come cheaply). Its also the reason I never really went all the way and bought one of my all time favorite arcade games which was the cockpit version of 'Star Wars' with its color vector display. (even harder to store!)
In a related effort, I looked at replicating a CRT "look" for some older test equipment that came with CRTs using a high dpi IPS display. I probably could have succeeded if I had an FPGA for doing the phosphor simulation (I developed a lot of respect for Tektronix's DPO technology and their patent portfolio on same :-). Very much a diminishing returns kind of thing.
[1] If you're that guy and reading this say "hi" :-)
We still get cathode ray oscilloscopes. Apparently the og has a grid screen. Wonder what it costs to get a CRT maker to get custom dimensions, phosphor colors, curvature etc?
By tdeck 2025-10-097:26 I wonder if you could emulate a vectrex with vector laser projector.
By JKCalhoun 2025-10-0817:18 Agree. I'm disappointed.
> Experience the spirit of the original Vectrex in a modern, compact format.
Emphasis on "spirit" I guess? Without the vector display it's an emulator in an (admittedly) handsome enclosure.
By johnflan 2025-10-0816:10 A modern version of a device with one unique feature... missing that unique feature
