History of video games/Platforms/Vectrex

Development and Launch
Development of the system began in 1980, as a way for the company Smith Engineering to use surplus one inch cathode ray tube displays that several employees found at an electronics store while out for lunch. Initially a handheld, the system was redesigned in 1981 to have a nine inch display and be a tabletop unit. Debuted at CES in 1982 and received positively, the console launched in November of that year at a cost of $199.

Crash
Initially the system sold well, which lead to it being acquired by Milton Bradley, and further leading to the price of Milton Bradley stock doubling. The Vectrex saw its national launch in Spring of 1983.

Due to the Video game Crash of 1983 sales suffered. In 1983 price of the system was reduced twice, once to $150, and then again to $100. These issues were compounded by poor sales of the Vectrex internationally.

Discontinuation
Most histories cite the discontinuation date of the Vectrex as 1984 following the large costs the system incurred on Milton Bradley, about 16.5 million dollars, and their subsequent 1984 merger with Hasbro. Some sources claim that it was Hasbro who made the decision to discontinue the system. However two articles in the New York Times of early 1984 claim it was discontinued prior to the acquisition in late 1983. Other contemporary sources seemingly paint a different picture, though perhaps not a mutually exclusive one, with at least one late 1984 magazine article discussing the recent discontinuation of the system, and a then current demand for remaining stock. A January 30th, 1984 Wall Street Journal article reported the Vectrex had been discontinued recently.

Renewed Interest
Following the discontinuation of the Vectrex, Smith Engineering regained the rights to the system and attempted to redevelop it as a handheld in 1988. The revised system was scrapped due to a price exceeding $100. A surviving and operational portable system system exists at the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, Texas.

Jay Smith required the rights to the system in 1996 and released the rights to the Vectrex to the public for non profit use in 1996. Hobbyists created upgrades for the system, such as a 2017 project that adds a 32 bit coprocessor expansion to improve system graphics. In early May 2020, an open source clone of the Vectrex called Scopetrex was designed, and can to be used with an oscilloscope as a vector display.

Technology
The Vectrex CPU was a Motorola 68A09 clocked at 1.6MHz. The Vectrex had 1 kilobyte of RAM, split across two four bit chips. Software cartridges contained 8 kilobytes of ROM.

The built in display is a monochrome Samsung 240RB40, which has a size of 9 inches by 11 inches. A General Instrument AY-3-8912 is used for audio. A prototype for Vectrex with a monitor capable of displaying one of three different colors at a time was made, but never released on the market.

The Vectrex was the first home console to use an analog controller. The joystick was self centering. An optional second controller could be used. An optional light pen and 3D Glasses were released for the system.

Notable games
28 games were released for the system during its production.

1982

 * Armor Attack
 * Mine Storm
 * Rip Off
 * Scramble
 * Solar Quest

1983

 * Spike - Featured voice synthesis and a mascot character.
 * 3D Crazy Coaster

Mr. Boston's Clean Sweep
A limited production game meant to promote liquor, with only 4 or 5 copies known to exist.