Vectrex

The Vectrex is a <a href="/facts/Vector_monitor/3dn9Srls">vector display</a>-based <a href="/facts/Home_video_game_console/zP1RTC84">home video game console</a>, the only one ever designed and released for the home market, that was developed by Smith Engineering and manufactured and sold by General Consumer Electronics. It was first released for the <a href="/facts/North_America/djNjCQIl">North America</a> market in October 1982 and then <a href="/facts/Europe/DTAtrKfh">Europe</a> and <a href="/facts/Japan/U5mz0SRT">Japan</a> in 1983. Originally produced by General Consumer Electronics, it was later licensed to <a href="/facts/Milton_Bradley_Company/ws51eMfQ">Milton Bradley</a> after they acquired the company. <a href="/facts/Bandai/Muy3E7QK">Bandai</a> released the system in Japan under the name 光速船, meaning Lightspeed.
The Vectrex, in contrast to other video game systems at the time, did not need to be hooked up to a television set; it had an integrated (vertically oriented) monochrome <a href="/facts/Cathode-ray_tube/8NVGx5C7">CRT</a> monitor. A detachable wired control pad could be folded into the lower base of the console. Games came with translucent color overlays to place over the screen. Optional <a href="/facts/Peripheral/3lEBPE14">peripherals</a> include a pair of 3D goggles known as the "3D Imager" and a <a href="/facts/Light_pen/NkqLws4S">light pen</a> for drawing directly on the screen. The <a href="/facts/Asteroids_(video_game)/KVS49vQg">Asteroids</a>-inspired <a href="/facts/Mine_Storm/rxTKTs2K">Mine Storm</a> was built into the system.
The console was conceived by John Ross, of Smith Engineering, in late 1980 as a handheld called the "Mini Arcade". As development progressed, it morphed into a tabletop system that was manufactured by General Consumer Electronics. Strong initial sales caused General Consumer Electronics to be acquired by Milton Bradley. However, sales of the Vectrex soon stalled amid the <a href="/facts/Video_game_crash_of_1983/dvAcwzmf">video game crash of 1983</a>, and the system was discontinued in early 1984.
Despite its <a href="/facts/List_of_commercial_failures_in_video_games/NISR8nuJ">commercial failure</a>, the Vectrex was praised for its software library, unique graphical capabilities, and built-in monitor. Several publications lauded it as one of the best consoles available at the time. The Vectrex was the first console to have a 3D-based peripheral. A color handheld version of the Vectrex was conceived in the late 1980s, but was shelved because of its manufacturing cost and the success of the Nintendo <a href="/facts/Game_Boy/GlyN6e2W">Game Boy</a>.

Vectrex open-in-new

Vectrex