In the 80s, the new German wave over Germany rolled. The 99 Balloons and Major Tom probably one or the other still be in memory. As 1985 Rolf Maahns “fever” im Radio trällerte, the Vectrex was back story.

The Vectrex fans can now cheer:
After developing the impressive Robot Arena Thomas sat Sontowski development for the Vectrex continued and devoted himself not only the software but also the hardware. Thus arose the “VecFever”, a very universal, rewritable Multi-Cartridge. The VecFever has much to offer and is the “Swiss Army knife” for the Vectrex.

– For Vectrex player offers the VecFever:
Thomas has the VecFever his games Robot Arena, The Core, Head On and Rock ‘N’ Saucers packed; four very well-crafted and challenging Vectrex title.
All original games of GCE are also included and the VecFever also offers a special feature here: Each of the original games has its own high score list with the logo of each game and the player can enter his famous initials after reaching a high scores as the game room and so enter into the highscore list of each game. The high score lists are thereby permanently stored, d.h. the high scores are even after switching off still available.
Vectexspiele (Binaries) can transfer from the PC to the VecFever and chosen as with any multi-cartridge from a menu, be started and played.

Finally, the VecFever still has a jukebox function with which one almost 3,5 Hours Music, so-called chiptunes, can listen.

– For Vectrex developers offers the VecFever:
For developers, the VecFever is through integration into the Vectrex development environment EMPTY interesting: Via a USB cable, the developed game can be transferred to the VecFever and tested on the original console. This is important, because although VIDE provides an emulator, However, the original console behaves in some respects so that a test is very special essential.

With the VecFever Thomas is a showpiece for the Vectrex succeeded, the players and developers alike will delight. For the Vectrex and their further future VIDE and VecFever important puzzle pieces. Thank you very much, Thomas, for the outstanding VecFever!

– Addendum in March 2021:
The VecFever was sold out for a long time but now seems to be available again. Anyone interested in a VecFever, Thomas should use the contact form on the website www.vecfever.com Write and ask for a VecFever.

As part of the Retro Challenge Frank Buss had already 2013 a prototype of the game “Bloxorz” developed on the Vectrex. the article “Bloxorz – Toss on the Vectrex” I had reported.

The then resulting prototype is playable, but offers only three levels. Frank Buss a Kickstarter project has now placed, in which he collects money for the completion of Bloxorz. With a contribution to the one supported the project, the other one gets depending on the choice and amount of the contribution the binary or a cartridge of Bloxorz. Those who want to contribute, can by no later than 20. December on Kickstarter do. Perhaps an early Christmas present for themselves?

UPDATE am 04.12.2017: The funding goal is reached. Congratulations to Frank! Bloxorz I find with its isometric graphics made for the Vectrex. Frank considered an arcade mode to implement Bloxorz; should be true then would Bloxorz not only a challenge for puzzle fans; but also for quick thinkers, Combiners and points hunter.

Hach, the good old times! at “Back to the future andt” meant still good “part II”, the “Reloaded” only just came decades later.
As the last year the robotic hospital consigned NAOs and indicating whether they are on the road to recovery, I have to clarify. [EDIT: NAOs are back safe and sound.] At any rate, currently set at Pforzheim University to the 20 Students again over backward – much to the delight of all fans Vectrex. Led by Professor Dr. Peer Johannsen learn the students the hardware dependent programming, while almost incidentally created a variety of Vectrexspielen. the “by the way” does not reflect the high cost and large use of students approximately. In the Professor Dr. Johannsen established and currently held Vectrex-Projektgalerie 2017 you can get a good idea of ​​the Games and their current state of development.
In addition to the fact sheet with game description and screenshots of the games this year there is also some videos and interesting design sketches, which give an interesting insight into the very versatile projects. Has made me particularly addressed the opening image and the design sketch of Dragonsnake and very curious.

The students I wish every success in learning the hardware-oriented programming – on the Vectrex!

In Release perhaps some questions, as the game does that mean, the released because (released) has been. but the game is really so and the name is well chosen, because it is exactly the gameplay again:
With the fire button, the player controls his destructive weapon and tried, fend off the approaching attacker. Pressing the fire button, the player sends the weapon, an ever increasing five-, six, seven- or octagon going. releasing (engl. “release”) the player fires the weapon and all opponents, which are located just on the lines of the polygon, are destroyed.

Playing alone with the fire button restricts the player strongly in the possibilities of a, But the very fact will release a very exciting and thrilling game, which is a graph showing an Augenschmaus. The German author, under the pseudonym “family” developed, is none other than Christopher Salomon, since the 1998 has developed for the Vectrex and now develops the development environment Vide and now release after a long pause. More information and the binary to download and try it gives up Christopher's website. Thank you very much, Christopher, for the great release!

“Who invented it?” could be in the Vectrexspiel “vecZ” ask:

René Bauer, Lecturer at the Zurich University of the Arts and in the retro scene as “”la1n” (engl. lion, lion) known, would have 2015 the game Squarez presented. Squarez is a port of conceived by him and developed the browser game “Squarez”. In 2015 hat René die Demo “sinZ” released, a demo with a waved lettering and an animated face.

His latest work “vecZ” is a vertical shooter, of me a little of the game Xevious remind: The player controls his spaceship through a kind of canyon with various defense facilities and opponents. vecZ is graphically aware rather minimalistic but attractively decorated; the majority of the opponents are composed of four lines.

René has posted to its website kindly the Binary of vecZ ready, together with overlay graphics and source code; so everyone can easily vecZ once in a Vectrex emulator such. B. ParaJVE try out. Further, in Madtronix vecZ as yellow slim Cartridge (Boards without housing) be ordered and overlay. Thank you very much, René, for the attractive and very well playable vecZ!