The Vectrex as a musical instrument: V-Theremin

“Ther-was?” I wondered, when I announcement of “V-Theremin” had read. RTS on termite mound? Schedule appointments on the Vectrex? Quite cold and wrong I was with my conjectures.

The Theremin is an electronic musical instrument, the 1919 was invented by the Russians Lew Termen. The Special and Unusual is, that is played there without any contact. Robert Moog, which is by its analog synthesizer musicians known worldwide, had Thermine built and played. The Thermine are real exotic and rarely found, but still being built and played sporadically. How looks a real theremin and sounds, it looks beautiful in the video:

Vectrexentwickler Chris Malcom, its Hex and Nagoya Attack presented here, brings V-theremin theremin on the Vectrex. Non-contact it is not, however, to, for therefore a special controller would be required. But the basic idea has retained Chris: Pitch and volume are controlled either by one or two joysticks. So you can now play the eclectic sound of the theremin with the Vectrex. Well, little more reverb and a little less hum it would perhaps be even. And play with his hands in the air has something.

If you want to start playing the same V-Theremin, to load the ROM of V-Theremin by VecFlash or VecMulti the Vectrex. ParaJVE going to try even, then use here by double in the ParaJVE window the mouse as an analog joystick.

A big thank you to Chris for the great idea! I'm curious, When the first played with V-Theremin songs show up on Youtube…

addendum:
Who is fascinated by the special union of play and the sound of the theremin, might also want the Crowdfunding project of Carolina and Christopher support; some fans are still being sought for the start.

Vectrexagon and Hex: Jump In hexagon

Does anyone know the difference between the phrase “jump in the triangle” and “jump in Viereck”? Then please contact me. (EDIT: True it is probably “jump in the triangle”). In the currently developed Vectrexspielen Vectrexagon and Hex you are allowed you even let off steam in the hexagon.

Hex and Hex are formed independently of each other clones of the game Super Hexagon of Terry Cavanagh, the app for IOS and Android, is available as well for Steam.
The gameplay is extremely simple and the name “Super Hexagon” program: The player is constricted by ever smaller hexagons. One or two or even three sides of each hexagon are open, through the open sides of the player must control through:

Levels are each hip of a woman's voice: “Begin”, “Line”, “Triangle” and so it says. In the up to the music moving at levels hexagons comes after a short time pleasure and addiction to. Highest concentration is announced. For easy, coherent and novel game idea has Super Hexagon already several awards such as the IGN 2012 cleared.

A great template, but two clones on the Vectrex?

But it must be equal to two clones of the same game? Good point, but the quasi-Gemini on the Vectrex are not identical twins:
Vectrexagon, that of a Swedish development team SDW Developments is developed, playing classic with Joystick. As with the original rotate the approaching hexagons:

at Hex close the hexagons zoom rapidly and without rotation. A special developer Chris Malcom has programmed the control knob, which fits very well for gameplay:

So far only videos of Vectrexagon and Hex are seen, expected both games will be available as a free binary files for download. Thanks to SDW Developments and Chris Malcom for these beautiful transformations!

VectrexWraps – Italy now makes pressure

Michele Fiori had two months ago announced a new edition of his VectrexWraps. In addition to the combination Protector / Y.A.S.I. (Defender/Space Invaders) of the year 2007 it is now pure Protector- give and Y.A.S.I. wraps and a new Scramble Wrap.
Just to remind: The VectrexWraps be applied to the Vectrex console and make the black box an attractive piece of jewelry in the style of the original Arcades. After the first announcement of VectrexWraps it was quiet, but orders the last two weeks have been completed and recently the presses had to do with the new edition of the Vectrex Wraps:

Vectrex_Wraps_Druck_70

Michele Fiori still takes orders for the current edition. Michele's contact information and numerous pictures of the beautiful Wraps finds her on Michele's website. Im Vectorgaming Forum prices and shipping costs are listed. If there is demand, there may be additional requirements later. Designs like Berzerk, Vector Pilot and perhaps Vectrexians are loud Michele in planning.

Thank you very much, Michele, for beautiful Wraps! Now there is another reason for the second- or third-Vectrexkonsole…

Bombenhagel, N.B.Z. and VECFAHREN – Made in Germany

Very umtriebig in matters Vectrex programming Sascha aka The Lynx (lynx soft): After the first trial AVE MARIA (2. January) surprised Sascha in very short time intervals with bombs (16. February), N.B.Z. (18. February) and VECFAHREN (5. March). The conspicuous by its held in German title games are simple in design, but still provide fun. And Sascha actually comes about composing pieces for retro consoles ago, distinguished all games by their own music. But one by one:

Upon a request by Madtronix after a demo for a new multi-cartridge back has Sascha “Bombenhagel” developed. The name is program: In a mixture of Kaboom and Missile Command, it is for the player, destroy incoming flying bombs, before they touch the ground and detonate. Madtronix had given directly to the appointment with his request for a title for his new Multicart, unsuspectingly, that a developer would take this as a starting point for the complete development of a game from scratch. So bombing originated in a quick-fix action in just two days. Whether Sasha woman food and drink brought to the computer, is not known. Bombs will be available exclusively on Madtronix Multicart, on Video shows the gameplay.

N.B.Z., Sasha's third plant, is a prequel to AVE MARIA. In N.B.Z., that for “Nobody Remains Back” stands, the player controls a spaceman and needs to make well put together, the charge for the later flight. Around Flying shots disturb the spaceman in this endeavor. N.B.Z. is exactly like AVE MARIA still developing, by Sascha in Vector Gaming Forum videos posted to N.B.Z. you get already a good impression. In addition to the music is a Sascha the VecVox to Speech.

The safe pun intended the youngest and fourth title VECFAHREN be well understood only German speaking players. Where and why the player drives off in the racing game in perspective as pole or Outrun, However, it remains unclear. Powerful lot of traffic on the dead straight track (probably inspired by the Australian Stuart Highway) require the highest concentration. The idea is simple, by the deep-acting graphics the game still looks appealing. On his website, Sascha has the ROM of VECFAHREN available for download.

thank you, Sascha, for your interesting Games creations – but do not begrudge you also take a break and forget your young family not! 😉

Veccy Bird – ye 'nen Vogel?!

The Atari 2600 and the C64 have it. And the Sinclar ZX81 as well. And now the Vectrex. In mid-February published a first version of the game “Veccy Bird” on the Vectrex. Veccy Bird is a clone of the app “Flappy Bird” the Vietnamese Dong Nguyen (Gears Studios).

VeccyBird-06

The Veccy Bird developed by Michael Simonds is a consistent implementation of the Vectrex: Veccy Bird flying through an obstacle course of tubes. The gravity pulls the misshapen bird, which has approximately the shape and rate of descent of a stone, resistant down. But by a short push of the player flutters Veccy Bird and so gets huge boost to top. The player must therefore maneuver fluttering Veccy Bird through a landscape of ever closer tubes, what sounds easy, but as the original by the reflected limited control capability k-n-o-c-h-e-n-h-a-r-t. Any contact with one of the inside protruding from the top or bottom tubes leads to the immediate death of the little bird, which is equivalent to “GameOver” is.

The story of the original game “Flappy Bird” is interesting and quite strange at the same time and should be briefly told here:
Flappy Bird war im Mai 2013 newly published in the AppStore. Whether it is the very simple gameplay, the very high level of difficulty or even the suspected manipulation Developer Nguyen, definitely Flappy Bird quickly became the absolute download Hit: Until September 2013 Flappy Bird was already 50 downloaded millions of times. 50.000 US Dollar pro Tag to have the game become popular introduced by switched Advertising.
After the rapid rise came in early February the surprising case and Off: By prior announcement via Twitter remote Nguyen himself the app from the app store. Nguyen Reason: The game and its success was ruining his most simple life. A few players have it even half driven to madness, nice to read is because even the Even an attempt FAZ Reakteurin. Although Flappy Bird can not be officially downloaded directly as an app, so haunts the download package for Android and iPhone still around the net.

Back to Vectrex version:
Based on feedback in Vectorgaming Forum considering Michael Simonds, the currently high difficulty of Veccy Bird to correct downwards slightly. Therefore, likely to be followed at least yet another version level.
Michael Simonds represents the ROM of Veccy Bird free for download, it can be so in Emulator ParaJVE be played on the PC or with VecFlash or VecMulti on the Vectrex.

Thank you very much, Michael, for challenging Veccy Bird!