Sector-X
FURY
I will ship them out as quickly as possible,
in numbered order. Sorry again for the delays.
Site updated: http://www.furyunlimited.com
VectrexMad!
This is great news!
I also see on your website reference to a new 3D game to come out end
of 2010!
3D Vec Trek
I can only guess what this is. Care to say any more about it?
VectrexMad!
Havok
FURY
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thank you, I will post more details about
the next 3D game soon.
FURY
3D Sector-X begins shipping Monday!
Great news,
You can use either color wheel with 3D Sector-X!
No limitations now after a 48 hour final refining of
my newer 3D engine. You won't even have to indicate
your wheel of choice (as was the case in 3D LOTR).
The program will identify your wheel automatically.
The Crazy Coaster/Narrow Escape wheel of course
will provide a more colorful game experience due to
its more even split of blue-red-green, but the
3D effects are equally impressive : ) regardless of the
wheel choice.
Here's why,
My old 3D engine which is in all versions of 3D LOTR,
and also in my Star Fury 3D demo was originally
written for the CC/NE wheel, then changed for the 3D
MineStorm wheel after I found that the timing with that
wheel was better suited for my engine - I later changed
that engine yet again to work with both wheels, but it
required the user to select the wheel that they were
playing with (this final version of my old 3D code only
exists with the final cartridge release of 3D LOTR,
cartridges #000-100).
Long story short, load in whatever wheel you have, plug
in your imager, and play 3D Sector-X! I'll be updating
my site this weekend with this and other new info,
including the next Vectrex game from Fury (another
game is coming out before VecTrek, mid-2010), which
will be non-3D, for all players.
George
hcmffm
Macallan offers his 3D imagers, again, soon.
> Long story short...
Interesting extra info. So we'll just Plug & Play... ;-)
FURY
Thanks, yes, and I have updated my site now:
http://www.furyunlimited.com
I've marked 3D Sector-X as "now shipping". They
will start shipping Monday in numbered order. I
will get them all out as quickly as possible.
I've added a section for the new game, Sectis.
Not too much info yet, but I will add a game
synopsis and put up a screenshot or two in
February. Anticipated release of May.
www.Vectrex.com
FURY
> Got Mine. Thanks for the sandwich!
Haha!
Chris is referencing the fact that I'm packaging
the games in plastic baggies (sandwich type)
prior to wrapping them in bubble wrap as an
added scratch protection for the metal lids. Note
that all games are being sent in shipping BOXES
so it's probably an unecessary precaution. Do
take care with your engraved lids, as they are
finished in black, matching the game boxes
perfectly. The engraved logo shines in a golden
color due to the metal being brass. Makes
good contrast, looks much better than the LOTR
lids. All Richard's idea.
George
VectrexMad!
Any one played it yet? Mine is still on its way. So I am curious to
hear about first impressions.
VectrexMad!
c-ray
>
> Any one played it yet? Mine is still on its way. So I am curious to
> hear about first impressions.
> VectrexMad!
received my Sector X :-)
The box looks very nice with the black metal plate on top and the gold
engraving. Inside the box there is the game cartridge and the small
manual.
After start up the first screen displays among others your cart number
(#008) after that there is the title screen, pushing button 4 starts
section 1 from a total of 10 sections.
Enemies in the shape of rotating stars approach from a center
building, flying towards you from the depths of the screen making
full use of the 3d effect. You navigate your ship avoiding collision
and firing at the enemies. Your shots are fired in the same plane that
your ship is in (and stays at) so hitting an enemy is a combination of
aiming and timing.
For the second section there is no firing required, there is a
flashing square in the center and 5 smaller ones in the 3D background,
crossing the center one teleports you into one of the 5 others, its a
bit of a puzzle game. When your ship is near you the sound of the
trust is much louder than when flying in the deeper level of the
screen enhancing to the 3D effect.
Made it to section 3 so far, where the enemy is a sort of dragonfly.
This is George's second 3D game after trying it for 15 minutes its
already clear that he made great progress in game play for this game
compared to 3D Lord of the Robots. He is the James Cameron of the
Vectrex community
I'm returning to the apocalyptic city...
Ray
FURY
> I'm returning to the apocalyptic city...
>
> Ray
Thanks for the fantastic review, Ray!
I'm glad you're enjoying the game.
For those who have pre-ordered Sectis,
the dragonfly-looking entity is a sectoid!
George
t-bone jenkins
missed TWO 3d games...
george, any chance that someday these will be released (ala vector 21)
as roms for us shlubs with a vecram and glasses?
FURY
Xmas 2010 - no sooner!
None of these ever:
I, Cyborg
Royal 21 (still available)
3D Sector-X (second run likely)
All 3 of those games have been
(or will be) sequeled and/or ported.
George
hcmffm
If you are really interested in getting Sector-X: I've ordered two copies of
Sector-X and shipment is still on-going, so you could get my copy for the
sales prices + shipment costs. If you say "Yes", we'll have to ask George
whether this change in ownership is still possible before shipping.
Regards, Helmut
FURY
> Regards, Helmut
Helmut, yours shipped a couple weeks ago.
You should have them soon.
t-bone-jenkins has secured a copy now.
I had one that I listed as available a few
weeks ago on another thread and nobody
bought it.
hcmffm
> You should have them soon.
> t-bone-jenkins has secured a copy now.
> I had one that I listed as available a few
> weeks ago on another thread and nobody
> bought it.
Good. Another happy collector... ;-)
FURY
> > Helmut, yours shipped a couple weeks ago.
> > You should have them soon.
>
> Ah, o.k.. "Couple of weeks" makes me wonder why it hasn't arrived, yet.
Give it another week.
I've had shipments to Germany take 3 weeks
many times.
George
hcmffm
FURY
>>3D Sector-X (second run likely)
Gotten some emails on this.
A second run on 3D Sector-X
will not have the engraved lid,
but a label instead.
The game will be identical in
every other way, and numbering
will begin at #101.
These are not available now, and
will not be available until later in
the year.
Any hardcore collector who
already has purchased the
original version with engraved
lid will be able to request a
free label in the mail. I don't
want anyone who has already
purchased to feel the collecting
need of purchasing again for a
labeled box. The engraved box
is far superior to any label.
George
lucifershalo
FURY
> still waiting for mine in Belgium, too....
I only have one Belgium customer,
so I figured out who you are and
your cartridge #. It's shipping out
this week.
VectrexMad!
> > Helmut, yours shipped a couple weeks ago.
> > You should have them soon.
My cart (serial #027) arrived today! Popped it in and it works
flawlessly both with my Madtronix 3d imager and my Horton adaptor and
3D Sega glasses.
I managed to get to level 3 but spent a lot of time puzzling out level
2.
Very professional looking cart box - interesting game - good job!
VectrexMad!
FURY
> My cart (serial #027) arrived today! Popped it in and it works
> flawlessly both with my Madtronix 3d imager and my Horton adaptor and
> 3D Sega glasses.
> I managed to get to level 3 but spent a lot of time puzzling out level
> 2.
> Very professional looking cart box - interesting game - good job!
>
> VectrexMad!
Thanks, glad you like it, and good to hear that it works with the
Madtronix Imager. I assumed that it would, but never tested it
on one.
I actually programmed about the first 80% of the game
using the Horton Adapter in order to preserve my
GCE Imagers.
I can tell you that the adapter/shutter glasses can handle
a lot more than the real imager because there is no
mechanical wheel constantly attempting to get to
the correct speed either by slowing down or speeding
up.
The adapter does have its limitations. Aside from the
obvious downside of no color effects, it also suffers from
the inability to completely shut down once the
Vectrex is powered on. For the adapter to be reset
properly, the console must be powered off and on again
- a reset doesn't do it.
VectrexMad!
>
> The adapter does have its limitations. Aside from the
> obvious downside of no color effects, it also suffers from
changed R,G,B colours to miminc the 3d imager wheel rotation for the
Vectrex? Would this work?
> the inability to completely shut down once the
> Vectrex is powered on. For the adapter to be reset
> properly, the console must be powered off and on again
> - a reset doesn't do it.
Yes, I noticed that before with another 3D game. Thought it was a
problem with my adapter until I read in the 3D Sector X manual about
this switching off operation required instead of reset.
VectrexMad!
Mittens
wrote:
> I wonder if anybody ever thought about 3D glasses with LCDs that
> changed R,G,B colours to miminc the 3d imager wheel rotation for the
> Vectrex? Would this work?
I gave it a try using a CSTN LCD from a mobile phone but found it wouldn't
respond (switch one colour off and the next on) anywhere near quick enough
to colourise the vectrex screen. I think I reckoned on about a 3ms window
in which the colour change would need to occur, but was seeing more like
100ms! Maybe a TFT would work better, but I don't know if small ones are
available.
- mittens
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---
t-bone jenkins
> problem with my adapter until I read in the 3D Sector X manual about
> this switching off operation required instead of reset.
what is this adapter that you speak of and where do i get one or how
do i make one?
:)
hcmffm
> do i make one?
VectrexMad!
I am referring to the homebrew adaptor made by Kevin Horton. This is
a small adaptor that allows 3D Sega glasses to be plugged in instead
of a normal 3d imager.
It gives good 3d but you see the games only in black and white.
This isn't made anymore and they are quite rare.
VectrexMad!
Mayhem
said I'd got #20 so I'd expected it to be here by now...
FURY
> Should I be worried that mine hasn't arrived yet George? The email
> said I'd got #20 so I'd expected it to be here by now...
No, it's taking anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to the UK.
Please allow until Saturday to arrive.
FURY
> This isn't made anymore and they are quite rare.
>
> VectrexMad!
And with my adapter I use readily available
shutter glasses that I got on ebay brand new
for $10.
lucifershalo
I am disappointed
I mean I waited so long I can wait longer to receive it
but your communication is...."not good", George
I had the impression that all the games were shipped already
please in the future, be better for your communication and it will
avoid some problems
thanks
Laurent
lucifershalo
i received today an email saying that my copy was just posted
I am disappointed
I mean I waited so long I can wait longer to receive it
but your communication is...."not good", George
I had the impression that all the games were shipped already
please in the future, be better with your communication and it will
FURY
I'm not having any problems Laurent.
I'm a homebrew Vectrex game author and
enjoying every minute of it! : )
Laurent, I responded to you just a few days ago
in this very thread and told you that yours hadn't
shipped yet but would ship very soon, so you
knew that it hadn't shipped. I followed up with
an email to you yesterday letting you know
that it had shipped, and also gave you the
Customs #.
The fact that you don't send me an email, but
prefer to do this on a forum is perfectly ok
with me : )
You can't embarrass me Laurent because
I'm the first to admit that I'm slow! That
said, Cartridge #100 will get the same
quality personalized treatment
as Cartridge #001. I cut each manual
individually. I playtest each and every
cartridge before it ships. I carefully
mount every engraved lid to be as
straight as I can get it, and if I screw
up, I pull it off and start all over.
I hope you enjoy the game, and if
you're unhappy with my service
and would like a refund on your
Sectis pre-order, just let me know.
lucifershalo
clearly I didnt see that email that you sent me
I was a bit annoyed by the usps shipping confirmation
because I was sure (probably misread) that all the games were shipped
furthermore, I didnt post the message to "humiliate" you but because I
was too lazy to find your website
when I am wrong, I am wrong
here is my PUBLIC apology to you
Laurent
VectrexMad!
VectrexMad!
FURY
> when I am wrong, I am wrong
> here is my PUBLIC apology to you
>
> Laurent
It's no problem : )
Sorry for my long winded reaction
I was tired when I wrote it
hcmffm
custom fee. :-(
The black clamshell box with the golden engraving looks really nice, thank
you very much, George, for your effort! I'll need a 3D imager, now...
FURY
Glad you received them!
Does anybody know how to contact
Kevin Horton? I think it would be great
if he did another run of the 3D adapters.
A lot of people need them. I think
he sold them for $15, and the glasses
(new) are all over ebay for as little
as $10, with the proper plug and all.
No need to track down the Sega glasses.
If he's not interested in producing
these anymore, maybe he'll give the
ok for someone else to produce it
based on his work. By far the most
affordable way to 3D on the Vec.
parabellum
adapter! :)
hcmffm
> adapter! :)
Mayhem
though.
1) Any idea why it refuses to work with one of my Vectrexes? All the
other 3D games are fine, including Lord of the Robots, but here it
just fires up the imager (official CGE), the screen briefly blinks the
first enemy and my ship and then the screen goes blank and the imager
stopped spinning. Most peculiar. Thankfully it works okay on my Kouso
(!) so that's being pressed into service currently.
2) I cleared wave one... and have a big box in the middle surrounded
by five smaller boxes. What do I do now? :p
I ventured into the big box and became small... do I have to go around
the other boxes in a certain order or something?
FURY
> other 3D games are fine, including Lord of the Robots, but here it
> just fires up the imager (official CGE), the screen briefly blinks the
> first enemy and my ship and then the screen goes blank and the imager
> stopped spinning. Most peculiar. Thankfully it works okay on my Kouso
> (!) so that's being pressed into service currently.
Not sure what the problem is with your first Vectrex.
Sector-X is the biggest and most demanding of all the 3D games.
Since the units are now over a quarter century old, it's very
possible your first unit is in need of a checkup if it has trouble
keeping the Imager spinning.
> 2) I cleared wave one... and have a big box in the middle surrounded
> by five smaller boxes. What do I do now? :p
>
> I ventured into the big box and became small... do I have to go around
> the other boxes in a certain order or something?
Yes, you've answered your own question ; )
You went through the vortex at the screen surface and moved
to a lower depth where 5 other vortexes are located.
Mayhem
> Sector-X is the biggest and most demanding of all the 3D games.
> Since the units are now over a quarter century old, it's very
> possible your first unit is in need of a checkup if it has trouble
> keeping the Imager spinning.
As said all the other 3D games, including your first 3D effort Lord of
the Robots, work perfectly fine with this Vectrex as I tested them to
make sure the imager was okay. Then I tried 3D Sector-X with my other
Vectrex and it worked. Most peculiar. I haven't tried things with my
other CGE imager or John Macallan's yet to see if there's any
differences...
FURY
> As said all the other 3D games, including your first 3D effort Lord of
> the Robots, work perfectly fine with this Vectrex as I tested them to
> make sure the imager was okay. Then I tried 3D Sector-X with my other
> Vectrex and it worked. Most peculiar. I haven't tried things with my
> other CGE imager or John Macallan's yet to see if there's any
> differences...
Exactly, and that's why I referenced the fact that
Sector-X really is much more demanding than the other
games.
And Mat, you must start writing GCE, not CGE ; )
Mayhem
Okay, here's the real bizarre kicker. I tried the game with the
"dodgy" Euro Vectrex and my other GCE imager. Works perfectly. WTF?! I
can also confirm the game works fine with the Macallan imager too, and
yes it's good with both my Vectrexes. Must be some real odd bug
cropping up with the previous combination of my Euro Vectrex, that
imager and game code then.
FURY
> Okay, here's the real bizarre kicker. I tried the game with the
> "dodgy" Euro Vectrex and my other GCE imager. Works perfectly. WTF?! I
> can also confirm the game works fine with the Macallan imager too, and
> yes it's good with both my Vectrexes. Must be some real odd bug
> cropping up with the previous combination of my Euro Vectrex, that
> imager and game code then.
No Mat, it hasn't anything to do with the code! It's clearly a
hardware
problem (your first Imager or Vectrex). If it were the code it would
happen to everyone else too, and it hasn't.
Just to make it clear, the game has been tested with
every combo of the Imager/adapter (not the Madtronix
Imager) spanning a couple dozen Vectrex units of every
variety and serial # and works perfectly.
VectrexMad!
Mat, It sounds like a peculiar hardware problem but I wonder if its
anything to do with different Vectrex ROMs ? I seem to recall three
different ROM checksums: B796, 7931, and 7ADB. Wasn't it the 7ADB ROM
that was messing up some other homebrews in the past - e.g. Debris?
Mabye you can verify this using the TestCart to see about the
checksum. Of course if the checksum for the Vectrex that the game is
not working on is the same as the checksum for a working Vectrex,
then this idea is quickly disproved.
VectrexMad!
VectrexMad!
> Just to make it clear, the game has been tested with
> every combo of the Imager/adapter (not the Madtronix
> Imager) spanning a couple dozen Vectrex units of every
> variety and serial # and works perfectly.
I'm an unofficial tester :)
I'm testing it with the Madtronix and the Horton adaptor, and can
report the game is working with both.
VectrexMad!
Mayhem
imply that I thought there was something wrong with your game code.
That particular combination of imager and Vectrex I have just doesn't
want to play ball. It's fine with every other combination of imager
and Vectrex I own. Chalk it up to one of those unexplainable
occurrences...
Mayhem
and give it a whirl. Note though every other game works fine with this
Vectrex, including the previous 3D titles and Debris. It's certainly a
bit of a curio...
FURY
Sorry I didn't mean for any type of overreaction.
I tend to do that with my writing and I just wanted
to be clear about it.
Here's what I want you to do if you haven't
done it yet.
Imager1= the bad guy Imager ; )
Vectrex1= the bad guy Vec
Take Imager1 and plug it into Vectrex2 (Japanese right?)
Now if it doesn't work with 3D Sector-X then I'm ruling
that your Imager is faulty. And look, it might work with
the other 3D games, but there is clearly a speed discrepancy
that is affecting the Imager's ability to communicate with
the Vectrex via my admittedly demanding 3D game.
(It's also by far the biggest at 21k which leaves 3D LOTR
in the dust by about 10k). In short, then, Imager1 is not
up to snuff. That's why I've said in other posts that the
Horton adapter is much more reliable because it is not
depending on a mechanical wheel. It's just a fact, and of
course this type of longevity wasn't at all considered back
in 1982 when the Imager was being designed.
Let me know, and I'll write up my "If it does work"
answer while we wait : )
FURY
> Let me know, and I'll write up my "If it does work"
> answer while we wait : )
If it does work, the first thing that I want you
to do is plug Imager1 back into Vectrex1
and try 3D Sector-X again and tell me exactly
what happens.
FURY
> Mat, It sounds like a peculiar hardware problem but I wonder if its
> anything to do with different Vectrex ROMs ? I seem to recall three
> different ROM checksums: B796, 7931, and 7ADB. Wasn't it the 7ADB ROM
> that was messing up some other homebrews in the past - e.g. Debris?
> Mabye you can verify this using the TestCart to see about the
> checksum. Of course if the checksum for the Vectrex that the game is
> not working on is the same as the checksum for a working Vectrex,
> then this idea is quickly disproved.
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
No, it can't be this because he's already
stated that the game works on both units.
It's going to boil down to a piece of hardware
that is starting to show its age. My bet is
that it's the Imager.
Mayhem
I can't get it to work with Vectrex1 for that game and that game only,
it does the same thing constantly as noted before, even when plugging
it right back into Vectrex1 after successfully playing it on Vectrex2
(as in the imager starts up, the screen briefly blinks the sprites
once it gets up to speed, the screen goes blank and the imager stops
spinning). This is the odd head scratching puzzlement!
FURY
Well then : )
We know it's not the game because the game
works on both machines (and everyone else's
machine).
The game runs on Vectrex1 with all Imagers except
Imager1.
The game runs with all Imagers including Imager1 on
Vectrex2.
As mentioned several times, 3D Sector-X
pushes the limits of the hardware (the Imager
and the Vectrex).
The combination of your Vectrex1 and Imager1
creates a situation where the power and/or timing
of the Imager is not up to snuff. And again, it's
apparently enough power/speed for the other
3D games on that system with that Imager, but
it has to be below normal or Sector-X would
work with those pieces of hardware.
I can't get any more detailed than that without
having the hardware in front of me.
I'm truly happy that it works on both of your
Vectrex machines, and you don't have to use
your Japanese collector's item!
Please enjoy the game!!! : ) : ) : )
Mayhem
But yes, on with actually enjoying the game now ;)