Vectrex emulators

Vectrex

Developer	Smith Engineering
Type	Luggable
Generation	Second generation
Release date	1982
Discontinued	1984
Emulated	✓

The Vectrex was a vector-based graphics console developed by Smith Engineering and released in November of 1982. It had a Motorola MC68A09 CPU at 1.5 MHz with 1KB of RAM. The screen was built into the console and it was packed with one game inside it called Mine Storm. It was considered revolutionary for its time, but the Video Game Crash of 1983 and lack of support (and color) doomed the system.

Emulators

Name	Platform(s)	Latest version	Hardware features and peripherals	RetroAchievements	License	Active	Recommended
x86
MAME		git artifacts 0.289 libretro core	?	?	GPLv2 BSD-3-Clause	✓	✓
vecx		libretro core git	?	?	GPLv3 (Copyleft)	✓ (libretro)	✓
ParaJVE		0.7.0	?	?	Proprietary	✗	~
JSVecX		git	?	?	GPLv2 (Copyleft)	✗	~
BizHawk		2.11.1	?	?	MIT GPL	✓	~
Vectrexy		git	?	?	MIT (Permissive)	✓	~
DVE		2.0b	?	?	Proprietary	✗	~
ARM
VecX		libretro core	?	?	GPLv3 (Copyleft)	✗	✓
VexDroid		1.0.8	?	?	Proprietary	✓	~
Provenance		3.3.0 git	?	?		✓	?
Console
VecX		libretro core 1.1	?	?	GPLv3 (Copyleft)	✗	✓
PSPVE		1.0.2	?	?	GPLv2 (Copyleft)	✗	✓
VectxDS		0.1	?	?	Proprietary	✗	✓
PSP VecX		1.51	?	?	Proprietary	✗	~
Vectrex MESS		2003	?	?	Proprietary	✗	~

Comparisons

• MAME: MAME driver. The hardware is perfectly emulated. A 1984 clone is not emulated yet. Many homebrew physical cartridge releases still have not been dumped.
• ParaJVE: An emulator written in Java. Its development started in early 2006, with the first update version 0.3.2 releasing in November 8, 2006, and the emulation is now mature enough to deliver a rendering close to the real machine, for you to enjoy most of the original games set (as well as some extra homebrew roms). But it was short-lived, ending just 4 years later in December 29, 2010.
• JSVecX: A JavaScript port of the VecX emulator. The emulator was ported from the original C version as developed by Valavan Manohararajah to JavaScript/HTML5. This port relies on the HTML5 Canvas element for display and the Web Audio API for sound (no flash is required). Some known issues: buggy sound, and misaligned overlays.
• vecx: Original branch last updated in August 2016. The libretro core is still being updated as of 2020.
• Vectrexy: A Vectrex emulator programmed in C++. Many commercial games and homebrew ROMs work well, many others and software either don't work or are uncertain.
• DVE: Dos Vectrex Emulator is an ancient emulator that used to work on DOS PC's and was last updated in August 7, 1999! It did a decent job of emulation, with only 2 games with faults; but it is not recommended today. It may produce buzzing sounds under DOSBox. It runs all the games available for it, has adlib sound and 3D imager support. Old, archived webpage.

Old emulation list at Vectrex World (Unofficial website. Covers 3 old emulators only: ParaJVE, DVE & vecx.)

Enhancements

Name		MAME	vecx

Hardware features and peripherals

Name		MAME	vecx
Hardware features
Peripherals	2-Player play	?	?
	3D Imager	?	?
	Computer Add-On	?	?
	Light Pen	?	?
	VecVoice/VecVox	?	?
Misc.

Resources

• The Vectrex Collection (Internet Archive)
• Vectrex Museum (Small database page)
• PlayVectrex.com (Vast technical and non-technical resources website with old-style, garish-looking black background and multi-coloured fonts. Has tons of archived historical information and pictures; and much much more.)
• Vectrex 101: A Beginner's Guide at Racketboy (Published on Jun 16th, 2009; updated on Oct 5th, 2009.)