Hello!
These pages are for all vectrex lovers. If you look for information about vectrex, and how the thing is programmed, you have come to the right place.
There are not many places where you will find so much information about the vectrex as this little place.
These pages will not stagger you with blinding graphics, they actually will be quite boring for people not interested in vectrex programming and technical details, that's ok.
I have programmed a little bit of code for the vectrex, and I'd like to share my experiences with other interested people. Here are my collected vectrex resources...
Tutorials
Vectrex Programming (written partly by me)
Introduction to Vectrex Programming
(by Christopher L. Tumber, copyright 1998 all rights reserved)
3d-Imager
Programming Information
Where: NARROW.ASM
Disassembled version of "Narrow Escape"
commented by Fred Taft.
Where: SLEDGE.ASM
Source of demo of 3D-Imager abilities, some ancestor of
"3D-Crazy Coaster"?
With many comments.
Technical Information
Where: other/text/Imager/
The whole directory contains technical files about the imager.
Where: VEC_FAQ.TXT
There are some question concerning the imager.
Some advices on how to use it, and how it works.
Coding 6809 Assembler
Where: Introduction to Vectrex
Programming
Great intro to general Assembler language (with 6809 in mind).
Where: other/Tools/6809/
Assemblers for the 6809 processor, some with documentation.
Disassemblers for the 6809 processor.
Reference cards and a mirror of a 6809
lecture in html.
Where: Dis/
All source code in general.
LightPen
Programming Information
Where: ART.ASM
Disassembled version of "Art Master"
commented by Fred Taft.
Technical Information
Where: other/Text/Lightpen/
The whole directory contains technical files about the lightpen.
(only two file)
Optimization
Where: PROGGER.TXT
Some notes on techniques used in vectrex frogger.
Where: Vectrex Programming
There is a chapter about optimization (though only fundamental).
Where: Vfrog.txt
These are some newsgroups finds (most of me).
Discussing some technics used in VFrogger (look further at the
end).
Where: Moon.txt
Part of an optimization thread in the newsgroup.
Not a very rewarding text to read. This discussion seems to have
some effect on
Clay. Since than he didn't release any more source codes to the
Vectrex community
(not even MoonLander final, which is a shame :-().
Where: Dis/
All source code in general (I don't know them all, but nearly all
include some tricky stuff).
Sound
Programming Information
Where: Vectrex Programming
Text describing BIOS functions (some).
And gives a table for the notes in the BIOS.
And gives a complete describtion of the PSG registers.
Where: EXEC-ROM.ASM
+ BIOS.ASM
Disassembled version of the BIOS.
Where: RUMCHIP.ASM
Another 'original' source of the BIOS, gives some other hints on
the use of the functions.
(including explosion sound routine)
Where: SONGDEMO.ASM
Documented source code to a new set of new song playing routine
using
3 configuable voices.
Where: PLAYVOIC.TXT
Text describing how to use the above routines.
Where: other/Text/Sound/
Some notes on how the PSG works, and how it is programmed via
vectrex,
how the BIOS routines handle ADSR envelopes.
Christopher Tumbers text (SOUND.TXT)
is a great intro to sound programming!
Where: DAISYNEW.ASM
Source of a song playing routine, which gives a graphical output
of
the notes as well.
Where: NARROW.ASM
Gives a source example on how to set up explosion sound
sub-routine.
Where: SOUND1.AS9
Gives a source example on how to output digitized sound.
Where: TEST.ASM
Gives a source example on how to output digitized sound. This
version
enables output of vectors during sample playing
Many other source codes, include sound routines (nearly all).
Technical Information
Where: other/Text/Chips/Ay3_8912/
Reference manual for the soundchip of vectrex (and other notes).
Where: PLAY.TXT
Not really related, but gives a describtion of the BASIC sound
format,
which in a program of his is converted to vectrex sound.
That program is also included (DIS\WOOLSEY\...).
Vectrex, technically
Where: INTERNAL.TXT
Great introduction from Keith Wilkins. Though not alltogether up
to date
anymore - a must read.
Where: VEC_FAQ.TXT
A list of all vectrex components.
Where: other/Text/Vecrex/
The other files include technical documentation as well.
Where: Service
Manual
A scanned version of the vectrex service manual, as well as a
html version,
gives details about nearly every aspect.
Where: PINOUT.TXT
Pinout of the vectrex cartridges.
Where: other/Text/Chips/
More detailed information on some in vectrex used electronical
parts.
Where: other/Text/Interfac/
Two different interfaces built for accessing vectrex through the
cartridge slot.
Where: Vectrex Programming
Includes technical documentation of the 6522 and PSG.
Where: FIX_VEC.TXT
Notes on fixing a broken vectrex.
Where: other/Text/Vectrex2/
These notes include somewhere information about a (once) possible
vectrex
successor.
Further look at some 'detail', like sound, 3d-imager,
lightpen...
Where: UNSORTED/
Unsorted stuff...