Main > Monitor/Video Forum
Cool! a vector monitor PC interface
Dave_K.:
--- Quote from: kf6bbl on August 01, 2002, 06:42:13 am ---
I'll be happy to entertain any questions.
-Bill
--- End quote ---
Does the board have hard requirements on the type of vector monitor used? I noticed only a couple listed on the page...yet the pic shows Asteroids being displayed on a o-scope.
-Dave
kf6bbl:
It's pretty flexible on monitor types. It has three ranges of output gain, three ranges of speed, edge bloom and pincushioning can be turned off, and color/B&W selected. So with those options on board, it can be used on the Wells Gardner and Ampliphone found in Atari systems, Electrohome G05 B&W, and Sega/Electrohome G08. IIRC, that is the majority of monitors out there. I know there are some oddballs out there like Hanterex, but we've looked at all the input requirements and tried to cover all bases. One thing we are working on right now is determining some component values to allow it to drive the Vectrex monitor. Just a wild idea, but I would love to see someone take a PC104 embedded PC, a ZVG, and a Vectrex and create a standalone emulator that is portable! I might have to get a Vectrex and tear into it ;)
StephenH:
Yes, There is a PC version of MAME that can output vectors! It is LaserMAME, at games.lasers.org.
kf6bbl:
--- Quote from: StephenH on August 29, 2002, 01:56:00 am ---
Yes, There is a PC version of MAME that can output vectors! It is LaserMAME, at games.lasers.org.
--- End quote ---
As far as I know the LaserMAME software is modified to run a ISA card that he has designed. His software won't run the ZVG.
Right now the only software that will run the ZVG is Retrocade. The entire interface will be open soure and there will be a Software Dev Kit so that MAME people and others can work on it.
-Bill
Frostillicus:
--- Quote from: kf6bbl on August 01, 2002, 06:42:13 am ---
I can tell that Frostillicus is a hardcore vector fan, and can't stand the thought of running vector games on a raster display :o
--- End quote ---
How did you guess? I enjoy vector games on the WG D9200, but man it just doesn't compare to a real vector display. with the bright spots..and the clean lines...mmmmmmm.....flicker ;D
Knowing that it would work with the g-08 is the whole reason I'm in this. My buddy has a Sega Convert-A-Game zektor cab that he has never really had working right - he bought an extra monitor in the hopes that would fix it, but alas, it was something else. So now he has TWO g-08's that are collecting dust and I was like "too bad we can't hook this up to our computer...." And voila, I found zektor.com. We aren't even going to bother wasting the time to fix the Sega What-a-Shame cab and hopefully turn it into our first multi vector system.
kf6bbl - you are doing a great thing, IMHO :D off to play my vectrex now...