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Asteroids - Worth It?
SavannahLion:
--- Quote from: ChadTower on March 30, 2007, 01:29:53 pm ---Either way, they're not as different from rasters as people think. If you're skilled enough to work on one you're skilled enough to work on the other.
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I've been wondering, when reading pages like the Repair FAQ for Atari vectors, I get the impression that the tube isn't what defines whether a monitor is vector or rastor, but rather the circuitry controlling the scan gun. How come no one has come forward and created a retrofit circuit board to convert rastors to vectors. There's an adapter out there that allows vector PCB's to interface to a rastor monitor without blowing things up, why haven't the next step been taken? Is the actual circuitry in the tube itself?
Even if the retrofit only works for specific monitors, that would go a long way to allowing your average Joe (like me) to obtain vector games with the hopes of actually having a working vector monitor with them. Even better, it might bring forth something like a VectorMAME that directly utilizes vector monitors.
I like both Asteroids and Tempest, so I can't say whether to go with one or the other.
ChadTower:
--- Quote from: SavannahLion on March 30, 2007, 02:12:40 pm ---I've been wondering, when reading pages like the Repair FAQ for Atari vectors, I get the impression that the tube isn't what defines whether a monitor is vector or rastor, but rather the circuitry controlling the scan gun.
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Yes, almost correct. The circuitry is the major key but coincedentally a lot of vector monitors use a tube with a slightly different deflection angle than most rasters. So there are really two major considerations: the monitor chassis and the tube deflection angle. If you have a tube with the right angle you can swap a tube from a raster into a vector.
--- Quote ---How come no one has come forward and created a retrofit circuit board to convert rastors to vectors.
--- End quote ---
Mostly because of lack of demand coupled with proprietary, expensive to reproduce parts on the vector chassis (most notably the HV transformer). Let's face it, as cool as it would be, that's an expensive proposition to only sell a couple hundred units.
--- Quote ---There's an adapter out there that allows vector PCB's to interface to a rastor monitor without blowing things up
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If you're talking about the ZVG, that's not what it does. If you're talking about something else, please post a link, as I have never seen a vector PCB -> raster monitor adapter.
--- Quote ---VectorMAME that directly utilizes vector monitors.
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There is a VectorMAME that works in conjunction with the ZVG.
MameMaster!:
not to derail this....but why is it when ever someone is selling something "slightly damaged" or "mint" that they conveniently DON'T EVER own a digital camera......I don't even see how that's possible these days.... ??? ???
The last time I went to check out a "mint" condition DK machine (he had NO photos to email me---and I drove almost 2 hours to see it)...it was a TOTAL disaster. 1/3 of the screen wasn't even working......the marquee was gone....liberal amounts of cigarette burns etc etc......and worse.
I'm just sayin'.
Good luck though....you may be able to offer $225 or so if it needs a lot of work....
ahofle:
Tell him no one wants Asteroids machines anymore, show him this video, and then offer to take it off his hands for $100. ;D
Warning, do not watch if you have a weak stomach: :laugh2:
SavannahLion:
--- Quote from: ChadTower on March 30, 2007, 02:20:18 pm ---If you're talking about the ZVG, that's not what it does. If you're talking about something else, please post a link, as I have never seen a vector PCB -> raster monitor adapter.
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Worse yet, what I did see isn't an adapter per se, it's an emulator on a chip. Seems I got ZVG and the EoaC mixed up in my head. ???