Asteroids is awesome

[Jack Burton]

So after reading a couple of threads about Asteroids and vector games recently on the forum I got a hankering to play it.

I used my big monitor to play it, the one in this thread: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=94775.0

I played in 800x600 and the game looked pretty good.  I've never played an Asteroids in the arcade, but I have played the Vectrex version.  If it's anything to go by then there was still a lot to be desired.  There wasn't that nice vector "glow".

But anyway, I had been playing until about 2:00 AM when I decided to turn all the lights out in the living room and give my roommate some peace.  I sat down to continue my game.

One minute later I was on a trip.  Asteroids turns into a completely different game in the dark.  I had the brightness down and the contrast cranked up on my monitor so the everything in the game was leaving 15" ghost trails behind it.  With 15 or 20 asteroids on screen at once a very plain looking classic game suddenly became one of the most unique experiences I've ever had gaming.  Sitting completely in the dark in front of that big screen was also very very sunsettling and a little intimidating.

But anyway.  This must be something similar to the nice trails that people mention a lot when they are discussing the benefits of old monitors and especially vector monitors.  It really did blow my mind how good it looked and there's no way in hell I believe that this isn't the way the game was meant to be played (with trails that is).   

This isn't a technical thread, just me telling everybody who hasn't experience this that it's something you have to do if you care at all about classic arcade games. 

I'm guessing maybe the age and size of my monitor has something to do with this effect being so pronounced. 

Anybody else have similar experiences and recommend other games that are more fun in the dark?

[Ummon]

There's a pot on the back of the vectrex that controls brightness or something. The display should be striking, as the monitor is the same as any B/W vector game. Also, Minestorm isn't really a version of Asteroids. Sure, it's basically like it, but I actually think it's better and more clever. Lastly, I generally play games in at least half-light.

[Jack Burton]

yeah, I was saying the vectrex looked really good.  It's almost more like looking at a picture or solid objects than like looking at a monitor.  The raster monitor just wasn't good enough till I turned out every light in the room.

Pretty much every old game looks better in the dark I think, especially if they used a black background.

Also, if you play in the dark you can't tell that your cab looks beat up or incomplete!

I used to leave Defender on at night on my cab and when I would get up to go to the bathroom I would forget about it and think aliens were in my living room when I saw the multiple colors bouncing off the walls.

I've switched to Asteroids Deluxe for now, as it's faster and the extra enemy adds a little more tension.  Plus the sound effects are some of the best in a video game.

[Ummon]

Dark and quiet as a cave or I don't sleep well. But would be funny, yeah.