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Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: FatDave on March 09, 2003, 09:01:04 am

Title: How is ArcadeVGA w/ Vector Games?
Post by: FatDave on March 09, 2003, 09:01:04 am

Hi everybody.

I'm a total newbie (dig that post count!) about to start building my first Mame cab. Of course I'm wrestling with monitor decisions, specifically standard res monitor and ArcadeVGA or VGA arcade monitor.

For the most part, the decision would be easy, standard res + arcadeVGA for the authenticity, but I do like to play an occasional game of Battlezone, Space Duel, and how can you live without Tempest?

So how does the ArcadeVGA handle vector games? I'm guessing it runs them at 640x480 interlaced. How does it look? Can I approximate the look by running vector games at 640x480 on my PC monitor? What about flicker from the interlacing?

I've searched the BYOAC forums, the Ultimarc forums, even straight Google and came up with nothing, but I'm sure somebody here has first-hand experience. I'd appreciate any advice you may have.

Thanks.

Title: Re:How is ArcadeVGA w/ Vector Games?
Post by: Minwah on March 09, 2003, 04:55:58 pm

Well it seems OK...

Asteroids + Space Duel are fine at 640x480.  There is a bit of flicker at times, but in-game no problem really.  Sometimes the horizontal lines in the UFO in Asteroids disappears a bit but this doesn't bother me at all.

I can't get Tempest to run great on my (horizontal) screen.  I expect vertically it is fine, but squashing it onto a horizontal screen just looses some of the detail and looks a bit iffy.  But it IS playable.

I tried taking some pics but they've come out crap :(

I haven't yet tried Battlezone...

Title: Re:How is ArcadeVGA w/ Vector Games?
Post by: Sasquatch! on March 10, 2003, 12:40:48 am

Quote from: Minwah on March 09, 2003, 04:55:58 pm

I tried taking some pics but they've come out crap :(

"Crap" or not, I'd love to see pics of vector games through this card if you could.

Title: Re:How is ArcadeVGA w/ Vector Games?
Post by: Chris on March 10, 2003, 01:00:35 pm

Flickering might actually help, since older vector games tended to flicker...

Title: Re:How is ArcadeVGA w/ Vector Games?
Post by: DeathMonk on March 10, 2003, 05:21:04 pm

I'll try and take some pics tonight.

Title: Re:How is ArcadeVGA w/ Vector Games?
Post by: FatDave on March 11, 2003, 12:49:47 am

Quote from: Minwah on March 09, 2003, 04:55:58 pm

Sometimes the horizontal lines in the UFO in Asteroids disappears a bit but this doesn't bother me at all.

After reading that, I seem to remember that actually happening in the arcade. Course it's been 20 years since I played a real asteroids machine so who knows, maybe your description corrupted my memory.

Thanks for the info. I'm amazed at how helpful everyone is on these boards. You guys rock!

Title: Re:How is ArcadeVGA w/ Vector Games?
Post by: Minwah on March 11, 2003, 04:51:23 am

Quote from: FatDave on March 11, 2003, 12:49:47 am

Quote from: Minwah on March 09, 2003, 04:55:58 pm

Sometimes the horizontal lines in the UFO in Asteroids disappears a bit but this doesn't bother me at all.

After reading that, I seem to remember that actually happening in the arcade. Course it's been 20 years since I played a real asteroids machine so who knows, maybe your description corrupted my memory.

Thanks for the info. I'm amazed at how helpful everyone is on these boards. You guys rock!

Well maybe, I've only played a real Asteroids once - last September.  But I can't remember either  :D.

I think the TV / Arcade monitor looks better than PC screen in one respect - the brightness.  I played around with the vector settings when I used my PC screen, and I could never get it to look as bright as it should be.  I can't explain it very well but it looks quite cool :)