VectrexMad! Productions

VectrexMad! Productions
Owner	P. Ian Nicholson
Founded	2008
Known for	Modern Vectrex hardware Various Vectrex tinkerings
Current Product	AutoFire Dongle

Vectrex introduction

Vectrex enthusiasts usually seem to fall into two camps, the first of which who got into the system when it first came out, and those who got into the scene years later.

P. Ian Nicholson falls into the latter category, only just entering the scene in late 2007 when he acquired his first system, but quickly built on his late coming by tinkering around with it soon afterwards and creating new hardware applications for it and all.

Contributions to the Vectrex scene

Nicholson started his Vectrex site in January, 2008. Although Nicholson would later pass along the occasional Vectrex-related news tidbit, the site also concentrated on rare Vectrex documentation that few (or no) other sites had, such as Vectrex patents and all.

The original VecVoice (then later the VecVox, as the VecVoice would become obsolete) was a modern day homebrew hardware device that enabled the Vectrex to handle speech. Although not made by Nicholson, in April, 2009, he would create the VecVox Deluxe, which he made by wiring up a speaker to the VecVox that he acquired on e-bay, giving it a better tone, which also led to the unit being housed into a speaker cabinet as well. (This was a one-time only project that was not intended for mass production or sale.)

Then in May, he also helped the Vectrex News Group with a survey of the most wanted game overlays in order for some new reproductions could be created. The votes were totaled and announced in June on Nicholson’s site in order to proceed with the next step of creating the overlays.

In July, an announcement was made about his AutoFire Dongle, which connected in between a Vectrex and the controller, allowing rapid fire to occur by holding down button four (rather than repeatedly pressing it, saving on the wear and tear of the controller), and then in August they were ready for sale (at 12 pounds U. K.), along with a YouTube video being released of it as well, showing the unit in action. The first batch immediately sold out, which, as of late 2010, VectrexMad! is only making them on a as requested basis.

In 2010, the AutoFire Dongle was reviewed in issue 41 of Revival magazine. Although not an application created by VectrexMad!, Nicholson also showed a Vectrex cover created by Nanny’s Sewing Treats on his site, who had already been producing covers for several gaming consoles. The idea for the Vectrex cover originated on the forums of Atari Age, although the original batch did not fare well, since no one at Nanny’s Sewing Treats had a Vectrex in their possession in order for the covers to fit properly. Chris Romeo of the vectrex.com site lent them his Vectrex and Nicholson was involved in giving them feedback (which resulted in a video being made on his YouTube channel in regards to it).

And in August of that year, Nicholson’s site showed how he ran one of his Vectrexes through a tv, also complete with a YouTube video of it.

Nicholson has also had 10 articles printed for Video Game Trader magazine as of 2010, all in regards to the Vectrex.

Future endeavors

VectrexMad! Productions had made a mention or two in regards to a future homebrew game at some point, although it is now only at 60% complete (which Nicholson would prefer not to announce it until it is ready). He is also looking to continue to create future homebrew and/or hardware applications for the Vectrex as he thinks them up (along with time allowing), along with probably making a third batch of the AutoFire Dongle as well. Nicholson also hopes to create a housing for a Vectrex in a full-sized standup arcade unit but does not have a due date set for the project as of yet.

Links

• VectrexMad! Productions YouTube channel
• Vectrexmad! Productions web site

AutoFire Dongle image was used with permission.