Modder runs Doom on Vectrex using plug-in PC cartridge
Modder Jason Kopp has demonstrated Doom running on the Vectrex, a 1982 console known for drawing images with vector lines rather than pixels. The result gives the 1993 shooter a striking, Tron-like look and shows how enthusiasts continue to find new uses for the unusual system.
The game runs from Kopp’s Ultimate Vectrex Multicart 2, which acts as a small plug-in PC and uses the Vectrex’s built-in CRT to display the graphics; sound comes from the cartridge’s separate 3.5mm output. The project also uses a software development kit by Daniel Ferrer Guerrero. It is a demonstration rather than a native Vectrex port: the console itself does not process Doom.
- Doom appears on the 1982 Vectrex with a distinctive vector-line look.
- A modded cartridge handles the game’s processing.
- The demo uses the console’s CRT, with audio output from the cartridge.
New here? Start with this
The Vectrex is a 1982 video game console that stands out for using vector graphics—glowing lines and geometric shapes rather than the coloured pixels found on other systems. This distinctive aesthetic, reminiscent of 1980s arcade games, gives the Vectrex a unique and immediately recognizable look that separates it from contemporary consoles.
Doom is an influential 1993 first-person shooter that has become the subject of countless ports and experiments. Developers and hobbyists have demonstrated the game running on everything from smartphones to scientific calculators, as a kind of challenge to show what's possible with different technologies.
Retro gaming enthusiasts frequently find creative ways to extend the life of old hardware by adapting modern games or using new hardware accessories to expand what's possible. These projects showcase both technical ingenuity and a desire to explore how classic systems can create unexpected visual or gaming experiences.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Engadget as “Doom on the Vectrex turns the classic shooter into Tron-like vector art”.