Vectorcast

28/09/2020

My review of the Tempest FPGA Multigame kit, which fits in a Tempest game and expands it to also play Omega Race and Major Havoc!

I really like this kit, give a listen to hear why.

http://vectorcastpodcast.com/?post_type=podcast&p=152&preview=true

Season 1, Episode 4.1: Review – Tempest FPGA Multigame kit Michael Zenner - September 27, 2020 In this special bonus episode, I give my thoughts on the Tempest FPGA Multigame kit developed by Scott Swazey of Tattlersolutions.com The kit replaces the PCB in a standard Tempest game with an FPGA-base...

30/03/2020

My latest FPGA addition: The Cinevectron, a magnificent FPGA-based multi-Cinematronics kit that can be installed in a Cinematronics cabinet, or an Atari Asteroids or Asteroids Deluxe cab. Here's one in my Asteroids Cabaret. This is so cool!

03/03/2020

Some sad news for Vector fans...

Friends, it is with a heavy heart that was pass along that Tim Skelly – legendary designer and programmer of several classic arcade titles has passed away.

02/02/2020

Season 1, Episode 4 is now live, and stay tuned for a bonus mini-episode all about the Bradley Trainer, a version of Battlezone that was specially modified for use in training real tankers. Coming soon!

02/02/2020

Well, it took me long enough, but here is episode 4, where I discuss one of my personal favorite early vector games, Atari's 1980 release, Battlezone.

http://vectorcastpodcast.com/podcast/season-1-episode-4-battlezone/

Season 1, Episode 4: Battlezone Michael Zenner - February 2, 2020 In Episode 4 of the Season of Atari, we discuss Ed Rotberg’s 1980 first-person tank shooter, Battlezone. In addition to being a classic vector, Battlezone is also one of the first examples of an immersive, first person virtual reali...

08/01/2020

The Vectorcast is still here! I'm just waiting to get over a cold before I can record the next episode. It's all written, and it's about Battlezone. Hopefully this week!

05/01/2020

My friend and Friend of the Show Vic Sage has done it again! Check out this latest episode of Diary of An Arcade Employee Podcast, where Vic covers one of my favorite Vector games: Star Castle.
(The Vectorcast will be covering Star Castle and the rest of the Cinematronics/Vectorbeam games in Season 2)

For Episode 40 of the Diary of An Arcade Employee Podcast I am tackling 1980’s Star Castle!

03/12/2019

It is the official policy of the VectorCast that we're not going to be covering the (officially, for now, anyway), but this thing has some cross-over, and is also just too bad-to-the-bone not to post a picture.

Thank you Victor Marland, this is some great work!

03/12/2019

Season 1, Episode 3 is now available!
http://vectorcastpodcast.com/podcast/season-1-episode-3-asteroids-deluxe/

Season 1, Episode 3: Asteroids Deluxe Michael Zenner - December 3, 2019 In Episode 3 of the Season of Atari, we discuss the last of the three “First-Generation” Vector games from Atari. Asteroids Deluxe, designed by Dave Sheppard, was the sequel to one of the most beloved and successful games of...

29/11/2019

Thank you to everyone for all you've done to make the VectorCast what it is! I hope you have a chance to spend time with the people you love!

19/11/2019

Cool piece from Pop Culture Retrorama!

Take a quick journey back to 1981 to witness the Asteroids World Record attempt by Mark Ermatinger!

13/11/2019

My little niche-within-a-niche podcast just hit a milestone: Episode 1: Lunar Lander has been downloaded 100 times. Thanks everyone!

01/11/2019

November 2019 represents the 40th anniversary of the release of Atari's all-time classic, Asteroids!

Here is friend of the show's (and me) Vic Sage's take on this all-time classic!

Arcade Addicts, the new Diary of An Arcade Employee podcast is up - on this show I talk about 1979's Asteroids!

https://popcultureretrorama.com/2019/10/28/diary-of-an-arcade-employee-podcast-ep-039-asteroids/

01/11/2019

Episode 2 is now live! In this installment, we re-define arcade game success by talking about Atari's 1979 mega-hit Asteroids.

http://vectorcastpodcast.com/podcast/season-1-episode-2-asteroids/

19/10/2019

Episode 2 of The Season of Atari is coming together nicely. Can't wait to talk about Asteroids!

15/10/2019

I'm sure that many Vectorcast listeners are also fans of Vic Sage's outstanding Diary of An Arcade Employee Podcast, but Vic also has a number of other podcasts. Since it's the season, I highly recommend checking out Saturday Frights!

09/10/2019

Here's a shameless plug:

We've launched a merch store!

It's gonna be a few days before I can get in and gussie up the design, but if you need a Vectorcast T-shirt RIGHT NOW, you can have one!

For the next two weeks, you get an automatic 15% discount too!

https://shop.spreadshirt.com/vectorcast-shop/

VectorCast Shop

09/10/2019

09/10/2019

Special Bonus Episode 1.1 is now up! This one is all about the monitors Atari used in it's Black and White Vector games. Enjoy!

http://vectorcastpodcast.com/podcast/season-1-episode-1-1-atari-black-and-white-vector-monitors/

Season 1, Episode 1.1: Atari Black and White Vector Monitors Michael Zenner - October 9, 2019 In this special bonus episode of the Vectorcast, we discuss the basics of black and white vector monitor anatomy, as well as the various monitors that Atari used in their black and white vector games. For t...

01/10/2019

Hey, someone gave us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts! Thank you!

01/10/2019

Season 1, the Season of Atari is now officially underway.

Here's Season 1, Episode 1: 1979's Lunar Lander.

http://vectorcastpodcast.com/podcast/season-1-episode-1-lunar-lander/

Season 1, Episode 1: Lunar Lander Michael Zenner - October 1, 2019 In this, the first full episode of Season One, The Season of Atari, we discuss Atari’s first Arcade Vector Game: 1979’s Lunar Lander. Lunar Lander was the first game released on Atari’s “Quadrascan” vector system. Designed ...

27/09/2019

I had a fantastically fun time researching and writing Season 1, Episode 1. I'm really looking forward to starting to record it tomorrow! Coming soon to a podcast app near you!

25/09/2019

Check out my friend 8-Bit Zero's song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5KQ3IIBCSU

Provided to YouTube by DistroKid Vector Man · 8-Bit Zero 8-Bit Zero ℗ 971046 Records DK Released on: 2018-09-05 Auto-generated by YouTube.

24/09/2019

Great news, We finally got approved on Apple Podcasts!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vectorcast/id1480824541

‎Leisure · 2019

20/09/2019

We're live on Google Play!

https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Ijmqs35domb6ihwrzkm3ahzdt4q?t%3DVectorCast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16

A game-by-game history of Vector display-based arcade games produced between 1979 and 1985. We will also feature occasional "Deep-dive" episodes, in which we look specifically at aspects of vector display technology and history.

20/09/2019

Here's our Stitcher link!

A game-by-game history of Vector display-based arcade games produced between 1979 and 1985. We will also feature occasional "Deep-dive" episodes, in which we look specifically at aspects of vector display technology and history.

20/09/2019

20/09/2019

Season 1, Episode 0.1: “Sounds cool, what is it?”

http://vectorcastpodcast.com/podcast/episode-0-1-sounds-cool-what-is-it/

Season 1, Episode 0.1: “Sounds cool, what is it?” Michael Zenner - September 20, 2019 Special bonus episode 0.1: What exactly are we talking about when we say “Vector Arcade Games”? Here, I explain what vector games are, and how they are different from Raster-based games. Season 1, Episode 0...

20/09/2019

Season 1, Episode 0: Introduction:

http://vectorcastpodcast.com/podcast/episode-0-introduction/

Season 1, Episode 0: Introduction Michael Zenner - September 20, 2019 Welcome to the Vectorcast! Here’s the introductory episode where we basically go over what you can expect in the future. Season 1, Episode 0: Introduction     00:00 / 3:39   1X   Download file | Play in new window | Durat...

20/09/2019

Well folks, here it is! We're live!

We're waiting for Apple Podcasts and Google Play to review the feeds, but the first couple of episodes are up, and you can grab the RSS feed if you want to go old school.

http://vectorcastpodcast.com/feed/podcast

A game-by-game history of Vector display-based arcade games produced between 1979 and 1985. We will also feature occasional "Deep-dive" episodes, in which we look specifically at aspects of vector display technology and history.