Vectrex Programming at German University 2016 & 2017

[Nic Lobo (pucpuc)]

its again up now

[hcmffm]

During the past days the "eiti" webpages including the Vectrex Project Gallery were sometimes up and often down (for a reason that Peer might know). From what I could see while the project gallery was available there were various project updates; e.g. Space Assault has an overlay, now.

[Nic Lobo (pucpuc)]

actual status is preserved here:
web.archive.org/web/20160820165818/http://eiti.fh-pforzheim.de/personen/johannsen/projektlabor/vectrex/vectrex_gallery.htm

[Peer]

I have been travelling for the past two weeks and have just returned last night. I had deliberately taken a vacation from e-mails and internet access, so sorry for being silent for some time. Here is the delayed update now:

I know that there had been server updates scheduled for the past days, so that might be the explanation for the project web page being temporarily down.

Meanwhile, most of the students have handed in their final projects. Some have asked for (and been granted) an extension. I will start looking at the results within the next days, and I will then update the gallery page and the project pages. Once this is done, I will let you know and post a message here.

[Peer]

Dear all,

I have updated the Vectrex gallery page and the pages of the individual games with the final results. Enjoy and have fun!

Most of the binaries are alpha versions (meaning that they are now being given to others for the first time). There will most certainly still be undiscovered bugs in the code. In addition, many of the games have not yet been tested on the original Vectrex hardware, as the students had no access to the real device during the final development phase due to the semester break.

We are aware of several performance issues, though most of the games play fine on the emulator. Some students have already announced to continue development and to implemented bug fixes, once bugs are reported. Please report any issues you find (bugs, broken links on the webpages, etc.) and feel free to check back regularly.

Also, it would be nice to know your opinions and what you think about the results of this course.

As a personal statement from my side, let me say, that the lecture and its outcome have by far exceeded my expectations. Considering that we started almost at zero in March, I am very pleased with what the students have achieved. The course will definitely be held again in spring term 2017.

[Rapetou33]

A lot of thanks to you and your students! I would have attended this course with joy! (leider ist es ein wenig zu weit

[hcmffm]

Thank you very much for your updating the Vectrex project gallery and your above summary, Peer! It's great to see that even more binaries, overlays, and manuals are complete, now. I guess the students put a lot of work and sweat into their projects. And it's very nice of the students that they provide their results including binaries, game manuals, and overlays for free downloading and playing.

Teaching programming based on a 30 year old MB Vectrex console instead of a modern NAO H25V4 robot was a risky endeavour with unknown outcome and a lots of questions. From what I can see in the large number of participating students, the many respectable results and your summary, this endeavour is a good success and was worth the effort on both your side (preparing an effective development environment, teaching, and supporting the students) and the students side. The odds were bad but you took the risk and did win! Congratulations!

Until now, I had a closer look at Space Assault and Traffic race and will have a look at more games, soon. I'd say given that it's their first Vectrex game programming project all the students did an excellent job!

[Peer]

More updates, there are three more binaries available for download now (see update notes on gallery page).

[hcmffm]

Aug 26, 2016 12:49:26 GMT -5 Peer said:

More updates, there are three more binaries available for download now (see update notes on gallery page).

Thanks for the info, Peer. During the past days I've tried to open the Vectrex Project gallery but the site eiti.fh-pforzheim.de/ never responded. Looks like maintenance is still ongoing.

EDIT: Maintenance works are finished and webpages are supposed to be up. ATM it's unclear what my problem is; could be my internet access provider for example.

[Peer]

Since I myself do not have any problems accessing or updating the pages, it would be interesting to know if anybody else from outside has problems with the gallery page(s). If so, please contact me and let me know.

In the positive case, maybe sending a short confirmation "from here it works" would also be helpful ;-)

[hcmffm]

I really thought the problems were due to server maintenance, but with your hint I realize it has something to do with my internet connection. I've just tried accessing the webpages from work and the webpages were displayed immediately.

[Mayhem]

I didn't have any issues before, I'll check later to grab the rest of the games if possible.

[hcmffm]

For the Vectrex project gallery I use a different internet access, now.

I've just tried out the game "Hurdles" a bit. My playing was pretty poor and I was even disqualified in the competition. But: I'm very positively surprised to see so many details in the games: For each menu there is a different symbol, there's a training and competition mode with various distances and even a manual included in the game. Plus an overlay. One really can see how much effort, ideas and enthusiasm has been put into Hurdles. Well done!

[geoanas]

I still have a very hard time trying to access 'Vectrex Gallery'...Seems to be down for ever :-(

[Rapetou33]

weird! I have no problem.