VecFever on eBay

[cintivoch]

Okay now this one is not mine.  But I am thinking about buying it.

Do any of you have one?
Can it really play all of the games?
Is it worth the price?
The details say it's released in 2018.  But reading back it look like maybe as long ago as 2015 or 2016.  Anyone know the real release date?   Or maybe this is a different version?

This is the same cart as the one released by Thomas Sontowski, correct?

Link: www.ebay.com/itm/VecFever-for-Vectrex-SUPER-RARE/113265920590?
Title:  VecFever for Vectrex SUPER RARE!!!!!

SubTitle:  PCB Comes in a blue clear plastic shell

Details:
Condition: Like New :

Seller Notes: “ORIGINAL PCB MOUNTED IN CLEAR BLUE PLASTIC SHELL”

Release Year: 2018 Platform: Vectrex

Genre: Arcade Game Name: VecFever

THIS AMAZING CART IS EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER WANT FOR YOUR VECTREX SYSTEM. YOU CAN PLUG IT INTO YOUR PC VIA THE USB PORT AND LOAD ON YOUR OWN GAMES. IT KEEPS TRACK OF HIGH SCORES IN THE ORIGINAL GAMES. A GREAT PROGRAMMING TOOL WITH MANY FEATURES. BUILT IN EXCLUSIVE GAMES (2048 DELUXE, HEAD ON, RELEASE, ROBOT ARENA, ROCKS DELUXE, ROCKS 'N SAUCERS AND THE CORE) ALONG WITH MANY EXCLUSIVE DEMO PROGRAMS AND ALL THE ORIGINALS AND LOTS OF OTHER ASSORTED DEMOS. THESE ARE VERY HARD TO FIND. A MUST HAVE FOR ANY SERIOUS VECTREX COLLECTOR. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SELL THIS BUT I MUST! MY LOSS IS YOUR GAIN.

[hcmffm]

I've also seen this offer at ebay and I'm sure that this is the real VecFever developed and produced by Thomas Sontowski.

I guess nobody except Thomas and a few friends of him know how many VecFevers have been produced until now. What I can say is that they are pretty much wanted for various reasons: Currently, the VecFever is the only way to get hands on the games 2048 Deluxe, Robot Arena, Head On, Rocks 'n Saucers and The Core. Second, you have slightly modified versions all the original GCE games - each title with a nice bitmap and a permanent, arcade-like highscore table with 10 entries. VecFever offers a jukebox with hours of sampled music on it and last not least it is a flashable multicartridge which works very well together with VIDE - ideal for development.

From what I have read at AtariAge, Thomas stopped producing the VecFever and it seems not clear whether more VecFevers will be produced one day. Also, Thomas might decide to spread the binaries of the games one day. But this is all very unclear.

All in all: With the VecFever Thomas has created something unparalleled for the Vectrex: The VecFever is the Swiss-knife for the Vectrex and it's a pretty cool Vectrex item. Auction is at 322 USD. The question "Is it worth the price?" is hard to answer - just like with any rare item it much depends on yourself.

[50tbrd]

2048 is actually available for download but the rest is pretty true.

The auction probably won't go cheap. Its pretty much become the holy grail of Vectrex collecting because of the exclusive games and the fact that its a programmable multicart with a bunch of extra features.

[gliptitude]

Final price $1,025.

This is mania.

[Mayhem]

No, THIS IS SPARTA!

(sorry, had to do that)

But yeah, have to agree...

[hcmffm]

The auction winner revealed himself and his explanation sounds plausible to me:

Quoted from facebook group "Vectrex Fans Unite":
... I entered the Vectrex scene and started developing my first game earlier this year. I was too late to score a VecFever by that time. I've only seen one VecFlash on eBay since then and it was the older serial port version. I passed on it thinking I'd just go with Mateos, but Mateos has not responded to my request to purchase his product, and another member of this group likewise reported no response from him after attempting for months.

This auction was the answer to my prayers. Not only is it an immediately available solution, it's the best Vectrex development solution yet produced. The games and extra features included are a significant bonus if not my primary motivator. Yes, I might have gotten a cheaper, less dev-friendly solution if I'd been willing to wait, but I might be waiting months, and the more progress I make on my game in that time the greater the risk I'll have to rework things. ...

As Mat Allen pointed out in a later post, there are people in the Vectrex community that would have helped out. So you better ask before spending 1000 USD. Nevertheless, the 1000 USD are a good investment and moreover these bucks did help the seller. Sure enough no good that VecFever is that rare...

[kokovec]

It's an amazing piece of hardware but I wouldn't pay a penny over $999.99 for it.