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Post by gliptitude on Nov 22, 2013 20:24:46 GMT -5
I'd definitely pay over 150 for an original, and I might pay that much or more for Madtronics' as well. .. Even if it doesn't end up doing much for me, I can rest assured that I can resell it, and get my money back.
I agree the prices are outrageous, but it's a pretty solid commodity. .. As a serious Vectrex fan, I really feel I am lacking when I have never even seen a 3D Imager in person, let alone operated one.
I'm kind of into peripherals lately, and wouldn't mind having more of them. I agree though that over $150 is a lot to pay for a peripheral, but the 3D Imager is a very unique item.
I wonder if Madtronics will be offering homebrew 3D Imagers again in the future?
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Post by VectorX on Nov 22, 2013 20:32:01 GMT -5
I agree the prices are outrageous, but it's a pretty solid commodity. .. As a serious Vectrex fan, I really feel I am lacking when I have never even seen a 3D Imager in person, let alone operated one. I'm not sure if I've even seen one in stores back in the day, actually. I wonder if Madtronics will be offering homebrew 3D Imagers again in the future? I don't see why he wouldn't. But then we'll wait until he replies  |
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Post by 50tbrd on Nov 22, 2013 21:18:11 GMT -5
I had both the Stuntmaster Headset and the Laser Scope Headset. All interesting concepts, like the Virtual Boy but its really just a gimmick that's a substitute for a game that could have been better served by putting the effort into the design of another game. Very cumbersome and somewhat uncomfortable.
In addition, the Imager only adds 5 games to your playable collection (6 if someone ever surfaces with a 3D Pole Position Prototype). At least the Light Pen can be had for 40 bucks even if it only adds 3, 4 after Mail Plane is released. I'll give George major props for designing the only homebrew Imager games though.
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Post by gliptitude on Nov 22, 2013 23:08:59 GMT -5
Hey, I don't even know what Stuntmaster and Laser Scope are!?
But "just" a gimmick is a questionable claim to me. It was a very ambitious concept in my opinion, and particularly well suited to the Vectrex. It may be the case that there was never enough support for it to produce a game as dynamic and native as Web Wars (for example), but the dream is still there.
I really like that the design involves a motor, and a spinning disk. Seems like a carnival attraction, and I am happy to play along. .. Would love for somebody to come up with ONE ideal game to demonstrate this peripheral.
Not willing to pay $800+ though.
.. Nintendo 3DS has brought 3D to the forefront, but yes, the best GAME for it (Ocarina of Time 3D) is an old one, perhaps from a time when game design was more important than "gimmick". .. I think it's interesting though how Nintendo has sustained their more dubious experiments in subsequent consoles, beginning with the first Game Boy, ("a mix of NES and Game Watch technology").
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Post by Luitoine on Nov 23, 2013 9:05:16 GMT -5
.. Nintendo 3DS has brought 3D to the forefront, but yes, the best GAME for it (Ocarina of Time 3D) is an old one, perhaps from a time when game design was more important than "gimmick". .. I think it's interesting though how Nintendo has sustained their more dubious experiments in subsequent consoles, beginning with the first Game Boy, ("a mix of NES and Game Watch technology"). Ocarina of Time 3D is a great game (beccause Ocarina of Time was already a great game) and the 3D effect is really nice (I especially like the fact that it is "discreet" and not like "OH LOOK WE ADDED 3D"), but the 3D is absolutely not necessary. And actually, I'm not even sure that there's a single game where the 3D adds significant value to the game (at least, when I play 3DS, I always turn off 3D to save battery  )... |
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Post by madtronix on Nov 23, 2013 12:27:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback on the slimcarts! Some thoughts on the imager: According to www.usinflationcalculator.com/ 60USD for the imager back then would be 140 USD today? I sold my imager in 2007 for 70 EUR (95 USD). The exchange rate stayed the same since then. Using the inflation calculator above, that would be 79 EUR (107 USD) today. The very first colour discs (~5 pcs) I sold were not very good, so people received free upgrades. There are 2 imagers of the very first prototype generation out there (+ I have 1-2 myself) before I changed the design to the currently known look. The currently known look has two different pcb revisions with just neglectable functional advantages for the current pcb revision. I have not found the ebay auction, but unless it's one of the first 30-40 (the serial number will tell), I don't think it's worth the extra money. I have ~10 with the old look remaining here at home, the next ones made will have slightly different headmounts. I was asked selling DIY kits for those really low on money (reason I made one myself back then ;-)). Just don't know how to avoid the DIY versions accidentally being sold as "official" one day. It's more of a warranty thing then anything else for me. |
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Post by madtronix on Nov 23, 2013 12:44:03 GMT -5
Oh I didn't read page 3: [...] I wonder if Madtronics will be offering homebrew 3D Imagers again in the future? I have 10 working ones here and ~30 more latest december 10th 2013 If no catastrophe happens I start selling 1st of december 2013. Gotta work on the shipping situation though, 500g insured outside EU cost 20 EUR shipping (18 EUR within EU) is what I pay now. Propably I'll use shipping directly from the US in the future (shipwire, etc.) since in the past 30-40% of all customers were in the US. Well for now I shouldn't get stuck thinking too much about the shipping rates:-) |
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Post by Rapetou33 on Nov 23, 2013 12:54:16 GMT -5
Hi Johannes, where is the serial number you mention ? What is the design of your first imager ?
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Post by 50tbrd on Nov 23, 2013 14:18:25 GMT -5
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Post by gliptitude on Nov 23, 2013 21:31:21 GMT -5
[...] I wonder if Madtronics will be offering homebrew 3D Imagers again in the future? I have 10 working ones here and ~30 more latest december 10th 2013 If no catastrophe happens I start selling 1st of december 2013. Well I am definitely interested to be the buyer of one of those. Hopefully I am ready to pay in time to be one of the buyers, since it sounds like it will be soon. What's the differences between your old and new models? |
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Post by darrin9999 on Nov 23, 2013 22:40:46 GMT -5
Oh I didn't read page 3: [...] I wonder if Madtronics will be offering homebrew 3D Imagers again in the future? I have 10 working ones here and ~30 more latest december 10th 2013 If no catastrophe happens I start selling 1st of december 2013. Gotta work on the shipping situation though, 500g insured outside EU cost 20 EUR shipping (18 EUR within EU) is what I pay now. Propably I'll use shipping directly from the US in the future (shipwire, etc.) since in the past 30-40% of all customers were in the US. Well for now I shouldn't get stuck thinking too much about the shipping rates:-) I am also in for getting one of them as soon as possible... |
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Post by 50tbrd on Nov 23, 2013 23:37:27 GMT -5
You have the color wheels as well, Johannes?
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Post by Tom Porter on Nov 26, 2013 6:31:45 GMT -5
Darn it! I just bought that imager on ebay... it cost 290 US with shipping. I wouldnt have guessed in the slightest you were coming back... i;ll buy some games though!
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Post by VectorX on Nov 26, 2013 9:25:58 GMT -5
Well, at least you have one coming your way though, lets just hope it still works once it arrives.
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Post by desfeek on Nov 29, 2013 4:31:59 GMT -5
This thread makes my wallet and heart rumble with glee.
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