Introduction

     Vectrex is the only vector display home gaming system ever produced. It was released in November of 1982, just in time for the video game market crash of 1983. The crash was mainly the result of shifting adolescent interests, the rise of home computing and the mismanagement of gaming industry giant Atari. Vectrex, despite the initial wave of positive reviews, would be one of several casualties of the 83’ crash. The system came preloaded with a game called MineStrom that didn’t require the use of a cartridge. The preloaded game has been described as very similar to the popular arcade game Asteroids. MineStorm was at the time and still remains one of the favourite games for the Vectrex system. The gaming crash of 1983 stopped Vectrex and all its games in their tracks. Because MineStorm was only released as a preloaded default for Vectrex, its existence is particularly contingent on the existence of the system (which grows more and more rarified as time goes on). This project seeks to profile MineStorm, the Vectrex and the dramatic impact a confluence of events can have on the history and future of an entire media industry.