Laser Games - Like a giant colour Vectrex that can blind you

[@Techmoan]

Links & answers to any FAQs (if there are any) are in the *Video Description Text Box*

[@Somethingorother00]

Is the flickering (most visible in asteroids at the start when there's a lot of stuff exploding) a camera thing or is it that visible in person? It made me a bit ill to look at.

[@Techmoan]

It's a bit of everything - the projector, the camera and real life. In person it's not always fun to look at.

[@hikuro14]

What was the song at 0:28?

[@NaviRetlav]

Is this laser any good for displaying the oscilloscope style music videos ?

[@ShawnTewes]

Have you tried the built in ND-filter on the Sony RX-10? That should allow you to use a slower shutter speed, thus possibly reducing flicker/halo.

[@ArtemisKitty]

Hey, I've had a lot of experience (and trouble) filming laser shows myself (my business) and found that the easiest solution is to just drop an ND1024 filter over the camera lens and adjust your F-stop/ISO a bit. Awesome video btw! (Now I've REALLY gotta get one of these...) (Honestly since it's short-range and indoors, you could probably get away with an ND256 here... definitely cheaper.)

[@DisplacedGamers]

Despite not appearing as it was designed to be, I thought Attack of the Squigglons was rather charming.

[@WaltonPete]

Displaced Gamers There's Squigglons on the starboard bow!

[@DisplacedGamers]

... starboard bow! Starboard bow! There's Squigglons on the---. Oh no. It is stuck in my head now.

[@Chocolatchips]

It's not that their appearance is unintended. There's just always some degree of distortion depending on how many thousands of dollars the owner has poured into the projector. It's always there, to some degree.

[@watadeeel]

The squiggles are kinda cool, actually.

[@PiddeBas]

Agreed

[@rich1051414]

It's cute. It's obviously massively underengineered, but there is something quaint about that.

[@jusb1066]

yes it does make a change from square lines, a hand drawn quality

[@DerMuri]

my thought exactly

[@VectorSM64]

the animation actually looks better all curvy on the projector imo. it unintentionally gives it a neat art style

[@ThetaReactor]

It looks like long-exposure light art.

[@eachandeverything9932]

It looks cool. It kind of looks like neon.

[@alexsabber]

So Techmoan is Lazer Game Review now :)

[@joseangelmonterroza9364]

*L* *A* *S* *E* *R* *M* *O* *A* *N* here, internet bussiest láser game nerd.

[@fwd0120]

Grreeeetings

[@AlbertBurdge]

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks watching most of your videos, still finding more. I just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoy your work. As someone who searches out retro tech from thrift stores as a hobby, I find techmoan endlessly fascinating. Keep up the great work, love the puppets too!

[@gavincurtis]

Oh my God, I wan't to play asteroids on the huge hillside by our house now.

[@USWaterRockets]

I'll buy that for a dollar!

[@devicemodder]

or on the side of a wal-mart at 2AM

[@gavincurtis]

Frogz, A DLP won't light up the side of a damn or hillside though unfortunately.

[@Lumibear.]

So many blind rabbits...

[@IgnoreMyChan]

I would have loved to see this with some smoke in the room 😃😃

[@RetroPlus]

IgnoreMyChan Oh wow, that would be crazy. I'm interested too.

[@kei_nishimaru]

1:23 And there's a Techmoan in his natural habitat. A truly interesting and phenomenal mammal.

[@U014B]

Kei Nishimaru Phenomenammal (🎵doo doo d-doo-doo🎵)

[@rich1051414]

The bendy inaccuracies and ghosted images is actually really quaint and cute. However, it does make me wonder about making a proper one with tight tolerances, bet it would look fantastic.

[@qqq1701]

Interesting that it's kind of the opposite of not having the power for 3d graphics. Instead of becoming angular and blocky things become squiggly and rounded.

[@rich1051414]

Lol. Well, it's not that it doesn't have the power, it doesn't have the accuracy. Things look rounded because the motors are not stepped enough, it just guesses(wrongly) the positioning.

[@Adlore]

Richard Smith I think they were stepped enough, but lacked the torque to actually reach all the locations in the right time, so instead it literally cut corners

[@GigsVT]

these are mems aren't they? I wouldn't think this would be anything like steppers.

[@rich1051414]

Yeah maybe, or lacked the speed. If it's high powered lasers, it very well may be torque, moving the heatsinks in all.

[@KuraIthys]

Yeah, I think the main issue is a lack of accuracy at speed. If it were moving too slow parts of the image would not get drawn at all, but if it rushes I guess it approximates the fastest path through it. I suppose part of the problem could be that the X and Y deflection happens with separate mirrors, meaning that if one mirror isn't moving it would need to start moving in advance to complete a later part of the movement in time. I imagine the mirrors have a relatively high mass compared to the deflection speed, so it doesn't instantly start or stop. That in itself means the ends of any line drawn involves a degree of acceleration, and taken to an extreme that means sharp edges become curves. (since it's easier to smoothly transition to a new direction than to create a sharp corner, which would require coming to a complete stop, then starting again.) Yes, the fact that the mirrors cannot stop and start instantly would seem to be the most likely reason sharp points have a habit of vanishing when there isn't enough time. A hard corner would require deceleration, stop, accelerate, while a smooth curve is an even acceleration all the way through, and thus takes less time to complete. Weird quirk with unusual visual effects, but interesting to consider the reasons for it.

[@victorhugotoledocofre1366]

Automatically generated subs: "That's it for the Bourbon..." LOL

[@MagicPlants]

Even with the curved line problem I still find the effect impressive and beautiful. Thanks for demoing everything. You're an awesome reviewer. Long time fan.

[@MattHayesVinyl]

Interesting product. I'll have to check out the 2016 video but I'd love to see a laser spectrum analyzer.

[@JesusisJesus]

I think you'll find that this thing is capable of that, the rest is just software.

[@MattHayesVinyl]

Good point, Jesus. I'm sure you are right. Would be great to see that in action.

[@JesusisJesus]

Maybe you should download the software because I was just watching it again and I saw a few Speccy type displays flick up on the screen during the bit where he's setting it up. Smack bang on the 2:00 mark.

[@Techmoan]

During the section at the end of the video, where I’m talking to camera, look to the right of the screen, you’ll see that the lasers are reacting to the sound of my voice. This is one of the features of the software. In this video I was just playing some games. You can download the software for yourself if you want to look through all the other features.

[@MattHayesVinyl]

Ah yes, thank you. I hadn't even noticed it was reacting to your voice! Would be great to see this with music too. I'll have to take a look at the software.

[@CTimmerman]

I'm impressed by the colors and charmed by the curves.

[@andersdenkend]

Man, if this could emulate the Star Wars Arcade game. Or the Vectrex. That‘d be really, really amazing.

[@RCAvhstape]

BattleZone, Gravitar, Major Havoc, lots of great vector scan games back in the day!

[@Wallyworld30]

TRON!

[@denimadept]

I'd like to see a better version of Tempest. That's the best of the best.

[@paspax]

Tail Gunner.

[@AalbertTorsius]

I was hoping for Elite.

[@CPS2]

Dies Dies Dies Dies "It's a little bit easy though..." Dies Dies

[@RawTopShot]

Tempest was my all time favourite as a kid. I only ever found one machine. I remember the large weighted control dial vividly. Bliss 😍😍😍

[@RetroPlus]

RAW TOPSHOT Yeah, tempest was great. My favourite has got to be Polybius though due to the fast and addictive gameplay.

[@Tubeglowfun]

I like the clipped edges. It's like a visual version of what a tube amp does to a guitar signal when viewed through an oscilloscope.

[@imtheotherdave]

That's pretty cool. The kids on the pills and electronic music would stare at that for hours.

[@Yukatoshi]

imtheotherdave Is this comment from 1993?

[@jamesslick4790]

I would be interested in this if a better "Tempest" clone was to be had. "Tempest" ,"Battle Zone" and "Missile Command" are STILL my favorite arcade games!

[@mrmeatman9948]

Reminds of the computer displays in the X-Wings!

[@russ117044]

Where are the bleedn puppets old man? The puppets! I have to see the puppets! Nappys, lifts, eel pie! "Whats for tea mama:?

[@Techmoan]

They appear when I have a good idea for them and the time. At the moment I haven't had either, but I'm sure no one wants to watch something like the worst of Zombie Simpsons.

[@peterquint3816]

You might have already done it, but the guys who I find annoying at the moment are the commenter health and safety squad. They see any pathetically small risk as a chance to trumpet their supposed knowledge of the dangers of that situation, which is, of course, just a way to try and make themselves look more knowledgeable than the video creator while pretending to be merely concerned. Wankers. They've got so many irritating aspects to them, especially when a lot of what they say is just bollocks anyway, that a razzing from the puppets might be in order.

[@phillipsofthedriver]

Heinz CURRIED baked beans! Harrumph!

[@NoxmilesDe]

So, it's not available for Linux?

[@AndersEngerJensen]

Mounting issue: Couldn’t you just unscrew the two tightening knobs on the side, flip the handle bar on the opposite side and re-attach?

[@Techmoan]

No - it doesn’t re-attach properly that way up - I tried on the previous video.

[@manoflego123]

I actually really dig the sort of stylized curves it draws, and I'd love to either have or to make a game that is supposed to look like that!

[@ojgsxr6]

You had me at potential eye damage

[@MrStephenRGilman]

Could you use a Vectrex emulator with this laser projector? How about using MAME to play old vector games, like Star Wars for example?

[@pmgodfrey]

hackaday.com/2013/03/12/playing-mame-games-on-a-rgb-laser-projector/

[@jamescarter3196]

At the beginning I noticed "He's wearing a shirt which I've got in the closet." During laser setup: "He's wearing a different shirt which I've also got in the closet." I'm starting to feel some kinship with Techmoan beyond merely our age, appearance, interests and approximate speaking style.

[@geekdomo]

Hey Mat, get yourself a variable ND filter. It will help a ton with this sort of video. Maybe a circular polarizer. Both could be had for a few bucks for that Sony. Too late for this vid of course but maybe useful for others.

[@kirche5]

The compilation in the credits needs a standalone video. It's just so relaxing.

[@korndogz69]

Star Wars and Battlezone were the ultimate vector games.

[@dansolo9978]

Ah Your Correct Sir it was Battlezone not Tank Command..!

[@58jharris]

I wish there had been more vector games. They just have certain unique appeal to them.

[@dansolo9978]

And Play-ability..!

[@alanluber5383]

And also the companion to Battlezone at that time "Red Baron", I spent a lot of money on those two in my youth... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbHhWZ7h9B_l8U

[@AmaroqStarwind]

Now how about taking multiple projectors and having them work together inside of a TV housing?

[@marklaser131081]

Pangolin laser software use to have asteroids built in back in the early 2000s. this takes me back

[@pauleckert4321]

My favorite tech channel.

[@eachandeverything9932]

I love this channel & 8-bit guy's channel.

[@sky173]

Actually, it's quite amazing considering when I started working with lasers, HeNe tubes were $300+ for a .5 mw beam. Even galvanometers for professional shows are thousands of dollars so I really couldn't complain about this little gadget at all. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@LouisTheSEGANerd]

Awesome to see some vectrex ports for this: Starhawk, Star Ship and Amour Attack look pretty good (starts at 8:36).

[@TheDementation]

I love the 80s look of the glasses and the icecubes, looks like artwork come to life.

[@CaptainDangeax]

Reminds me the movie "Tron", specially the breakout clone

[@skonkfactory]

The galvos in that thing are absolute crap, aren't they?

[@skonkfactory]

They're grossly mistuned if they're 20k.

[@kirabarsmith9353]

Looks rad, would like to see this tech taken further. I love Vectrex and Tempest.

[@voidofspaceandtime4684]

Yeah, with more lasers at once color vector games would certainly be more of a possibility than the vectrex while using the 3d viewer.

[@Masterpj555]

Tempest 2000 can be played for a long time already on pangolins QM2000 and easylase and its called lazymame!

[@larsmuldjord9907]

It actually looks really cool how all of the lines get curved, as if it's animated neon sign lights. It gives it a very unique look.

[@kierenmoore3236]

I need to find my Vectrex ... ...

[@dansolo9978]

Bet Ya can't find Your Coloured Gel's Screens..!

[@kierenmoore3236]

I remember the very worn 'clear' plastic bag they and the manuals were in ... with any luck, it's in a drawer, somewhere ... ... ... !! :P

[@misterkite]

You really do.. because on ebay they're running at $400 for just the machine.

[@kierenmoore3236]

If I kept all the stuff I gave away when I was a teenager (old consoles, Transformers, etc), I'd be a millionaire!! :S ...

[@dansolo9978]

Wow - No Bleed-in' Way..! I don't believe Ya " What did I do Swapping My Vectrex for a Shitty Saisho Twin Cassette Ghetto Blaster, but it did have Detachable Speakers and Twin LED Level Meter's..! I thought that thing was the Mut's..! Noooooooooooooo.!!

[@greenpogo]

You shoulda shown 'Balloon Popper' That's kinda fun. It will really pop what you target. Sadly my laserdocks red went out after only two hours of use, and wicked lasers did nothing to help. Thanks a lot wicked :(

[@pmgodfrey]

Wicked has never been known for quality. We recommended they improve their products in 2006 and they showed us the door. They were more interested in ringing the cash register than they were with quality. We found that more than 20% of their products failed in the batches they sent us. It's a company that just sells junk from China. Most of their products claimed to be high powered, but those measurements were taken with the IR filter, so it was measuring the output in infrared rather than visible. They'd make claims (100mW), when in reality it was closer to 4.5mW visible....something else they didn't like to hear.

[@greenpogo]

yeah, i let them know about it right after i got it pretty much. they said the problem was either the red control board or the diode itself (which i knew, but which was the problem?). i tested the voltage of the red drive board and got something real low... less than 3 volts which seems way too low to me. i told them that and they just never got back to me. they had offered to send me another - but like i said, they never did. :(

[@sideshowbob1544]

I remember playing Galaga in the arcade at the mall for 25 cents a game. Back when that was real money. I loved that game!

[@SPAZZOID100]

Sideshow Bob not a vector game.

[@jdlives8992]

That’s sick man. Wish I could see it in person.

[@agvulpine]

I love the fact that somebody went through and ported so many Vectrex titles just to give added bonus value to their laser product. That is really rare and cool. I've never considered dj laser shows as vector projectors before this video.

[@VJFranzK]

How large an image can it project before looking dim? - Galvatron

[@pmgodfrey]

At night, you could probably fill an entire backyard grass area (100x150 foot) and still be able to see it just fine. You really only need a lot of Wattage if you're doing beam effects and want the beams to be quite visible.

[@thehelllord4458]

Now we need Tron on this masterpiece

[@mcwooley]

I've been drawing pretty much nothing but line SVGs since 2013, in anticipation of this technology!

[@NoJusticeNoPeace]

The space shooter game with what you called the "Klingon ships" is a clone of an Odyssey2 game, the name of which I no longer remember.

[@NoJusticeNoPeace]

Yes, I think that's the one I was thinking of. I just did a search and it was called Cosmic Conflict on the Odyssey2. And yes, I remember enjoying the Lord of the Rings RPG (which was half boardgame if I remember correctly; you moved on the board and resolved fights in the game).

[@RCAvhstape]

Lots of games used that same patter. Activision's Star Master, Atari's Star Raiders, just for starters.

[@ArguingMeadows]

Love your videos. I'm not sure if you tried this to reduce flicker, but Premiere has a Flicker Filter in the Field Option settings. I'm sure you're shooting progressive but it still should reduce the flicker for next time. Thanks again for making this video!

[@sjm4306]

A mems based laser projector would fare much better with less mass for the actuated mirror which would allow for a faster refresh through higher acceleration. Alternatively depending on the control resolution you could simply limit the actuation range and back the projector away more to gain refresh speed. Of course all this would require modification of the control software and/or driving firmware.

[@penroc3]

i like the smoother look!!!! you found a gem i think for simple club animations

[@Masterpj555]

i tried the games on laseros and game wise its the platform that has the most games for laser projectors and that's quite cool. Many people have started to poke me about the wicked lasers dac and I'm aware of it and had one send to me very early on before wickedlasers released it to the public. I think they have something really neat here and I hope their consumer market for it grows.. please be carefull with it though people!

[@A_S_M_R]

I noticed an oscilloscope option...have you tried playing some Jerobeam Fenderson through it?

[@griff5476]

There isn't much these days faster than an old school electron gun. The mighty CRT wins this round 😊

[@rich1051414]

Of course, they didn't actually move though, they bent electrons with magnetic fields.

[@RetroPlus]

The down side, if you're next to a hadron collider or an MRI machine, they don't work. Because of the magnetic fields. What a pity.

[@griff5476]

I keep a couple for retro gaming. RGB at 60hz is smooth as butter. Motion blur doesn't exist

[@RetroPlus]

Ian Griffiths That sounds great, the CTRs in the pal region run at 50hz so they're not as smooth.

[@griff5476]

I'm in the UK. A good pal tube will do 60hz over RGB. Console modding required ofc

[@tuff_lover]

IS THIS THE FUTURE FROM THE PAST WHICH IS NOW PRESENT BUT NOT AS COOL AS FUTURE PAST?!

[@moonshine3333]

Just love your “Obligatory Patronising Warnings” 😁

[@robbruce2128]

Is the game at 6:32 supposed to kinda-sorta be Donkey Kong? And is there Lunar Lander? I loved that. And whatever that WWI dogfight simulator was called . . . I'm failing at googling that title. ^B^B^B^B^B^B^B^B^B^B^B^B^B^B^B Red Baron! of course!

[@EricPenn1147]

This is by far one of the coolest things I've ever bought.... This video doesn't do it justice... KZbin 'LD1000 Laser'... Thank you Techmoan for closing the decision on buying this. I thought maybe a scam on eBay... Search for LaserOS, it's free and you can simulate what it can do... I played with that for weeks until I pulled the trigger...

[@parkerlreed]

Of course no Linux love

[@Mostlyharmless1985]

Why should there be? Linux is for the people who would write the software to do this rather than sit around waiting for someone else to do it. I bet it would work just fine in WINE.

[@RetroPlus]

You should film what this would look like in a room full of smoke, that would be really interesting I think.

[@Agamemnon2]

Oh wow, something about that footage made my eyes hurt like mad. I guess the restless flickering of the lines didn't agree with them.

[@supersat]

LaserOS has a setting where you can change the maximum points-per-second that it will try to render, although it seems like the options are backwards (at least in a previous version I tried). Lowering the PPS will improve the sharpness but can add more flicker, although in my opinion it's worth the tradeoff. It's too bad these are almost $800 USD now. Their Indiegogo campaign had them at $199. I'm not sure why the price has gone up so much.

[@OatmealDonk]

Got a 4.5 watt german laser myself for shows with Pangolin's FB3-QS. Was really bummed when i realized you couldn't use the Pangolin ILDA converter for more fu hacking projects. Still useful for shows mind you but...

[@RichardWraith]

Wheres the puppet show? :-( OK, being serious, I really like watching your vids bud, they are really chilled out and entertaining, yet I always manage to learn something, damn you! :-)

[@CP200S]

11:05: Stupid cats... I'm gonna grab this cute lil' triangle here. Oops. 11:10: Yikes, what is that thing falling from there? 11:11: Hum... me likes this.

[@hightechstuff2]

You could try tuning your scanners. The drivers on these cheap chinese scanners are roughly tuned in the factory but are usually fairly diecent clones of Cambridge 6800 galvos. If you can download and show the ILDA test pattern then adjust the low frequency dampening, high frequency dampening and gain potentiometers on each driver, you should be able to get a slightly better image.

[@jonnyreverb]

Don't buy a Class IIIb or higher laser projector unless you know what you are doing. They are dangerous, and they are complicated. Unless you know the maximum permissible exposure, PPS at the angle you are projecting, blanking speed, and FDA/FAA regulations, you might as well be buying an x-ray machine to play with. It's not going to do what you want, and you are going to hurt yourself.

[@ironmaiden5658]

Just use a normal projector running mame and play the vector games that way. They look beautiful and are the arcade ROM. You only need 1024x768 res. Any more is overkill. Get yourself an arcade stick for the best experience or even a PC microsoft xbox USB controller is good as it has an analog stick and analog brake and accelerator for those driving games. Daytona USA or Sega Rally anyone?.

[@DavidDatura]

I absolutely loved those vector graphics games of the 80s like Battlezone, Tempest, Star Wars etc...they were so addictive to play and dazzling to look at! They hold up well visually today too, just like the neon vector like graphics of Tron. Maybe due to the fact that by about the mid-80s they stopped using it for games (with the exception of the home computer Starglider series) so a technology frozen in time that hasn’t dated as much as a result. Unlike raster-scan games that have continued to advance, making those 80s efforts like Centipede, Defender, Outrun etc...look primitive by todays standards, if still eminently playable!

[@larrygall5831]

I remember a kid in my neighborhood had a Vectrex (if I'm spelling it correctly). It was pretty interesting, but I still preferred my Atari 2600.

[@randywatson8347]

Lol that key... it's a weapon of mass destruction. Lot's of vectrex based games I see. I fancy projecting a grid on the carroad at long distance... people will be like wtf it's like an 80‘s car commercial.

[@pmgodfrey]

My god those scanner amplifiers need to be tuned... I'd be using a projector from Kvant. A bit more expensive, but pure quality.

[@stevew8513]

You don't know how long I've been waiting for a vector-based arcade/console to be playable through a laser projector. I first saw one used in the movie Real Genius and thought how great it would be to marry the two technologies. When your first video came out that's all I could think of. It's unfortunately still a ways off, with the issues your machine has with drawing speed. It's a shame. The Vectrex was made open source by the company a few years after its demise, wasn't it? Along with all the non-licensed games? It'd be great if this could turn into a straight Vectrex emulator, but I think modern laser projectors would have a difficult time keeping up with the amount of on-screen complexity of Vectrex games. I guess I'll keep waiting until my dream finally comes true.

[@jammin023]

I imagine it might be possible to improve the projector's performance by reducing the scanning angle (and put the projector further away from the screen so that the projected image is the same size), so that the mirror is making smaller movements. Not sure if this would be a feature of the projector itself, but in theory it should be possible for the software to do it. Obviously there's a limit to how far you can go which is determined by how much fine accuracy the motors have.

[@BigStickyNugs]

remember them tapes you used to buy advertised in magazines? '100 games! Amazing bargain etc' I bought one once and it was full of games basically written in basic. Ah the joys of being old...

[@vivangreco1710]

Makes me miss my old Vectrex even more. I've always had a soft spot for vector graphics games, and poured way too many quarters into Asteroids, Star Wars, and Tempest machines as a teenager in the eighties. While all my friends were buying Colecovisions and Atari consoles, I scrimped and saved for the Vectrex. I had the 3-d goggles and the light pen and most of the games that were available for the machine. I foolishly gave it away to an old flatmate trying to downsize for a move to the UK. I ended up back in the states eventually, and now have a 16 year old son who loves retro gaming. Looking at what the Vectrex and accessories go for on Ebay, I fear I'll never have another one. Hopefully this technology will mature to the point where I can play a ten foot version of Tempest on my ceiling! Love your videos, and your accent makes me homesick for my adopted second home in Blighty.

[@Observ45er]

I started to work on an asteroids game on my laser light show system in the 90s. Several objects with independent motions is no problem, but some of the choreography was puzzling and I lost interest and have since stopped developing. My scanners were made from General Scanning galvos from an old chart recorder and I got a 4ms step response. Slow by professional standards, but just right for a Radio Shack Color Computer running at just under 1 MHz.

[@SLMK-rk7ht]

You have to keep in mind this only costs $800. That's extremely cheap for colored laser that does animations. I remember back in early 2000's there use to be a guy bringing in a $30k laser to rave which only did green color and had super basic animation. I know this was while back but still this laser is amazing!

[@Christopher-N]

I'm not a big fan of vector graphics games, but I appreciate the continued popularity of machines like the Vectrex. That having been said, I think this laser rendition of vector graphics games looks fantastic. Admittedly, there's room for improvement, but this is something I'd definitely love to have once all the bugs are worked out, and if it's available for PCs.

[@suicidalbanananana]

Just a friendly heads-up to all, avoid wickedlasers at all costs, they have a name in the laser-enthousiast-community for selling overpriced with low quality sensors. If you wanna learn about lasers and/or find a decent shop, go to laserpointerforums.com (as an example, i got a 1.4w portable laser via that forum from a diy-er for a mere 100 bucks few years ago, hasnt failed me since. no wicked lasers anything can even come close to that)

[@marcocinquini1985]

Days ago, I was wondering about vector monitors, because of Vectrex itself, and also Arcades that used them, if they are still produced, since even oscilloscopes went LCD. These demos may trigger some nostalgia, but, as show, it doesn't last long due the laser speed. It would be nice with 4K screens, to have this kind of games with quite sharp lines.

[@whynotanyting]

So I'm assuming that unless there's a way to move the mirrors faster you'd have to add more of these laser devices to make increasingly complex visuals? Would probably reduce the amount of corner-cutting, but synchronizing the images and adjusting their angles would be tedious.

[@buddyclem7328]

8:08 I had that game on the Commodore 64! It was all character graphics, but definitely the same game. The Tanks game reminds me of Wii Play Tanks.

[@fen7662]

That's incredibly cool. I wonder if that makes this technically the world's first commercial true vector graphics display game console? I'll have to find out.

[@awesome6323]

Playing games with a keyboard sucks major ass. Back in the day we always made fun of the PC owners having to play on keyboard unlike us, the elite C64 users.

[@SkyCharger001]

I've been thinking about something like this but with the laser projector placed behind a Back-Projection-Cloth to better approach the vector-monitor feel.

[@janneaalto3956]

Might be fun if you could use an edge detection filter on normal movies/games and play them through a laser projector. Heavy Metal from the movie side and System Shock, Descent and The Last Starfighter from the game side.

[@thiesenf]

MAME + any vector based arcade game + that laser projector = AWESOMENESS???

[@Invisableman111]

I'm sure this was brought up before but you may want to try some of these games with a USB gamepad or joystick and use the free program joy2key. That way you can avoid having to deal with awkward controls at least!

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

You get a "like" for the disclaimer, let alone the video itself. (Fortunately I wore my seat belt.) Anyway, this laser thingy looks fun, even with the kinks.

[@jaxnean2663]

In the first game you're actually shooting a LASER! It's a laser pretending to be a laser?

[@scottplumer3668]

The King of Random did a DIY video where they used a vibrating laser pointer to produce laser effects to music. The projector doesn't seem all that different in concept. It just controls the vibrations better.

[@SprocketWatchclock]

That's not Star Trek, it's Space Spartans for the IntelliVision. The ships do look a bit like that in that game (though not the squiggle one obviously)

[@dr666demento]

Actually it does share the flicker problem with CRT vector, and for the same reason, it's drawing a lot of lines one at a time. If you come across the Atari Star Wars arcade game, before playing it, watch it's ''attract mode''. It will have the ''scrolling into the distance'' text, but the more text there is the worse the flicker gets.

[@whistlerwade]

8:37 To 9:00 are both on vectrex (I have them). I think the second one where he says Klingon looking ships is actually from the Star Trek license game, but that's obviously a clone *(as he notes)

[@williamroberts5716]

The Star Trek arcade game from the 80s would look good with the right setup. I could never get the dialog sound files to work well on emulators. The version with the captain's chair instead of the upright console was my favorite.