GoKawiilModder brings Doom to the Vectrex using custom multicart hardware
Developer Jason Kopp (ArcadeJason) has built a Doom demo for the 1982 Vectrex vector-graphics console, giving the shooter a Tron-like line-drawn look derived from the console's electron-beam display. The game runs via Kopp's Ultimate Vectrex Multicart 2 cartridge, which acts as a plug-in PC handling processing while the Vectrex's CRT renders the image and the cartridge outputs audio separately; the project also uses an SDK built by Daniel Ferrer Guerrero.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Because the Vectrex traces lines rather than rendering pixels, this port produces a visually distinct take on Doom compared to dozens of other unusual ports on devices like toasters or calculators. The use of an add-on cartridge rather than a native port suggests enthusiasts are finding creative workarounds to push retro hardware beyond its original capabilities, which could keep niche platforms culturally relevant among hobbyists.
- Doom has been adapted for the Vectrex, a vector-graphics-only console from 1982.
- The demo relies on Jason Kopp's Ultimate Vectrex Multicart 2, which supplies extra processing power rather than running natively.
- The console's beam-drawn display gives the game a distinctive Tron-like aesthetic.
Vectrex Classic Console (collector unit) — If this quirky Doom port has you curious about vector graphics, a Vectrex unit is the real deal behind that Tron-like display. It's a fascinating piece of gaming history worth owning for collectors and retro enthusiasts alike, especially with modern modding projects breathing new life into it.
See Vectrex Classic Console (collector unit) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Will Shanklin, 2026-10-06
Published there as: “Doom on the Vectrex turns the classic shooter into Tron-like vector art”
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