Doom Ported to Vectrex Console with Striking Vector Graphics

The 1993 first-person shooter Doom is now playable on the 1982 Vectrex, the only home console ever to utilize vector graphics. While vector technology was largely phased out in the gaming industry, a dedicated community continues to sustain the system. Modder Jason Kopp, known online as ArcadeJason, has created a demonstration that leverages the platform’s distinctive visual style to transform the classic title into an aesthetic resembling the film Tron.

Unlike typical Doom ports found on unconventional hardware such as iPods and graphing calculators, this version offers a genuinely novel visual language. The Vectrex’s display mechanism differs fundamentally from standard pixel-based screens; it directs an electron beam to draw lines directly onto a CRT monitor. This technique results in the game’s crisp, clean lines and artistic presentation.

Technically, the console predates the release of Doom by 11 years, so the software does not run natively. Instead, Kopp utilized his Ultimate Vectrex Multicart 2 (UVMC2), a modified cartridge that functions as a small plug-in computer. This device handles the processing while outputting video to the console’s built-in screen and routing audio through a separate 3.5mm jack. The project was developed using an SDK created by modder Daniel Ferrer Guerrero.

Although the solution relies on external hardware processing, the outcome remains one of the most visually striking adaptations of the game. Details and demonstrations of the project were reported by Time Extension.