Vyrzon - a new single screen danmaku shmup for the Vectrex

[Fruktodlaren]

4 hours ago, Blazing Lazers said:

I couldn't edit my earlier post but please do accept my apologies. I was indeed unaware of who (you) the seller is and it's a very reassuring thing to know that for once a high eBay sale of a Vectrex homebrew will directly benefit the community.

 

 

Apology accepted. Given the same circumstances, I too would probably think it was scalped if I saw an Ebay add for the sold out game pop up just after I missed out on buying it again. An honest mistake.
Turns out that many people are unaware of who I am, as I am not keeping a high profile online.

[+jgkspsx]

Edited since I replied too fast but I am leaving my compliments for Tony here anyway
 

That “profiteering speculator” has put hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars into making special Vectrex cartridges for charity. He’s one of the best people on the internet. He did not get anybody’s copy of the game.

 

I am not getting a lot of time to play right now. If it would help you feel better and if it would not prevent me from getting another copy in the future you can have mine at cost.

[Fruktodlaren]

10 hours ago, jgkspsx said:

...has put hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars into making special Vectrex cartridges for charity.

I don't know how many hours, but it is a lot by now. It is my hobby after all. But it is only a bit over a thousand dollar for charity so far and NOT several thousands.
I don't want people to go thinking I am nicer than I actually am in reality.

[+jgkspsx]

Hey, time is money!

[Vectrexer]

On 4/30/2023 at 9:18 AM, Fruktodlaren said:

Hello Blazing Lazers, it is me, the profiteering speculating scummy Ebay seller from Uppsala, Sweden. Nice to meet you too.
However, you seem to have got some things wrong about me. So if you will allow me, I like to briefly explain the situation.

First of all, I am sorry you have had trouble in purchasing Vyrzon. Minsoft is working on the next batch I've heard, so I am confident you should be able to buy a copy sooner or later.
I can also understand that seeing an Ebay listing for the game when it is currently sold out, rubs you the wrong way. But there is more to it than meets the eye actually.

I am that guy who needlessly makes retrogame related items in metal, regardless if it is prudent to do so or not. I collaborated with Minsoft to make a set of aluminium shells for Vyrzon. One of them has already surfaced as the "lucky #100" where the shell for the 100th Vyrzon sold, secretly was changed for an aluminium one, commemorating the milestone that 100 people in this very small hobby had got the game. I do recommend you to read the text in that ebay listing a little closer. I know I am a bit vague there, but if I right out write that the profit will be shared 50/50 between Minsoft and Meek Wizard Machining, Ebay would close the listing labeling it as fundraising against their rules.

I do hope that listing sells for a ungodly tall sum of money.
That particular one, serial #105, will be sold with hope to recoup some of the costs Minsoft and Meek Wizard Machining had when bringing the game to market. Granted, my part in the Vyrzon development was VERY VERY small, but I made that aluminium shell, so I offered to arrange the auction for it. Besides, it would look really strange if Minsoft put up an auction for his own game at the same time when it sells out again and again, don't you agree?

Minsoft had all kinds of expenses ranging from getting the boxes, manuals and overlays professionally printed to bulk buying all the cartridge shells, PCBs and PROM ICs to be able to physically make Vyrzon available to be bought. My (as Meek Wizard Machining) part in the project was only making a number of aluminium shells. But even so, aluminium raw material and mill tooling for doing the engraving had to be bought. So yeah, there were expenses. Minsoft does not rely on preorders, so he had to fork out for all the material and services needed out of his own pocket. As for my part, I did not charge anything at all for making the aluminium shells. I proposed that we make a few more and sell them to recoup the money that way, and one additional copy to be sold for charity. 

I hope I by this reply can prove to you than I am indeed NOT a profiteering speculator and scummy ebay seller. At the very least, I try my best to not be those things.
There is a not very up to date gallery of things I have made in the past over at: buymeacoffee.com/MeekWizard (you do not have to buy me a coffee to see the gallery)

Best regards
/Tony of Meek Wizard Machining
 

Congratulations to @Fruktodlaren and @minwah on the final sale price $1,313.00 for Vyrzon #105 in black aluminium cartridge case. You both definitely deserve bonus for all of the hard work, skill, and dedication put into producing this special package. Thanks for making the efforts you both do!

[uczmeg]

$1,313!

 

That's crazy. There really is some cash in the Vectrex scene.

 

Whoever got lucky and got #100 must be thrilled, as that was also aluminium. 

[Cryo-User]

It is a Nice Game!!

[JEFF31]

Any update for a round 3 release date....?

[Mayhem]

There's been at least four rounds so far... I suggest subscribing to their mail list for updates.

[minwah]

On 6/6/2023 at 2:36 PM, Mayhem said:

There's been at least four rounds so far... I suggest subscribing to their mail list for updates.

Yes, please subscribe to the mailing list or look at the product page which always has either an ETA or an exact date:

 

https://minsoft-games.myshopify.com/products/vyrzon-vectrex-game

 

There have been five batches so far. I'm expecting new cartridge cases next week so the next batch will be available soon after.

[Carlooser]

Will be there any chance to order it again? I missed the opportunity and seems like Vyrzon is sold out...Thank you.

[Mayhem]

Yes there will be further runs made once cart shells are acquired.

[JEFF31]

On 6/5/2023 at 11:46 PM, JEFF31 said:

Any update for a round 3 release date....?

Subscribed.  July release of next round - 5th?. 

 

Still waiting to hear...

 

Any Update?

[minwah]

On 8/15/2023 at 3:55 AM, JEFF31 said:

Subscribed.  July release of next round - 5th?. 

 

Still waiting to hear...

 

Any Update?

There were two batches in July and one in August...maybe check your spam.

 

There will be another batch (#9) but need to get some manuals printed and build carts - ETA September. Check the product page - I update the ETA periodically:

 

https://minsoft-games.myshopify.com/products/vyrzon-vectrex-game

[JEFF31]

12 hours ago, minwah said:

There were two batches in July and one in August...maybe check your spam.

 

There will be another batch (#9) but need to get some manuals printed and build carts - ETA September. Check the product page - I update the ETA periodically:

 

https://minsoft-games.myshopify.com/products/vyrzon-vectrex-game

 

Nothing in spam.  I'll try and keep an eye out here and on minsoft during sept.

 

Thanks

Jeff

[Fruktodlaren]

Since last night GMT+2, there is an auction up on Ebay for a Vyrzon in a metal shell in a complete boxed bundle. It's a collaboration between Minsoft and Meek Wizard Machining and the proceedings will go to charity. We chose Marie Curie, UK's leading end of life charity. Lets just hope the Ebay bots doesn't shut the listing down because it does not use Ebay's own charity tools. Marie Curie was not listed in Ebays own charity tools, so the donation is going to be made manually instead. The winner will get a certificate of donation as proof of that we did what we say we will do.
So go spend all your nerd budgets on it, please.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/155831215589

[cNp]

As Minsoft have now finished their full boxed production of Vyrzon (just shy of 400 copies) I am pleased to say that Vector Republic have now taken over publishing of this amazing game with a clamshell version... you can find details and order from www.vectorrepublic.co.uk

 

👾👾👾👾 👾👾👾👾 👾👾👾👾

[ledzep]

On 12/5/2023 at 5:14 AM, cNp said:

As Minsoft have now finished their full boxed production of Vyrzon (just shy of 400 copies) I am pleased to say that Vector Republic have now taken over publishing of this amazing game with a clamshell version... you can find details and order from www.vectorrepublic.co.uk

 

Dammit, I totally fell asleep on this (+ low on funds back then).  Is there any way to get a cardboard box version of this still?  I really don't like the clamshell boxes.

[+jgkspsx]

1 hour ago, ledzep said:

 

Dammit, I totally fell asleep on this (+ low on funds back then).  Is there any way to get a cardboard box version of this still?  I really don't like the clamshell boxes.

eBay.

 

I don't love the clamshell boxes but if you want to play the best games on Vectrex you will need to learn to accept odd packaging choices.

[cNp]

I will only be doing a clamshell version of Vyrzon; with Frontier and Quartz's Quest in print and in cardboard boxes I have neither the space or money to stock another game's worth of printed cardboard boxes along with plastic cart trays and box protectors.

 

When all the overlays are gone it will be a simple clamshell release like Big Blue has become... that is the destiny of all of the games I do which I think is preferable to discontinuing them.

 

😎

[Dieter Laser]

I'm not against clamshell versions myself, I'm just afraid to order from UK to Germany. I had nothing but problems, still waiting for a package that hasn't moved for a month…

[cNp]

On 2/23/2024 at 1:46 PM, Dieter Laser said:

I'm not against clamshell versions myself, I'm just afraid to order from UK to Germany. I had nothing but problems, still waiting for a package that hasn't moved for a month…

Of the 136 Vyrzons I've sold so far I've sent 16 to Germany and not had any issues reported.

I use Royal Mail and put the correct item value and other details on the customs slip... I know that people using other couriers have had parcels returned to them after several months without being delivered.

[cNp]

It was pointed out to me that shipping to Germany and Canada had stopped working... I've deleted and redone all of the postage setup in ECWID (website back end) and all seems to be working ok again now...