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The ColecoVision is Coleco's second generation video game console, released in August 1982. It offered arcade-like graphics and controllers, and an initial catalog of 12 titles, with 10 more promised titles on the way. All told, approximately 170 titles were released on plug-in cartridges during its lifetime. The controller was a flat joystick, two side buttons, and a number-pad, which allowed the user to put inserts for customized buttons. The majority of titles in its catalog were conversions from coin-operated arcade games. The ColecoVision introduced two new concepts to the home videogame industry - the ability to expand the hardware system, and the ability to play other video game system games.

Background

Coleco offered an add-on module that made it compatible with the industry-leading Atari 2600, giving it the largest software library of any console of its day. The module prompted legal action from Atari, but Atari was unable to stop sales of the module due to the fact that the Atari 2600 could be reproduced with off the shelf parts. Coleco was also able to make and sell the Gemini game system which was an exact clone of an Atari 2600 but with combined joystick/paddle controllers.

A second module came with steering wheel and pedal controllers, for use with the games Turbo and Destructor. The third and final module, released in the summer of 1983, expanded it into a full-fledged computer, the Coleco Adam. Coleco prototyped an expansion module to provide compatibility with the Mattel Intellivision, but never released it.

By Christmas of 1982, Coleco had sold 500,000 units, mainly on the strength of its bundled games. While Atari's fortune had risen on the popularity of Space Invaders, ColecoVision was the first console to feature the hit Donkey Kong, by Nintendo. The ColecoVision's main competitor in the next-generation console space was the arguably more advanced but less commercially successful Atari 5200.

Sales quickly passed one million in early 1983, before the video game crash of 1983. The ColecoVision was discontinued in the spring of 1984. Even with its late difficulties, the ColecoVision still sold more than six million units.

Today, Coleco emulators and games are widely available as abandonware on the Internet. Although the games remain copyrighted, the holders of ColecoVision games have tended not to enforce their copyrights, in contrast to Intellivision and some Atari games.

Coleco's software approach was to go after licensed arcade games that Atari had missed and to make cartridges for the 2600 and Intellivision in addition to its own system. Realizing that Atari had firm support from Namco (creators of Pac-Man and many other hits), Coleco involved itself with companies like Sega, Konami, and Universal. The ColecoVision had enough power to produce near-arcade-quality ports, which boosted its popularity. Industry magazines like Electronic Games were unanimous in their enthusiasm over Coleco's machine.

Some of the more popular games included Donkey Kong
(the pack-in), Donkey Kong Junior
, Carnival, Ladybug, Mouse Trap, Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle, and Zaxxon. The ColecoVision didn't offer many revolutionary new games, since most of its popular titles were arcade ports. Still, it offered a few notable original titles like War Room, Illusions
, and Fortune Builder, an early milestone in the style of SimCity. Most cartridges did not have an end-game to beat, but instead would loop around to the beginning, such as Cosmic Avenger.

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Games - ColecoVision

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