ColecoVision

ColecoVision
A ColecoVision unit
A ColecoVision unit
ManufacturerColeco
TypeHome video game console
GenerationSecond
Release date
  • NA: August 1982
  • EU: July 1983
Discontinued1985
Units sold> 2 million (1982-83)[1]
MediaROM cartridge
CPUZilog Z80
Memory
Storage8/16/24/32 KB
GraphicsTMS9928A (NTSC)
TMS9929A (PAL)
SoundSN76489
Controller input
  • Joystick + numeric keypad
  • Roller Controller
  • Driving Controller
  • Super Action Controller
Best-selling gameDonkey Kong (pack-in)
PredecessorColeco Telstar series (1978)

ColecoVision is a second-generation home video-game console developed by Coleco and launched in North America in August 1982. It was released a year later in Europe by CBS Electronics as the CBS ColecoVision.

The console offered a closer experience to more powerful arcade video games compared to competitors such as the Atari 2600 and Intellivision. The initial catalog of twelve games on ROM cartridge included the first home version of Nintendo's Donkey Kong as the pack-in game. Approximately 136 games were published between 1982 and 1984,[2] including Sega's Zaxxon and some ports of lesser known arcade games that found a larger audience on the console, such as Lady Bug, Cosmic Avenger, and Venture.

Coleco released a series of hardware add-ons and special controllers to expand the capabilities of the console. "Expansion Module #1" allowed the system to play Atari 2600 cartridges. A later module converted ColecoVision into the Adam home computer.

ColecoVision was discontinued in 1985 when Coleco withdrew from the video game market. Coleco had already contemplated shifting focus to their Cabbage Patch Kids success after the costly failure of their Adam computer.[3]

  1. ^ "1983". Coleco Industries, Inc. 1983 Annual Report. Coleco Industries, Inc.: 3 1983. The year's sales of 1.5 million ColecoVision units brought the installed base to over 2 million units worldwide.
  2. ^ Forster, Winnie (2005), The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005, GAMEPLAN, p. 50, ISBN 3-00-015359-4
  3. ^ "Coleco Discontinues Its Adam Computer Line: Sells Inventory to Retail Chain; Expects to Report Substantial Losses for 4th Quarter, Year". Los Angeles Times. 3 January 1985.