Developer | Mattel, General Instrument |
---|---|
Type | Online service |
Launch date | 1980 |
Discontinued | 1984 |
Platform(s) | Intellivision |
Status | Dissolved |
PlayCable was an online service introduced in 1980 that allowed local cable television system operators to send games for the Intellivision over cable wires alongside normal television signals. Through the service, subscribers would use a device, called the PlayCable adapter, to download the games for play on their Intellivision. It was the first service that allowed users to download games for play on a video game console. PlayCable was not widely adopted, due in part to high costs for users and operators, as well as limitations of the PlayCable adapter. The service was discontinued in 1984.[1]