
ColecoVision
The ColecoVision Chronicles: Nostalgia and Lawsuits
From glimpsing this console nestled in the Sears department store to engaging in impromptu gaming sessions at a friend’s house, memories of classics like Smurfs and Donkey Kong flood my mind. ColecoVision enjoyed a notable surge in popularity, potentially spurred by its competitive pricing and fierce competition with Atari and Intellivision. It appeared to be on the brink of a gaming renaissance before its eventual downturn.
During its heyday, Coleco unveiled a range of hardware “expansion modules,” featuring a rollerball (trak-ball) and a steering wheel paired with pedals. However, one expansion stood out: an Atari 2600 adapter, enabling ColecoVision owners to enjoy Atari 2600 games on their console. This bold move sparked a significant lawsuit from Atari, underscoring the cutthroat nature of the gaming industry at the time.
Despite its allure, I’m hesitant to add a ColecoVision to my collection. Insights from an industry insider suggest that maintaining one may require delving into electronics and soldering. Perhaps one day I’ll take up the challenge and dive into the world of retro console restoration! Stay tuned!
Interesting Facts:
- ColecoVision is a second-generation home video-game console developed by Coleco and launched in North America in August 1982.
- The ColecoVision was the most powerful and popular console of the time, breaking sales records and digging deep into the Atari profits.
Hardware
- Used a Zilog Z80A CPU running at 3.58 MHz
- Had 16KB of video RAM and 1KB of general RAM
- Utilized the Texas Instruments TMS9928A graphics chip for advanced visuals
- Supported up to 32 hardware sprites and 16 on-screen colors
- Included expansion module ports to add functionality
Game Library
- Launched with 12 titles, with around 145 games released in total
- Notable games included Donkey Kong (pack-in), Zaxxon, Venture, Smurf Rescue
- Had strong arcade game ports thanks to more powerful hardware
- Supported Atari 2600 game compatibility via an expansion module
Expansion Modules
- Module #1 enabled playing Atari 2600 game cartridges
- Module #2 was a driving controller for racing games
- Module #3 upgraded it to a full computer system called the ADAM
Marketing
- Positioned as a more powerful alternative to Atari 2600 / Intellivision

ColecoVision Cart Rises from the Ashes
We felt bad for [Mark] of Mark Fixes Stuff. Apparently, his house burned down and took virtually everything, including his retrocomputer collection. He did manage to pull out a few things from the remains including a ColecoVision cartridge that was — honestly — melted. We probably would have written it off, but [Mark] was determined to recover something.
He was fortunate that the PCB was not burned, but it was covered in soot and possibly other things. However, the case looked like a chocolate bar left on a dashboard for a few summer days in the tropics.
Cleaning the board was straightforward with alcohol and a contact cleaner that looked suspiciously like an eraser. He 3D printed a case and made a very professional-looking label using a color printer and an automated paper cutter.
Did You Know?
The Sega Master System was called the 'Mark III' in Japan!"
