
Intellivision
Rediscovering the Intellivision: A Nostalgic Journey
So this was the system that sat idle every morning at my babysitter’s house. I have more nostalgia for not being able to use it than for actually playing it. There was something mesmerizing about Astrosmash and Lock ‘N Chase that captured my imagination. The Intellivision always seemed ahead of its time, and eventually, I knew I had to add it to my collection. And let’s not forget the voice module—the Intellivoice Voice Synthesis Module, an adapter for the Intellivision. This remarkable piece of tech used a voice synthesizer to generate audible speech, making it a truly unique addition to the gaming world.
Interesting Facts:
- The Intellivision is a home video game console released by Mattel Electronics in 1979.
- One of the first in-home gaming systems that featured arcade-style games.
Hardware
- Used a 16-bit processor, more powerful than competitors at the time
- Could display 16 colors with 8 sprites per horizontal line
- Included a unique hand controller with a circular number pad and side buttons
Game Library
- Over 125 games released, including sports, action, adventure genres
- Notable titles included Astrosmash, Utopia, Tron Deadly Discs
- Had strong third-party developer support from Imagic, Activision, Coleco
Graphics/Audio
- Graphics were more advanced than Atari 2600, with smoother animation
- Had a 3-channel sound chip for music and sound effects
- Could display higher resolution graphics than competitors
Marketing
- Positioned as a more advanced, intelligent alternative to Atari
- Commercials featured the tagline “The closest thing to the real thing”
- Mattel spent over $20 million marketing the console
Legacy
- Sold around 3 million units, a commercial success initially
- But was overshadowed by the popularity of the Atari 2600
- Helped pave the way for more powerful 8-bit and 16-bit consoles
- Intellivision Lives! compilation released for modern consoles in 2010s
Downfall
- Video game crash of 1983 severely impacted sales
- Mattel exited the video game market in 1984
- Rights to the Intellivision were later sold to a former Mattel employee


Video Gaming Like It’s 1980: Intellivision Reloaded
You never know when you might be spontaneously thrust back to one of the best experiences of your childhood. It happened to me the other night.
It was late, and we were out of medication that a family member needed before bed. So I dutifully trundled off to Walgreens to procure it. On my way to the cash register, I spied something utterly remarkable on the clearance shelf: a new-school emulation of one of the most old-school video game systems around, the Mattel Intellivision.
Did You Know?
The Sega Master System was called the 'Mark III' in Japan!"
