A later module converts ColecoVision into the Coleco Adam home computer. ColecoVision was discontinued in 1985 when Coleco withdrew from the video game market. == History == Coleco entered the video game market in 1976 during the dedicated-game home console period with their line of Telstar consoles.
As early as 1979, Bromley had drawn out specifications for a system using a Texas Instruments video and a General Instruments audio chip but could not get the go-ahead due to cost of RAM.
The company stated that the $70 product allowed users to "enjoy the entire library of exciting ColecoVision video-game cartridges". == Hardware == ColecoVision is based around the Zilog Z80 CPU and a variant of the Texas Instruments TMS9918 video chip that was introduced in 1979. On NTSC ColecoVision consoles, all first-party cartridges and most third-party software titles feature a 12.7 second pause before presenting the game select screen.
Around 1981, Bromley saw an article in The Wall Street Journal that asserted the price of RAM had fallen and, after working the cost numbers, Bromley found the system cost fell within their cost margins.
Within ten minutes of reporting this to Greenberg, they had established the working name "ColecoVision" for the console as they began a more thorough design, which the marketing department never was able to surpass. Coleco recognized that licensed conversion of arcade conversions had worked for Atari in selling the Atari VCS, so they had approached Nintendo around 1981 for potential access to their arcade titles.
ColecoVision is a second-generation [video game console|home video-game console] developed by Coleco and launched in North America in August 1982.
Approximately 136 games were published between 1982 and 1984. Coleco released a series of hardware add-ons and special controllers to expand the capabilities of the console.
Coleco was able to survive on sales of their electronic games through to 1982, but that market itself began to wane, and Greenberg was still interested in producing a home video game console. According to Eric Bromley, who led the engineering for the ColecoVision, Coleco president Arnold Greenberg had wanted to get into the programmable home console market with arcade-quality games but the cost of components had been a limiting factor.
Coleco's announcement that they would bundle Donkey Kong with the console was initially met with surprise and skepticism, with journalists and retailers questioning why they would give away their most anticipated home video game with the console. The ColecoVision was released in August 1982.
By Christmas 1982, Coleco had sold more than 500,000 units, in part on the strength of Donkey Kong as the bundled game.
Sales quickly passed 1 million in early 1983. The ColecoVision was distributed by CBS Electronics outside of North America and was branded the CBS ColecoVision.
In Europe the console was released in July 1983, nearly one year after the North American release. By the beginning of 1984, quarterly sales of the ColecoVision had dramatically decreased. In January 1985, Coleco discontinued the Adam, which was a home computer expansion for ColecoVision.
The video game crash of 1983 has been cited as the main cause of the system being on the market for less than 30 months. In 1983, Spectravideo announced the SV-603 ColecoVision Video Game Adapter for its SV-318 computer.
It was advertised for an August 1983 release but was ultimately cancelled and replaced with the Adam computer expansion.
Approximately 136 games were published between 1982 and 1984. Coleco released a series of hardware add-ons and special controllers to expand the capabilities of the console.
In Europe the console was released in July 1983, nearly one year after the North American release. By the beginning of 1984, quarterly sales of the ColecoVision had dramatically decreased. In January 1985, Coleco discontinued the Adam, which was a home computer expansion for ColecoVision.
A later module converts ColecoVision into the Coleco Adam home computer. ColecoVision was discontinued in 1985 when Coleco withdrew from the video game market. == History == Coleco entered the video game market in 1976 during the dedicated-game home console period with their line of Telstar consoles.
In Europe the console was released in July 1983, nearly one year after the North American release. By the beginning of 1984, quarterly sales of the ColecoVision had dramatically decreased. In January 1985, Coleco discontinued the Adam, which was a home computer expansion for ColecoVision.
1, a collection of ColecoVision games for Microsoft Windows, and a 1998 follow-up, Colecovision Hits Volume One. In 2012, Opcode Games released their own Super Game Module expansion, which increases RAM from 16KB to 32KB and adds four additional sound channels.
1, a collection of ColecoVision games for Microsoft Windows, and a 1998 follow-up, Colecovision Hits Volume One. In 2012, Opcode Games released their own Super Game Module expansion, which increases RAM from 16KB to 32KB and adds four additional sound channels.
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