Coleco for Intellivision Comments Carnival Cosmic Avenger (unreleased) Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Junior Frenzy (unreleased) Lady Bug Looping (unreleased) Mouse Trap Pepper II (unreleased) Rocky Super Action Boxing (unreleased) Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle (unreleased) Time Pilot (unreleased) Turbo Venture Zaxxon COLECO GAMES FOR INTELLIVISION Coleco - founded as the Connecticut Leather Company - entered the video game market in 1976 with its Telstar Arcade. While initially successful, Telstar - which featured wired-in Pong-like games - couldn't compete with the cartridge-based Atari 2600 introduced the following year. Coleco lost tens of millions of dollars and only stayed afloat thanks to its successful handheld games. In 1981, Coleco started making deals with arcade companies for the home rights to their hottest games. Part of Coleco's sales pitch was that they would release the games for three systems: Atari 2600, Intellivision and their still-on-the-drawing-board ColecoVision. More systems meant more potential sales with more royalties for the arcade companies. Coleco managed to secure popular titles that Atari and Mattel Electronics had been pursuing. Their biggest coup was getting Ninteno's Donkey Kong, then the number one game in the arcades. The game became the cornerstone of Coleco's marketing strategy. When ColecoVision was released in Summer 1982, Donkey Kong was included with the console. It was also among the first titles Coelco released for Atari 2600 and Intellivision a short time later. In 1983, Mattel Electronics released Intellivision II, a cheaper console to replace the original Intellivision. The Intellivision II was supposed to play all of the Intellivision cartridges, but upon its release, users found that Coleco's Intellivision cartridges - Donkey Kong, Carnival, Mouse Trap and Venture - didn't work. Mattel's spokespeople implied that this was proof that Intellivision owners should stick with genuine Mattel Electronics Intellivision cartridges - third party producers couldn't properly program for the intricate Intellivision system. In reality, Mattel had added code to the Intellivision II operating system - the EXEC - to purposely make the Coleco cartridges fail. Coleco figured out how to get around this quickly enough, and subsequent releases had banners on their boxes proclaiming they worked on Intellivision and Intellivision II. Coleco continued releasing Intellivision cartridges through 1983. Along with most other companies, they abandoned the video game industry altogether in 1984. Coming full circle, the last Intellivision title Coleco released was Donkey Kong Junior. Coleco continued in business for a few more years, primarily marketing their Cabbage Patch Dolls. They finally went bankrupt and their assets were bought up by a number of other companies, including Mattel and Hasbro. Carnival INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2488] Released in Europe by CBS Electronics Based on the Sega Enterprises, Inc. arcade game CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) This game captures the fun, excitement, and sounds of an old-time shooting gallery. Blaze away at clay pipes, dancing bears and sitting ducks. But watch out, those aren't ordinary sitting ducks. They come to life when they reach the end of the gallery, and avenge themselves by eating from your limited supply of ammunition. How many can you shoot down? DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Versions were released for Atari 2600, ColecoVision and Intellivision. BUG: Doesn't work on Intellivision II. (Find out why here.) Cosmic Avenger INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2484, unreleased] Based on the Universal Co. Ltd. arcade game CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) This futuristic air and sea battle game is fought between a ship you control and an advanced alien civilization. You must maneuver your ship over the complex enemy cities and beneath the ocean, firing as you go. The goal is to destroy the enemy's installation while avoiding the relentless return fire! DEVELOPMENT HISTORY While this game came out on ColecoVision, the announced versions for Atari 2600 and Intellivision were not released. Donkey Kong INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2471] Released in Europe by CBS Electronics Based on the Nintendo of America, Inc. arcade game CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) In this engaging game, Donkey Kong the ape has captured Mario's girlfriend, and has taken her to the top of a steel fortress. You've got to get Mario to the top to save her! But - as he runs across the girders and up the ladders, the ape throws barrels at him to prevent his progress. mario must jump the barrels to get to the top and rescue his girlfriend! DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Versions were released for Atari 2600, ColecoVision and Intellivision. BUG: Doesn't work on Intellivision II. (Find out why here.) FUN FACT: The Japanese word for "stupid" or "foolish" literally means "donkey-like." So "Donkey Kong" can be interpreted as "Stupid Kong." However, since the Japanese language has no obscenities, translators usually use the same word when an obscene adjective is needed. So "Donkey Kong" can also be interpreted as "F***ing Kong." FUN FACT: Just four months before the heavily-anticipated home release of Donkey Kong, Universal Studios sued Nintendo and Coleco claiming the arcade game and the home versions ripped off the movie King Kong. Coleco, not wanting to risk delaying the launch of ColecoVision, agreed to pay royalties to Universal. Nintendo chose to fight. Several months after release of ColecoVision and the Donkey Kong cartridges, Nintendo won. Coleco then sued Universal, winning back a portion of the royalties. FUN FACT: When the programmers at Mattel Electronics saw the Intellivision version of Donkey Kong, they were shocked at how bad it was. They actually suspected a conspiracy: that Coleco released an awful version for Intellivision so that the ColecoVision version - and the ColecoVision itself - would look that much better. Far more likely it was the result of a rushed development schedule and having no experienced Intellivision programmers on staff. But whatever the reason, the programmers (specifically Bill Fisher, Steve Roney, Mark Urbaniec and Keith Robinson) begged management for the opportunity to program their own version of Donkey Kong - not for release, obviously, but to demonstrate for the press what Intellivision could do when programmed properly. They were confident they could put together a version more faithful in feel and gameplay to the original arcade game than even the ColecoVision version. Management said no, feeling the programmers' time could be better spent. Donkey Kong Junior INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO] Released in Europe by CBS Electronics Based on the Nintendo of America, Inc. arcade game DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Versions were released for Atari 2600, ColecoVision and Intellivision. FUN FACT: This was the only Intellivision cartridge released by Coleco that was not listed in their original 1982 catalog. Frenzy INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2675, unreleased] Based on the Stern Electronics, Inc. arcade game GAME DESCRIPTION Move through rooms shooting wave after wave of the robots that are shooting at you. This arcade game was Stern's souped up version of their earlier, more famous, game Berzerk. DEVELOPMENT HISTORY While this game came out on ColecoVision, the announced version for Intellivision was not released. Lady Bug INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2483] Released in Europe by CBS Electronics Based on the Universal Co. Ltd. arcade game CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) In this game, you direct a lady bug through a maze. While eating dots, she must avoid running over the poisonous skulls and encountering the evil insects which are out to devour her. Revolving doors permit her to change the maze, thwart her pursuers and get through! DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Versions were released for Atari 2600 and ColecoVision as well as Intellivision. Looping INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2672, unreleased] Based on the Venture Line arcade game GAME DESCRIPTION Fly an acrobatic airplane in loops and dives over a city, shooting balloons and rockets, then through a network of pipes, shooting and avoiding obstacles. DEVELOPMENT HISTORY While this game came out on ColecoVision, the announced version for Intellivision was not released. Mouse Trap INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2479] Released in Europe by CBS Electronics Based on the Exidy Incorporated arcade game CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) This unusual maze game puts you in control of a mouse who must be guided through a labyrinth of doors and corridors. As it goes, the mouse eats cheese bits and tries to avoid the ravenous cats. At times, the mouse can transform into a dog and go after the cats! A secret tunnel also offers escape. And you can even open or close groups of doors to change the maze and get the mouse through. DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Versions were released for Atari 2600 and ColecoVision as well as Intellivision. BUG: Doesn't work on Intellivision II. (Find out why here.) Pepper II INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2673, unreleased] Based on the Exidy Incorporated arcade game GAME DESCRIPTION Avoid bad guys as you follow paths around the screen. When you trace a complete rectangle, it fills in with color. Fill the screen with color to move to the next level. DEVELOPMENT HISTORY While this game came out on ColecoVision, the announced version for Intellivision was not released. Rocky Super Action Boxing INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2670, unreleased] Based on the United Artists motion picture Rocky III GAME DESCRIPTION Players control Rocky Balboa and Clubber Lang (the characters played by Sylvester Stallone and Mr. T in the movie Rocky III) as they battle it out in the boxing ring. DEVELOPMENT HISTORY While this game came out on ColecoVision, the announced version for Intellivision was not released. Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2485, unreleased] AKA Smurf, Smurf Rescue Based on the Peyo cartoon characters CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) You control the actions of the SMURF! He must jump over and duck under natural obstacles, and avoid the dangerous animals while trying to rescue the Smurfette! She has been captured by Gargamel, and only he can save her! Can you get him to the castle in time? DEVELOPMENT HISTORY While this game came out on ColecoVision and Atari 2600, the announced version for Intellivision was not released. FUN FACT: The ColecoVision version of Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle was famous at the time due to a hardware limitation of the system. The ColecoVision can only display so many sprites - moving objects - on a horizontal line at one time. Too many, and some of the sprites will start to flicker or will disappear altogether. In this game, you controlled a Smurf that could walk, jump and duck to avoid obstacles in his quest to rescue Smurfette. Because a sprite could only be one color, the Smurf and Smurfette were made up of multiple sprites: hat, hair, body, shoes, etc. At the end of the game, when your Smurf reached Smurfette, if you hit the "duck" button, your Smurf would bend over, putting his hat on the same horizontal line as Smurfette's dress. Poof! Her dress would disappear, leaving your Smurf bent over in front of a naked-from-the-waist-down Smurfette. The word at the time was that Coleco was changing the game so that later copies of the cartridge wouldn't let you use the "duck" button in front of Smurfette. We haven't been able to confirm this; all the copies we have work just fine. Time Pilot INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2679, unreleased] Based on the Centuri arcade game licensed by Konami GAME DESCRIPTION You control a jet fighter that travels through five time eras from 1910 to 2001 battling biplanes, helicopters, jets and UFOs. DEVELOPMENT HISTORY While this game came out on ColecoVision and Atari 2600, the announced version for Intellivision was not released. Turbo INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2473] Released in Europe by CBS Electronics Based on the Sega Enterprises, Inc. arcade game CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) This is a fast-paced racing game in which you control a high speed car and drive it through city streets, tunnels, down country roads and over bridges. Accelerate - change lanes! While controlling the car's speed and direction, you must pass speeding cars, avoiding treacherous obstacles that come your way - and still come in on record time! DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Versions were released for ColecoVision and Intellivision. An announced version for Atari 2600 was not released. Venture INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2477] Released in Europe by CBS Electronics Based on the Exidy Incorporated arcade game CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) In this unique game, you control Winky - the heroic adventurer - who is off on an expedition to claim the treasures that lay hidden in the dungeon. Each treasure is in a chamber - protected by dangerous monsters. He must use his bow and arrow to ward off the monsters and claim the treasures. The more he ventures - the more he gains! DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Versions were released for Atari 2600 and ColecoVision as well as Intellivision. BUG: Doesn't work on Intellivision II. (Find out why here.) Zaxxon INTELLIVISION CARTRIDGE [COLECO #2487] Released in Europe by CBS Electronics Based on the Sega Enterprises, Inc. arcade game CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Coleco brochure, 1982) This fantastic three dimensional space battle game puts you in control of a futuristic spaceship. The ship zooms through the sky, diving down to bomb the enemy fighter planes and to attack the enemy's installations. The ship must avoid hazardous walls, devastating force fields and the enemy's fire to survive and score. Can you do it? DEVELOPMENT HISTORY Versions were released for Atari 2600 and ColecoVision as well as Intellivision.