Model:
Intellivision
Release Date:
1979
Original Price:
$299
Processor:
General Intsrument CP1610 16-bit @ 894.886 kHz (not quite 1 MHz)
Memory:
1456 bytes RAM / 7168 bytesROM
One of the first video game systems to truly compete with the Atari
2600, Mattel's Intellivision was also marketed under the names
Radio Shack Tandyvision, GTE-Sylvania Intellivision
and the Sears Super Video Arcade. Like the Atari, the
Intellivision featured a ROM-based game system with slightly smaller
cartridges to prevent users from attemptimg to force an Atari game
in a Mattel unit or vice-versa.
The controllers for the Intellivision were rectangular units, each
with a numeric keypad, four action buttons (although the top two
were actually linked together) and a directional 'disc' capable of
detecting sixteen different directions. When not in use, the
controllers were stored in bays molded right into the console itself.
Another unique feature was the use of overlays. Games would come
packaged with plastic templates that you would slide into a slot over
the keypad on the controller. This colorful template would rename the
numeric keys with the actions specific to that game. Unfortunately,
these were usually the first things to get lost. Fortunately, you can
find scans of most overlays on the internet that you can print out to
replace the ones you lost.
A promising addition to this game system was a voice synthesizer
called the Intellivoice. Although expectations were high
for this device, only a limited amount of speech could be stored
in the 4K and 8K ROM cartridges. Due to this disappointing reality,
demand for the Intellivoice was not as high as had been hoped once
the 'newness' had worn off. Only four titles were released that took
advantage of this cutting-edge technology.
Another peripheral that loooked promising, but never was delivered,
was the "Keyboard Component". This was a device that the Intellivision
would sit down in with a built-in cassette dirve, 64K of additional
RAM and a connection for an optional 40-column thermal printer. After
numerous delays and faced with heavy fines by the Federal Trade
Commission (due to fraud allegations), only about four thousand of
these units ever made it to market. Of those, the majority were
bought back by the company from unsatisfied customers.
Instead, a stripped-down version was released called the
Entertainment Computer System. Still featuring more
simplistic cassette and printer interfaces, the ECS only added 2K of
RAM and was missing the secondary 6502 CPU intended for the Keyboard
Component. The ECS did, however, include a basic built-in BASIC
interpreter that allowed the user to write, save and run their own
programs. Again, with lackluster support, the ECS was phased out with
less than a dozen titles having been released.
Click here to download the owner's Manual (1.8 mb
Click here to download the Service Manual (1.7 mb)
>>
Click here to download a Complete Game List