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I never owned a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A computer but I played around with one in a retail store back around 1983. This computer was released in the United States in June of 1981 and then was discontinued in March of 1984. Attached is a picture of the front cover of the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A brochure that I got from a retail store. In 1982 the ColecoVision became my first videogame system and then in 1983 the Expansion Module #3 ADAM computer became my first computer. Front cover of TI-994A computer.pdf

I have never owned a Commodore computer before but I did play Jupiter Lander and other games in a retail store back in the early 80’s when I tried the system out for the first time. I came across this old Commodore 64 brochure that I picked up in a retail store back around 1982, so I am making it available as a PDF attachment for anyone that wants to look at it. I decided to go with the ColecoVision videogame system back around August of 1982 (Same exact time the Commodore 64 came out). The Commodore only runs at 1.023Mhz for its CPU. The ColecoVision uses the Zilog Z80 CPU at 3.58Mhz. I purchase Expansion Module #3 the ADAM computer in 1983 and the ADAM is based off the exact Z80 CPU. The ADAM computer is a more powerful machine and has AdamNet. The ADAM computer also has better graphics quality when compared to the Commodore 64 computer videogame quality. For example take a look at Donkey Kong the Supergame, Donkey Kong Junior the Supergame, and Gorf on the ADAM. The graphics and game play are better on the ADAM. Of course at $800 the ADAM cost around $200 more than the Commodore 64, but one also got a letter quality daisy wheel printer with built in Smartwriter word processor with the ADAM computer for that price. However, the Commodore 64 is the most popular computer of the 1980’s and received Guinness book of records as the highest selling computer. The Commodore 64 came out in August of 1982 and was not discontinued until April of 1994. It is estimated that a maximum of 17 million Commodore 64’s were sold where as the less popular more powerful ADAM computer only sold a maximum of 500,000 machines. The Coleco ADAM went out of production in January 1985 and Coleco left the computer and videogame business, therefore there was no ADAM II computer made or any future improved ADAM computer made. In January 1985 the Commodore 128 was released that used a Zilog Z80A processor at 4Mhz and offered 128Kb of memory with 80 column color output. The Commodore 128 was more powerful than the ADAM computer. In addition, the Commodore Amiga was released in July of 1985 with a fast 7Mhz processor and better graphics card and also was more powerful than the ADAM computer. Coleco went out of business and never had the opportunity to make a second generation computer. However, the Commodore 128 only sold 5.7 million computers between January 1985 and its discontinued date of 1989. The Commodore Amiga only sold slightly under 5 million computers between July 1985 to its discontinued date of 1996. Since the Commodore 64 was discontinued April of 1994 and the Commodore 128 was discontinued in 1989, this is also very interesting statistics. The classic less powerful Commodore 64 with 17 million sales was much more popular with consumers. The most powerful computer or the most powerful videogame system does not mean it well be the most popular under real world conditions. Commodore 64.pdf

Yes I remember there were around 12 games for the Supercharger. I wish I could buy them all on one CD-ROM. Better yet would be if all 12 worked on the Harmony Encore. I would like to see the rom image size of the 12 games made for the Supercharger. Back in the 80's I was always impressed with the game quality since the graphics were a notch above the cartridge games. Sometimes I felt I was playing on another system since it was not some 4kb or 8kb game cartridge with poor quality graphics.

Back in August of 1983 I received in the mail a folder from Control Video Corporation regarding their new GameLine service for the Atari 2600. I always viewed the Atari 2600 as a videogame system that used 1977 technology. However, the official name for the product is Atari 2600 Video Computer System. However, after getting my ADAM computer in 1983 with a keyboard, letter quality daisy wheel printer, and built in word processor, I never thought of the Atari 2600 as a computer system. The Coleco ADAM had a 300 baud internal modem option with pulse dialing for around $99.95. If one wanted an external 1200 baud modem or higher they would need to spend several hundreds of dollars (I remember the days when 9,600 baud modems were over $1,000 dollars. The ADAM worked with up to 19,200 baud modems once they were released in the late 80’s). The Amazing Atari 2600 in 1983 had a 2,000 baud modem option for only $49.95 I never owned the Control Video Corporations Gameline modem/cartridge for the Atari 2600. However that product for $59.95 list price and a street price of $49.95 had an adaptive speed modem that ran between 800-2,000 baud. Those that had very good landline phone quality in their area could use the Gameline at 2,000 baud, others with poor landline phone quality used 800 baud. The average speed of the Gameline cartridge modem for the Atari 2600 was 1,200 baud and all this for only $49.95 (Plus both tone and pulse dialing options). Control Video Corporation must have been selling this product below cost with plans on making the money up with monthly or yearly subscription fees. This product offered people the ability to play on demand videogames where the cartridge menu would connect the Atari 2600 system to the server for a few seconds or a few minutes to download the latest Atari 2600 games using a toll free number. Since the games were downloaded the system only tied up peoples phone line for a few seconds or few minutes. This system also had a serialized encryption scheme to protect Atari 2600 games from being copied. The transmission used some type of encryption system. This modem not only could handle up to 2,000 baud but it also worked with both tone and pulse dialing. This made the Coelco ADAM modem for $99.95 look bad, since that Coleco modem was only 300 baud and no tone dialing feature. It was disappointing that the Atari 2600 GameLine service did not work out, the product and service was too far ahead of its time and people did not want a subscription based videogame service for their Atari 2600. CVS Gameline folder.pdf CVS Gameline folder part 2.pdf CVC Gameline (folder part 3).pdf CVS Gameline (folder part 4).pdf CVS Gameline (folder part 5).pdf

My first videogame system that I officially owned was the ColecoVision in 1982 and it had state of the art arcade graphics and sound (near arcade quality when compared to some arcade games that were very advanced). I also purchased Expansion module #3 the ADAM computer system in order to play advanced Supergames up to 256K in size. However sometime around 1983, I decided to purchase the Coleco Expansion Module #1 the Atari 2600 adapter. Even though the ColecoVision and ADAM had better graphics and sound, in the early 80’s there was unique arcade games I wanted that were exclusive to the Atari 2600. Outlaw, Space invaders, Asteroids, and Missile Command were just a few of the games I liked for the Atari 2600 since they were the same quality or very close to the arcade quality. Therefore, with the ColecoVision/ADAM in 1983 I could play ADAM Supergames, ColecoVision standard cartridge games, and classic Atari 2600 games. I noticed over the years that Atari started changing the instruction manual design for some videogames. For example the Outlaw videogame stayed exactly the same, but attached is a scan of the front cover of two different styles of Outlaw game instruction manuals (there are many other Atari 2600 games that received changes to their instruction manuals over the years). I also use to own the Foot Craz controller for the Atari 2600 (I sold both the controllers to someone many years ago and it appears I did not keep any for myself). The Foot Craz controller was an exercise controller that one had to use their feet with special games. I never got into that controller but attached is the full page flyer on the device. I also had a skiing controller that used ones feet with the Atari 2600, but that is something I do not have anymore. I never owned the CVS Gameline cartridge for the Atari 2600, however I attached a consumer letter and full page brochure regarding that unique product. Official Atari list of game cartridges that went out of prodcution for the 2600.pdf Atari 2600 Outlaw (2 differnet styles of manuls.pdf Atari 2600 Foot Craz controller.pdf Control Video Corporation (letter).pdf CVS Gameline for Atari 2600.pdf

Audio cassettes wear out. The best solution to the Supercharger is to backup all the audio cassette games onto an audio CD. Optical discs can last up to 1,000 years (literally up to 1,000 years if the media quality is good). Audio CD’s and optical discs are also immune to being erased by magnetics, EMI, and EMP’s. I heard that some company once was selling all the Supercharger games on one audio CD, however I do not know if that is still being offered for sale. The Harmony cartridge only supports Atari 2600 games up to 32k bytes. However the Harmony Encore supports Atari 2600 games up to 512k bytes. Therefore in theory a programmer could modify the multi-load features of each Supercharger game and make each game one big rom image. However, has someone modified all the Supercharger games and made them one big rom image so no loading needs to take place? The Harmony Encore would be perfect for Supercharger games that are over 32k bytes. The Supercharger games were the best quality games in the 80’s for the Atari 2600 since audio cassettes could hold much more videogame data when compared to cartridges that were never more than 32k bytes and most the time far smaller. http://harmony.atariage.com/Site/Order_Encore.html The Supercharger with audio cassettes back in the 80’s and even 90’s was a nice device for companies to distribute games on. How many games were released on audio cassettes for the Supercharger cartridge interface? Since modern cartridges can now bank switch up to 512k bytes, there is no need to make games for the Supercharger anymore. It was a great ideal back in the 80’s but it never became popular. Having a manual audio cassette with a cassette player to load game screens in the middle of the game was harder to do when compared to the cartridges. I remember on my Coleco Expansion module #1 Atari 2600 adapter for the ColecoVision/ADAM I sometimes could not get the fast load side of the cassette to work for Supercharger games, instead I had to use the normal speed loading. It all depended on the quality of the cassette player used. Now I have an old computer data grade cassette player/recorder that can load the fast load side of the cassette without troubles. I also use the rare Coleco Cartridge Extender with the Supercharger unit.

Coleco had the advantage in 1983 of using state of the art new technology that was 4 years newer then the 1979 Atari 400 and 800 (The ADAM machines were more powerful with better graphics).Coleco sold 2 million ColecoVision’s and 500,000 Adam’s maximum. However some estimate 300,000+ ADAM's according to some online sources (ColecoVision NTSC and PAL was worldwide however ADAM's were only NTSC and sold in North America only). The problem with the Adam computers is they shipped them with a unworking version of Smartwriter word processing rom’s. I got my first Expansion module #3 Adam computer when it first came out, and as soon as one turned on the ADAM, the Smartwriter word processor instantly booted like it is suppose too, however as soon as one went from electronic typewriter mode to word processing mode the entire computer system locked up and Smartwriter was completely unusable. I exchanged the Adam computer at least 3 times before they started releasing them with the correct working version of Smartwriter built in rom. Someone at Coleco should have gotten fired over this, since the bad buggy Smartwriter rom built in was the problem that caused the computer to have a bad reputation where many people did not want to purchase it. The Adam shipped with an automated super fast Digital Data Drives (high speed tape drive) and later on Coleco in 1984 came out with a Disk Drives. Some people did not know how to properly use the Digital Data Drives and to be honest Disk Drives are much more reliable. Coleco rushed the computer to market and should have waited a year and release the Adam with a Disk Drive instead of an automated tape drive. The ADAM most likely would have been more popular if the quality control was better on launch date. Atari was a much bigger company that was well known for the Atari 2600 and Atari computers. Plus Atari had arcade classics like Pacman and Ms. Pacman that were exclusive to those systems (Atari back in 1983 had a Pacman cartridge made for the ColecoVision/ADAM but they decided not to release it since they knew many people would purchase ColecoVision's and ADAM's if that cartridge was released) .

It looks like you kept yours in excellent condition. Thanks for sharing.

The Atari 400 and Atari 800 came out in 1979 and then was discontinued in 1992 (4 million units were sold). I never owned an Atari 400, or Atari 800. My first videogame system was the ColecoVision in 1982 and my first computer was the Expansion Module #3 ADAM computer in 1983. The ADAM was a more powerful computer when compared to the original Atari 400 and 800. However since the ADAM was only on the market between 1983-1985, a maximum of 500,000 ADAM computers was sold. The Atari 400 and Atari 800 were much more popular computers. Back around 1981 Atari mailed me this Personal Computer Systems folder. The folder contained full page color flyers from 1980 on the Atari 400 and 800 computers and their hardware add on items. I am making these available for anyone that has not seen them. I wish I would have kept these flyers in better condition; they are 37 years old and showing their age. Cable modems were a technology of the early 21st Century (around 2002 I owned my first cable modem). In the late 1990’s DSL became popular in some areas. However in the 1980’s everyone used dial up modems to access BBS services and the early forms of what would become the Internet. The Coleco ADAM had a add on internal 300 baud modem that connected to the phone line directly (Later on up to 19,200 baud external modems were possible with the Coelco Adam). However the Atari 800 computer back in 1980 used an external 300 baud modem that required a physical landline telephone headset to sit on top of the modem. Its amazing how technology changes over the years. Back in the 1980’s no one had cell phones except a few millionaires in select areas of the USA. Analog and digital cell phones started becoming somewhat popular in the early to mid 1990’s. But for many Americans it was not until around 2000 before people started getting their first cell phone. Atari Personal Computer Systems folder.pdf Atari 400.pdf Atari 410 Program Recorder.pdf Atari 800.pdf Atari 810 Disk Drive.pdf Atari 815 Dual Disk Drive.pdf Atari 820 40-Column Printer.pdf Atari 822 Thermal Printer.pdf Atari 825 80-Column Printer.pdf Atari 830 Acoustic Modem.pdf Atari 850 Interface Module.pdf Atari Controllers.pdf Atari 1981 Software Catalog.pdf

The price list is 1985, however the catalog they sent me in 1985 appears to have been made in 1984 according to the small print on page 24. Attached is a price list from early 1985 with original list prices. Plus "Q*bert Cubes" is listed as a ColecoVision cartridge Early 1985 price list with original list price.pdf

Back in 1985 Parker Brothers sent me a nice full page color catalog in the mail with the videogames that they offered for the ColecoVision/ADAM system plus other video game systems and personal computer systems. This catalog was scanned at 48-bit color and with a resolution of 1200dpi to offer very little lose in quality. Parker Brothers was planning to release Circus Charlie for the ColecoVision, Atari 2600, and Commodore 64, but for some reason the game was canceled at the last minute. On page 6 and 7 of the catalog one can see the game retail display boxes for all 3 systems plus 3 separate ColecoVision screen shots showing the graphics quality of the game that was never released. This catalog is very detailed. On page 15 one can see the poor graphics quality of Q*bert for the Atari 2600. The Intellivision version of Q*bert has a little better graphics then the Atari 2600. The ColecoVision version appears to be the best version of Q*bert. However I have never played the Atari 5200 version yet or the Commodore 64 version of Q*bert (They appear to be very close to the ColecoVision version). Parker Brother's catalog (table of contents).pdf Pages 2-3 (Montezuma's Revenge).pdf Pages 4-5 (Frogger II ThreeDeep).pdf Pages 6-7 (Circus Charlie).pdf Pages 8-9 (Mr. Do!'s Castle).pdf Pages 10-11 (Star Wars The Arcade Game).pdf Pages 12-13 (Gyruss).pdf Pages 14-15 (Qbert).pdf Pages 16-17 (Frogger).pdf Pages 18-19 (James Bond Agent 007).pdf Pages 20-21 (Popeye).pdf Pages 22-24 (Chess).pdf Price list was several pages (This is just the price for the videogames).pdf

I never owned a Magnavox Odyssey2. I saw them in retail stores somewhere between 1978-1984. There were 2 million units sold before it was discontinued in 1984 (That is as many units as the ColecoVision sold between 1982-1985, however the Odyssey2 graphics quality was not as good as the ColecoVision). I picked up the following color flyers in a retail store around 1982. I am posting them online so that Odyssey2 fans can enjoy. Sorry the flyers are not in better quality. Odyssey 2.pdf Odyssey 2 flyer.pdf Odyssey 2 Speech and Sound.pdf K.C. Krazy Chase for Odyssey 2.pdf Odyssey 2 Attack of the Timelord!.pdf

This is the Official 2 page flyer for Jumpman and Jumpan Junior for the ColecoVision/ADAM and other platforms. I wish it was in better condition, I either got this in the mail or picked it up in a retail store back around 1983. Jumpman flyer (for ColecoVision and other systems).pdf

I called my detailed post about personal memories about videogames and this Coleco folder a blog. However I do not have any website that I officially blog at. The blog I am talking about is the first post in this thread. People can choose to read it or not read it. This folder I received from Coleco in the mail in the summer of 1982 was the reason why I decided to make the ColecoVision my very first videogame system that I wanted by my own free will.

I wish I would have kept this folder in better condition. I use to have the original Coleco brown envelope the folder came in with a postmark that was the Summer of 1982 (Somewhere between June to August 1982 time frame, but envelope fell apart over the years and I tossed it in the trash). Pictures are attached with what the folder looks like with all the items in it. I guess I provided enough information that someone could reproduce this folder using 21st Century technology and a Color Laser printer if they wanted too. I wanted to upload this folder back in 2015 when I built my desktop computer with a X99 motherboard and a high quality photo scanner, but I was to busy. Now I am taking the time to upload some rare items so other people can have a better history of the ColecoVision/ADAM, etc.

quote from early 1982 ColecoVision folder: "Also available soon will be an Expansion Module that converts ColecoVision into a personal computer with an advanced keyboard." This is evidence that before the ColecoVision was every released, that Coleco planned on turning the game system into a computer system (which was named ADAM when released in 1983). Therefore before the unreleased Supergame module was even announced, Coleco mentioned a computer Expansion Module first. Of course the Expansion Module #3 Supergame module was released as a ADAM computer with Supergames on Digital Data Packs and floppy disks.

Here are the 10 flyers from Coleco that came in the ColecoVision folder mentioned above (Plus a PDF version of the packing list). Therefore this thread has a total of 16 items to download including the ColecoVision folder itself. I tried to keep it all in one post but one cannot modify or delete a post after one hour. There is a bug on this website that will not allow one to upload large size jpg files. One is suppose to be able to uploaded unlimited amount of files as long as those files are no more than 50MB maximum for a single file. However, that 50MB maximum is true for pdf files and other files, but that statement is not true for jpg files. The website script will lock up ones Internet browser if the jpg file is around 38MB in size or larger. The reason I had such large size jpg files that were around 41.2MB is because I was scanning the full page 1982 Coleco flyers in at 48-bit color at 1200 dpi. However, I just rescanned the flyers again at 48-bit color and 1200 dpi and saved the file as a pdf, and this website will accept a pdf file up to 50MB in size. Therefore, this gives a high quality look with very little lose in quality when compared to the original 1982 Coleco flyers. All my other scans were done at 48-bit color and 600 dpi to reduce the size of the file. ColecoVision Arcade Game Series flyer #1.pdf ColecoVision Arcade Game Series flyer #2.pdf ColecoVision Arcade Game Series flyer #3.pdf ColecoVision Expansion Module #2 flyer.pdf ColecoVision Action Game Series flyer.pdf ColecoVision Sports Game Series flyer.pdf ColecoVision Casino Series flyer.pdf ColecoVision Fantasy Game Series.pdf ColecoVision Strategy Game Series flyer.pdf ColecoVision Play & Learn Series flyer.pdf Coleco packing list.pdf Cardboard divider that came with the 1982 ColecoVision folder.pdf

I AM WORKING ON GETTING THE REST UPLOADED. HAVING TROUBLES, WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I AM DONE.

I just realized that one has a maximum of 1 hour to modify or delete a post before its locked in this forum. I am posting the following since I believe its rare information that Coleco sent out to some people back around June-August 1982 before the ColecoVision was released nationwide. There is a possibility that I might have never have purchased my first ColecoVision in 1982 if it had not been for this nice packet of information Coleco sent to me when I requested information on the coming soon ColecoVision. See how the ColecoVision folder sent to customers has a picture of the spinners on the standard Coleco controllers. Of course we known that the spinners were not released on the standard Coleco controllers but were instead included on the Super Action controllers. In addition, the game flyers have graphics and cartridge labels that are different then the released versions (some titles were porotypes that were never released by Coleco). The Donkey Kong and Frogger self-contained portable arcade games have graphics that appear to be exactly the same as the arcade. Maybe Coleco was planning on making these handheld tabletop games exactly the same as the original arcade. However, perhaps it would have cost $200 or $300 and they realized they would sale a lot more at $60 if the quality of the games were reduced (just a theory). 1982 ColecoVision folder.pdf June 1982 Coleco letter.pdf Coleco 1982 ATARI 2600 and Intellivision cartridge catalog.pdf Sample pages from the 64 page Coleco 1982 Toys and Games catalog.pdf

reserved for future use

Many times in my posts I have said the ColecoVision was the very first videogame system that I owned (However that is the short version of the story, and I should have said the ColecoVision is the very first videogame system that I wanted to own by my own free will). However to be honest here is the longer version of the story. Since I was born in the 1960's it gave me a chance in life to see the amazing technological advancements that would occur in the 70's and 80's. As a kid living in the late 70’s I saw Star Wars in the commercial movie theater with my parents back in 1977 (Watching movies in commercial movie theaters and Drive-In Theaters was the norm). Also as a kid I played videogames in the 70’s and early 80’s in both dedicated video arcades and various stores and restaurants that had videogames like pong, Space invaders, Pacman, Donkey Kong, etc. It cost a quarter to play the very first videogames. However for many people they did not have a 1977 VHS, 1975 BETA, or 1978 Laserdisc player to watch movies at home (Some people could not afford some of these items that came out in the late 70’s and Cable TV service did not exist yet in many big cities. It was around 1985 or 1986 before Cable TV arrived in the area where I lived, some people that could afford it had big 10 or 12 foot C-band dishes in the 70’s and 80’s to watch premium TV channels on). In addition, many people did not have videogame consoles at home yet. However, some people owned the 1972 Odyssey, Atari’s Home Pong 1975 console, or the 1977 Atari 2600. One day in late 1981 my Dad told me that people are purchasing videogame systems and that I should own a videogame system. At the time I really did not want a videogame system since I was busy with school, etc. However, as a young kid my Dad wanted to purchase a factory new videogame system for me, and it would be my choice what system I could choose. The Atari 2600 came out in 1977 and the Intellivision came out nationwide in 1980. Back in 1981, I was considering the 1977 Bally Astrocade, Atari 2600, Intellivision, and other systems. I narrowed my research down to the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision. However, this was before the days of the Internet existed (There was no information overload back then, but the opposite). Back in 1981 getting information on videogame systems was limited to department store catalogs, making telephone calls, and writing letters. In late 1981 or early 1982 after several months of researching, I could not decide between the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision. The advantage of the Intellivision was that it was a little more powerful than the Atari 2600 and it came with a keypad controller for more advanced games that required several buttons. However even though the games appeared to be better quality on the Intellivision when I played them in retail stores, something was missing. The Intellivision graphics and sound was not as good as what I experienced in the arcade. Now the Atari 2600 was even lower quality graphics, however I liked some of the games that were exclusive to the Atari 2600 and the Atari 2600 had more games to choose from since it had been around since 1977. I did not know Atari was going to release the Atari 5200 in November 1982 that would be better quality then the Intellivision and become a high-end videogame system that would compete with the ColecoVision (but less popular then the ColecoVision). It was late 1981 or early 1982, and I could not decide between the Atari 2600 and Intellivision (In some ways I did not like either system since the graphics and sound for most videogames was below what one experiences in the arcade (Of course simpler videogames like Pong, Asteroids, and Space Invaders were the same quality or very close to the original arcade game on the Atari 2600). To make a long story short to my surprise my Dad comes home with a used Sears Video Arcade system (Atari 2600 clone) and some used Sears Video Arcade cartridges from a garage sale. Even though he got a good deal on it at the garage sale, this videogame system was not what I wanted and it was not my choice. In late March 1982 I was one of the very first people to own Pac-Man for the Atari 2600. Even though Pacman was the most popular videogame cartridge for the 2600 and it sold an estimated 7 million cartridges. I hated the graphics and sound of Pacman on the 2600 since it was nothing like the Pacman game in the arcade (According to the online database July 5th 1982 MS. Pacman was released for the Atari 2600. However, I got rid of the Sears Video Arcade Atari 2600 clone before Ms Pacman came out. Years later, I played Ms. Pacman at a relative’s house and was very impressed that the game was a major improvement when compared to the original Pacman). I was unhappy with the used Sears Video Arcade system that was forced upon me (It was not my choice and the original Pacman game released for the Atari 2600 was a joke in terms of game play and graphics, but 7 million people purchased it since the name “Pacman” was all that was needed for most people. Therefore, I continued my research and wrote a letter to a company called Coleco asking them about a new rumored videogame system that I heard about called the ColecoVision. To my surprise around June-August of 1982 I got a big envelope in the mail from Coleco with a 1982 ColecoVision folder and several ColecoVison flyers along with a Coleco 1982 catalog. I saw pictures of Donkey Kong and several other videogames, and as a kid for the very first time I wanted the ColecoVision since they claimed the videogames were arcade quality and also the system had Expansion module #1 a Atari 2600 adapter that would play Atari 2600 game cartridges. Therefore I talked with my parents and I got them to sale the Sears Video Arcade (2600 clone) and all 100% of the game cartridges. We ended up getting more money for the used Sears Videogame system and used videogames then what my Dad originally paid for it at a garage sale. It ended up being enough money to pay for the $200 ColecoVision that was coming out in a month. For the next month or so I looked at the ColecoVision folder with brochures that Coleco sent me as I waited for the release of the ColecoVision. I got my first ColecoVision around August of 1982, it might have been late August or early September 1982 (I do not have the original receipt but it was around $200 and I was one of the first ones to own a ColecoVision). When I tried Donkey Kong I was impressed. The graphics and sound was better than other videogame systems. Then in 1983 I purchased Expansion Module #3 the Adam computer when it first came out for around $600. Therefore, for $800 ($200 for ColecoVision plus $600 for Expansion Module #3), I had my first computer in 1983 and I stopped handwriting letters and used the electronic word processor 100% of the time with the Adam printer daisywheel letter quality printer. In addition, the ADAM computer back in 1983 was the best videogame system on the market for quality since it could play supergames like Buck Rodgers (The ADAM computer had Coleco’s unreleased supergame module built in). Later on I purchased Donkey Kong the Supergame and Donkey Kong Junior the Supergame which was much better than the original Coleco cartridges. The original Coleco cartridges were only 32KB maximum in size but the Coleco supergames on Digital Data Packs were 256K in size and 160K on 5.25 inch floppy disks. In addition, there was a hall of fame screen to save names and high scores. Something that was new to the videogame world in 1983. The Coleco ADAM went out of production on January 2nd 1985 since Coleco was leaving both the computer and videogame business. Coleco sold 2 million ColecoVision game consoles and it is estimated that between 350,000 to 500,000 Adam computers were sold. However the 1977 Atari 2600 did not go out of production until January 1st 1992. The Atari 2600 was so popular that it sold 30 million consoles. Many times in the videogame and video format world the best quality systems are not the most popular and go out of production. The Intellivision came out in 1980 nationwide and it did not go out of production until 1990. There were 3.5 million Intellivision’s sold. Sometime around 1983 or 1985 I purchased Expansion module #1 the Atari 2600 adapter and started collecting Atari 2600 games (I like some Atari 2600 games).

I was thinking about someone should just make a cable power adapter for the ColecoVision. I am glad that someone finally is doing it. Since the Coleco power supply is out of production. This is the most logical idea, beats taking the system apart and hardwiring a power supply into the ColeocVision.

It's too bad the Smurf Supergame was never released. However according to the article the game was made. For years I have dreamed about being able to play that game with the Hall of Fame high score screen and a improved Smurf game quality over the existing released cartridge version.

Attached are official Coleco documents from 1985 in regards to the Expansion module #1 Cartridge Extender with a Official Coleco catalog part number 592114. I also snapped some pictures of my personal one and only Cartridge Extender.

Back around August of 1982 I owned my very first ColecoVision videogame system for around $200. Sometime in 1983 or 1984 I purchased Expansion Module #1 the Atari 2600 adapter with a list price of around $60. This adapter is 100% compatible with Atari 2600 games. However after I started collecting Atari 2600 game cartridges, I discovered that the adapter was only really 99% compatible with Atari 2600 games unless one also owed the Coleco Cartridge Extender (Official Coleco catalog part number 592114).I found out that the Starpath Supercharger would not work on the Atari 2600 adapter because the physical plastic case of the Starpath was different compared to your average Atari 2600 cartridge case. Therefore I called Coleco’s toll free number back in December 1984 or early January 1985. Coleco informed me that I needed a Cartridge Extender that has a value of $30, and they would send one to me for free. I had to give them my serial number and address over the phone so they could verify that I had Expansion module #1 the Atari 2600 adapter. When I received the Cartridge Extender in January 1985 I now could play 100% of Atari 2600 cartridges including the Starpath Supercharger. Later on that month or a few months later I purchased a second Expansion Module #1 Atari 2600 adapter. However when I called Coleco’s toll free number I was informed that even though I own two Expansion module #1’s, the Coleco policy was that they only offer one Cartridge Extender per address. Therefore, I was not able to get a second Cartridge Extender. These Cartridge Extender's are extremely rare, and since it was a $30 value, Coleco only sent out one to customers who complained about the problem of not being able to play some products like the Starpath Supercharger. Coleco stopped making videogames back in 1985. Sometimes I wonder why Coleco did not redesign the plastic case for Expansion Module #1 so that they would not need to make Cartridge Extenders. Maybe Coleco might have re-released Expansion Module #1 with a built in Cartridge Extender if they would have continued to make videogame products instead of the business decision to stop making videogames and computer products in 1985. The following website has a detailed picture of the Cartridge Extender (It is too bad someone does not reproduce this product and sell it for $30. There are ColecoVision owners that would like to have one of these to use with their existing Expansion Module #1 Atari 2600 adapter : http://www.colecovision.dk/atari.htm