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It mentions Aquarius 3 (by Radofin). Never heard of that, I guess it never reached production stage. The article is shown at 14:59. Excerpt from article: “The Aquarius 3 will have 64K Ram and be a competitor for machines like the Commodore 64 Computer.” LINK

Here is the first fair review of the Intellivision that I have seen on YT. Of course the controllers do get critizised... However if he playes more Inty in the future and learn to use them correctly he might change his mind a little bit.

In Sweden... I still have a couple of old computer magazines and this list is in one of them. It is based on the sales from the biggest retailers.

Let's Compare: Rally Speedway - Atari 8-Bit vs. Commodore 64 Interview with developer John Anderson Excerpt: K.W.: "Rally Speedway" - pure classic. Could tell us more about this great game - the idea, programing process, sound effects, etc.? J.A.: The original idea for “Rally Speedway” came from my love of playing “Auto Racing” on the Intellivision.

Games that should have been made for the Intellivision Spy Hunter (Let´s Compare) One of my favourite games on the C64 for a while. The music (Peter Gunn Theme) was just the coolest at the time... I think an Inty version could look a lot like the C64 game. I agree with DZ-jay on the original idea games, but at the same time I think porting (at least some classics that were not ported back in the day) benefits the Intellivision scene. I think it raises the interest for the console. Super Dogfight This one is highly addictive. One of those very simple games that just gets you hooked… It is a two player only game and this video shows only one guy playing, but I hope you get the idea. Personally I would set it in a space environment, black background with some stars, and replace the clouds with some flickering colors. The “background story” would be two enemy spaceships (maybe triangular in shape) caught in a space anomaly (the flickering colored clouds). The space anomaly would be the reason they go out on one side of the screen and appear on the opposite side. Anyways, it may not look very intriguing but it is. A really fun one-on-one game.

http://www.mattel.com/games/froggie-dash I wonder what IP would say if Mattel suddenly put up an Astrosmash clone…? Like Astro Dash...?

Basically what Retrogamer 81081 said... I just recently played it for the first time on emulation and had really been looking forward to it. I am not dissapointed and not thrilled either. As a graphicaholic I think it seems like one of the better ones. A Masters of The Universe II (although with a different name due to licensing issues I guess) would be fun. Perhaps with, among other things, a swordfight more in the style of one-to-one combat like in Tower of Doom. Btw, speaking of NES, since I do not yet have an Inty controller and Retronic adapter I play the Inty games that allow it with NES and SNES USB clone controllers. In this case you need the SNES controller to be able to both shoot and drop bombs. Anyways, all in all, a fun game.

Another thing AtGames/Intellivision Productions could do is an Inty controller with USB connector. Right now I am using the Retrolink NES USB controller to play (some) Intellivision games on emulation. It works great with 4-way games like Christmas Carol, Donkey Kong Arcade, Frogger, Burger Time, Bump n Jump etc. My 3,5 year old daughters first gaming experience was Christmas Carol with the NES controller... She loves that game! I am definitely entering the Carol vs. World competition next December... Aiming at 300 something... I can also btw play some Inty games with classic DB9 (SunCom SlikStik in my case) Joysticks using the Retro-Bit DB9-to-USB adapter. To play Intellivision games with an NES controller might sound like an unholy alliance, but especially with DK it is great for me. My first contact with DK was on the Nintendo Game & Watch so it feels natural with that d-pad and buttons... Anyways, I would love it if they made controllers sold separately, with USB and/or DB9. As of now I would need to buy both the Flashback and the Retronic DB9-to-USB adapter to be able to play on emulation with Inty controllers as I understand.

The computer chronicles - Commodore 64 - 1988 Got to get me "The Wine Steward"...

Perhaps old news to most people here but I could not find a post about it so… Apparently the ECS Music Synthesizer had a predecessor, the Optigan. "The Optigan was released in 1971 by Optigan Corporation, a subsidiary of toy manufacturer Mattel, Incorporated of El Segundo, California with the manufacturing plant located nearby in Compton, California." Making of the Optigan SURF ROCK Disc Anyways, it made me wonder if the people behind the Optigan were somehow involved in the ECS Synth?

This ad was in an English catalog called Littlewoods in 1982. Found it in a blog, see link below. "...Finally, having shown how the game was played outside on grass, what better than to return to the comfort of your own home and play some football on your TV? Though the imperial Atari 2600 was the must-have video console of the day (and available through this catalogue for £129.99), it was Intellivison that offered a more realistic football game. Atari's take on football, Pelé's Soccer, was, to be honest, basic. Lacking distinctly in realism or excitement, it needed Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise and Trevor Brooking to make it in any way desirable, and that's saying something. Better, then, to go for the Intellivision option - as long as you were prepared to fork out £225 for the console. Once you'd done that, you could reflect on your new-found poverty as you settled down to a game or three of 'NASL Soccer,' a cartridge thrown in for free. All in all, a great computer game system, although I find the claims of 'Three-dimensional excitement!" and "Startling realism!" to be taking things a little too far." The Football Attic

I suspected that there could be a similar thing to AUTO RACING where you cant get "out of screen" of your opponent. If so, the game stops, you get a "AHEAD" if I remember correctly and get some extra points or extra time advantage. And then you start again from where you were side by side. I do not remember exactly how it works but a similar thing could be applied here I guess. Anyways, the game looks fun. A lot of potential. I can see more things to avoid such as pits and moving animals and rocks and stuff. (Here I am thinking about "Alpiner" for the TI-994A. But the other way around, a free style skier trying to get down from the mountain...)

Would it be possible to make a Parallel Slalom where you can race in a 2 player mode? And of course you should rename the game to INGEMAR STENMARK SLALOM in honor of the greatest slalom skier of all time with 86 World Cup victories. Also 5 times World Champion and 2 times Olympic Champion. (Between 1974 and 1989) I remember that 2 of his main antagonists where US skiers Phil and Steve Mahre... Anyways, I have looked for a Parallel Slalom computer game and have not found one. In my own mind I think it could be really fun, a tense one-on-one competition. Just a thought. Gustavo Thoeni vs Ingemar Stenmark Parallel Slalom - Val Gardena 1975 (Of course in the only Parallel Slalom clip I could find he loses...) 1983 Aspen and Vail World Cup Races - Phil Mahre, Marc Ghiradelli and Ingemar Stenmark (Yes, the Mahres do well in this clip)

Jaså? Strömstedt och Just D borde göra en låt tillsammans på en ST, ligger ju helt rätt i tiden med retro... Ska försöka komma dit, det är ju "nästgårds" men har ingen bil för tillfället så det blir tåget i så fall. Vore kul att surra lite. Annars får jag sikta på i höst.

Thanks! Just abstract art to begin with...

Svenska hiphopgruppen "Just D" var Atari fans. (Swedish hiphopgroup "Just D" were Atari fans.) "Vår Atari" (Our Atari) - 1991 45:59 - Vår Atari https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2BdeLoolUU

Slightly off topic but these turned up on my YT suggestions. Quite interesting. How "oldschool" graphics worked Part 1 - Commodore and Nintendo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfh0ytz8S0k How "oldschool" graphics work, part 2 - Apple and Atari https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rsycfDliZU Back in the day I used to play around with the C64 OCP Advanced Art Studio. Amongst other things I remember doing a decent Donald Duck… Anyways, if I want to try Inty Graphics what is the best way to go about it?

I am not sure…But thank you very much for asking. A thought is that the obvious manufacturer would be Hyperkin since they (as I understand) are the manufacturer of the Flashback and therefore have the basic knowhow of the controllers. And they have the contacts with the retailers. If you have any connections there and can pitch the basic idea to them that might do the trick? The basic idea being that more controllers/joysticks to the Inty will make the system more enjoyable for a lot of people and therefore help sell the Flashback (and a possible Flashback II), especially to the general public. Hyperkin as a manufacturer or someone else, this is the idea in more detail: Background The Intellivision controller is quite unique and sure has its benefits with original Mattel games but many (the licensed games) are supposed to be played with joysticks, mainly 4-way games. Looking at discussions on forums there is obviously an interest in new controllers that can bring the Intellivision to its own. And different people prefer different kinds of joysticks and some people only want D-pads etc etc. The idea is to make a range of controllers that meet all the needs once and for all. It would be 3 joysticks, 1 D-Pad and 1 new version of the original controller. There is obviously an interest for new controllers and the Intellivision Flashback has sold fairly well. New controllers at a fair price would make the Intellivision Flashback even more attractive and boost the sales of it. And therefore also boost the interest in the Intellivision in general. With the already available adapter cables the controllers would also be compatible with the original consoles and PC/Mac emulators. To summarize: Idea – Unique Selling Propositions (USP) – Image Mockups · New set of Flashback Intellivision Controllers - will boost the sales of the console itself. · Different controllers for different players and games – a new Inty gaming experience. · New and ergonomic design – but still true to the original. · With 100 000 Flashbacks and many original consoles out there, there is a market for this. · Compatible with Flashback/original consoles/PC/Mac and emulators by adapter cables. · Compatible with future Atari2600/Intellivision/Colecovision/RetroN-Flashbacks? SlikStik BallTop for PacMan, Donkey Kong, Boulder dash etc D-Pad appeals to Nintendo fans and modern gamers TI/Atari/Starfighter/Intellivision III Appeals to Atari/C=/TI fans and others Based on the original, more ergonomic Quickshot/Aero for all games but especially “flyers” like Mission X, Space Battle, Hover Force etc Again, this is just me, a retro gaming fan, brainstorming about how to make the Intellivision and espescially some Intellivision ports more enjoyable. I was raised on the TI and C64 before i got my own system, The InTv System III, and the only thing I missed was the ability to change controllers... I realize that hardcore fans think "do not mess with perfection". And that is not the intent. The Original will always be there. And I love it. This is about having alternatives to that...

Well, the idea is to have the top buttons placed like on most classic joysticks. (On the image below you can see what joysticks I based the design on) I don´t think it would be a problem as long as the top buttons are not super sensitive which they are not in my mind... The number pad is supposed to look like the original, not the Inty II version... As for 16 directions, that´s fine with me as long as that does not interfere with the gameplay in 4 direction games. The reason why suggested 4-way is that it might be easier and therefore cheaper to produce. Anyways again, Just throwing ideas out there... And while I am at it, an Off Topic thing just for fun. How about implementing the Inty controller concept to modern gaming?

I have been playing around with designs for new controllers for a while. I like the original controller for the original Mattel/Inty games, but it always bothered me and still bothers me that there never were any alternatives. (At least not for me with a System III with hardwired controllers.) The Intellivision II never made it to Europe I think, and even if it did the alternative controllers available, like the Wico joystick were not any good as I understand. So, here are some design ideas for new controllers. I have tried to combine classic joysticks (and a d-pad) and arcade buttons without losing too much of the feel and look of the original controller. Just making it a bit more ergonomic and also with bigger side buttons: I am no expert but here is the basic idea and my general thoughts on the matter of new controllers: The original controller is really good and innovative I think. It excels in the original Mattel games but all other games are supposed to be played with a joystick or d-pad. Like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Boulder Dash etc. etc. Let´s face it. The number one complaint about the Inty is the controller issue… I think the Intellivision would increase in popularity if there were joystick alternatives like there are for Atari and Commodore for example. The possibility to try and find your personal favourite was great fun. I tried many and have to say that the TAC-2 and Slik Stik became my preferred choises. (Nr 1 in the image below has a Slik Stik stick btw, and the arcade buttons on top are also SlikStik.) Nr 1-3 are the ones I would manufacture first. Nr 5 is just an improved version of the original controller and in my opinion not a priority since the original does the job. Directions? Would 4-way be sufficient for most non-Mattel games? I would like 16-way for flying games with a “flyer” joystick though (nr 3). Games like for example Hover Force and Space Battle would be a lot more fun with that one. Although not a 16-way game, Mission X would be much more fun with that as well. This joystick would also be to satisfy those who only want 16 directions… With more than 100 000 Flashbacks out there and of course all the original consoles, I think there ought to be at least a decent market for new controllers. I am pretty sure that a lot of people (especially newcomers) would like to have one or more alternatives. I think these could be produced at a fairly low cost at a quantity of 1000-2000 pcs/model. Looking briefly at China prices (without knowing exactly what to look for...) there is custom plastic injection from $1-2, custom PCB:s from $1-2 and readymade joysticks from $2-5 at those quantities. Not sure about quality and I have not found what a custom made stick would cost, but just saying that it looks like the finished product would not have to cost a fortune in the end if you find the right suppliers. If new controllers/joysticks were to be made I guess Hyperkin would be the preferred manufacturer since they are the manufacturer of the Flashbacks as I understand and therefore already have the basic knowhow and the contacts with the retailers. Anyways, Just brainstorming here but it would be great with at least one new really good joystick for decent cost. Be it in this design or something else. And of course, if some sort of new 9-pin joystick controller would be a hit Nurmix would have to work his ass off making more adapter cables...

This 1985 C64 game is actually news to me, just stumbled over it when surfin´ around. The stands, the crowd and the overall feel and look are very much like Inty Tennis. http://www.gb64.com/game.php?id=3811 Gamebase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FabqHQWJrpE International Tennis Gameplay Btw, Tennis is one of my all time consoles/computers favorite game. Just Love it. One of those games that makes the controllers come to it´s own.

I only have Soccer, and enjoy it a lot, but World Cup Soccer seems a lot more fun with the ball flying/bouncing. But hey, if it can be improved even more that would be great. And regarding Football vs Soccer, here is John Cleese´s thoughts on the matter... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sD_8prYOxo "The clue is in the title"

You could also look to Knight Games for inspiration.

My jaw dropped after seeing the $100 000 mark and I am still looking for it… These Gen2 games do not appeal to me but could probably do some good in terms of “marketing the brand”, and be fun for a lot of people. But I cannot see why it should have to be so expensive to make them. Perhaps they should contact Mattel, do a license deal, and let their programmers do the games (with new graphics...) and put them on their gaming webpage. Go full circle with Mattel again? Who knows what that could lead to in the future? I can see Mattel getting into the retro gaming business with gen2 games and flashbacks and whatnot. For them it would not be a big investment and it would be a natural part of their company history. But I am digressing… Anyways, here is the Mattel Gaming webpage. (Aerial Attack-Robot Swarm is like Mission X meets Space Armada...)

It is always interesting to learn about strange cultures in far away corners of the world. French Canada