Just got my first ColecoVision

[HatefulGravey]

Yesterday I found a ColecoVision, Atari 7800, and Virtual Boy searching mom and pop thrift stores near by. Great day for me. The Atari is working just fine, I only have 1 controller and 3 games for it, but they all work great. The Virtual Boy doesn't work right but it was free so I'm ok with that too and I think I can make it work with some effort.

 

More importantly the CelcoVision works great. I also got a module 1 for it which I was really happy to get and it works great too. The issue I'm having it one of the controllers I got it a little screwy. One works perfect, the other works perfect some times and not at all sometimes.

 

The question is should I look for a replacement or fix the one I have some how? I know with Atari 2600 stuff replacements are around, for the ColecoVision I have no idea. I got this thing because I knew they were cool and I didn't have one. I know next to nothing about them, and I have alot to learn. I would like to start with all working hardware though, so...

 

Are controllers for this thing out there to buy? What should I spend on them if I can find them? Are there any traps I should be aware of in the ColecoVision world? Also, did every game have over lays or what?

 

Thanks for your time.

[Yurkie]

Yesterday I found a ColecoVision, Atari 7800, and Virtual Boy searching mom and pop thrift stores near by. Great day for me. The Atari is working just fine, I only have 1 controller and 3 games for it, but they all work great. The Virtual Boy doesn't work right but it was free so I'm ok with that too and I think I can make it work with some effort.

 

More importantly the CelcoVision works great. I also got a module 1 for it which I was really happy to get and it works great too. The issue I'm having it one of the controllers I got it a little screwy. One works perfect, the other works perfect some times and not at all sometimes.

 

The question is should I look for a replacement or fix the one I have some how? I know with Atari 2600 stuff replacements are around, for the ColecoVision I have no idea. I got this thing because I knew they were cool and I didn't have one. I know next to nothing about them, and I have alot to learn. I would like to start with all working hardware though, so...

 

Are controllers for this thing out there to buy? What should I spend on them if I can find them? Are there any traps I should be aware of in the ColecoVision world? Also, did every game have over lays or what?

 

Thanks for your time.

 

 

Let start by saying you got super lucky finding a CV that works perfect.

 

My guess is that you have a broken wire that is making intermittent connection if the controller goes from perfect to nothing.

 

If you google "colecovision overlays" you will find a list of the ones that had them. (quick google search)...here is a site with a list.

 

http://home.comcast.net/~mycoleco/overlays.htm

 

Here is a link to a controller thread of mine.

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/153675-colecovision-controller-rebuild-and-joystick-ball-offer/page__fromsearch__1

 

5-11under has a DIY thread somewhere. Just make sure you have good soldering/repair skills if your going to rip into gaming hardware. A lot of people screw stuff up and it never works again.

 

You might want to look into getting a multi-cart from Atarimax. Great stuff I have both the 128-1 and the SD.

 

http://www.atarimax.com/

 

Have fun.

[SpaceDice2010]

Yesterday I found a ColecoVision, Atari 7800, and Virtual Boy searching mom and pop thrift stores near by. Great day for me. The Atari is working just fine, I only have 1 controller and 3 games for it, but they all work great. The Virtual Boy doesn't work right but it was free so I'm ok with that too and I think I can make it work with some effort.

 

More importantly the CelcoVision works great. I also got a module 1 for it which I was really happy to get and it works great too. The issue I'm having it one of the controllers I got it a little screwy. One works perfect, the other works perfect some times and not at all sometimes.

 

The question is should I look for a replacement or fix the one I have some how? I know with Atari 2600 stuff replacements are around, for the ColecoVision I have no idea. I got this thing because I knew they were cool and I didn't have one. I know next to nothing about them, and I have alot to learn. I would like to start with all working hardware though, so...

 

Are controllers for this thing out there to buy? What should I spend on them if I can find them? Are there any traps I should be aware of in the ColecoVision world? Also, did every game have over lays or what?

 

Thanks for your time.

 

 

Let start by saying you got super lucky finding a CV that works perfect.

 

 

 

That I have to agree with. Took me three tries on Ebay to get one that works.

[HatefulGravey]

I have always had good luck with my systems. Seems I may have gotten extra lucky with this one. It is a new system to me completely. Like I said before, I knew nothing about the system yesterday morining but how it should look and to make sure it came with the completely insane power brick. It looks great and works great. I got 6 games with it and it plays them all perfectly, I litterally plugged it in, put a game in it and played.

 

Now I just need to look more into getting one of those sweet controllers in the link. Have to talk to the wife and make sure I can't spend more money on this without being killed right now. Some of you may know how this is, the rest will some day.

[jblenkle]

Have to talk to the wife and make sure I can't spend more money on this without being killed right now. Some of you may know how this is, the rest will some day.

 

Ah, yes...wives...the bane of any video game collector...mine constantly comes into my game room and says, "When are you going to get rid of all this junk..."

[retroillucid]

Ah, yes...wives...the bane of any video game collector...mine constantly comes into my game room and says, "When are you going to get rid of all this junk..."

 

 

.... I heard this every day .... except for my CV stuff... she know how coleco mean to me.

 

But for the rest: Get rid of all this junk!

My Nintendo stuff take too much spaces for her taste

[SlowCoder]

I doubt you'll be sorry with your find. Of the 2nd generation systems I have, right now my CV is my favorite.

[HatefulGravey]

Ah, yes...wives...the bane of any video game collector...mine constantly comes into my game room and says, "When are you going to get rid of all this junk..."

 

 

.... I heard this every day .... except for my CV stuff... she know how coleco mean to me.

 

But for the rest: Get rid of all this junk!

My Nintendo stuff take too much spaces for her taste

 

My wife is actually really really cool with all this so far. I thought she would get sick of the pieces and parts and all the up keep for some of this stuff, but she is doing ok with it. She even got me some stuff for Christmas this year. (I know this because she wanted to be sure it was the right stuff and asked before buying it, sweet bonus to a hobby she doesn't understand)

 

I live in an apartment, so there isn't a pile of space. I have a MAME michine in the living room. She actually plays it! Did alright for myself.

 

All that said she does still get a little involved in what I spend on this stuff. Thats a good thing because I would just hit eBay and buy everything I could find without her control.

[Pixelboy]

Ah, yes...wives...the bane of any video game collector...mine constantly comes into my game room and says, "When are you going to get rid of all this junk..."

 

 

.... I heard this every day .... except for my CV stuff... she know how coleco mean to me.

 

But for the rest: Get rid of all this junk!

My Nintendo stuff take too much spaces for her taste

 

My wife is actually really really cool with all this so far. I thought she would get sick of the pieces and parts and all the up keep for some of this stuff, but she is doing ok with it. She even got me some stuff for Christmas this year. (I know this because she wanted to be sure it was the right stuff and asked before buying it, sweet bonus to a hobby she doesn't understand)

 

I live in an apartment, so there isn't a pile of space. I have a MAME michine in the living room. She actually plays it! Did alright for myself.

 

All that said she does still get a little involved in what I spend on this stuff. Thats a good thing because I would just hit eBay and buy everything I could find without her control.

Now that's eerie... retroillucid also has a MAME machine in his living room...

 

Could this be a case of twin brothers separated at birth but with their fate mystically linked together?

[SlowCoder]

My wife is actually really really cool with all this so far. I thought she would get sick of the pieces and parts and all the up keep for some of this stuff, but she is doing ok with it. She even got me some stuff for Christmas this year. (I know this because she wanted to be sure it was the right stuff and asked before buying it, sweet bonus to a hobby she doesn't understand)

 

I live in an apartment, so there isn't a pile of space. I have a MAME michine in the living room. She actually plays it! Did alright for myself.

 

All that said she does still get a little involved in what I spend on this stuff. Thats a good thing because I would just hit eBay and buy everything I could find without her control.

That could have just as easily come off my keyboard. Wife is pretty cool with the stuff I have, and doesn't get in the way of my spending, except to tell me if I buy any more we'll be overdraft.

 

After the kids came, she doesn't really play any more. But we did use to spend hours together playing Quake and Rise of the Triad on the networked PCs back in the early '90s. I'm working on her, though. Trying to get her interested again by getting some things that she remembers from her childhood (Intellivision stuff). I'm afraid not much headway until the kids are older, though.

[jblenkle]

I might also add that I've toned down my "computer room" from what it was four or five years ago. Right now I've got two PCs, ADAM, an Atari ST and 130XE hooked up. I used to also have the ColecoVision, Xbox, Sega Genesis w/Sega CD, SNES, NES, Gamecube, Nintendo 64, Playstation, Playstation 2, 3DO, Sega Dreamcast, and Sega Saturn all hooked up via 4 or so switchboxes all hooked together.

 

I finally started thinking that maybe it was a fire hazard to have all that stuff plugged in at once and wires running every which way, so I put the bulk of the systems in plastic storage boxes and have them under my second desk...real easy to pull out and set up if I get the urge.

 

 

 

Ah, yes...wives...the bane of any video game collector...mine constantly comes into my game room and says, "When are you going to get rid of all this junk..."

 

 

.... I heard this every day .... except for my CV stuff... she know how coleco mean to me.

 

But for the rest: Get rid of all this junk!

My Nintendo stuff take too much spaces for her taste

[retroillucid]

Now that's eerie... retroillucid also has a MAME machine in his living room...

 

Not anymore .... since my son is here... not much space left over

My MAME cab is now in storage, but plan to re-use it when we'll buy a house

 

 

Could this be a case of twin brothers separated at birth but with their fate mystically linked together?

 

[NIAD]

Now that's eerie... retroillucid also has a MAME machine in his living room...

 

Not anymore .... since my son is here... not much space left over

My MAME cab is now in storage, but plan to re-use it when we'll buy a house

 

 

Could this be a case of twin brothers separated at birth but with their fate mystically linked together?

 

You should have it in your son's room and tell your lovely wife that it's a night light that plays soothing music and sound effects to help the little guy sleep!

[retroillucid]

Now that's eerie... retroillucid also has a MAME machine in his living room...

 

Not anymore .... since my son is here... not much space left over

My MAME cab is now in storage, but plan to re-use it when we'll buy a house

 

 

Could this be a case of twin brothers separated at birth but with their fate mystically linked together?

 

You should have it in your son's room and tell your lovely wife that it's a night light that plays soothing music and sound effects to help the little guy sleep!

 

... I should have think about doing this ... telling her, Hey! this is a new Fisher-Price machine that play soothing music & SFX that help in the development of kids

 

She would have said: J-F! What the f*** ???!! That play Pac-Man sounds!

 

Thats all normal sweetheart, like I said, those sounds are like Mozart

 

 

Now need to buy Fisher-Price artwork for my MAME machine

[Pixelboy]

You should have it in your son's room and tell your lovely wife that it's a night light that plays soothing music and sound effects to help the little guy sleep!

Yeah, I'm sure Pac-Man's unending WAKA-WAKA-WAKA (and other various sound effects) will put the baby right to sleep.

 

I would recommend Moon Patrol in the morning...

[ColecoDan]

I know I always started to fall into a trance from the Smurf rescue games music. You could always use that one as well.

[Fyrman]

Are we suppose to tell our wives about what we buy? I think begging for forgiveness works better than asking for permission....If you have to do that sort of thing.

[NIAD]

"What they don't know, won't hurt them!", I always say. If my wife finds out and throws a fit than I just pull out the credit card bills (that I pay) and start asking questions. Funny how quite she gets then!

[SlowCoder]

Are we suppose to tell our wives about what we buy? I think begging for forgiveness works better than asking for permission....If you have to do that sort of thing.

 

Haha! This is a question I think all husbands ask themselves.

 

As we try to carpool (we both work a distance from the house), any packages I buy are waiting at the front door. There's really not any way I could hide them. So, I just buy blatantly, and let her tell me later my shortcomings.