Why I got back into collecting ColecoVision...

[Jess Ragan]

Well, THAT was a surprise. The game runs really smoothly, which is great, but the sound effects lack punch, which is less great. The voice sounds pretty constipated, and it's got the same issue with sudden changes in tone that the sound samples from MAME had. Now I get why they left the voice out of other conversions.

[TPR]

Another AWESOME homebrew for the ColecoVision!

Congrats Team Pixelboy on a fantastic release!

 

the sound effects lack punch, which is less great. The voice sounds pretty constipated, and it's got the same issue with sudden changes in tone that the sound samples from MAME had. Now I get why they left the voice out of other conversions.

 

I think those are pretty minor complaints for a game that didn't need to exist and wouldn't have existed without some people taking on a passion project in their spare time to keep systems that haven't seen a retail shelf in 35 years alive. The fact that I am able to play an really kick ass version of Wizard of Wor TODAY in 2018 on my ColecoVision which I grew up with in 1982 is beyond a miracle.

 

I have nothing to complain about and IMO it's a shame that people will pick apart games like this as I feel it's totally undeserved.

 

Having made games myself in my gaming career (I was a producer on Sega Genesis Aladdin, PC 7th Guest, NES Jungle Book, SNES Lion King, just to name a few) I know exactly the challenges are of having an entire team working professionally for months on a game. This project here is just a couple of guys working in their spare time on a VERY technologically restricting system. Cut them some slack. If you want to play a the actual arcade ROM, boot up MAME. But for what I'm seeing on my screen coming out of my ColecoVision, I am DAMN IMPRESSED!!!!

[Albert]

Well, THAT was a surprise. The game runs really smoothly, which is great, but the sound effects lack punch, which is less great. The voice sounds pretty constipated, and it's got the same issue with sudden changes in tone that the sound samples from MAME had. Now I get why they left the voice out of other conversions.

 

That speech sounds just like it did in the arcade. I'd much prefer to have the original arcade speech than have it removed or have it changed in some fashion.

 

..Al

[imstarryeyed]

Wow that looks amazing.. I am so looking forward to this release from Pixelboy as I grew up with this game.

 

What did you think of the sound effects not including voice? Did the sound seem different to you or was it my poor speakers on my cheap VGA monitor? I thought the voice was spot on, but I also liked how the sound effects seemed to be toned down too.

 

I remember Wizard of Wor being a really loud game at the time and I am sure my household would appreciate if the laser ray sound of me dying over and over was not too much.. haha.

 

As usual the homebrewers on this board continue to amaze me with their talents!

 

I have to say this really is a great renaissance for neo-retro gamers!!!

[+grips03]

Great video. I recognize the Colecovision console

 

Great game for 4-way gated joystick.

 

edit: not the F18a Coleco I sold after all, I sold a US model from what I can tell.

[+save2600]

Wow!

[LoTonah]

I miss the twinkling stars in the background, *BUT* I was extremely impressed at how fluid the animation is. I've got the arcade game on MAME and there is something different on the CV version--it is better! Also, the audio lacked a bit of a punch in the video but I'm sure on a good sound system it would sound more like the arcade (the arcade game actually had a pretty decent speaker setup for its time). I think the audio issue is more like the video capture equipment didn't capture it well.

 

I guess I'll have to check it out in person

Edited February 15, 2018 by LoTonah

[Jess Ragan]

Okay, credit where credit is due... it looks very good. The ColecoVision's higher resolution really sharpens up the graphics, making it look like the excellent Commodore 64 version.

[TPR]

That moment when you get all the Team Pixelboy Budget Series games in the mail and you go "Wait a minute...I don't remember ordering that one..."

Yes! Team Pixelboy threw in a bonus FREE totally unannounced surprise game for anyone who ordered more than ten of the budget series! (And it even came with overlays!)

And I'd also like to remind people that not only was this an amazing act of kindness, but don't forget that this entire budget series was done in an effort to help out a follow member of our community, Nanochess, as his family was going through some very difficult times.

Happy to support all the homebrewers and the members of the ColecoVision world! Thanks to all of you!

 

[nanochess]

I appreciate very much the help of everyone with these budget games and in special of Pixelboy, he helped a buddy and his wife in hard times.

 

I'm in great debt of gratitude with everyone.

[TPR]

An oldie but goodie that I felt deserved a proper video...

[atarilovesyou]

I totally did not know that Coleco ever made a box for Donkey Kong! I always thought they were reproductions. My Coleco was a Canadian version, and it was just the cart that came with it...even had a little spot molded out in the styrofoam. Even the collector box I picked up from the USA didn't have a box for DK, these must have been rare indeed.

[NIAD]

I totally did not know that Coleco ever made a box for Donkey Kong! I always thought they were reproductions. My Coleco was a Canadian version, and it was just the cart that came with it...even had a little spot molded out in the styrofoam. Even the collector box I picked up from the USA didn't have a box for DK, these must have been rare indeed.

Some European systems were packaged with Mouse Trap due to DK being a very popular game and therefore would sell better by itself. I don't think too many of the US box version made their way to Europe and most DKs were sold in CBS style boxes.... of which there were a couple variations. The USA box existed before the ADAM was released (pictured in Arnold Greenberg's hand with the Purple Proto CV box), but most likely wasn't a big seller because it was the pack-in game with the CV and most ADAM owners bought the Super Game version that was released on data pack in early 1984.

 

Anyway, the US version is rare and will usually sell for around $200 depending on condition.

Edited February 27, 2018 by NIAD

[TPR]

Here a video for Boot Hill that I put together today. Nice work digress!

 

Order info: https://www.etsy.com/listing/584210548/boot-hill-for-colecovision-homebrew

[imstarryeyed]

Great review TPR !! It really showed off a lot of the great features Gerry put in with all of his hard work!

 

It was a real pleasure giving Gerry feedback while he was developing, he is such a receptive developer and I think his openness and creativity only made an average arcade game, into an amazing home version!

 

I just ordered a copy for myself!

[Yurkie]

Great Boot Hill review!

[TPR]

One of my shelves of more "oddly shaped" ColecoVision and ADAM stuff that I have...

[Pixelboy]

Your red box of Mario-themed controllers is still intact. Lucky you, mine was completely destroyed by "unfortunate storage conditions".

[TPR]

Your red box of Mario-themed controllers is still intact. Lucky you, mine was completely destroyed by "unfortunate storage conditions".

 

Trust me, I know the feeling. Same thing happened with my Smurf controller box.

[NIAD]

 

Trust me, I know the feeling. Same thing happened with my Smurf controller box.

Nnnnnnooooooo!!!!

 

You mean the one that I sold you?

[TPR]

Nnnnnnooooooo!!!!

 

You mean the one that I sold you?

 

Yep. I had it very carefully packed in a box in our garage and let's just say that one thing fell on top of another and that carefully packed box was knocked over and crushed. It was the ONLY thing that suffered and the controller itself is still fine, but the actual box was just not strong enough. I actually think it is the only "lost" item I've had in my entire collecting career so far. That was not a good day...

[AtariLeaf]

I had gotten rid of my modest Colecovision collection because I was tired of dealing with the flakey hardware, power switch issues, etc. The Collectorvision though has me wanting to jump back in. That thing looks and sounds incredible.

Edited September 1, 2018 by AtariLeaf

[NIAD]

I had gotten rid of my modest Colecovision collection because I was tired of dealing with the flakey hardware, power switch issues, etc. The Collectorvision though has me wanting to jump back in. That thing looks and sounds incredible.

All it takes is proper maintenance / refurbishment and the power switch will be good for another decade, if not more, depending on use.

 

"To each, there own" however. The CollectorVision Phoenix will be a godsend for a lot of people.

[TPR]

All it takes is proper maintenance / refurbishment and the power switch will be good for another decade, if not more, depending on use.

 

"To each, there own" however. The CollectorVision Phoenix will be a godsend for a lot of people.

 

Yeah I think out of the 3 or 4 systems I use on a regular basis they have all been rock solid. If I ever encounter a system that has power switch issues, I'll open it up, spray that area with a little bit of Deoxit and it's good to go. I think it takes me about 10 minutes to fix.

[TheCurlyBard]

Wow nice collection, couldn't read the entire thread but so many great pictures in here, thanks for sharing.