Any Coleco Gemini fans?

[FOX2600]

This console has caught my attention recently, not sure why but something about it is intriguing, its almost like if Sony today made their own version of the Switch, which doesnt seem to far off from the story of the Gemini? What crazy and rebellious times in video game history back then!

 

Anybody out there a proud owner or have any history, thoughts, advice, tips, or opinions on the hardware? I know little and would to love to hear from the great minds of Atari Age!

 

On a side note, I also thought it would be fun to go for a Coleco sub-set of games to accompany this console! :-)

[zylon]

I had one of those. It looked cool, but the switches sucked. The controllers were excellent though.

[ave1]

Mine won't let me play my Pink Panther prototype. Something about it isn't compatible.

[The Mr. Video]

I managed to get 2 Geminis for $40. The problem with both was bad solder, as once I re-soldered parts such as the controller ports and the cartridge slot, both consoles worked flawlessly.

I think with enough re-soldering on all the ports and switches, a Gemini could last a long time. I've been using one a lot recently due to it having a better picture than my Jr.

[bradhig1]

Anyone seen the Columbia House version?

[Jess Ragan]

I have one back in MI. I like the thought of a smaller, more 80s-y Atari 2600, but the Gemini feels kind of cheap next to the official system, and I've heard it has reliability issues. (From a COLECO system? Gosh, I never would have guessed!) Its TIA clone doesn't map out perfectly to the original either, making it a pain to do A/V mods.

[Atari_Bill]

Anyone seen the Columbia House version?

I have one in my collection. Very tough to find but really is nothing more than a Gemini with a different name badge.

[GeekDragon]

I still have mine from way back when. This system was my introduction to the 2600. I believe we got it from a auction for a local public television station that my mom helped out on back around 83. So this was the first system I ever had, along with Pac Man and Asteroids, which I also still have. I prefer the controller for the Gemini over the 2600one, just because I used it so much growing up. Great system. Also, my system came with Mouse trap and Donkey Kong and had a round sticker on the back of both saying "Bonus Cartridge included with Gemini. Non-Refundable." And it still works great after all these years.

Edited September 4, 2018 by GeekDragon

[Osgeld]

I have one back in MI. I like the thought of a smaller, more 80s-y Atari 2600, but the Gemini feels kind of cheap next to the official system, and I've heard it has reliability issues. (From a COLECO system? Gosh, I never would have guessed!) Its TIA clone doesn't map out perfectly to the original either, making it a pain to do A/V mods.

 

ah its not that hard with a little wire tracing. Its an ok box, not the beez nezzz in top notch quality but it was a budget system to begin with

[BassGuitari]

Most Coleco hardware is basically pretty junky, and the Gemini is no exception. Expect to have to touch up some solder points on the connectors if you get one. I had to lock down the power jack, RF jack, and one of the controller jacks on mine, as is common.

 

It's a cool enough system, but hardly worth going out of your way for if you have an actual Atari. The controller's really good, though...but you don't need a Gemini system to use it.

[jhd]

I have not used original hardware in a very long time, but when I did, I preferred the Gemini because of its very small size. I seem to recall that mine too needed some solder touch-ups when I first acquired it. Oddly, it did not come with the original controllers; I eventually bought those separately. I never had any compatibility issues with the games that I tried.

 

Were Donkey Kong and Mouse Trap the only games that ever came as pack-ins? I do not recall seeing any other cartridges with the special sticker on the back.

[Lord Thag]

Liked the system design, not the controller. I think I prefer the Video Arcade II though. Cool design and the controllers work well.

Edited September 4, 2018 by Lord Thag

[+boxpressed]

How does that Y cable work with the Gemini again? Isnt it part of the stock set?

[John Stamos Mullet]

How does that Y cable work with the Gemini again? Isnt it part of the stock set?

it is. It's for 2 player paddle games. Doesn't do anything for joysticks.

 

I had one back in the day, lost it when we sold my parents house, got another one last year at a local shop. It's a neat little system, and it has the best RF output I've ever seen. Clear as a bell.

[BassGuitari]

Liked the system design, not the controller. I think I prefer the Video Arcade II though. Cool design and the controllers work well.

 

I agree--of those "Combo Controller" systems, I prefer the Video Arcade II.

 

Not sure I agree about the controllers, though. I find them mushy, unresponsive, and quasi-functional at best. The paddle's good when clean, and the joystick's okay if the internal plastic fingers are still in good shape (although there's still zero tactile response), but I really have to mash in the fire buttons to get anything out of them. The fire buttons are the Achilles' Heel of this thing. An extended gameplay session with a Video Arcade II controller is a trip to Carpal Tunnel Hell.

[+boxpressed]

it is. It's for 2 player paddle games. Doesn't do anything for joysticks.

 

I had one back in the day, lost it when we sold my parents house, got another one last year at a local shop. It's a neat little system, and it has the best RF output I've ever seen. Clear as a bell.

 

So if you want to play 2-player Warlords, for instance, you would need to use the Y cable instead of plugging one controller into each port on the console?

[Shawn]

Anyone seen the Columbia House version?

 

Yep. Came in a normal Coleco Gemini box. Only the console and controllers where branded Columbia. Maybe the power supply was too but I forget.

[+atariguy33]

yep, I have 2 systems in the original box. For being cheaply built(weak solder connections) they do have very nice video output compared to some of the 2600 models.

[John Stamos Mullet]

 

So if you want to play 2-player Warlords, for instance, you would need to use the Y cable instead of plugging one controller into each port on the console?

You could plug in two controllers, one into each port, but in Warlords, you would end up using players 2 & 4. and the button wouldn't work, you would need to press right on the joystick for the action button.

 

The Wye adapter sets up the paddles on the coleco controllers to work like official Atari Controllers in that players 1 & 2 plug into the left controller port, and players 3 & 4 plug into the right controller port.

 

also - the difficulty switches are reversed on the Gemini for their use in games compared to the 2600/VCS. A is B and B is A

Edited September 5, 2018 by John Stamos Mullet

[BassGuitari]

 

So if you want to play 2-player Warlords, for instance, you would need to use the Y cable instead of plugging one controller into each port on the console?

 

Yes.

[+boxpressed]

Thanks for the replies. I think I tried to use a Gemini Y cable to attach a CX-40 and a Colecovision controller to a Colecovision, and it didnt work. Another brand of Y cable worked fine, however. If Im not misremembering, is it possible that the Gemini Y cable is non-standard?

[+Gemintronic]

Years ago when I switched over to collecting unlicensed games and consoles I bought one. However, I heard rumors of it being fragile so I kept my light sixer for entertainment and development.

[FOX2600]

Cool thanks for the replies, this is why I love Atari Age. All in all it seems 50-50 on peoples thoughts on the console, interesting!

[FOX2600]

I still have mine from way back when. This system was my introduction to the 2600. I believe we got it from a auction for a local public television station that my mom helped out on back around 83. So this was the first system I ever had, along with Pac Man and Asteroids, which I also still have. I prefer the controller for the Gemini over the 2600one, just because I used it so much growing up. Great system. Also, my system came with Mouse trap and Donkey Kong and had a round sticker on the back of both saying "Bonus Cartridge included with Gemini. Non-Refundable." And it still works great after all these years.

I really enjoyed this post, thank your for sharing!

[GeekDragon]

For while, I had it hooked up in the game room. Now, I have a Jr. hooked up. But, when I play my Jr., I use the Gemini controllers. Just my personal preference. I find the joy sticks to be not as stiff as the 2600 joy sticks. Using the stick for warlords, instead of the side button can be annoying to some, but I grew up playing this way, so I'm used to it.