Colecovision

[DominiRican05]

I'm curious since the Colecovision was only around for 2 years, about how many games were released in total? What are some good platformers on the system? So far I've tried Smurfs and BC's Quest, and those are very graphically appealing and fun to play, any others?

 

Also, I read somewhere that if it weren't for the crash that the CV would've emerged as the premiere system of choice among gamers. How do you think the CV would've squared against the NES? For some reason, at least from the emulators that I've played, the Colecovision games seem to bear striking graphical resemblance to NES games, could the CV have handled NES-style games if it had more time? Would the CV have been capable of long and complex games with lots of variety, like Super Mario Bros 3?

[joeybastard]

I'm a big fan of the CV but it seems like many folks either love it or hate it. Sees the controllers are a problem for folks but they have never been a serious problem for me at all. I actually think the Super Action sticks are a great joystick design but I'm sure I'm alone in that. I'm not sure of the actual number but I'd guess there are a little over 100 games officially released for it.

 

While some CV games do look great they aren't really on the same level as NES games when put side by side. The NES was developod later than the CV and it shows. The CV was never good at side scrolling so SMB would not be viable on the CV. Look at Smurfs, the screens stop and then wipe in, you don't smoothly scroll to the next screen. Some games seem to scoll ok like Atarisofts Defender so I guess it is possible thru programming wizardry. The CV was able to do some kind of video pass thru thing that might have allowed it to have a laserdisk add on or CED add on and that would have made for some amazing shit in 1984. It never happened though. Unfortunately, to me at least, Coleco put all of it's weight behind the Adam and didn't develop all of the cool stuff for the CV that I think could have made it the equal if not the superior to the NES.

 

Good platformers on the CV: Jumpman Jr., Miner 2049er, the Heist, Tarzan, Roc 'n Rope, Montezuma's Revenge and Sammy Lightfoot(it's a little too slow but I think it's fun)

 

The CV had a lot of great games and most aren't too hard to find although some are pricey. I honestly enjoy most CV games, the only ones I wouldn't bother with is Dam Busters, the kiddie games and Gust Busters. Unlike most people I like "It's Only Rock and Roll", I think it's a riot.

[Stingray]

 I'm not sure of the actual number but I'd guess there are a little over 100 games officially released for it.

 

 

I thought it was more like 150, but I'm not usre where I'm getting that number. Maybe I dreamed it.

 

The Colecovision is a great system to own and play. The only real drawback is the controller.

 

-S

[doubledown]

Including the Telegames re-releases there were 149 games plus all of the newer games by Daniel Bienvenu, OpCode Games, and others. I don't hate the original controllers as much as others and I actually do like the SA controllers. Not to mention there were quite a few third-party controllers that you could could choose from including some that had an integrated keypad.

[DominiRican05]

That's interesting that the CV could've potentially had the ability to have a laserdisk or CED add-on, were there any such plans made by Coleco? I think the Colecovision is unique in that it had a lot of possibility for expansion, and I wonder were there other expansion plans by Coleco other than the 2600 and the steering wheel, that were later axed as a result of the crash? It's also interesting to note that the Colecovision was the only major competitor not to make it through the crash, although they were never as popular as before, the 2600 and Intellivision had games being made up until 1990. Imagine if the Colecovision had that long of a lifespan what the games would've looked like, considering the new available technology at the time.

 

Wow, over 100 games? Seems that the CV had a lot of games made for it in a short amount of time. Plus, the games made by Opcode are exceptional, so far I've played Sky Jaguar and it's very impressive.

 

Just curious what's the largest size that a CV cart can be? Also, doubledown, mentioned several controllers, some made by third parties, are any of those available today?

[+else]

It's also interesting to note that the Colecovision was the only major competitor not to make it through the crash

 

Everyone always seems to think it was the crash that did Coleco in. Yet if you spend any time looking over their financials from back then, you realize that it was their huge overproduction of Cabbage Patch Kids the year after the big craze that sank them. The failed to realize that CPKs were a passing fad....

[+else]

The CV was never good at side scrolling so SMB would not be viable on the CV

 

Well, the CV did scroll decently well in my mind. Even two of the launch titles (Zaxxon and Cosmic Avenger) did a pretty darn good job of it. Maybe not as good as the NES, but still not bad for the time....

[jsoper]

The CV was never good at side scrolling so SMB would not be viable on the CV

 

Well, the CV did scroll decently well in my mind. Even two of the launch titles (Zaxxon and Cosmic Avenger) did a pretty darn good job of it. Maybe not as good as the NES, but still not bad for the time....

I always thought Zaxxon was way to jerky myself, especially compared to the 5200 version.

[NovaXpress]

Also, I read somewhere that if it weren't for the crash that the CV would've emerged as the premiere system of choice among gamers

Not at all. Coleco screwed themselves by focusing on the Adam and yes, Cabbage Patch dolls. The post-launch Coleco titles were rarely exciting. Actually, by Xmas 83, the 5200 (which was just hitting its stride) was outselling the Colecovision. The 5200 is a better system as well (no fanboyism here, I loved my Coleco too).

[spacecadet]

Also, I read somewhere that if it weren't for the crash that the CV would've emerged as the premiere system of choice among gamers.  How do you think the CV would've squared against the NES?  For some reason, at least from the emulators that I've played, the Colecovision games seem to bear striking graphical resemblance to NES games,

 

Well, that's just like, your opinion, man!

 

Compare Super Mario Bros. on the NES to Donkey Kong on the CV (hell, compare Donkey Kong on NES!). I mean it's no contest. There is a generational difference there (despite the NES technically only being a year removed from the CN). Donkey Kong was considered one of the most impressive games on the CV at the time - and it was missing an entire screen! I don't think the CV would have been capable of a game like SMB.

 

From what I've read (in the FAQ) the 5200 was outselling the CV at the time of the crash anyway. And obviously, if the crash hadn't happened, who knows if the NES would have ever even been released here? There are so many what-if's, it's kind of pointless to even ask.

[NovaXpress]

Colecovision isn't close to having the power that the NES did. Look at all the monochrome sprites.

[+opcode]

The 5200 is a better system as well (no fanboyism here, I loved my Coleco too).

 

What!? Ha.... aha.... ahahaaaaa!!!!

*can't stop laughing*

.....

***taking a long breath***

 

Sorry, no way.

 

Do you think the 5200 is able to run games like these bellow? If you are going to this year's PhillyClassic or NWCGE you will have the chance to play them... on a ColecoVision...

[+opcode]

I don't think the CV would have been capable of a game like SMB.

 

Think again.

[DominiRican05]

Wow opcode those are impressive! I think your titles to come are definitely going to push me over the brink and drive me to purchase a CV. These titles look great!

 

Also, you've actually tried running Super Mario Bros on a CV? WOW! Even I didn't think it was possible...

[joeybastard]

I don't think the CV would have been capable of a game like SMB.

 

Think again.

 

But does it scroll as smoothly as the NES? Most CV games scrolling is kind of jerky, that is not evident in SMB on the NES.

 

Once again your screenshots amaze me, thank you making the CV even more fun to collect for

[cimerians]

Colecovision was a better all around system with a great selection of games between 1982 and 1984, the 5200 didn't have a chance as it was released pretty late with the same old arcade remakes. No other system had arcade translations AT THAT TIME like the Colecovision unit had. I know so, I grew up reading gaming mags in the early 80's and had all 4 systems. (2600, 5200, Intellvsn and Coleco).

 

The system that REALLY took over the 80's is the Commodore 64. Hands down. The NES really was better machine than the coleco but its dominance can only be recognized around 88' and 91'.

 

The 64 dominated from 85' through well into 90 or 91'. I considered it a console. All I did was play games on it and it cost around 150 to 200 bucks. Its extremely overlooked in the classic gaming scene. One of the biggest and most original software landscapes which no other 'system' can ever really have.

[intvgene]

The system that REALLY took over the 80's is the Commodore 64. Hands down. The NES really was better machine than the coleco but its dominance can only be recognized around 88' and 91'.

 

The 64 dominated from 85' through well into 90 or 91'. I considered it a console. All I did was play games on it and it cost around 150 to 200 bucks. Its extremely overlooked in the classic gaming scene. One of the biggest and most original software landscapes which no other 'system' can ever really have.

 

I agree that the home computers are very much neglected in many classic video gaming circles. I barely felt the crash because of them. Mind you, I wasn't playing a Commodore, I still let my loyalties lie with Atari (with the 800 and later the ST). As great as the Colecovision was, the computers were much more attractive.

[cimerians]

The system that REALLY took over the 80's is the Commodore 64. Hands down. The NES really was better machine than the coleco but its dominance can only be recognized around 88' and 91'.

 

The 64 dominated from 85' through well into 90 or 91'. I considered it a console. All I did was play games on it and it cost around 150 to 200 bucks. Its extremely overlooked in the classic gaming scene. One of the biggest and most original software landscapes which no other 'system' can ever really have.

 

I agree that the home computers are very much neglected in many classic video gaming circles. I barely felt the crash because of them. Mind you, I wasn't playing a Commodore, I still let my loyalties lie with Atari (with the 800 and later the ST). As great as the Colecovision was, the computers were much more attractive.

 

Exactly! My friend had an XL if I remember and I had a C64, some companies actually sold some games with C64 and Atari versions on one floppy. (Double sided)

 

Disk notchers and copy programs were really helpful too...

[SteveW]

Cosmi used to put out games with three computer variations of the game on one cassette tape. C64, Atari 800, and TI-99/4A. I bought some of those for my TI way back then, games like Aztec Challenge, Slinky, and Spider Invasion. Great cover art for Spider Invasion, too!

[cimerians]

Cosmi used to put out games with three computer variations of the game on one cassette tape. C64, Atari 800, and TI-99/4A. I bought some of those for my TI way back then, games like Aztec Challenge, Slinky, and Spider Invasion. Great cover art for Spider Invasion, too!

 

Cosmi was cool, I bought their Gold pack in the late 80's that contained most of their games. Aztec challenge was cool and I remember Potty pigeon and a game where you were a gnome and traveled thru time. I can't remember that one...Cosmi also made the ultra cool Forbidden Forest and Super Huey games. Ahhh the memories...

[Atariboy2600]

Wow I need to save upalot of money for NEW CV games^_^

[cimerians]

Wow I need to save upalot of money for NEW CV games^_^

 

I bought Opcodes Space Invaders Collection for the Colecovision and I must say its almost better than the Super NES version.

 

Seriously though, Opcode kicks major butt. I see the Colecovision in a whole new life because of them. We are definitely not worthy.

[Atariboy2600]

Wow is that what I think then I should start on making my own mockup box art and cart label for Super Mario Bros^_^

 

Here's aold style Colecovision version I made soon Ill do other ones from NES style to Famicom one for the Colecovision box and label cart.

[spacecadet]

Colecovision was a better all around system with a great selection of games between 1982 and 1984, the 5200 didn't have a chance as it was released pretty late with the same old arcade remakes. No other system had arcade translations AT THAT TIME like the Colecovision unit had.

 

I disagree with this. The 5200 had Atari arcade ports, the CV had everything else. I don't think one was necessarily better than the other, but the 5200 definitely had more well-known games. What the CV did have that the 5200 didn't was Donkey Kong as a pack-in, which was one of the most popular arcade games at the time - without that, the CV would have done nothing in the marketplace.

 

It was Coleco's stated goal to find lesser-known arcade games that they could license on the cheap. You think they paid much for titles like Venture, Carnival, etc.? No, they just signed up whatever they could sign up to fill out their library. It worked to an extent - the CV became known as the arcade game system. But it did not generally have the most popular arcade games - the 5200 did.

 

The 5200 shot itself in the foot with those controllers - I really think the 5200's design sold some CV's. But I think it's something of a myth that the CV dramatically outsold the 5200. As I said before, the 5200 had actually pulled ahead of the CV by the time of the crash (according to the 5200 FAQ).

 

As for the CV screenshots posted here, they look great, but a) this is years after the fact, and b) screenshots are one thing, seeing the game in motion is another. I'm still skeptical, but even if SMB plays basically like it did on the NES, it doesn't mean much because nobody could figure out how to get the system to do that in 1982-1984. As I pointed out already, Coleco couldn't even figure out how to get four screens into Donkey Kong.

[+RangerG]

If there had not been a crash, most likely both the 5200 and the Colecovision would have been able to mature into game consoles with a long history, more graphically advanced games, a much larger game library, and the addition of solid and common third-party alternatives to the controllers for both systems. Both could have had near NES like games as previous threads discuss and modern homebrewers are showing.