Intellivision questions

[8th lutz]

I know this an atari site.

 

My brother decided to go into intellivision collecting. He has an intellivision 2 console that my parents bought over 19 years ago. He can't get the intellivision 2 controllers to work when playing a small amount of games.

 

The system hasn't been used much since 1987.

 

My first question is there any other Intellvision controllers options then getting the regular intellivision controllers?

 

Is there any other possiblities for it not working outside of something wrong with the buttons?

Edited March 30, 2006 by 8th lutz

[SteveW]

Is there any other possiblities for it not working outside of something wrong with the buttons?

 

I tend to have problems with the cartridge slot and cart leads getting dirty, and making the machine glitch.

[NovaXpress]

My first question is there any other Intellvision controllers options then getting the regular intellivision controllers?

The original model had hard-wired controllers so all you could do was glue a joystick onto the pad. Not a good solution. The Intellivision 2 had detachable controllers and Wico did make a replacement stick (identical to their Colecovision stick, not their best work).

 

Check out the Buy It Now on this Wico stick:

The Horrors Of Ebay

[jaybird3rd]

My first question is there any other Intellvision controllers options then getting the regular intellivision controllers?

The original model had hard-wired controllers so all you could do was glue a joystick onto the pad. Not a good solution. The Intellivision 2 had detachable controllers and Wico did make a replacement stick (identical to their Colecovision stick, not their best work).

 

Check out the Buy It Now on this Wico stick:

The Horrors Of Ebay

As ZylonBane once said, "Sweet rollerskating Jesus!" That may be a rare controller, but $699.99 is absurd!

 

There are more REALISTIC options for replacing your Inty2 controllers. 4Jays sells (used) replacements for about $20, and if you don't mind doing a little soldering, I've seen instructions for building an Atari Jaguar adapter for the Inty2.

[NovaXpress]

Ever use one of those Coleco/Inty Wico sticks? Seriously, they don't deserve to wear the brand name. Still better than the original controllers though.

[SteveW]

That auction is a perfect example for why I hate eBay so much.

[8th lutz]

Ever use one of those Coleco/Inty Wico sticks? Seriously, they don't deserve to wear the brand name. Still better than the original controllers though.

No, I never did. My brother is the one into intellivision and never did. Booth of us never heard of those before for the intellivision2.

 

My parents had to purchase the intellivision 2 during the crash and I didn't remember playing video game consoles before 1987. If I did before then it had to be for a short time.

[chrisbid]

the INTV disc isnt that bad to use, the real problem are the stiff sidemounted fire buttons. its the same problem with the coleco, 5200, and 7800 controllers... and no doubt that wico stick

[Dusk2600]

yes the intv 2 side buttors are stiff indeed. i love intv and i collect for it, a totally dieing breed of collectors

[Lord Helmet]

the INTV disc isnt that bad to use, the real problem are the stiff sidemounted fire buttons. its the same problem with the coleco, 5200, and 7800 controllers... and no doubt that wico stick

 

Exactly! All of those controllers suck for the exact same reasons first and foremost: the fire buttons.

 

As far as directional controll goes...I would rank them like this:

 

Inty

7800

5200

Coleco

[christianscott27]

That is one sad auction. I think thats the line between collectors and players, I cant imagine a person paying that much for one actually using it. I've got the coleco model and its really not that bad considering the ones the system came with.

[JB]

the INTV disc isnt that bad to use, the real problem are the stiff sidemounted fire buttons. its the same problem with the coleco, 5200, and 7800 controllers... and no doubt that wico stick

To be fair, the buttons all behave diffrently.

 

5200 buttons are mushy, 7800 buttons are nice and clicky, INTV buttons are hard and stiff(God, the joystick jokes you could make with this...), Coleco buttons... hell if I know, I haven't even SEEN a controller in over a decade, much less touched it. INTV buttons also ride a lot lower than 5200/7800/CV buttons.

 

 

They're all side-mounted, but that's really all they have in common.

[chrisbid]

pushing sideways is not ergonomic

 

on top of that, no classic gaming controllers seem to have any sort firm yet responsive buttons. the cx40 comes the closest, but that is more of a function of pressing down on a button rather than sideways.

[NovaXpress]

I realy loved the Astrocade controllers. Channel F was pretty good too.

[JB]

pushing sideways is not ergonomic

I prefer it, when done right.

When grasping the stick, the thumb is alligned to push that way.

 

 

If you want to talk ergonomics, let's look at the almighty CX-40. The tips of your fingers are supporting the base of the controller, so every time you move right you place all the leverage of the stick onto the end of your fingers. And there's nothing to keep the right end from bobbing up when you hit left.

This is the primary reason the 5200 and 7800 controllers were designed as they are, to eliminate that leverage on the fingertips.

It's also why I don't use CX-40s, Gemsticks, or similar devices. For handheld operation, I prefer my Coleco Gemini controllers for 2600 usage. the fact that it's another side button is coincidence, as I don't like the fire button(too stiff, and too low). If I have a horizontal surface, I use my Quikshot 1. It's responsive, has a good feel, and suction cups.

 

The CX-40 is a poor compromise. They were trying to make a stick that could be used as a handheld or tabletop device and failed at both goals. It's too tall for tabletop usage(fire button becomes difficult to reach comfortably). And the fire button is the only thing RIGHT on handheld usage. All from an ergonomics standpoint. It's a well-engineered stick for the most part, but the ergonomics are atrocious.

 

It's not coincidence that a 5200/7800 grip is basically a CX-40 grip rotated 90 degrees. The wrist position is diffrent and the hand is open a little wider, but it's the same basic grip. Rotating it has the effect of placing load on the palm and wrist instead of fingertips, which is the major flaw of the CX-40.

 

TI handled things a little diffrently, but with the same end effect. They made the stick thinner and narrower, so your fingertips curled up over the other side. End result is the same, though the fire button remains on top.

 

 

on top of that, no classic gaming controllers seem to have any sort firm yet responsive buttons. the cx40 comes the closest, but that is more of a function of pressing down on a button rather than sideways.

The switch the CX-40 uses has a lot to do with it. The 7800 sticks have a similar feel, but they aren't well thought-out in terms of positioning. Having the second fire button on the opposite side of the primary screwed the entire design up because it forces you to use the index finger on one button, as well as hindering any attempt to get a good grip. If you only use the fire button under your thumb, playability should imrpove greatly. But if I recall, the right fire button was the primary, which is going to land under hte index finger most of the time.

 

The 5200 has modern-style buttons(collapsable silicone rubber dome), but the lack of a hard plastic cap and the odd dome shape mess with the feel.

[ghsqb]

To the OP, the limitation you'll have with the Intellivision II is that it won't play any of the games made by Sega.

 

So the Zaxxons, Carnivals, Donkey Kongs and Mouse Traps etc of the world are out.

 

A great resource for info on everything Intellivision:

 

http://www.intellivisionlives.com/home.shtml

[Lord Helmet]

To the OP, the limitation you'll have with the Intellivision II is that it won't play any of the games made by Sega.

 

errr, you mean...Coleco, right?

 

[Nukey Shay]

Channel F was pretty good too.

 

The lack of a seperate fire button sucked IMO. Though it was interesting how they packed 4 fields of movement into an otherwise 2 field device.

[Bill Brasky]

My first question is there any other Intellvision controllers options then getting the regular intellivision controllers?

The original model had hard-wired controllers so all you could do was glue a joystick onto the pad. Not a good solution. The Intellivision 2 had detachable controllers and Wico did make a replacement stick (identical to their Colecovision stick, not their best work).

 

Check out the Buy It Now on this Wico stick:

The Horrors Of Ebay

 

The original INTV controllers are detachable. You just need to unscrew the cover to get at the plugs.

[chrisbid]

To the OP, the limitation you'll have with the Intellivision II is that it won't play any of the games made by Sega.

 

errr, you mean...Coleco, right?

 

 

 

that isnt all coleco games, thats only the first few (donkey kong and carnival, maybe others)

 

newer coleco games like donkey kong jr work fine in an INTV II

[Dusk2600]

i am just going to put a statment out there that will probibally get me kicked of AA

 

Intv Burgertime is way better then the 2600 version .... it is true, the 2600 version is obsolete in compairison.

[Dusk2600]

too slow

[jpfalcon2003]

i am just going to put a statment out there that will probibally get me kicked of AA

 

Intv Burgertime is way better then the 2600 version .... it is true, the 2600 version is obsolete in compairison.

Agreed but the 2600 version is a nice one. They managed to get all the screens included in that tiny cart.