Coleco Vision Arcade Game System

ColecoVision video game console was released in 1982. With the idea of arcade quality game style and graphics. Not to mention the ability to play Atari 2600 cartridges.


In order to compete in the Video Game market in the early 1980's. Coleco had to come up with a great marketing plan to get them in the market. They first marketed them selves as an Arcade Game System.

Then they released their Expansion Model 1. This model enabled coleco vision buyers the ability to play Atari 2600 games on their Coleco Vision. So you could play twice as many games, and you in theory had two video game systems in one!

Coleco then released expansion model 2 which was a steering wheel with a gas pedal. This gave users a unique game play during racing games. I think there was only 2 games though. The expansion was unique, no other system had this.

Then they developed a third model. This was know as the Coleco Vision Adam. Which was a keyboard attachment to your system. This module was designed with the idea of being a kind of computer of sorts.

Coleco Vision did release a couple of different controllers over the years. The controllers, which were released with the coleco vision, were rectangular in size, with a circular knob that turns in circles and goes in eight different directions. The controller did play games with an inlay, very similar to Intellivision just a little larger in size.



Another controller released was the Super action controller. This was a controller that fit around your hand, which had a similar circular knob. To make it unique, it had smaller numeric buttons, and a little wheel on the bottom that you spun. The controller also featured 4 buttons on the controllers grip.

Browsing around the Net, I just discovered another controller.  The Rollerball Controller for Coleco VIsion,  This was a rectangular unit, with two regular controllers  1 on each side, then a 2 inch or so ball in the middle with 4 buttons below the ball.  This controller I have never used, and I don't have a photo to show you.  If anyone has a photo of this rollerball controller, let me know. 

Coleco Vision had a unique approach to their sell games. Instead of offering similar games as Atari and Intellivision. They developed licenses with other gaming companies, which were not offered by the other gaming systems. For example: Atari's main game was Pac Man, while Coleco's main game was Donkey Kong. Coleco vision then had the idea to license their games so that they could be played on Atari, and intellivision.

Other great games for the coleco vision was that of Zaxxon, Tapper, Mousetrap, Burgertime, and of course the Smurfs. Just to name a few.

To me it's a wonder why coleco vision was discontinued. It seemed they had a very good marketing team on their side. Maybe the great Video game crash of 1983 was the reason for it?">