[
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Intellivision Productions (1997 to 2018)
Intellivision Lives!
Intellivision games became readily available again when Keith Robinson and Stephen Roney, both former Intellivision programmers at Mattel Electronics, obtained exclusive rights to the Intellivision and games in 1997. That year they formed a new company, Intellivision Productions, and made ''Intellivision for PC Volume 1'' available as a free download. Intellivision games could be played on a modern computer for the first time. That download includes three Intellivision games and an MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few ope ...
Intellivision emulator
In computing, an emulator is hardware or software that enables one computer system (called the ''host'') to behave like another computer system (called the ''guest''). An emulator typically enables the host system to run software or use pe ...
that plays original game code. It was followed by ''Volume 2'' and another three games including ''Deep Pockets Super Pro Pool & Billiards''; a game completed in 1990 but never released until this download in 1997. In 2000 the ''Intellipack 3'' download was available with another four Intellivision games and emulators for Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
or Macintosh
The Mac (known as Macintosh until 1999) is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple Inc. Macs are known for their ease of use and minimalist designs, and are popular among students, creative professionals, and ...
.
Intellivision Productions released ''Intellivision Lives!
''Intellivision Lives!'' is a compilation of over 60 Intellivision video games, originally produced by Mattel Electronics and INTV Corporation between 1978 and 1990. Using original game code and software emulation, ''Intellivision Productions' ...
'' and ''Intellivision Rocks
''Intellivision Lives!'' is a compilation of over 60 Intellivision video games, originally produced by Mattel Electronics and INTV Corporation between 1978 and 1990. Using original game code and Emulator, software emulation, ''Intellivision Pr ...
'' on compact disc in 1998 and 2001. These compilation CDs play the original game code through emulators for MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few ope ...
, Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
, and Macintosh
The Mac (known as Macintosh until 1999) is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple Inc. Macs are known for their ease of use and minimalist designs, and are popular among students, creative professionals, and ...
computers. Together they have over 100 Intellivision games including never before released ''King of the Mountain, Takeover, Robot Rubble'', ''League of Light'', and others. Intellivision Rocks includes Intellivision games made by Activision
Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one o ...
and Imagic
Imagic ( ) was an American video game developer and publisher that created games initially for the Atari 2600. Founded in 1981 by corporate alumni of Atari, Inc. and Mattel, its best-selling titles were ''Atlantis'', ''Cosmic Ark'', and ''Demo ...
. Some games could not be included due to licensing, others simply used different titles to avoid trademarked names. The CDs are also a resource for development history, box art, hidden features, programmer biographies, video interviews, and original commercials.[
Also in 1997 Intellivision Productions announced they would sell development tools allowing customers to program their own Intellivision games. They were to provide documentation, PC compatible cross-assemblers, and the ''Magus II'' PC Intellivision cartridge interface. Unfortunately, the project was cancelled but they did provide copies of "Your Friend the EXEC", the programmers guide to the Intellivision Executive control software.] By 2000 Intellivision hobbyists ultimately created their own development tools, including Intellivision memory cartridges.
In 2005 Intellivision Productions announced that new Intellivision cartridges were to be produced. "Deep Pockets and Illusions will be the first two releases in a series of new cartridges for the Intellivision. The printed circuit boards, the cartridge casings, the boxes are all being custom manufactured for this special series."[Newsletter Nov 2005]
intellivisionlives.com ''Illusions'' was completed at Mattel Electronics' French office in 1983 but never released. ''Deep Pockets Super Pro Pool & Billiards'' was programmed for INTV Corporation in 1990 and only released as a ROM file
A ROM image, or ROM file, is a computer file which contains a copy of the data from a read-only memory chip, often from a video game cartridge, or used to contain a computer's firmware, or from an arcade game's main board. The term is freque ...
in 1998. However, no cartridges were produced. Previously, in 2000, Intellivision Productions did release new cartridges for the Atari 2600 and Colecovision. ''Sea Battle'' and ''Swordfight'' were Atari 2600 games created by Mattel Electronics in the early 1980s but not previously released. ''Steamroller'' (Colecovision) was developed for Activision in 1984 and not previously released.
Licensing Intellivision Games
Also in 1999, Activision
Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one o ...
released ''A Collection of Intellivision Classic Games'' for PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
. Also known as ''Intellivision Classics'', it has 30 emulated Intellivision games as well as video interviews of some of the original programmers. All of the games were licensed from Intellivision Productions and none of the Activision or Imagic
Imagic ( ) was an American video game developer and publisher that created games initially for the Atari 2600. Founded in 1981 by corporate alumni of Atari, Inc. and Mattel, its best-selling titles were ''Atlantis'', ''Cosmic Ark'', and ''Demo ...
Intellivision games were included. In 2003, Crave Entertainment released a PlayStation 2 version of Intellivision Lives!
''Intellivision Lives!'' is a compilation of over 60 Intellivision video games, originally produced by Mattel Electronics and INTV Corporation between 1978 and 1990. Using original game code and software emulation, ''Intellivision Productions' ...
and then Xbox and GameCube version in 2004. In 2010, Virtual Play Games released Intellivision Lives! for the Nintendo DS including one never before released game, ''Blow Out''. In 2008 Microsoft made Intellivision Lives! an available download on the Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Games Store (formerly Xbox Live Marketplace) is a digital distribution platform used by Microsoft's Xbox Series X, S, Xbox One and Xbox 360 video game consoles. The service allows users to download or purchase video games (including both ...
as an Xbox Original and playable on the Xbox 360.
In 2003, the Intellivision 25 and Intellivision 15 direct-to-TV systems were released by Techno Source Ltd. These are an all-in-one single controller design that plugs directly into a television. One includes 25 games the other ten. These Intellivision games were not emulated but rewritten for the native processor (NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
-based hardware) and adapted to a contemporary controller. As such they look and play differently than Intellivision. In 2005 they were updated for two-player play as the Intellivision X2 with 15 games. They were commercially very successful altogether selling about 4 million units by end of 2006.[
Several licensed Intellivision games became available to Windows computers through the ]GameTap
GameTap was an online video game service established by Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) in 2005. It provided users with classic arcade video games and game-related video content. The service was acquired by French online video game service Met ...
subscription gaming service in 2005 including ''Astrosmash, Buzz Bombers, Hover Force, Night Stalker, Pinball, Shark! Shark!, Skiing and Snafu''. Installation of the GameTap Player software was required to access the emulator and games. The VH1 Online Arcade made nine Intellivision games available in 2007. Using a Shockwave emulator these Intellivision games could be played directly through a web browser with Shockwave Player. In 2010, VH1 Classic
MTV Classic (formerly VH1 Smooth, VH1 Classic Rock, and VH1 Classic) is an American pay television network owned by Paramount Media Networks. It was originally launched in 1998 as VH1 Smooth, an adult contemporary and smooth jazz channel. It w ...
and MTV Networks
Paramount Media Networks (formerly known as Warner Cable Communications, Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, MTV Networks, Viacom Media Networks, and ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks) is an American mass media division of Paramount Global tha ...
released 6 Intellivision games to iOS
iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also include ...
. Intellivision games were first adapted to mobile phones and published by THQ Wireless in 2001. On March 24, 2010, Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...
launched the Game Room
Game Room was a social gaming service for the Xbox 360 video game system, Microsoft Windows PCs, and Windows Phone 7. Launched on March 24, 2010, Game Room let players download classic video games and compete against each other for high scores. ...
service for Xbox Live
The Xbox network, formerly and still sometimes branded as Xbox Live, is an Internet, online multiplayer video game, multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft. It was first made available to the Xbox ...
and Games for Windows Live
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (suc ...
. This service includes support for Intellivision games and allows players to compete for high scores via online leaderboards. At the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show
CES (; formerly an initialism for Consumer Electronics Show) is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Winchester, Nevada, United States, the event typi ...
, Microsoft announced a version of Game Room for Windows Phone
Windows Phone (WP) is a discontinued family of mobile operating systems developed by Microsoft for smartphones as the replacement successor to Windows Mobile and Zune. Windows Phone featured a new user interface derived from the Metro design la ...
, promising a catalog of 44 Intellivision games. AtGames and its Direct2Drive digital store has Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
compatible Intellivision compilations available for download purchase.
Intellivision Flashback
The number of Intellivision games that can be played effectively with contemporary game controllers is limited. On October 1, 2014, AtGames Digital Media, Inc., under license from Intellivision Productions, Inc., released the Intellivision Flashback classic game console. It is a miniature sized Intellivision console with two original sized Intellivision controllers. While adapters have been available to interface original Intellivision controllers to personal computers, the Intellivision Flashback includes two new Intellivision controllers identical in layout and function to the originals. It comes with 60 (61 at Dollar General) emulated Intellivision games built into ROM
Rom, or ROM may refer to:
Biomechanics and medicine
* Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient
* Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac
* ...
and a sample set of plastic overlays for 10 games. The Advanced Dungeons & Dragons games were included as ''Crown of Kings'' and ''Minotaur''. As with many of the other Intellivision compilations, no games requiring third party licensing were included.
Intellivision Entertainment
In May 2018, Tommy Tallarico
Tommy Tallarico (born Thomas Andrew Tallarico; February 18, 1968) is an American video game music composer, musician, sound designer, television personality, live show creative director and producer. He and his company, Tommy Tallarico Studio ...
announced that he acquired the rights to the Intellivision brand and games with plans to launch a new home video game console. A new company, Intellivision Entertainment, was formed with Tallarico serving as president. Intellivision Productions has been renamed Blue Sky Rangers Inc. and their video game intellectual property has been transferred to Intellivision Entertainment. At the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, in October 2018, the Intellivision Amico
The Intellivision Amico is an upcoming home video game console that is being developed and marketed by Intellivision Entertainment. It was originally slated to be released in October 2020, but repeated delays followed, leaving the console with ...
was officially revealed.
Reviews and game guides
Ken Uston
Ken Uston (January 12, 1935 – September 19, 1987) was an American blackjack player, strategist and author, credited with popularizing the concept of team play at blackjack. During the early to mid-1970s he gained widespread notoriety for perfe ...
published '' Ken Uston's Guide to Buying and Beating the Home Video Games'' in 1982 as a guide to potential buyers of console systems/cartridges, as well as a brief strategy guide to numerous cartridge games then in existence. He described Intellivision as "the most mechanically reliable of the systems… The controller (used during "many hours of experimentation") worked with perfect consistency. The unit never had overheating problems, nor were loose wires or other connections encountered." However, Uston rated the controls and control system as "below average" and the worst of the consoles he tested (including Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocessor- ...
, Magnavox Odyssey²
The Magnavox Odyssey 2 (stylized as Magnavox Odyssey²), also known as Philips Odyssey 2, is a second generation home video game console that was released in 1978. It was sold in Europe as the Philips Videopac G7000, in Brazil and Peru as the P ...
, Astrovision
The ''Bally'' ''Astrocade'' (also known as ''Bally Arcade'' or initially as ''Bally ABA-1000'') is a second-generation home video game console and simple computer system designed by a team at Midway, at that time the videogame division of Bally ...
, and Fairchild Channel F
The Fairchild Channel F, short for "Channel Fun", is a video game console, the first to be based on a microprocessor and to use ROM cartridges instead of having games built-in. It was released by Fairchild Camera and Instrument in November 1976 a ...
).
Jeff Rovin
Jeff Rovin is an American magazine editor, freelance writer, columnist, and author, who has appeared on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list.
Biography
Jeff Rovin has been editor-in-chief of ''Weekly World News'', an assistant editor and w ...
lists ''Intellivision'' as one of the seven major suppliers of videogames in 1982, and mentions it as "the unchallenged king of graphics", however stating that the controllers can be "difficult to operate", the fact that if a controller breaks the entire unit must be shipped off for repairs (since they did not detach at first), and that the overlays "are sometimes so stubborn as to tempt one's patience" .
A 1996 article in '' Next Generation'' said the Intellivision "had greater graphics power than the dominant Atari 2600. It was slower than the 2600 and had less software available, but it was known for its superior sports titles." A year later, ''Electronic Gaming Monthly
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (often abbreviated to ''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews.
History
The m ...
'' assessed the Intellivision in an overview of older gaming consoles, remarking that the controllers "were as comfortable as they were practical. The unique disk-shaped directional pad provided unprecedented control for the time, and the numeric keypad opened up new options previously unavailable in console gaming." They praised the breadth of the software library but said there was a lack of genuinely stand-out games.[
]
Innovations
*Intellivision can be considered the first 16-bit
16-bit microcomputers are microcomputers that use 16-bit microprocessors.
A 16-bit register can store 216 different values. The range of integer values that can be stored in 16 bits depends on the integer representation used. With the two mos ...
game console, as it has a 16-bit microprocessor
A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of integrated circuits. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circu ...
.
*The first home console and one of the first video games to use a tile-based playfield. It allowed for the display of detailed graphics and colour with very little RAM
Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to:
Animals
* A male sheep
* Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish
People
* Ram (given name)
* Ram (surname)
* Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director
* RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch
* ...
.
*The Intellivision was also the first system to feature downloadable games with PlayCable
PlayCable was an online service introduced in 1980 that allowed local cable television system operators to send games for the Intellivision over cable wires alongside normal television signals. Through the service, subscribers would use a device, ...
in 1981.
*Intellivision was the first game console to provide real-time human voices in the middle of gameplay, courtesy of the Intellivoice module.
*The first game controller with a directional thumb pad.
*The Intellivision was also the first game console or home computer to offer a musical synthesizer keyboard.
*Intellivision was also the first console to have a complete built-in character font. While Odyssey² had a limited character font (uppercase alphabet, numerals, and some other characters), Intellivision's system font had complete upper- and lowercase alphabets, numerals, and almost all of the punctuation and symbols found on standard computer keyboards.
*''Utopia
A utopia ( ) typically describes an imaginary community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its members. It was coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book ''Utopia (book), Utopia'', describing a fictional ...
'' (1982) is credited as the game that spawned the construction and management simulation
Construction and management simulation (CMS),
sometimes also called management sim or building sim, is a subgenre of simulation game in which players build, expand or manage fictional communities or projects with limited resources. Strategy vide ...
genre.
*'' World Series Major League Baseball'' (1983) is considered to be the first sports simulation video game with a number of innovations: multiple views of a 3D calculated virtual play-field, statistical based game-play using real historical baseball player statistics, manager player substitutions, play-by-play speech, and save games or lineups to tape storage.
Technical specifications
Master Component
''Intellivision, Super Video Arcade, Tandyvision One, Intellivision II, INTV System III, Super Pro System''
* General Instrument CP1610 16-bit microprocessor CPU
**1 microsecond cycle time, 2 MHz 2-phase clock (1.117 µs and 1.7897725 MHz NTSC)
**16-bit multiplexed data/address bus
*1456 byte
The byte is a unit of digital information that most commonly consists of eight bits. Historically, the byte was the number of bits used to encode a single character of text in a computer and for this reason it is the smallest addressable unit ...
s of RAM
Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to:
Animals
* A male sheep
* Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish
People
* Ram (given name)
* Ram (surname)
* Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director
* RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch
* ...
(SRAM):
**240 × 8-bit scratchpad memory
**352 × 16-bit (704 bytes) system memory, General Instrument RA-3-9600 dual ported, bridges CPU and STIC buses, 240 words used for graphics
**512 × 8-bit graphics RAM
*7168 bytes of ROM
Rom, or ROM may refer to:
Biomechanics and medicine
* Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient
* Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac
* ...
:
**4096 × 10-bit (5120 bytes) executive ROM (4352 x 10-bit Intellivision II)
**2048 × 8-bit graphics ROM (344 bytes used by Exec program)
* Standard Television Interface Chip (STIC): General Instrument AY-3-8900/AY-3-8900-1
**operates at 4 MHz or 3.579545 MHz (NTSC)
**14-bit multiplexed data/address bus shared with CPU
**20x12 tiled playfield, tiles are 8x8 pixel
In digital imaging, a pixel (abbreviated px), pel, or picture element is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, or the smallest point in an all points addressable display device.
In most digital display devices, pixels are the smal ...
s for a resolution of 159x96 (right pixel not displayed)
***16 color palette, two colors per tile
***''Foreground/Background'' mode; all 16 colors available for background and colors 1–8 available for foreground per tile; grom cards limited to the first 64
***''Color Stack'' mode; all 16 colors available for foreground per tile; background colour from a four colour rotating stack of any four colors, all 277 grom and gram cards available
***''Colored Squares'' mode allows each tile to have four different colored 4x4 blocks as in ''Snafu
SNAFU is an acronym that is widely used to stand for the sarcastic expression Situation normal: all fucked up. It is a well-known example of military acronym slang. It is sometimes bowdlerized to "all fouled up" or similar. It means that the ...
''); first seven colors available for foreground blocks; background colour from the color stack
**8 sprites (all visible on the same scanline). Hardware supports the following features per-sprite:
***coordinate addressable off screen for smooth edge entries and exits
***Size selection: 8x16 or 8 pixels wide by 8 half-pixels high
***Stretching: horizontal (1× or 2×) and vertical (1×, 2×, 4× or 8×)
***Mirroring: horizontal and vertical
***Collision detection: sprite to sprite, sprite to background, and sprite to screen border
***Priority: selects whether sprite appears in front of or behind background.
** fine horizontal and vertical pixel scrolling
** all STIC attributes and GRAM re-programmable at VBLANK, 60 times a second
*Three-channel sound, with one noise generator, audio chip: General Instrument AY-3-8914 ( AY-3-8914A/AY-3-8916 Intellivision II)
*Connections:
**44-pin cartridge/expansion port
***64K addressable (approx 50K available), more with memory bank switching
Bank switching is a technique used in computer design to increase the amount of usable memory beyond the amount directly addressable by the processor instructions. It can be used to configure a system differently at different times; for example ...
***typical cartridges: 4K, 6K, 8K, 12K, 16K, 24K (10-bit ROMs)
**2 x 9-pin controller connectors
***''inline pin connectors internally accessible on original Intellivision and INTV systems''
***''DE-9 connectors externally accessible on Super Video Arcade and Intellivision II''
**RF/RCA audio/video connector; RGB/scart/péritel in France
**Intellivision II only: external power adapter 16.7Vac 1amp or 16.2Vac 955mA
Game controller
The Intellivision controller features:
*12-button numeric keypad
A numeric keypad, number pad, numpad, or ten key,
is the palm-sized, usually-17-key section of a standard computer keyboard, usually on the far right. It provides calculator-style efficiency for entering numbers. The idea of a 10-key nu ...
(0–9, ''clear'', and ''enter'')
*Four side-located action buttons (two for left handed players, two for right handed players)
**''top two side buttons are electronically the same, giving three distinct buttons''
*A directional pad, capable of detecting 16 directions of movement
*Plastic overlays that slide into place as an extra layer on the keypad to show game-specific key functions
The directional pad was called a "control disc" and marketed as having the "functionality of both a joystick
A joystick, sometimes called a flight stick, is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. A joystick, also known as the control column, is the principal cont ...
and a paddle
A paddle is a handheld tool with an elongated handle and a flat, widened distal end (i.e. the ''blade''), used as a lever to apply force onto the bladed end. It most commonly describes a completely handheld tool used to propel a human-powered w ...
". The controller was ranked the fourth worst video game controller by IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
editor Craig Harris.
Peripherals
* Keyboard Component ''(limited availability)''
**6502
The MOS Technology 6502 (typically pronounced "sixty-five-oh-two" or "six-five-oh-two") William Mensch and the moderator both pronounce the 6502 microprocessor as ''"sixty-five-oh-two"''. is an 8-bit microprocessor that was designed by a small te ...
CPU, 16K x 10-bit SRAM, 40x24 text overlay, tape-drive, microphone input, two expansion ports
*PlayCable
PlayCable was an online service introduced in 1980 that allowed local cable television system operators to send games for the Intellivision over cable wires alongside normal television signals. Through the service, subscribers would use a device, ...
''(availability through cable TV provider 1981–1983)''
**''Mattel
Mattel, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in January 1945 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. The company has presence in 35 countries and territories and sells products in more ...
and General Instrument
General Instrument (GI) was an American electronics manufacturer based in Horsham, Pennsylvania, specializing in semiconductors and cable television equipment. They formed in New York City in 1923 as an electronics manufacturer. During the 1950s, ...
joint venture, manufactured by GI/Jerrold''
**8K x 10bit RAM
*Intellivoice
The Intellivoice Voice Synthesis Module, commonly abbreviated as Intellivoice, is an adapter for the Intellivision, Mattel's home video game console, that utilizes a voice synthesizer to generate audible speech. The Intellivoice is a large, brow ...
Voice Synthesis Module
** General Instrument SP0256-012
* Computer Module ''(includes the following)''
**Computer Adapter
***2K x 8-bit SRAM, 12K ECS Exec/BASIC ROM, memory expansion port (discontinued)
*** AY-3-8917 sound generator
***two DE-9 hand controller connectors
***audio tape recorder data storage interface, two 3.5mm mono jacks and one 2.5mm jack for optional tape control
***auxiliary jack for a serial printer connection (Mattel Aquarius
Aquarius is a home computer designed by Radofin and released by Mattel Electronics in 1983. Based on the Zilog Z80 microprocessor, the system has a rubber chiclet keyboard, 4K of RAM, and a subset of Microsoft BASIC in ROM. It connects to a te ...
compatible), 3.5mm stereo jack that is RS-232C compatible, where tip is data transmit, ring is DSR/DCD, sleeve is ground, 1200 baud, 8 data bits, 2 stop bits, and no parity
***external power adapter 10Vac 1amp
**Computer Keyboard
*Music Synthesizer
Algorithmic composition is the technique of using algorithms to create music.
Algorithms (or, at the very least, formal sets of rules) have been used to compose music for centuries; the procedures used to plot voice-leading in Western counterpo ...
''(requires Computer Adapter)''
**49 key piano keyboard
* System Changer
**Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocessor- ...
compatible cartridge slot
**two DE-9 Atari 2600 compatible controller connectors
*Videoplexer (from Compro Electronics)
**cartridge switching accessory with eight cartridge slots
See also
*Entertainment Computer System
The Entertainment Computer System (ECS) was an add-on peripheral for the Intellivision. It was Mattel Electronics' second attempt at creating a peripheral to upgrade the Intellivision into a home computer, and was rushed into production to appease ...
*''Intellivision Lives!
''Intellivision Lives!'' is a compilation of over 60 Intellivision video games, originally produced by Mattel Electronics and INTV Corporation between 1978 and 1990. Using original game code and software emulation, ''Intellivision Productions' ...
''
*Intellivoice
The Intellivoice Voice Synthesis Module, commonly abbreviated as Intellivoice, is an adapter for the Intellivision, Mattel's home video game console, that utilizes a voice synthesizer to generate audible speech. The Intellivoice is a large, brow ...
*List of Intellivision games
This is a list of cartridges and cassettes for the Intellivision game system. Some cartridges were published by both Mattel Electronics and Sears Tele-Games, and later Intellivision Inc. Between 1979 and 1989, a total of 132 titles were release ...
*PlayCable
PlayCable was an online service introduced in 1980 that allowed local cable television system operators to send games for the Intellivision over cable wires alongside normal television signals. Through the service, subscribers would use a device, ...
*TV POWWW
''TV Powww'' (often stylized as ''TV POWWW'') was a franchised television game show format, in which home viewers controlled a video game via telephone in hopes of winning prizes.
History
The ''TV Powww'' format, produced and distributed by Flor ...
(interactive TV game show that used Intellivision)
References
External links
Intellivision retrogaming company homepage
run by Keith Robinson and The Blue Sky Rangers (the Intellivision game programmers)
The history of the Intellivision
, at The Dot Eaters
entry
TheGameConsole.com
entry
Old-Computers.com
entry
entry & images
Science Museum Group
entry
Games Database.org
entry.
Console Passion UK
entry & games catalog
Gamasutra – A History of Gaming Platforms: Mattel Intellivision
by Bill Loguidice and Matt Barton
Backup copy
1980 ad of Atari 2600 & Intellivision comparison
at MSN
MSN (meaning Microsoft Network) is a web portal and related collection of Internet services and apps for Windows and mobile devices, provided by Microsoft and launched on August 24, 1995, alongside the release of Windows 95.
The Microsoft Net ...
{{Home video game consoles
Home video game consoles
Second-generation video game consoles
Computer-related introductions in 1979
Mattel consoles
1980s toys