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Intellivision FAQ Preview

The Classic FAQ

v0.79

Compiled, arranged, and produced by Intv Prime, Artifact Productions Division

https://www.intvprime.com/intellivision-faq/

1.0 History

Commentary

At the end of 1979, Electronics (a division of Mattel Toys) released a video system known as Intellivision along with 12 cartridges. Poised as a competitor to the then king of the hill 2600, Mattel Electronics called their new product "Intelligent " , stemming largely from their marketing plans to release a compatible computer keyboard for their video console. Mattel's marketing was anything but intelligent and almost destroyed the company by 1984. In one sense the system was very successful, with approx 4 million units (maybe 5 including variant consoles) sold and 125 games released before the system was discontinued by INTV Corp. in 1990. The original Master Component was test marketed in Fresno, California in late 1979. The response was excellent, and Mattel went national with their new game system in late 1980. The first year's production run of 200,000 units was Intellivision FAQ Preview completely sold out! To help enhance it's marketability. Mattel also marketed the system in Sears stores as the Super Video Arcade, and at Radio Shack as the Tandyvision One in the early 1980's. 1980 was a turbulent year for the Intellivision. Mattel announced that an "inexpensive" keyboard expansion would be available in 1981 for the master component to be dropped into. This was to turn the system into a powerful 64K that could do everything from play games to balance your checkbook. There was a great deal of marketing money and press coverage devoted to this unit; a third of the box for the GTE/Sylvania Intellivision describes the features of this proposed expansion. Many people bought an Intellivision with plans to turn it into a computer when the expansion module was released. Months, then years passed and the original expansion keyboard was released only in a few test areas in late 1981. With the price too high and the initial reaction poor, the product was scrapped in 1982 before being released nationwide. 1982 saw many changes in both the and the Intellivision product line. A voice-synthesis module called made sound and speech and integral part of gameplay, through the use of special voice-enhanced cartridges. The Intellivision II was also released this year, which one company spokesperson described as "smaller and lighter that the original, yet with the same powerful 16-bit ". The new console was more compact than the first, and its grayish body made it look more like a sophisticated electronic device than the original design. 1983 brought more promises from the folks at Mattel, the most significant of which being the Intellivision III. This was shown off at the January 1983 CES show, and lauded in the video game mags for many months afterwards. In June of 1983 at the Summer CES show, Mattel announced it was killing the Intellivision III and including most of its high- profile features into their long-awaited computer expansion, the Entertainment Computer System. Probably the most ambitious effort the Intellivision team had undertaken, the Entertainment Computer System was comprised of a computer keyboard add-on, a 49-key music synthesizer, ram expansion for the keyboard add-on to expand it to a full 64K RAM and 24K ROM, a data recorder to store programs, a 40-column thermal printer, and an adapter which would allow you to play games on your Intellivision. The RAM expansion modules, data recorder, and thermal printer never made it past the drawing board, and the music synthesizer had but one software title to take advantage of its capabilities. While the 2600 adapter greatly expanded the library of available games, much of the steam this generated had already been stolen by 's own expansion module. 1984 would spell the end of the original Intellivision as the world knew it. Terry E. Valeski, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Mattel Electronics, along with a group of investors, purchased the assets, trademarks, patents, and right to the Intellivision in January of 1984 for $16.5 million dollars. The purchase was backed by financing from Tangible Industries, a division of Revco Drug Stores. The newly formed company was originally called Intellivision, Inc., and later renamed INTV, Inc., after Valeski negotiated all rights from Revco in November of 1984. During the next two years, the new company would lie dormant while plans were being made for a re-emergence. In the fall of 1985, the INTV System III (also called the Super Pro System) appeared at Toys 'R Us, Kiddie City, and in a mail order catalog sent to owners of the original Intellivision direct from INTV. The new console was of the same general design as the original master component, except it sported a fresh black plastic shell with brushed aluminum trim. Several new games accompanied the release of the new system, and 1985 would register over $6 million dollars in sales worldwide, indicating that INTV Corp. had indeed revived the Intellivision. INTV continued to market games and repair services through the mail with great success. Between 1985 and 1990 over 35 new games were released, bringing the Intellivision's game library to a total of 125 titles. Many more changes were to come during the final six years of Intellivision's useful life. In 1987, an improved master component called the INTV System IV was shown at the January CES, which sported detachable controllers and a timing device. Unfortunately, this never saw the light either. In the fall of 1988, INTV re-introduced the computer keyboard adapter through their mail order catalog on a limited quantity basis. In 1990, INTV discontinued retail sales Intellivision FAQ Preview of their games and equipment and sold them only through the mail channels. The change in marketing was due to agreements with and to become a software vendor for the NES, and Genesis. In 1991, INTV sold out its stock of Intellivision games and consoles, and the company, along with the Intellivision, gradually faded into black.

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com https://web.archive.org/web/20210529130014/thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=console%2Fintellivision

1.0 How many Intellivisions were sold?

Fact Value Note Quantity of consoles sold 3,000,000 approximate Quantity of cartridges sold 5,000,000 approximate Sales in $USD (1979-1984) 100 approximate

Alternate Questions How many consoles were sold? Sales figures? How many cartridges?

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com

1.1 When was the Intellivision designed? With hardware designed by Dave Chandler "Papa Intellivision" and intial software designed by Glenn Hightower. Officially announced on December 3,1979, the console, along with Poker & , Math Fun, and Backgammon were successfuly test marketed in 1979 in Fresno, California. 1980 was the major worldwide release in , New York City, and Chicago (retailers had to train for 18 hours over 3 days to understand the system).

Alternate Questions Who designed the Intellivision? What was the initial release?

Source Links

http://web.archive.org/web/20210529130014/thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=console%2Fintellivision https://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/References-Unsorted/De-Re-Intellivision-pt1.txt https://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/References-Unsorted/De-Re-Intellivision-pt2.txt

1.2 What is the classic Intellivision timeline? Intellivision FAQ Preview

1979 - Intellivision is test marketed 1980 - Mattel Intellivision released nationally, Computer Expansion announced 1982 - Computer Expansion Module scrapped due to high cost and poor response 1982 - Intellivoice released 1983 - Intellivision II released 1983 - Entertainment Computer System released many peripherals announced 1983 - 2600 System Changer released 1983 - Intellivision III announced 1983 - The videogame market begins to crash 1983 - Intellivision III dropped 1984 - The videogame market bottoms out 1984 - Mattel sells the Intellivision rights to VP Marketing T.E. Valeski and investors, forming INTV Corp. 1985 - INTV III released, along with new Intellivision titles. Aggressive marketing adds $6 million sales 1987 - INTV IV announced, to be scrapped later 1990 - INTV Corp. discontinues retail sales, markets through mail only 1991 - INTV Corp. sells off its remaining Intellivision stock

Alternate Questions What is the short time history?

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com

1.3 What is INTV Corp? In 1984, the vice president of marketing for Mattel Electronics bought the rights to the Intellivision and formed a company called INTV Corp. The company released a console physically identical to the 2609 console on the outside, with remaining 2609 electronics and in some rare cases, disabled Tutorvision electronics. The company also released games leftover from Mattel.

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com

1.4 What is Intellivision Productions? Keith Robinson developed Solar Sailer game and was an integral game manager at Mattel Electronics in the early 1990's. After INTV Corp shut its doors in 1991, Robinson bought the rights in 1995 and pushed a branding blitz with the Blue Sky Rangers digital shrine website, and backed Intellivision emulation on modern systems to bring blocky-fast game fun to newer generations of gamers. Intellivision FAQ Preview Alternate Questions Did Keith Robinson own Intellivision?

Media Links

https://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/Publishers%20and%20People/Mattel/Keith-Robinson-with- Games.jpg

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com https://retronauts.com/article/398/developer-historian-and-all-around-blue-sky-ranger-keith-robinson-has-died-at-61

1.5 What is Blue Sky Rangers Inc? Intellivision Productions, Inc has been renamed to Blue Sky Rangers, Inc, and our store and other information is being moved to BlueSkyRangers.com. Former coding BSR Steve Roney is now the president of the operation, releasing old stock from the former Intellivision Productions vaults, and releasing new IP for the classic console as it becomes available.

Source Links

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/285395-intellivision-productions-blue-sky-rangers-and-intellivision-entertainment/

1.6 What is Digiplay? During the , the Brazilian government required outside-developed technology to be re-developed within the country for soverignty reasons. Details of the deal made with US-based Mattel are not known, but Digiplay was the entity responsible for localization of hardware labels and references, game text, boxes, overlays, and .

Source Links

https://www.intvfunhouse.com/digiplay/

1.7 What is the Atari VCS 2600? The VCS, later called the 2600, was a simple home video game created by Atari in the mid 1970's. It retailed for USD $199 (equivalent to $849.88 in 2020) and became the dominant home system in the second era of home video games. The low graphic resolution, simple control and play, and lack of sophistication made it the perfect foil for Mattel to leapfrong with the Intellivision console 2 years later.

Media Links

https://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/Hardware%20Components/zOthers/Atari-VCS-2600-Heavy- Sixer.jpg

Source Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600 https://web.archive.org/web/20210529122614/www.goretro.com/2013/02/video-game-console-smackdown-atari-2600.html Intellivision FAQ Preview https://web.archive.org/web/20210529124307/www.techspot.com/article/2210-intellivision/

1.8 Is the Colecovision better than Intellivision? Colecovision graphics were bitmapped vs Intellivision character-based, but the Intellivision could have all of its sprites on the same set of scanlines without flicker. Total colors were comparable, and audio PSG were the same. Coleco copied the Intellivision controller style. Colecovision game library was focused on arcade ports, which gave it huge sales, but the lack of original games makes it now less-fun to emulate, as modern systems can emulate the real ; Intellivision originals get a lot more play time in the 21st Century.

Intellivision Colecovision General Instruments CP1600 @ 894.886KHz Zilog Z-80 @ 2MHz 1kb RAM 1kb RAM

Source Links

https://www.ign.com/lists/top-25-consoles/12 https://web.archive.org/web/20210529133806/www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?34472-2nd-generation-console- discussion%28Intellivision-Colecovision-2600-Odyssey-2%29

1.9 What is M-Network? Atari VCS games made by the original Intellivision game programmers at APh. The games were introduced in 1982 under the tradename "" (M for Mattel). All of the games were Atari 2600 versions of already released Intellivision cartridges. In recognition, though, of the concern that the simpler Atari versions might reflect badly on the Intellivision originals, the names of the games were changed.

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com/mnetwork/

1.9 When did M-Network close? Mattel closed its software division in January 1984, leaving a number of , in various stages of development, unreleased.

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com/mnetwork/

1.9 What games were released for M-Network? Astroblast Dark Cavern Frogs and Flies Intellivision FAQ Preview International Soccer Lock 'N' Chase Space Attack Super Challenge Baseball Super Challenge Football TRON Deadly Discs Adventures of TRON Air Raiders Bump 'N' Jump BurgerTime Kool-Aid Man : The Power of He-Man Anteater (UNRELEASED) Rocky and Bullwinkle (UNRELEASED) Sea Battle (UNRELEASED) Sharp Shot (UNRELEASED) Swordfight (UNRELEASED) Loco-Motion (UNRELEASED) ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS TREASURE OF TARMIN Cartridge (UNRELEASED) Monkey Business (UNFINISHED) In Search of the Golden Skull (UNFINISHED) ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS TOWER OF MYSTERY Cartridge (UNFINISHED) Computer Corridor (UNFINISHED)

Alternate Questions Which games were made for Atari 2600 VCS?

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com/mnetwork/

1.10 What was Intellivision, Inc.? Terry Valeski, former Mattel Electronics marketing executive, and a group of investors bought all the remaining stock and the rights to all the Intellivision product line. Known as Intellivision Incorporated, they began to sell off the remaining stock of Intellivision games, and to sell games which had been ready for release right before Mattel Electronics demise. Intellivision FAQ Preview By the end of November 1984, Valeski bought out the other investors and changed the name of the Corporation to INTV Corporation. Thus began a new chapter in the life of the original Master Component. INTV re-released the original Master Component with some minor cosmetic changes. Dubbed the Intellivision System III, and later INTV Super Pro System, the Intellivision continued to be manufactured and sold through mail order, and stores such as Toys R Us. Despite having a different model number, the "Super Pro System" from INTV returned the Intellivision product line to its roots, selling a black and silver, original style Master Component.

Source Links

https://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/References-Unsorted/De-Re-Intellivision-pt1.txt

7.0 Events

Commentary Activities and actions that happened in the Intellivision universe, over time. 7.1 Promotional and Fun Events 7.2 Private Parties 7.3 Legal Events

7.1 What is the Shootoff? The Astrosmash Shootoff was first held in 1982 with a $25,000 cash prize won by Manuel Rodriguez of Stockton, California (score 935,180). 73 entrants were flown to Houston, Texas for an all-expense-paid weekend to play for a high score within one hour.

Media Links

https://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/Marketing/Astrosmash%20Competitor%20Patch.jpg https://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/Marketing/Astrosmash%20Shootoff%2001.jpg https://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/Marketing/Astrosmash%20Shootoff%2002.jpg

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com/mattelelectronics/games/astrosmash.html

7.1 What were the scores for the Astrosmash Shootoff? Mattel Electronics All Stars West Team

Name Score Manuel Rodriguez 851,505 Michael Miller 769,715 Martin Huard 752,940 Intellivision FAQ Preview Name Score Byron Nelson 750,830

Randy White 735,760 James West 730,390 Chad Junge 723,585 Andrew Staines 714,730 Ernie Fisher 707,525 Torn Lodgard 703,640 Mike Todd 692,280 Mike Siegler 666,195 G. Strada 646,585 Larry Sease 646,265 Derek Drew 641,605 Charlie Spears 636,705 John Roberts 632,320 Steve Little 624,490 D. J. Stamm 611,970 Richard Yamagata 611,320 Brad Brown 604,855 Larry Arnold 593,320 Peggy Hampton 514,250 T. R. Morgan 512,485 Stephen Glowacz 511,730 Phillip Culver 481,305 Janice Haycraft 464,980 Stephen Rochter 457,720 Rodney Zalewski 448,010 Robert McDonald 441,040

7.1 What were the Game Challenge Tournaments? Late in 1981, Mattel held a series of local tournaments in Washington, DC, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, benefitting Variety Clubs International. Contestants competed for prizes (Grand Prize: an RCA Intellivision FAQ Preview projection TV) playing Major League Baseball, Auto Racing, and U.S. Ski Team Skiing. The publicity was so good, that Marketing took the idea national in 1982 with the $100,000 Astrosmash Shootoff.

Source Links

https://history.blueskyrangers.com/mattelelectronics/games/astrosmash.html

7.1 What was the IntyBASIC Programming Contest in 2015? The contest was open to all IntyBASIC programmersm sponsored by GroovyBee, nonner242, nanochess, CollectorVision and Albert of Atari Age from 2015-July-01 to 2016-Jan-01. 12 contestants competed to create a ROM that was evaluated for game play, graphics, sound, and originality. Entrants, in order of award: Whale Hunt, by Emerson Space Versus, by Mmarrero Mermaid, my Tuatua21 Goatnom, by Freewheel Classic Battleship, by CrazyBoss Stut Cycles, by Fsuinnc Alligator Swamp, by Carlsson Zyx, by Atari2600land Slalom!, by Carlsson CB-Tictactoe, by CrazyBoss Tramps,by Catsfolly Bowl Bust, by BuzZLeR Intellibullet, by Shalmezad

Source Links

http://atariage.com/forums/forum/159-intybasic-programming-contest-2015/

7.2 Was Basketball ever played for a private tournament? In 1989, A man named Bart Elliot combed every phone book until he found the number of Steve Ettinger, and asked him for a special modification to the game, so he could host a private party with the names of players and modified stats as Bart's friends names and changes for the league name and stats and etc. The version was created for an agreement of few thousand dollars, including art from Connie Goldman. The single cartridge was mailed to Bart, who never paid for the work. The source code for this conversion is currently unavailable.

Alternate Questions Is there a special party version of Slam Dunk Basketball? Intellivision FAQ Preview Source Links

http://intellivisionaries.com/episode-18-basketballs/time=03:58:13

7.3 Was Mattel Sued by ? In 1978 Magnavox introduced the Odyssey 2 which had a microprocessor which traced its roots to the ...507 patent filed by Sanders Associates granted in 1967/68. In 1979 Mattel introduced the Intellivision with a General Instruments microprocessor. Magnavox had previously successfully sued Atari (over Atari's console)for patent violation. Atari settled by becoming a Magnavox exclusive licensee. With that confidently behind them, Magnavox sued Mattel for patent violation over Mattel's introduction of the Intellivision. Mattel's defence was that its console was not based on '507 but on the computer prior art, Space War!, the 1962 game played on a DEC PDP-1 mainframe at MIT. The court found for Magnavox ...it is clear from the evidence that Mattel did not in fact follow the prior art but, instead, followed developments in the television game industry, an industry which was created because of the work done at Sanders in developing the first television games and an industry which expanded and developed and become economically viable largely because of television games which followed the teachings of the '507 Patent.

Alternate Questions Was Mattel in a lawsuit? Was Mattel a Defendant? Who sued Mattel?

Source Links

https://videogamelaw.allard.ubc.ca/2014/08/01/the-evolution-of-gaming-magnavox-v-mattel/ https://web.archive.org/web/20210529130444/patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/33/ca/29/8a30a03aa0b9f6/USRE28507.pdf

9.0 Modern Resources

Commentary 21st Century tools and media for developing and enjoying classic Intellivision games. 9.1 TrueType Fonts

9.1 What TrueType Fonts are available to use in modern operating system platforms and hosts? The most popular is "SF Intellivised", others exist and will be linked-to here as the FAQ maintainers have more time.

Media Links

http://media0101.intvprime.com/ba4ef/intellivision-echo/Software/Fonts/SF%20Intellivised.ttf

Intellivision is a trademark of © Intellivision Entertainment, Inc. Intellivision, Blue SKy Rangers Inc, the Intellivision logotype and the Running Man logo are registered trademarks ® of Intellivision Intellivision FAQ Preview Entertainment, Inc. Other trademarks are the properties of the trademark owners. Use of these trademarks is for historical and contextual purposes only and do not imply any endorsement or connection with IE or its games.

Contributors

The following people directly, or indirectly, contributed to this corpus of knowledge. Dave Warhol Intv Prime John Festinger Larry Anderson Steve Ettinger Steve Roney Steven A. Orth William Moeller