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Intellivision

Intellivision by Mattel Electronics

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The home video system comes of age.  Never before has a home video system offered such vividly exciting and challenging game action.

Realistic graphics.  The Intellivision game characters actually have arms, legs, heads and hands.  They run out on the field when you press Reset.  They pass, catch, jump, and dribble.

Realistic action.  The players are in proportion to the size of the field, and the field often scrolls from one end to another.  So you always have a close-up view of the action.

Challenging games.  Conventional video games often have limited strategic options.  But the powerful built in Intellivision computer offers far more video game variety.  The NFL Football cartridge, for example features more than 180 different plays for passing, running, tackling, and intercepting.

A lot more fun.  Intellivision has video games for everyone.  Choose from major league sports excitement.  Las Vegas-style gaming, rousing battle action, adventures in outer space, children's learning programs and classic strategy games.

And a whole lot more.  Each Intellivision game program comes with custom overlays for your game controls.  So you spend more time enjoying the game and less time figuring it out.  Intellivision is as eas to connect as a "Rabbit Ears" TV antenna.  Just attach the switch box to your TV antenna connection, plug in a couple of wires, and enjoy.  Then when you feel like watching regular TV programming, just flick the switch.

Quality and value.  A lot more than conventional video game systems.  Better graphics. Better sound effects.  More realistic video game action.  And a beautifully engineered product that will provide you years of fun games and family entertainment.

The Intellivision was a personal favorite of mine. Utopia was the first real strategy that I ever played.  I wish I still had it.  This machine sported two built-in controllers that 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.  The Intellivision not only had plenty of action titles, but simple role-playing games (like the DD games?), casino games, and many more.  Even though there were a good amount of games for the Intellivision, there wasn't anything that really stood out.  The Intellivision became popular enough to where a second, equally powerful version had to be released.  The Intellivision 2 was more compact, had longer controller cords and looked much more sophisticated and modern.  The Intellivision had also had the Intellivoice module.  Any Intellivision game would plug into this gadget, which in turn, would plug into the main cartridge slot of the system.  Any Intellivoice-compatible game would then give you speech in the game!!  It was an important innovation back then, as game systems did not have the capability to talk.  This added a new dimension in gaming, as the computer could tell you some of the things that were going on in the game.  
Intellivision Games
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It's obvious how much realistic Intellivision graphics are.  But take a closer look.  Notice the Intellivision players.  They've got arms and legs like real players.  look at the field.  It actually looks more like a real baseball field.  If you compare the two games.  I think you'll find that Intellivision looks a lit more like the real thing.


More about action
You can see how much more realistic Intellivision looks.  What we can't show you here is how much more realistically it moves.  If you could compare the two, I think you'd see that Intellivision has smoother and more life-like movement than Atari.

More about control
If you've ever played a video game, you know how important control is.  And if you held these two control units in your hand, you'd know Intellivision gives you more.  The Atari hand controller offers only 8 positions and one button.  The Intellivision hand controller has 16 positions and 4 buttons.  So Intellivision allows you to maneuver players and objects in more directions with greater precision and accuracy.  And the Intellivision controller is compatible with the entire library.  With Atari, some games require the purchase of additional control units.


More about challenge
You can't see it here, but I have found that in many of the Atari programs, the game play is rather simplistic.  With Intellivision, the game play is more sophisticated. And that makes Intellivision more challenging.  Wth INtellivision PGA Golf for instance, you get nine different clubs to choose from.  With Atari Golf, you have to make do with just one club.  Greater attention to detail is a quality I have found in all of the Intellivision games.  Making them more realistic and more challenging.

More about libraries
Both Intellivision and Atari have large libraries.  But there really isn't any way you can tell which library is better, until you play with both.  Once you compare the two systems for challenge, sophistication and continued interest.  I'm confident you'll choose Intellivision.  Buy don't just take our word for it.  Visit your local dealer and decide for yourself.



 

Intellivision Review - The Underdog That Pushed Console Gaming Forward


Introduction


Released in 1979 by Mattel Electronics, the Intellivision (short for "Intelligent Television") was one of the first serious challengers to the Atari 2600. With better graphics, a unique controller, and a focus on strategy and sports games, the Intellivision carved out a loyal fanbase and became a key player in the early days of home gaming. Despite facing fierce competition and the video game crash of 1983, it remains a beloved console among retro gaming enthusiasts.

Hardware & Design


The Intellivision's design was sleek and futuristic for the time, featuring a woodgrain finish similar to home electronics of the late '70s. Its biggest innovation was its controller, which included:

  • A 12-button numeric keypad, allowing for more complex inputs.
  • A unique disc-shaped directional pad, offering 16 directions of movement-a major leap over Atari's joystick.
  • Overlays for each game, which slid over the keypad to provide labeled buttons for specific functions.

While the controller was forward-thinking, it wasn't the most comfortable to use, and the disc pad could be imprecise.

The console itself had superior hardware compared to the Atari 2600, featuring better sound and sharper graphics, though it lacked the arcade-style simplicity that made Atari's system so accessible.

Game Library


The Intellivision game library focused on more strategic, sports, and simulation-based experiences compared to Atari's arcade-style action games. Some of its standout titles include:

Major League Baseball - One of the best early sports games, offering more depth than Atari's simplistic baseball titles.
Utopia - Considered one of the first city-building and strategy games, an early influence on games like SimCity.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Cloudy Mountain - A surprisingly deep RPG with exploration and combat mechanics.
Burgertime - A fantastic home port of the arcade classic.
Tron: Deadly Discs - A fast-paced action game based on the Disney film.

However, the Intellivision lacked strong arcade ports, something that helped Atari maintain dominance in the early '80s. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders were Atari's biggest draws, while Intellivision lacked those high-profile arcade hits.

Performance & Features


One of the Intellivision's biggest strengths was its technical superiority over the Atari 2600. It featured:

✅ More detailed and colorful graphics than Atari's blocky visuals.
✅ Better sound effects and music, thanks to an advanced sound chip.
✅ More sophisticated AI, allowing for deeper gameplay experiences.

Additionally, Mattel attempted to expand the console's capabilities with add-ons like:

  • The Intellivoice Module, which added speech to certain games.
  • The planned Keyboard Component, which was supposed to turn the Intellivision into a full-fledged computer (but was ultimately scrapped due to cost).

Despite these innovations, the Intellivision was harder to program for than the Atari 2600, leading to fewer third-party developers supporting the system.

Market Performance & Competition


The Atari 2600 was the dominant force in the early '80s, but Intellivision carved out a respectable niche, selling over 3 million units. Its marketing campaign, featuring actor George Plimpton, focused on how much better its graphics were compared to Atari, creating the first real console war in gaming history.

Unfortunately, the video game crash of 1983 and the rise of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985 ended the Intellivision's run. The brand changed hands multiple times, and while attempts were made to revive it (such as the Intellivision Amico project), it remains a cult favorite rather than a mainstream success.

Final Verdict


The Intellivision was a bold, innovative console that pushed gaming forward with better graphics, deeper gameplay, and unique controls. While it never reached the heights of the Atari 2600, it left a lasting legacy, especially in sports, strategy, and RPG gaming.

For retro gaming fans, the Intellivision remains a fascinating piece of history, offering some great games that still hold up today-if you can handle the quirky controller!

Pros & Cons


✅ Better graphics and sound than the Atari 2600
✅ More strategic and complex games
✅ Innovative controller with unique overlays
✅ One of the first consoles to experiment with voice and computer-like features

❌ Controller can be uncomfortable and awkward
❌ Lack of major arcade ports hurt its appeal
❌ Harder to program for, leading to fewer third-party games
❌ Lost momentum after the video game crash of 1983


Final Score: 7.5/10

A pioneering console with great games and technical innovations, but held back by an awkward controller and lack of arcade hits. A must-have for retro gaming enthusiasts!