Exhibit: ColecoVision (1982–1985)
Released: August 1982 (North America)
Manufacturer: Coleco Industries
Units Sold: ~6 million worldwide
Status: The most powerful console of its era — cut short by the crash
The Arcade King
In 1982, the ColecoVision arrived as the most technically advanced home console available. Its near-arcade-perfect port of Donkey Kong — complete with all four screens, unlike Atari's inferior version — was a statement of intent. The ColecoVision could do things no other home console could match.
It sold 6 million units in its first year and briefly threatened Atari's dominance. Then the video game crash of 1983 wiped out the North American market, and Coleco — overextended and underprepared — collapsed with it.
Iconic Games
- Donkey Kong — the definitive home version, far superior to Atari's port
- Zaxxon — isometric shooter that showcased the hardware
- Venture — dungeon exploration ahead of its time
- Turbo — racing game with a steering wheel peripheral
Collector's Corner
The ColecoVision is rare and increasingly sought after. Complete boxed examples are genuinely difficult to find in good condition. Its distinctive controllers — with their numeric keypads and side buttons — are fragile and often damaged. A complete, working ColecoVision is a serious collector's achievement.