| The Intellivision was a revolutionary video game | | | | C64 later on), 64K RAM and a built-in cassette |
| console developed and released by Mattel (the | | | | tape drive. But during the process of |
| company probably best known for Barbie dolls, | | | | developement many reliability problems occurred |
| Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars) in 1979. It was | | | | and the hardware was far too expensive. After |
| the first 16 bit game console ever released and | | | | repeated delays the Keyboard Component |
| introduced a lot of new concepts and technologies: | | | | project was officially cancelled in 1982. Apparently |
| innovative game controllers, superior graphics and | | | | about 4000 Keyboard Components had been |
| sound, game downloads, home computer | | | | shipped to selected customers for testing |
| extensions, a voice synthesis device and a | | | | purposes, they are extremely rare today. |
| synthesizer keyboard for example. | | | | As Mattel managers had been aware of the |
| The CPU used in the Intellivision was a General | | | | Keyboard Component problems for a long time, |
| Instruments CP1610, a general purpose | | | | they had launched a secondary project in mid |
| microprocessor capable of supporting 16-bit | | | | 1981 that could replace the component in case of |
| addresses and 10-bit instructions. The US release | | | | a complete failure. It was released as |
| used a CPU clock of 894,886.25 Hz while the | | | | Entertainment Computer System (ECS), it |
| european release used a 1 Mhz clock, due to the | | | | featured a keyboard with a cassette recorder |
| different NTSC / PAL specs, which means that | | | | interface and included 2k of additional RAM. It |
| games were running up to 10% faster on | | | | lacked the originally planned 6502 CPU and the |
| european consoles than on their US counterparts! | | | | 64K RAM extension, but it was functionalm cost |
| The CP1610 featured eight 16-bit registers - using | | | | effective and was finally able to turn the |
| a 16 bit CPU in a video game console was quite | | | | Intellivison into a home computer. |
| exceptional indeed. It had 1.2 kb of RAM (including | | | | Shortly after, Mattel introduced a 49-key Music |
| 512 byte video memory) and 7 kb ROM (which | | | | Synthesizer keyboard which could turn the |
| included the "Executive ROM" - some kind of a | | | | Intellivision/ECS combo into a multi-voice |
| mini-OS - and the "Graphics ROM" which included | | | | synthesizer. Unfortunately, the ECS received very |
| often used sprites for example). It's graphics | | | | little further marketing push and further hardware |
| performance was outstanding for the late 1970's, | | | | and software developments for the ECS were |
| allowing a 160 x 196 pixel display using a 16 color | | | | cancelled. |
| palette (all colors could be used simultaneously), | | | | Intellivision was also the first game console to |
| plus eight hardware supported sprites offering | | | | provide real-time human and robot voices during |
| collision detection, mirroring and streching. | | | | game play. The IntelliVoice module, which was |
| The game controllers were quite different too, as | | | | required for using this feature, used an SP0256 |
| they featured a "disc" (somewhat similar to the | | | | Orator "voice chip" developed jointly by Mattel |
| Apple iPod clickwheel) instead of a joystick as well | | | | and General Instrument. But the IntelliVoice didn't |
| as a twelve-button numeric keypad. The disc was | | | | sell as well as expected, and only a few games |
| capable of 16 direction detection and games | | | | supporting it were ever released. |
| usually shipped with "overlay cards" that could be | | | | In 1983 Mattel also introduced the Intellivision II |
| inserted into the controllers (in front of the | | | | (which only introduced a revamped case) and the |
| numeric keypad - switching games required | | | | System Changer module (which allowed to play |
| inserting a new cartridge AND flipping the overlay | | | | Atari 2600). |
| cards). | | | | In 1983 and 1984 the video game market |
| In 1980 the Intellivision became available in the | | | | crashed. The new home computer systems |
| entire US for US$299, the console was the first | | | | became more and more popular and interest in |
| to pose a serious threat to Atari's dominance | | | | classic game consoles vanished. Furthermore |
| (Atari was the number one video game console | | | | there was now a large number of video game |
| producer back then). Mattel sold 175,000 consoles | | | | consoles available, further subdividing the market. |
| in 1980, with 19 availalble games. After Mattel | | | | In 1983 Mattel Electronics posted a $300 million |
| realized that the game market offered good | | | | loss, in early 1984 the division was closed. |
| revenues, they launched their own software | | | | A liquidator purchased all rights, hardware and |
| development group which became known as the | | | | software sales continued until most of the |
| "Blue Sky Rangers". | | | | inventory had been sold. Later on, Mattel |
| In 1981, Mattel launched a service that allowed to | | | | Marketing executive Terry Valeski created INTV |
| download games via cable TV. In 1982, Mattel | | | | Corp. which sold the remaining stock via retail and |
| sold 2 million consoles, more and more companies | | | | mail order. They then introduced the INTV III, |
| started developing software titles for the | | | | which was nothing but an Intellivison inside a new |
| Intellivision. | | | | case, and continued developing a few games. The |
| The "Keyboard Component" should transform the | | | | console was discontinued in 1991. More than 6 |
| console into a home computer, it was planned to | | | | million Intellivision consoles were sold during 12 |
| include a MOS 6502 CPU (the one used by the | | | | years, and a total of 125 games were available. |