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ColecoVision and Adam Computer (1982-1989)

ColecoVision and Adam Computer (1982-1989)

Coleco Industries

Models on Display

TRIVIA:  Coleco stands for COnnecticut LEather COmpany

INTERESTING FACT:  That's a young Laurie Loughlin (actress) in the Coleco Adam commercial.

ColecoVision

Coleco released their ColecoVision second-generation video game console in August 1982. This console was the successor to the Coleco Telstar series of dedicated consoles that were released in 1978. The console's graphics were stellar in comparison to the Atari 2600 & Intellivison, but it's life was cut short (read more about on the next box). The ColecoVision featured the first ever home-version of Nintendo's Donkey Kong as it's pack-in game. In total, 136 games were produced for the ColecoVision's game library, with video game maker, SEGA, contributing a few games to the mix. The ColecoVision was discontinued in 1985 after 2 million units were sold. 

Donation: Mark Scheck through local "Gift Economy" group

Coleco Adam & Later in Coleco's Life

Coleco, short for Connecticut Leather Company, was started in the 1930’s, but they didn’t enter the video game industry until the late 1970’s with the Telstar series of dedicated consoles. In 1982, Coleco released the ColecoVision, a cartridge based video game console. Along with it, Coleco released three “expansion modules” for the console numbered #1-3. Module #1 was an add-on so that the ColecoVision could play Atari cartridges, which was considered cool at the time. Module #2 was a steering wheel add-on to play driving games. Module #3 was what almost killed Coleco, the Coleco Adam. The Coleco Adam was a personal computer add-on to the ColecoVision. They wanted to enter the personal computer market since that is where all the money was coming from at that time, but it turned out that Adam was an awful computer. Its failure put Coleco near bankruptcy, only to have the company saved by acquiring the rights to Cabbage Patch Dolls. In the late 1980’s, parents would get into fist fights and riots during the Christmas seasons to get their hands on one of these dolls for their kids. Even after being saved by Cabbage Patch Dolls, Coleco filed for bankruptcy and became defunct in 1989.

Source of Keyboard: Elephants Trunk Flea Market 

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