ColecoVision (Cartridge)
I’ve reached the halfway point in my countdown of 40 Mario game formats over 40 days to celebrate 40 years of Mario! Today it’s another classic – the ColecoVision cartridge!
Released in 1982 by Coleco, the ColecoVision was another so-called “second-generation” console designed to bring arcade-quality games into the home. It was a rival to the Atari 2600 and Intellivision, but it stood out with its superior hardware.
That said, it also introduced an Atari 2600 Expansion Module, an add-on that allowed ColecoVision owners to play Atari 2600 cartridges, instantly giving the system access to the most popular game library at the time. It was a major selling point and gave Coleco a huge boost!
The ColecoVision was built to deliver arcade-like experiences. Its graphics chip – the same one used in some arcade machines – allowed it to display more sprites and improved resolution. This was a massive advantage in the early ’80s console war.
It also had more RAM and processing power. In fact the ColecoVision’s processor was a popular arcade CPU (as used in Pac-Man, Galaga, and others), so ports were much easier to translate.
It had a controller that featured a numeric keypad with 16 keys, in addition to a joystick, which allowed for more complex game interactions. This extra functionality made it stand out from the more basic controllers on other systems.
The ColecoVision was home to the first-ever console port of Donkey Kong, which was the game that introduced Mario (known as Jumpman back then). Thanks to the system’s hardware, the Donkey Kong port was remarkably faithful to the arcade original and became a massive success.
This release marked Mario’s first major console debut, and it was chosen as the system’s pack-in game, giving it even more exposure. DK Jr. also made its way to the ColecoVision, just before the ’83 video game crash started to hinder the console’s momentum.
Despite being popular in its early years, the oversaturation of the market, combined with poor-quality games and overhyped expectations, led to the collapse of many companies, including Coleco. They did try to pivot to toys, which kept the company alive for a few more decades.
The ColecoVision wasn’t just another console – it was a key player in the early 1980s gaming boom. Even though Mario Bros. didn’t make it to ColecoVision, the system laid the groundwork for Mario’s long-standing presence in home gaming.
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