61 replies to this topic

[tantone56]

Hey guys I was thinking about getting a coleco vision. Does anybody here think that it's a good system? are there any drawbacks to it?

[MrRetroGamer]

It's a VERY good system, and and excellent compliment to your classic Atari systems. People say they don't like the controllers too much, but they are functional. There are a few third party controllers for the CV system, a little on the rare side, but they help out the system if you can find them. If you have a chance to pick one up, I'd say get it!

[Ze_ro]

Yeah, it's definitely a good system. The graphics are above average for the era (I'd say it's just a notch or two below NES graphics), and there are quite a few decent arcade ports, and a number of which are mostly exclusive to the ColecoVision, such as LadyBug, Looping, Pepper II (At least, I'm not aware of any other systems that have these games).

Yeah, the controllers aren't that great... but I got used to them, since I had one of these as a kid. Some games that scroll the entire screen end up being jerky, since the video hardware doesn't scroll very well.

Oh, and that 12-second long boot-up screen gets annoying after a while.

--Zero

[-^Cro§Bow^-]

Absolutly pick one up if you get the chance for a decent price. I also have never been a fan of the controllers, and actually sorta prefer playing an Intellivision over the CV sometimes just because of the controllers. However, most of the arcade ports on the CV are very very good. Ironically enough, especially the AtariSoft titles are worth picking up.

If you can get a ser of Super Action Controllers, those will help out a lot in the controller department. Using trigger buttons takes some getting used to, but the stick itself has far better control and feels better than the stock CV sticks. Also, pick up a controller extension cable while your at it. The coiled CV sticks don't allow you to sit too far from the console while playing.

And, then when you have all that, grab 2010, Tutankham, Donkey Kong, and well..hell...this list goes on and on.

:wink:

[bradjewell]

Besides what the others have said, don't forget those great releases that eduardo has done/is doing. Space Invaders Collection is fantastic, and I can't wait for PacMan Collection.

Brad

[tantone56]

how much would I expect to pay for a complete package. Controllers ect.

[Mindfield]

Definitely pick one up. I had one back in the day, and have two currently, plus an ADAM. A full system (console, AC adapter, RF cable and adapter, two controllers) could be had pretty easily for $10-20. Whether or not the controllers work is another issue -- they don't age well. I have half a dozen or so, and none of them are 100%. Fortunately they're fairly easy to clean up with some contact cleaner or isopropyl alcohol; that usually gets them back to a decent working state.

The only drawback on the CV (and especially the ADAM) is the piss-poor job of RF shielding. Get yourself an F-to-Coax adapter (one of those little adapters with an RCA input on one end and cable Coax adapter on the other so you can connect directly to cable input on the TV) -- it still doesn't get it perfect, but it's a major improvement over the regular RF.

Also get yourself Expansion Module #2 - the steering wheel. There's nothing quite like a good game of Turbo. :-)

[Xot]

2600 controllers are (mostly) compatible with the CV for games that only utilize one button.

[Scooterb23]

Very good system, although I am worried that either I have 4 bad controllers, or there is a problem with the controller ports

[Video]

I love my Coleco games. Some of the games are as good as NES versions (as far as graphics and sound go) If Coleco had kept with the CV, and skipped the Adam, who knows? It could have been the main driving system of the late 80's rather than the NES.

The controllers are OK, not great, but I don't think their as bad as some people make them out to be.

The reason I quit playing is my Power supply has a short, so it doesn't work very long befor bliping out (I know it's the Power supply cause if I bump the cord at all, it goes out) To bad it's a specialty part instead of common, or I'd still be playing that sucker all the time.

[ApolloBoy]

Scooterb23 said:

Very good system, although I am worried that either I have 4 bad controllers, or there is a problem with the controller ports

I've heard the Colecovision has very touchy controller ports. Well, at least it's an excellent system.

[Scooterb23]

@ Apolloboy - Yeah, I want to get a 100% guaranteed working Colecovision sometime next year. I just don't know what is working correctly and what isn't

Sad to say, but my favorite game so far is Smurf: Rescue From Gargamel's Castle

[Flojomojo]

tantone56 said:

Hey guys I was thinking about getting a coleco vision. Does anybody here think that it's a good system? are there any drawbacks to it?

The Colecovision is not a good system.

It is an AWESOME system. Its library is like the B-sides of arcade games from the early 80s: Looping, Venture, Pepper II, Mr. Do! -- all the quirky games we loved but weren't huge mainstream hits. Yes, the controls are goofy and the power brick is humongous, but it's easy to collect for and certainly worth having.

The Coleco emulators on the Dreamcast, GamePark 32, Pocket PC, and of course PCs aren't too shabby either.

[tyranthraxus]

The CV is my favorite classic system and with a 5200 you have got almost
all of the pre 1984 arcade classics in faithful versions. There are two
good solutions to the joystick troubles. Use a CV pad in port two so you
can use the keypad and plug in an Atari stick in port one. This works
for most games but there are a couple 2 button games. 2nd good
solution is a bit more expensive, track down a Champ Keypad which
you can plug another joystick into.

Some of the graphics on the late run games are quite impressive.
Essential games: DK, DK Jr, Pepper II, Tapper, Mr Do, Frogger &
Miner 2049er for starters

If you like the early 80s arcade stuff and want more graphical punch
than a 2600 then you'll be happy.

[Shannon]

Yeah the colecovision is not a bad little system. And like was said has alot of b-side arcade translations. Played thru several titles in an emulator and was pretty impressed with the quality of some titles.

I also noticed several titles that were essentially 8-bit computer titles (think c64, 5200/atari 8-bit) and they turned out pretty good.

Overall pretty good system and if you cant stand the stick. Just plug in an atari stick in port one like everyone said.

[SteelerFan]

Last year I picked up about 20 or so Colecovision games (all different!) from a local thrift, but there was no colecovision system there.

I paid a dollar a piece for the games

I just need a good price for a system.

If anyone has an extra working system out there, I do have some duplicate games (both Atari and CV) ...maybe we can work out a trade.

PM message me or email me at:

Atari2600Fan@aol.com

[DeV0]

Hell yeah, grab a colecovison and some 7800 pads. Excellent setup as both buttons work. Graphics where great for the time and theres a pretty solid line-up of classics fo it.

[joeybastard]

The CV is tied with the VCS as my favorite classic console. The games are really good and theirs tons of exclusives so it's not like getting a system that has the same games as every other one. It also had a lot of add-on gadgets like the steering wheel, roller controller, superaction controllers and the VCS adapter. I love add on crap .

Get a nice set of Super Action sticks, open them up give them a decent cleaning, align the "feet" to the contact and you will have what I consider to be the best joysticks of all time. It sounds complicated but the disassembly, cleaning and aligning takes about 10 minutes. They're usually good for a long while after you do it too.

[Flojomojo]

Shannon said:

I also noticed several titles that were essentially 8-bit computer titles (think c64, 5200/atari 8-bit) and they turned out pretty good.

I think it pretty much is a console version of the period's 8-bit computer, much like the Atari 5200. In the US, we got the ADAM machine which had a Colecovision core. In Japan, the MSX computer has many games which look identical to their Colecovision counterparts.

[tyranthraxus]

On ebay a decent bundle will go for about $40-50.

A bare system is probably worth $25

[Brad2600]

I find CV games around here occasionally and I would say that the system is definitely worth playing and collecting for.

Once you get around the controller issues, it is quite fun with some games. I enjoy Mr.Do and Donkey Kong on the CV so far.

I'm lucky as some of the CV games I've found around here, are quite rare. Didn't pay more than $2 apiece for any of them.

[Shannon]

Flojomojo said:

Shannon said:

I also noticed several titles that were essentially 8-bit computer titles (think c64, 5200/atari 8-bit) and they turned out pretty good.

I think it pretty much is a console version of the period's 8-bit computer, much like the Atari 5200. In the US, we got the ADAM machine which had a Colecovision core. In Japan, the MSX computer has many games which look identical to their Colecovision counterparts.

I almost forgot about this, but yes the MSX does appear to be VERY similar to the coleco.

The big diff between the coleco and the 5200 is the coleco was released as a console first, wherease the 5200 was just an atari 8-bit computer without a keyboard.

And also like was said the colecovision makes a great compliment to the 2600 because there are not very many crossover titles.

Plus I think it has a good version of burgertime as well.

[Ze_ro]

Shannon said:

And also like was said the colecovision makes a great compliment to the 2600 because there are not very many crossover titles.

Not to mention that you could buy the Atari adaptor and play 2600 games on the Coleco... could save room or power outlets for some of us hardcore collectors.

Also, I still feel that the CV version of Donkey Kong Jr is by far the best... even better than the arcade version. Mostly because the jumping is actually sane in the Coleco version.

--Zero

[bradjewell]

http://www.goatstore...php?page=430000
The goat store has a decent amount of colecovision stuff at good prices. If I wasnt tied up for cash right now, Id order some. ;o) Anyways, theyre running a special right now, if you get 50 bucks of coleco or atari stuff, you get a free 2600 adapter for it.
And again, Ill add that the colecovision rocks. and the Space Invaders collection is great!!!!!!

Brad

[Retro Rogue]

Shannon said:

Flojomojo said:

Shannon said:

I also noticed several titles that were essentially 8-bit computer titles (think c64, 5200/atari 8-bit) and they turned out pretty good.

I think it pretty much is a console version of the period's 8-bit computer, much like the Atari 5200. In the US, we got the ADAM machine which had a Colecovision core. In Japan, the MSX computer has many games which look identical to their Colecovision counterparts.

I almost forgot about this, but yes the MSX does appear to be VERY similar to the coleco.

Yes, which is why it mistakingly gets confused for a "stripped down msx machine." However, the ColecoVision was designed long before Kay drove for the MSX standard (as was Texas Instrument's TI99/4 and later TI99/4A computers). In hindsite, it does resemble a stripped down MSX, using TI chips for sound and graphics. The ColecoVision was designed for computerlike functionality and expandability from the get go as well. So if they would have stayed in the game (and gone through with that upgrade expansion box) they theoretically could have expanded it to compete with the NES and SMS. Instead, as we all know, they cancelled production in favor of ADAM.