Intellivision and the First Console War

In the early 1980s, Mattel's Intellivision rocketed into homes across the United States, transforming the video gaming landscape. From the tense foreboding of Night Stalker to the competitive thrill of NFL Football, this 16-bit system packed superb arcade action and thrilling family entertainment, boasting the industry's first voice synthesis and controls unlike any other console. Combined with truly terrific games, the Intellivision seriously challenged Atari's dominance at the top of the video game market.

In "Space Battle: The Mattel Intellivision and the First Console War," video game historian Jamie Lendino chronicles Mattel's fascinating but ill-fated foray into Intelligent Television. He examines the system's surprising history, reviews more than 60 of its most dynamic and groundbreaking games, and explores how its legacy continues today in new titles, updated hardware, and a thriving enthusiast community collecting and modding the system in ways Mattel could never have imagined.

The Intellivision's impressive capabilities and game library made it a formidable competitor to Atari. Its voice synthesis feature allowed for more immersive audio experiences, while its unique control scheme, with a 12-button numeric keypad and disc-shaped directional input, offered a level of precision and nuance not found in other consoles at the time. Games like Utopia, Snafu, and B-17 Bomber showcased the system's technical prowess, delivering visuals, gameplay, and audio that rivaled or surpassed the arcade versions.

However, Mattel's marketing missteps and the fierce competition from Atari ultimately led to the Intellivision's downfall. Despite its technical superiority and impressive game library, the console struggled to gain widespread consumer adoption, with Atari maintaining a dominant market share.

Yet, the Intellivision's legacy lives on. Its unique design and innovative games have inspired a dedicated community of enthusiasts who continue to collect, mod, and create new experiences for the system. Homebrew developers have breathed new life into the Intellivision, and modern hardware updates, such as the Intellivision Amico, seek to recapture the magic of the original console.

As video game historian George Plimpton once remarked, the Intellivision was the "closest thing to the real thing," a testament to its impressive technology and game quality. The more one learns about this underappreciated console, the more they'll appreciate the impact it had on the video game industry and the lasting influence it continues to hold.

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