MattelGeneration 2
Intellivision
1979
AU Release
1 January 1982
AU Launch Price
$299 AUD
~$1450 today
Units Sold
3M
Technical Specifications
Processor
General Instrument CP1610 @ 894 KHz (16-bit)
Memory
1.5 KB RAM
Storage
None (cartridge-based)
Media
ROM Cartridges
Best-Selling Intellivision Games
Global lifetime sales
Cultural Impact
The Intellivision was the first serious commercial challenger to the Atari 2600, and Mattel Electronics waged one of gaming's earliest console wars with aggressive advertising directly comparing the two systems. Remarkably, the CP1610 processor gave the Intellivision a 16-bit data path — making it technically the first 16-bit console, years before Sega or NEC would use that as a selling point. The Intellivision pioneered licensed sports games, striking deals with the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL to produce officially branded titles — a model that EA Sports would later build an empire on. Its distinctive disc controller and number pad were ahead of their time, allowing for complex game inputs unavailable on the Atari joystick.
Did You Know?
The Intellivision used a 16-bit processor in 1979 — technically making it the first 16-bit console, a full decade before the Sega Genesis popularised that term
Mattel ran TV ads directly comparing Intellivision and Atari 2600 graphics side by side — one of the first direct-attack advertising campaigns in gaming history
The Intellivision was the first console to feature officially licensed sports titles from all four major North American sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL)
From the Same Generation (Gen 2)
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