ConsoleHome video game console1979
Intellivision
The Intellivision (a portmanteau of "intelligent television") is a home video game console released by Mattel Electronics in 1979. It distinguished itself from competitors with more realistic sports and strategic games.
- First released
- 1979
- Made by
- Mattel, Mattel Electronics (1979–1984), INTV Corporation (19
- Generation
- 2
- Units sold
- > 3.75 million (1980–83)
Overview
The Intellivision (a portmanteau of "intelligent television") is a home video game console released by Mattel Electronics in 1979. It distinguished itself from competitors with more realistic sports and strategic games. By 1981, Mattel Electronics had close to 20% of the domestic video game market, selling more than 3.75 million consoles and 20 million cartridges through 1983. At its peak, Mattel Electronics had about 1,800 employees in several countries, including 110 videogame developers. In 1984, Mattel sold its video game assets to a former Mattel Electronics executive and investors, eventually becoming INTV Corporation. Game development ran from 1978 to 1990, when the Intellivision was discontinued.
In 2009, IGN ranked the Intellivision No. 14 on their list of the greatest video game consoles of all time. There have been a number of attempts to revive the hardware following its discontinuation, including the Intellivison Flashback from AtGames, the Intellivision Amico by Intellivision Entertainment, and the Intellivision Sprint by Atari, Inc. who own the Intellivision brand and library as of 2024.
Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Mattel, Mattel Electronics (1979–1984), INTV Corporation (1984–1990)
- Type
- Home video game console
- Generation
- Second
- Released
- NA 1979; UK 1980/81; ZA 1982; DE 1982; FRA 1982; JP 1982; BR 1983
- Discontinued
- 1990
- Launch price
- US$275, CA$385, £199, Deutsche Mark, DM499, French franc, ₣2000, ¥49800
- Units sold
- > 3.75 million (1980–83)
- Media
- ROM cartridge
- Processor
- GI CP1610
- Graphics
- Standard Television Interface Chip (STIC)
- Memory
- 1K RAM, 6K ROM
- Video output
- Standard TV, 159×96 resolution, 16 color palette
- Sound
- GI AY-3-8914 (three-channels, one noise generator)
- Online service
- PlayCable
Models
- Initial version
Model names as listed by IGDB.
Sources
- Wikipedia overview and specifications
- IGDB model names
- Intellivision-Console-Set.png
- Sears-Tele-Games-Super-Video-Arcade-Intellivision-Console-FL.jpg Evan-Amos Public domain
- Intellivision Flashback 1.jpg Artistosteles CC BY-SA 4.0
The overview is adapted from Wikipedia and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence.
Checked October 2026.
Spotted something that's wrong? Tell me and I'll check it.