RG
Mattel 1979 Gen 2

Mattel Intellivision

The Mattel Intellivision was the Atari 2600's primary competitor in the early 1980s, featuring superior sports games, a unique 16-direction disc controller, and the first celebrity video game spokesperson in advertising history.

Mattel Intellivision

💡 Mattel Intellivision Key Facts

  • → The Mattel Intellivision was released in 1979 by Mattel
  • → Total units sold: 3 million
  • → Best selling game: Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack (2+ million)
  • → 0 games documented in our database
  • → The Intellivision established several precedents: celebrity advertising in gaming (George Plimpton), league-licensed sports games as a key marketing driver, and the keypad controller format that influenced game design for decades. The platform's sports games — designed by David Rolfe, Alan Delman, and others — set quality standards for electronic sports that weren't consistently surpassed until the Genesis/SNES era. The 16-direction disc controller, though awkward compared to the joystick, anticipated analog control concepts. Intellivision's legacy also includes the birth of the licensed-sports-games market that EA Sports, 2K, and others now dominate.

Mattel Takes On Atari

In 1980, when someone walked into a Toys R Us and faced a choice between the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision, they were making the first meaningful home console purchasing decision of the modern era. Not between a good console and a bad one — between two legitimate competing platforms with different strengths, different game libraries, and different design philosophies. That dynamic, which would repeat with Nintendo/Sega and Sony/Nintendo and Microsoft/Sony, began with Atari and Mattel.

Hardware Architecture

The General Instrument CP1610 CPU at 894 KHz was slower than the 2600’s 1.19 MHz 6507, but the Intellivision’s supporting chips handled more complex tasks independently. The General Instrument AY-3-8900 video chip (System Chip) generated 159x96 resolution output with 16 simultaneous colors and could handle cards (background tiles) and MOBs (Moving Objects, i.e., sprites) in a manner more flexible than the 2600’s TIA.

The three-channel sound (using the General Instrument AY-3-8914 PSG) was comparable to the 2600’s audio output in terms of channel count, though the PSG architecture produced cleaner tones for music while the 2600’s RIOT-based audio had more personality for sound effects.

The Sports Game Advantage

Mattel secured official league licensing for its sports games — NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB agreements that Atari had not prioritized. The visual difference between Intellivision NFL Football (recognizable player formations, distinct field markings) and Atari 2600 football (indistinct blobs) drove significant Intellivision hardware purchases among adults who wanted to play recognizable sports simulations.

The Intellivision’s larger sprite size (8x8 pixels vs. 2600’s more limited options) enabled player identification in sports games, and the 16-direction disc controller’s precision improved sports simulation controls compared to the 2600’s 4-direction joystick. Mattel’s sports games were genuinely superior to Atari’s equivalents, and the advertising campaign built around George Plimpton’s side-by-side comparisons was honest in its claims.

Collector Notes

The Intellivision is one of retro collecting’s most accessible platforms. Hardware is common, cartridges are cheap, and the library is fascinating as a historical document. The primary collecting challenge is finding games with their controller overlay cards and manuals — necessary for full enjoyment of keypad-dependent titles. INTV Corporation produced games through 1990, extending the library somewhat beyond the Mattel Electronics era.

Mattel Intellivision FAQ

How did the Intellivision controller work?
The Intellivision controller featured a 16-direction disc (not a joystick) for movement, 12-button numeric keypad for game-specific functions (using overlay cards), and side action buttons. The disc allowed finer directional input than a 4-way joystick but was awkward for some game types. The keypad overlay cards — thin plastic templates printed with each game's controls — were required for many games.
Was the Intellivision better than the Atari 2600?
In certain areas, yes. The Intellivision displayed 16 simultaneous colors vs. the 2600's typical 4–8 per scanline limitation, had more sophisticated sprite capabilities for sports games, and generally produced superior sports simulations. The 2600 had advantages in action games, a larger software library, and a more comfortable joystick controller.
What were the best Intellivision games?
Intellivision's best games are concentrated in sports: Major League Baseball, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, and Triple Action. Astrosmash (a Asteroids/Space Invaders hybrid), Tron: Deadly Discs, Burgertime, and Night Stalker are among the best non-sports titles. Space Hawk and B-17 Bomber (with IntelliVoice) are standouts.
Who was George Plimpton in Intellivision advertising?
George Plimpton was an American author and journalist known for 'participatory journalism' — joining professional sports teams temporarily to write about the experience. Mattel hired him as a spokesperson for Intellivision, appearing in TV commercials comparing Intellivision and Atari graphics. He was the first celebrity specifically hired to advertise a video game system.
Is the Intellivision worth collecting?
Yes, as a historical platform. Hardware is very affordable ($20–$50 for working units), games are cheap (typically $2–$15 each), and the sports library is genuinely interesting historically. The controller overlay cards are often missing from used games, reducing their collectibility. Complete-in-box titles with overlays and manuals are more valuable.
What is the Intellivision Amico?
The Intellivision Amico was a planned modern console revival by Intellivision Entertainment LLC, which acquired the Intellivision brand. The project raised significant crowdfunding but was canceled in 2023 after years of delays, controversies, and development difficulties, becoming one of gaming's most prominent failed revivals.