Expansions

The Atari Converter.

"You can play all Atari 2600 games on a ColecoVision, but you can't play ColecoVision games on Atari"

Expansion Module No. 1

Expansion Module No. 1 allows all cartridges compatible with the Atari 2600 VCS to be played on CBS ColecoVision console.
When the Expansion Module is plugged into the Expansion Module Interface, the widest possible library og video game cartridges can be played on the CBS ColecoVision system.

Alternatively, existing Atari owners can purchase the CBS ColecoVision videogame system and still make use of their existing software library.

Game play can be controlled using CBS ColecoVision game controllers which plug into the Expansion Module No. 1.

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Coleco Industries was quick to release their Atari Converter For ColecoVision.
They find out that Atari Not have patented their Atari 2600 Videogame system.
So Coleco made already before Colecovision an Atari stand alone clone called: Atari Gemini.


It have a very nice design and use a special programmed Colecochip instead of That chip Atari used.
The Coleco Gemini was not on the market for a long time.
 

Coleco developed in the first place this prototype of an Atari module.
How a game cartridge inserted, do i not have any information about.

         
Both were prototypes and were never released to the public.
The demonstrated prototype at the right image could probably have worked.
 

The final Atari 2600 Converter.

Atari was mad on Coleco Industries, so Atari goes to the court of law and defendant Coleco Industries for millions of $.

"It also seeks an injunction against the manufacture and sale of Coleco's Expansion Module No.1, which,Atari contends,
is intended to allow its VCS compatable cartridges to be played on Colecovision's home video game unit."

Coleco ment they have the right on their side, so Coleco fight back against Atari Corporation.

"Coleco responded by fililng a $ 500 million counterclaim, charging violations of antitrust law.
Coleco said it does not infringe any valid patent and that the Atari suit is without merit."

Atari Corporation forget to patent their system, and Coleco make a deal with Atari and the court of law.
So Coleco industries commit oneself to pay royalities to ATARI Corp. (Warner Communication).
-What a mess !.

Atari and Coleco could see potential for both of their systems, and they start to make games for each-other.
Atari made a lot of games for ColecoVision and Coleco Industries made some games for the Atari System.
Atari make fine games for Coleco, but Coleco do not make their games fine for Atari.

Another thing Coleco not was aware of, was when Coleco made the Expansion module #1 Atari 2600 adapter.
They never thought about someone making a cartridge that was a different size case.
These were for example TigerVision carts.
Some of those cartridges like the would not make electrical contact since the plastic cartridge housing was not deep enough.

So you should just call Coleco back in the early 80's and they sent you one adaptor for free, if you just could provide your serial number and your address over the phone.
When it arrived there was a slip of paper that said it was a $ 60 value.

But Coleco were only supplying one per household and not one per each Atari converter that a person owns.
It cost Coleco money, since they offered them for free for those who asked for one back then.
The device made the Atari 2600 adapter 100% compatible with all Atari 2600 cartridges.
 

Without the extender	With the extender
The pictures above show how the adapter looks and how it is mounted.
A closeup of the extender.
As you can see the signal passes straight through.

AtariSoft games available for ColecoVision:

Centipede            -            Defender            -            Galaxian            -            Jungle Hunt.

Games that AtariSoft not finished for ColecoVision:


Dig Dug            -            Joust            -            Pac Man           -            Moon Patrol.

Coleco games available for Atari VCS 2600, and some for Mattel Intellivision.
 

Cabbage Patch Kids - 2666	Carnival - 244525	Cosmic Avenger -	Donkey Kong - 241125	Donkey Kong Jr. - 2653	Front Line - 2665
Gorf - 800125	Lady Bug -	Looping -	Mouse Trap - 241925	Pepper II -	Rock 'n Rope - 2667
Smurf - 244325	Space Fury -	Space Panic -	Tarzan - 2662	Time Pilot - 2663	Turbo -
Venture - 241725	Wizard Of Wor - 800025	Zaxxon - 243525

Some Atari history.

Atari was some of the biggest players on the gamemarket.
There was around 5-10 different clones on the market, they worked fine, but was not similar to Atari's design.
The Black Friday on Wall Street hit also Atari and they lost $ 500 million too.

Here is pretty much over 30 years history.

 

1971	pitures	Nolan Bushnel finishes his studios, and develop the Pong Computer Space.
1972	are coming	Nolan Bushnel founds the company: Atari.
1973	later.	The first Pong-machines see the day of light in arcadehalls all over the world.
1975		You can now get a pong in a homeversion. It goes quickly with the imitating around the world.
1976		There developed a gamemachine with the name Atari VCS.
1977		Atari VCS launced, and called: "Heavey Sixer", because it mounted with 6 bottons and it is pretty heavy.
1978		Atari VCS is officially Atari CX 2600, and two bottons for differculty is placed on the back on the Atari.
1979		Atari launced the Atari 400 and 800.
1982		Atari introduced the 5200 with a better sound. Internaly was the name Pam.
1982		A prototype RC Stella is under a test with name Cindy, that launced in Japan with the name: Atari 2800
1982		When Atari needed game designers, founded Activision and Nolan moved a few people from Atari.
1983		Atari 600 and 1200XL intruduced
1983		Jack Tramiel take over as a Boss for Atari.
1984		Atari develops Atari 7800 under the name Maria.
1985		Atari 260ST, 520ST and the 130XE see the day of light.
1986		Atari launced the 7800 in two variants, at the same time presents Atari 2600 in a Atari 7800 design.
1987		XE System.
1988		Atari IBM Mega ST and Atari Pc.
1989		Atari Lynx,   Atari STE Pc. 1040,   Atari TT Pc. and  Atari ATW 800
1990		The people behind Amstrad CPC+, develops the gamemachine GX4000.
1991		Atari ST Book Portfolio.
1992		Atari develops and launch the Pc: Atari Falcon.
1993		The gameconsole Jaguar with 64 bit. Risc prossesor develops and launced by IBM.
1994		Jack Tramiel are in negotiation with Time-Warner about to sell some parts of Atari Inc.
1996		Jack sold over the half of Atari, and Jack's family keep themselves 42% of the stocks.
1998		The Toygiant Hasbro overtaken the stockmarket in Atari.
1999		Hasbro has buying the rights to Atari Jaguar.
2002		Hasbro and Infogrames came with a announcement: We split Atari among us, -fifty fifty.
2004		Atari launced Atari Flashback as a plug and play with 20 build in Atari-games.
2005		Atari 2600 Miranda launced under the name Flashback 2, now with 40 build in Atari-games.

Last updated August 08. 2010.