Mattel’s Intellivision was released in 1979 after one full year of development, to compete with Atari’s 2600 console — also the “first to pose a serious threat to Atari’s dominance.” Video after the jump.
The console was test marketed in Fresno, California, in 1979 with a total of four games available, and went nationwide in 1980 with a price tag of $299 and a pack-in game: Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack. In that first year Mattel sold 175,000 Intellivision consoles, and the library grew to 19 games. By 1982 sales were soaring. Over two million Intellivision consoles had been sold by the end of the year, earning Mattel a $100,000,000 profit
Mattel’s Intellivision was released in 1979 after one full year of development, to compete with Atari’s 2600 console — also the “first to pose a serious threat to Atari’s dominance.” Video after the jump.
The console was test marketed in Fresno, California, in 1979 with a total of four games available, and went nationwide in 1980 with a price tag of $299 and a pack-in game: Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack. In that first year Mattel sold 175,000 Intellivision consoles, and the library grew to 19 games. By 1982 sales were soaring. Over two million Intellivision consoles had been sold by the end of the year, earning Mattel a $100,000,000 profit
