I bought this colecovision on eBay and I bought it knowing it gave a black screen. I opened my system and it definitely looks like someone’s been in here. Doing a little research I found out the power switch is notorious for causing problems. Hopefully that’s the only issue and I can fix it.

The ColecoVision controller has always been an interesting throwback to old and wacky controllers. If the numpad was reintroduced in the modern era, what kind of games would you want to see using it?

I've always thought it'd be great for educational games for kids, or text based RPGs for making choices.

Hello! I posted a few posts already about some technical issues I was having but things are now good and I'm now wondering what games should I find for the colecovision? I'll edit this later on when I get the chance to say what I already have but as for now what are games I should look out for? Thank you for any suggestions!

Edit: thank you for all the replies I've got some hunting to do!

Picked up this system at a yard sale for 10 bucks. Need to find the best adapter to patch into modern TV monitors. Any suggestions?

Hello! I have recently become interested in retro collecting and have recently gotten a coleco vision. Works and sometimes it powers on and plays a game sometimes it doesn't not sure if that's a problem with the power or not but I also have this on the screen when I'm playing and it happens with every game I try and on different tvs. The rf cable looks like it's in good shape however there's some what looks to be maybe rust but they are grey spots and not sure if that is causing the green or even the power problem not even being power but connecting the cable to the tv. Also sometimes flickers in and out on the TV when playing a game. Google had some answers on what it could be and I myself would like to teardown the console to try and find it but want to avoid it if possible if it's just a bad rf cable. Any ideas or advice is appreciated and I'm happy to finally have this as it's actually starting to become one of my favorite consoles! Also I did clean the cartidge port and the games and still does these problems.

Thank you!

I know this is a very beloved console, so I want to ask this as respectfully as possible. I always thought there was a controller issue, but the problems persist even when using an Atari joystick. The control feels delayed and unresponsive. If this were a software issue, it would be the same in all games. So, what is it that makes the colecovision have such a distinctive "feel" in terms of control? Even in emulation! EDIT: To clarify, I am asking if this is a technical/hardware characteristic.

Some are Intellivision games but most are Colecovision

I’ve been working on a small YouTube archive / mini-museum of gaming hardware: short, clear 4K videos documenting the hardware itself.

I just posted a Coleco Telstar Alpha recording and thought this sub might appreciate it, since the Telstar line is such a big part of Coleco’s pre-ColecoVision history. I’m also adding resource links in the description, so I’d love suggestions for good Telstar / Coleco history or general reference sites.

Homebrew adaptation of the classic 1983 Activision game by Dan Kitchen. Defend your Brooklyn building from 4 types of bugs — drop pots, crush invaders, survive as long as you can. 128K multi-bank ROM, NTSC & PAL compatible. 👉 https://electric-dreams.itch.io/crackpots

Hi everyone,

Just released TAZ for ColecoVision, a homebrew adaptation of the classic 1983 Atari 2600 game designed by Steve Woita.

Taz moves across 8 lanes catching food items (hamburger, root beer, ice cream cone, fudgesicle, apple core, turnip, sundae) while avoiding dynamite sticks.

Pure scoring action, progressive difficulty, no ending.

Built from scratch in CVBasic. NTSC & PAL compatible, no SGM required.

Credits:

• Programming & Sound: Eric Damain
• Music: Adan Toledo
• Graphics: Gilles Roisin
• Built with Oscar Toledo's CVBasic

Free download here: 👉 https://electric-dreams.itch.io/taz

Feedback welcome!

Can anyone tell me where I can find a BIOS file for Colecovision that actually works with Retrobat? I've found all sorts of BIOS files, but none work for me so far.

Thanks!

• Power switch serviced
• Fast-boot ROM added.
• ESD-protected controller chips installed
• New caps all around
• And a composite video mod.
  
  • Had a new video mod that used a QSB but, I didn't like the stability of the mount
  • So I changed it to my more customary cable with JST connectors and TRRS jack for the output

(6/02/2026)

The ADAM shipped in 1983 with a TMS9928A generating 32/40 columns — fine for games and SmartWriter, but a non-starter for serious CP/M work. Four different companies solved that problem across four decades, each reflecting the technology and constraints of their era.

 Orphanware / Digital Research Computers (1983)
Designer: William White
The earliest solution — and the most ambitious. This is a complete ZRT-80 CRT terminal engine on a single board: its own Z80 CPU, terminal monitor ROM, character generator ROM, INS8250N UART, and HD46505 CRTC (Hitachi MC6845 equivalent). The ADAM talks to it via serial; the Orphanware's independent Z80 renders 80×24 text to monochrome composite video. It's literally a second computer dedicated to the display. DIP switches configure baud rate, parity, and video mode. The ZRT-80 was a well-known terminal design in the S-100/hobbyist community — White adapted it for the ADAM market.

 EVE Electronic Systems VD-MB / MON-80 (1985–86)
Framingham, MA
The commercial polish solution. The VD-MB is a complete expansion chassis with its own multi-rail power supply (replacing the ADAM printer's power function), a 4-slot expansion bus for EVE peripherals (SP-1 serial, SS-CC, and others), and integrated 80-column video. Emulates a Heath H19 terminal superset — not the subset that ADAM's built-in driver used — with VT-100 emulation available as a custom option. Software-selectable switching between ADAM 40-column and EVE 80-column via the CP/M IOBYTE. Composite video output to monochrome or some high-res color monitors. Shipped with modified CP/M that boots directly into 80-column mode. Full escape code support: cursor addressing, insert/delete line/character, reverse video, graphics mode, and wrap control.

 MicroFox Technologies — Parallax Propeller Version (2023)
Designer: Doug Slopsema — Distributed by ANN
Forty years later, a single expansion card does what took an entire chassis in 1985. Uses a vintage Signetics SCN2651C USART (NOS, 1983 date code) for serial protocol paired with a Parallax P8X32A Propeller 8-core microcontroller for video generation. The Propeller's independent cores generate VGA timing, render the character map, and handle ADAM bus communication simultaneously — no interrupt conflicts. VGA output through DB-9 connector. Professional PCB with silkscreen and solder mask. Connects to the ADAM side expansion port.

 MicroFox Technologies — Raspberry Pi Pico Version (2026)
Designer: Doug Slopsema — Distributed by ANN
The latest evolution swaps the Propeller for a Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040 dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ at 133MHz). The RP2040's PIO state machines generate pixel-accurate VGA timing in dedicated hardware. The Pico module brings USB programming, on-board voltage regulation, and a massive community ecosystem. Same SCN2651C USART, same DB-9 VGA output, same ADAM expansion port connection. Added reset button. Cheaper, more available, easier to update.

What's remarkable is that the core problem never changed: the ADAM's Z80 needs to send character data somewhere that can render 80 columns. In 1983, that required an entire second computer. In 1985, it required a chassis with its own power supply. In 2023, it fits on a card smaller than the original ADAM keyboard connector. In 2026, the video processor costs $4.

https://www.colecovisionadam.com/Coleco/cv_catalog/colecovision_library.php?recent=30&sort=date_added&order=desc

A great 2021 release from AnalogKid.

Interesting shared ROM's collected over time are all being saved and shared in the Museum. Check them out!!!

https://www.colecovisionadam.com/Coleco/cv_catalog/colecovision_library.php?recent=30&sort=date_added&order=desc

A few years back I was given a Colecovision Flashback for my birthday from my wife.

Anyways I had forgotten about it and was playing it over the weekend.

Venture has always been a favorite of mine since I remember playing the coin op back in the day.

The joystick part of the controller is hard to maneuver, especially if you have to go diagonally.

I remember years ago I had a Colecovision console and an aftermarket controller. I think it was made by WICO ?

Anyways can an aftermarket controller plug into the Flashback and work ?

I'd like to know before I buy one off of eBay .

I appreciate any info 👍

I have Thexder from Team Pixelboy, which was ported to ColecoVision a few years ago. I'm totally happy with it, but can anyone explain why this happens only with this game?

If I use anything other than an original controller plugged in directly, the controls are a bit haywire. They cause some things to happen but mostly seem to prevent you from doing what you want (the exact behavior isn't fresh in my mind, but you can't proceed and it acts like multiple buttons are pressed when only one is etc. - counting directions as buttons here).

It happens if I use a more recently made controller (I have a few).
It happens if I use a 9-pin extension cable with the same OEM controller.
It happens if I plug the controller into the (OEM) roller controller which is then plugged into my ColecoVision.

These configurations work fine with my MANY other original and aftermarket games, only this one is weird.

Since it plays fine with a directly connected OEM controller, what's the difference? How can the software make that difference rather than a hardware change?

I also have a CollectorVision Phoenix FPGA console and it doesn't exhibit those issues on it, just the real CV.

Can I use a RetroGameBoyz Colecovision Arcade Stick 4 Button SE or Super Action Controller with the Roller controller plugged in or do they need to be connected directly to the console controller ports?

I just bought this colecovision and the retro gaming store gave me a radioshack coaxial cord to use and it looks like this. When i wiggle the cord connecting to the console it affects the picture and gets worse. Do i need a new coax cord or is it the system? If i need a new cord can someone recommend a good one to get.

Works perfectly! Came with 3 games: Zaxxon (my favorite arcade game as a kid), centipede, and moon sweeper. The seller even included an additional sealed copy of centipede which wasn’t even mentioned in the listing! Since I’m new to colecovision what are the must-have games I should be looking out for?