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The Atari Converter.

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

        

Made In Taiwan
S/N #: 000503 Model # 8A-7499.

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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Atari Gemini.

Coleco Industries was quick to release their Atari converter for Colecovision.
They found that they could fool Atari by completely switching components.
After the release of the Expansion Module # 1, released Coleco Industries subsequently a unique clone.
So here is it, the Atari 2600 single clone from Coleco Inc. called: Atari Gemini.


It has a very nice and compact design, and use a special programmed Coleco chip instead of the chip Atari used in its time
Coleco Gemini was only on the market in a short time.
 

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Coleco developed initially this prototype of the Atari module.
How a game cartridge were inserted, has ColecoVision.dk no information about.

               
Both were prototypes and was never released to the public.
The prototypes shown on the photos above, could probably have worked.
But Coleco decided before its release that it should have the oblique design.

The final Atari 2600 Converter.
Expansion Module # 1.

Atari was not completely satisfied with Coleco Industries way to attack things, so Atari went to the courts and the defendant promptly 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 felt for sure that they had the right on their side, so Coleco fought back against Atari Corporation.

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

Coleco made subsequently an agreement with Atari and the Court.
So Coleco Industries undertook to pay royalties to ATARI Corp. (Warner Communication).

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 created some games for the Atari VCS System.
Atari made some fabulous fine games for Coleco, but rumors has it that Coleco did not make their games so fine for Atari.


Tiger.

Another thing Coleco was not fully aware of was when Coleco had launched their Expansion Module # 1.
They forgot that some of those who make cartridges actually have a different size than the regular size.
These were, for example, TigerVision cartridges.
Some of these cartridges like TigerVision games would not have physical electrical contact, because the plastic cartridge case did not fit the hole in the expansion module.

Therefore, rather quickly after it was discovered made a small extender that you then mounted in the cartridge hole before applying the aforementioned games.

So you should just call Coleco or Starpath back in the early 80s, and they sent you an adapter for free.
All you had to do was to inform about your Expansion serial number and your address over the phone.
When it arrived there was attached a note which said it had 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 did that the Atari 2600 adapter was 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 on these pins, the signal passes straight through.

AtariSoft games made for ColecoVision in The ColecoVisions Own Cartridge Port :
 

Centipede	Defender	Galaxian	Jungle Hunt
	Joust Final Version. Released in 2014.	Moon Patrol Final Version. Released in 2014.

Games that AtariSoft not finished for ColecoVision, but are both fully working:
 

Dig Dug	Pac Man

Coleco games available for Atari VCS 2600 and Mattel Intellivision.
 

Atari Games by: Coleco.
Cabbage Patch Kids 2666	Lady Bug 2463	Looping	Mouse Trap 241925 - 2459	Pepper II	Rock 'n Rope 2667
Smurf 244325 2485	Space Fury	Space Panic	Tarzan 2662	Time Pilot 2663	Turbo 2455
Gorf 800125	Carnival 244525 - 2468	Cosmic Avenger 2464	Donkey Kong 241125 - 2451	Donkey Kong Jr. 2653	Front Line 2665
Venture 241725 - 2457	Wizard Of Wor 800025	Zaxxon 243525 - 2454
Intellivision Games by: Coleco.
Donkey Kong: 2471	Venture: 3477	Lady Bug: 2483	Carnival 2488	Zaxxon 2487	Turbo 2473
Cosmic Avenger 2484	MouseTrap 2479	Smurf

Bill Rose, former Coleco employee wrote:
Date: March 15, 2010.

"The Atari module was actually a nearly complete Atari game system.
About all we used from Colecovision was the power supply and perhaps the video modulator (I forget the details).
It gave us full compatibility with Atari games because it was an Atari system.
I don't think the Z80 or graphics processor was used for anything when using the module."

Some Atari history (Short).

Atari was one of the biggest players on the game market.
There was around 10 different clones on the market, they all worked fine, amd there is more clones and flash versions than ever before.
The American video game crash in 1983 was a massive setback for the former games industry, which took place from 1982 1985.
The massive decline hit Wall Street rather quickly and Atari lost at least $ 500 million in no time.

Here is the headlines on over 30 years history.

 

1971	pitures	Nolan Bushnel finishes his studios, and develop the Pong and Computer Space.
1972	are coming	Nolan Bushnel founded the company: Atari together with Ted Dabney.
1973	later.	The first Pong-machines see the day of light in the arcades all over the world.
1975		You can now get a pong in a homeversion. It goes quickly with the imitating around the world.
1976		They developed a game machine named Atari VCS.
1977		Atari VCS launced, and nicknamed: "Heavey Sixer", because it was mounted with 6 bottons and was pretty heavy.
1978		Atari VCS is now 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 code name Cindy, that launced in Japan with the name: Atari 2800
1982		When Atari needed more game designers, they founded Activision and Nolan moved a few people from Atari to Activision.
1983		Atari 600 and 1200XL intruduced
1983		Jack Tramiel is now "the man" behind 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 (Epyx),  Atari STE PC. 1040,   Atari TT PC. and  Atari ATW 800
1990		The people behind Amstrad CPC+, develops the game machine GX4000.
1991		Atari ST Book Portfolio.
1992		Atari develops and launch the PC: Atari Falcon.
1993		The game console 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 Toy giant Hasbro takes over the stock market 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.

My CBS ColecoVision UK Atari Converter does not work with my French CBS Scart ColecoVision.
No picture and no Sound, it have to be a French version.

Please report so that any errors can be corrected

You are always welcome to write and edit topics on ColecoVision.dk, just send an e-mail.

Last updated :

June 29, 2020.
April 28, 2018.
November 10, 2017.
August 13, 2017.
April 02, 2017.
March 07, 2015.