benw (03/22/83)
As one who was as gung-ho as anyone about Colecovision, I never
thought I would grow as disenchanted with the system as I have.
Actually, it is not the system I have complaints about, but Coleco
itself.
I have recently found that the expansion port on my unit doesn't
work, by trying to hook up an Atari adapter. The adapter does
work on other machines. It would cost me $40 to repair it, since
my machine is 6 months old and the warranty has long expired. There
was just no way for me to test it within the warranty period. Further,
my controllers are getting less and less responsive and the power
cord is slowly disintegrating. Do I have to spend as much to fix
the machine as the machine cost itself?
Coleco's marketing strategy leaves me bewildered. In this area (NJ)
there are many more Atari 5200 cartridges available than Colecovision
cartridges. Where are the 15 cartridges Coleco promised by
Christmas, 1982? Also, according to the latest issue of Electronic
Games, Coleco is including new controllers with their Baseball
and Skiing cartridges and planning to introduce still more
games-specific controllers. This may be great for the game, but
I have no desire to spend 60 or 70 dollars for each cartridge, a la
Turbo. Also, who needs a living room full of controllers?
Additionally, if rumors are true, Coleco's new memory expansion
unit will bring a re-release of all their existing cartridges.
Just terific. I'm sure not rebuying them.
I can only see this as more and more expense to look forward to.
The Colecovision is a superb game system, but it IS only a game
system (how will Coleco sell their keyboard...a key at a time?).
I just bought an Atari 800 computer, and I think I will
be bidding my Colecovision a fond but sad farewell. After all,
NOTHING matches Star Raiders...
Ben Weber pyuxjj!benw