Acknowledgement of those who made this FAQ possible, and are responsible for the fun that the worldwide Intellivision community shares.

Aside from explicitly-noted source information, content in this FAQ can be attributed to:

• The Intellivision FAQ by Larry Anderson (pub.intvprime.com/ba4ef/ie/FAQ/Intellivision-FAQ-v3-1995-with-Edits-from-Keith-Robinson.pdf)
• The Blue Sky Rangers official history website (history.blueskyrangers.com/)
• Intellivision Entertainment (intellivision.com/legacy)

nDISCLAIMER
The writers, collectors, compilers, and maintainers of this FAQ cannot and will not be held responsible for any damages done to the system or any impact to the life of the consumer of this resource. This is provided for informational purposes only. Any action that is described here may only be done at the risk and peril of the consumer. Whatever happens, it’s not our fault.

Intellivision is a home video game system released by Mattel Electronics in 1979. It was developed beginning in 1975 to be a total home entertainment system, expanding into a computer (using Keyboard Component). It was marketed for sophisticated consumer (compared to its main competitor the Atari VCS 2600 that had simple to learn fast games).

Intellivision is a portmanteau of "Intelligent" and "Television".

Mattel Electronics invented video game licensing and drove its popularity with sports games like NFL Football, Major League Baseball, NHL Hockey, NBA Basketball, and NASL Soccer.

The console has seen a resurgence in recent years among retro gaming enthusiasts.

Many thanks to Lee K. Seitz, who provided this information from his Classic Video Game Book & Periodical List. Notes on books are copyrighted by the individual authors; all video games are trademarked by their manufacturers.

(Author’s note: I’ve edited the list to only include pertinent information regarding the Intellivision, for more complete listings, please contact Mr. Seitz, and I’m sure that he’d be more than happy to e-mail you the complete list.)

DISCLAIMER
This list is Copyright 1995 by Lee K. Seitz. It may be freely redistributed in whole or in part, provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright holder.

FORMAT OF ENTRIES
Book entries are in alphabetical order by author. The format is as follows:

Author; Title; ISBN; Publisher; Date; Cover Price (in $US); Pages; Format (see abbreviations).
Arcade: List of games covered.
Home: List of systems covered (see abbreviations) (note 1).
Notes: Notes from people who have read it, indicated by user name (see thanks at end).

Note 1: The "Home" section is listed only if the specific games covered are not known. If they are known, the entry will read something like:

2600: KABOOM!, PAC-MAN, PITFALL!.
INTV: B-17 BOMBER, PITFALL!.

The names of all games are in ALL CAPS the first time they are referenced in connection to a book. This keeps users from worrying about mixed case when searching the document. This is also true of home systems that are not referenced often enough to have an abbreviation. Home system abbreviations are also in ALL CAPS.

Periodicals are in alphabetical order by title. The format is as follows:

Title; ISSN; Publisher; First Issue (date)-Last Issue (date); Frequency; Cover Price (in $US); Pages; Format (see abbreviations).
Covers: Arcade, home, computer, and/or handhelds.
Notes: Notes from people who have read it, indicated by user name (see thanks at end).

First and last issue numbers will be listed as they are in the periodical. This means either number (e.g. 1-20) or volume and issue number (e.g. v1n1-v2n8). If only issue numbers are used, this usually means that the entire run of the periodical is considered "volume 1." In such cases, if the periodical were to be cancelled and restarted, that would usually be considered "volume 2." Other publishers consider each year the periodical is published to be a separate volume.

ABBREVIATIONS
Formats refers to the size and binding, not the content

COL Coloring book
COM Comic book
GN Graphic Novel like a MAG with square binding; upscale COM
HC Hard cover (usually larger than a PB and smaller than a TPB)
MAG Magazine
NEWS Newsletter
PAM Pamphlet (approx. PB size, but no flat spine; staples instead)
PB Standard-sized paperback (or close to it)
TPB Trade paperback (larger than a PB)
Home Systems:

2600 Atari 2600
5200 Atari 5200
7800 Atari 7800
CHNF Channel F
CLCO Colecovision
INTV Intellivision
OD2 Odyssey 2
VECT Vectrex
Blanchet, Micheal; _How to Beat Atari, Intellivision, and Other Home Video Games 0-671-45909-0 Simon n Schuster (Fireside); 1982; $4.95; 128p; PB.
INTV: ARMOR BATTLE, ASTRO SMASH, SPACE ARMADA.
Notes: Illustrated by R.B. Backhaus. Also contains a chapter on "Converting the Atari Joystick for Left-Handed Use." (mvcooley)

Blumenthal, Howard J.; The Complete Guide to Electronic Games; [ISBN?]; [Publisher?]; 1981; $[?]; [?]p; [Format?].
Home: 2600, INTV, OD^2.
Notes: Concentrates on hand-held video games as well as home systems such as the Atari 2600, Intellivision, Odyssey, APF, etc. (rbarbaga)

Blumenthal, Howard J.; _The Media Room: Creating Your Own Home Entertainment and Information Center; 0-140-46538-3; Penguin Books; 1983; $9.95; 184p; TPB.
Home: 2600, 5200, CLCO, INTV, PONG, ODYSSEY.
Notes: Contains a single chapter on "Videogames" [sic], although there are other mentions throughout the book. This chapter give a very brief history of video games, starting with coin-op Pong and quickly switching to home systems. It concentrates on the 2600 and Intellivision, although the recently released 5200 and Colecovision are also mentioned. Also contains some nice B&W pictures of the 2600, Intellivision, and 5200. (lkseitz)

Cohen, Daniel; Video Games; 0-671-45872-8; Pocket Books; 1982; $1.95; 120p; PB.
Home: 2600, CLCO, INTV, OD^2.
Notes: Adolescent level book that discusses how video games work and their history. Contains lots of nice B&W photos of arcade games, home game consoles, some Intellivision screen shots (from before the games were officially named), and more. (lkseitz)

Cohen, Daniel & Susan; The Kid’s Guide to Home Computers; 0-671-49361-2; Pocket Books; 1983; $1.95; 118p; PB.
Home: 2600, INTV, CLCO, OD^2.
Notes: Though this book would seemingly be only about computers, it contains a fair amount of video game information also. Contains several B&W system and game photos of several systems (INTV, Odyssey, Coleco, Adam, Aquarius, 800, Apple, C-64, Vic 20, etc.)! Also contains some INTV computer system game shots of these unreleased games: Number Jumbler, Flintstones: Keyboard Fun, Game Maker and Basic Programmer. Also contains a section on peripherals that covers joysticks (Spectravideo, Coleco Super Action), printers, monitors, etc. (APDF35D) Has a "turn your game system into a computer" section, which features a brief discussion of ADAM, Aquarius, INTV and 2600 computer add-ons, as well as a mention of an INTELLIVISION-III (not the INTV-III) with battery operated controls and built-in speech synth. Interesting. (jmcdonald)

Dodd, John Carroll; A Study of the Toy Market, Videogame [sic] Industry, Pysychological Role of Toys, and Toy Construction in Relation to a Proposed Promotion Campaign for Mattel Electronics Intellivision Video System; NO ISBN; NO PUBLISHER; 1982; NO PRICE; 56p; bound photocopy.
Home: INTV
Notes: Okay, so it isn’t a book. It’s a School of Art honors paper at Kent State University. It was too good to pass up. If anyone goes to K.S.U. to look it up, I’d appreciate a photocopy. (lkseitz)

Hirschfeld, Tom; How to Master Home Video Games; 0-553-20195-6; Bantam; 1982; $2.95; 198p; PB.
INTV: ARMOR BATTLE, ASTROSMASH, SEA BATTLE, SPACE ARMADA, SPACE BATTLE.
Notes: Each game is presented with a B&W illustration of the board with pointers to what each part of the screen represents and then has the following sections in outline format: controls, scoring, dangers, observations, and strategies. The following games also have a game variation matrix (in case you lose your manual, I guess): Asteroids, Combat, Missile Command, Space Invaders, and Warlords. Also includes sections on high scores, clubs, exact instructions on how to find the secret room in Adventure, some arcade games, and manufacturer addresses. For the completist, the arcade games are DEFENDER, PAC-MAN, ASTEROIDS, CENTIPEDE, SCRAMBLE, PHOENIX, GORF, GALAXIAN, BERZERK, and ASTEROIDS DELUXE. (lkseitz)

Hoye, David; The Family Playbook for Intellivision Games; 0-8065-0799-3; Citadel; 1982; $5.95; 188p; [Format?].
Home: INTV.
Notes: Early Intellivision titles, detailed info. (jlodoen)

Kubey, Craig; The Winners’ Book of Video Games; 0-446-37115-7; Warner Books; 1982; $5.95; 270p; TPB.
INTV: BLACKJACK, LAS VEGAS POKER, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, NFL FOOTBALL, SPACE BATTLE.
Notes: Includes a smattering of B&W photos and illustrations. This includes photos of the controls of Asteroids, Defender, Pac-Man, and Missile Command, plus a photo of the never-released Keyboard Component for the Intellivision I. Be warned that some of the home games listed are brief reviews as opposed to playing tips. Also includes sections on "Great Video Game Arcades in the United States and Canada," "Video Game Etiquette," "Video Songs" (songs to play by, not generally specifically about video games), "The Future," "Videomedicine," "Video Reform," history & status of the coin-op and home industries, and a "Glossary of Video Slang," some of which I’ve never heard. (lkseitz)

Rovin, Jeff; The Complete Guide to Conquering Video Games: How to Win at Every Game in the Galaxy; 0-020-29970-2 (PB); Collier Books; 1982; $5.95 (PB); 407p; PB, HC.
INTV: ABPA BACKGAMMON, ARMOR BATTLE, ASTROSMASH, AUTO RACING, BASKETBALL, BOXING, CHECKERS, DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, THE ELECTRIC COMPANY MATH FUN, THE ELECTRIC COMPANY WORD FUN, HORSE RACING, LAS VEGAS POKER AND BLACKJACK, LAS VEGAS ROULETTE, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, NASL SOCCER, NFL FOOTBALL, NHL HOCKEY, PBA BOWLING, PGA GOLF, SEA BATTLE, SNAFU, SPACE ARMADA, SPACE BATTLE, TENNIS, TRIPLE ACTION, U.S. SKI TEAM SKIING.
Notes: [Some of the above names might not be actual cartridges, but just some games from a cartridge, due to the way the book is organized. If you see an entry that should be changed or entries that should be folded into one, please let me know. (lkseitz)] Includes index. By the editor of and could order from Videogaming Illustrated (see periodicals). There also exists a hardback edition. It is labeled "special book club edition" on the inside flap of the dust cover. Games were grouped by type (i.e. Atari’s Surround includes hints on Intellivision’s Snafu and Bally’s Checkmate) because the hints were virtually the same. Each game types has the following sections: object, rating, strategies, cross-references, and video originals. Each game also has a simple cartoon/illustration to go with it. Also includes chapters on taking care of your video games, computer games, the future of video gaming, and a glossary. (lkseitz)

Stern, Sydney Ladenshohn and Ted Schoenhaus; Toyland: The High-Stakes Game of the Toy Industry; [ISBN?]; [Publisher?]; [Date?]; $[?]; [?]p; [Format?].
Home: 2600, CLCO, INTV.
Notes: It’s a history on the toy industry with a great chapter on video games. It’s got detailed information on Atari’s downfall but also quite a bit about Mattel and Coleco plus some stories about 3rd party developers. Later in the book it focuses on the industry circa 1988-9. (rbarbaga)

Stovall, Rawson; The Video Kid’s Book of Home Video Games; 0-385-19309-2; Doubleday & Co. (Dolphin); 1984; $6.95; 140p; TPB?.
Home: 2600, 5200, CLCO, INTV, OD^2, VECT.
Notes: The 11-year-old author reviews more than 80 video games available for the six different systems available at the time, and offers advice on strategy.

Sullivan, George; How to Win at Video Games; 0-590-32630-9; Scholastic; 1982; $1.95; 175p; PB.
Home: 2600, INTV, OD^{2, CHNF.
Notes: To emphasize the importance of Pac-Man on classic video games, note that each of the above games is a section of a single chapter, except Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, which are contained within their own chapter. It also covers the Atari 2600 Pac-Man and the Coleco table-top. Each games is described with a B&W illustration (not to scale), a brief description, and sections on the controls, scoring, and strategy & tactics. There is also a chapter on home systems, listing "the five companies that offer home video games" (Atari VCS, Intellivision, Odyssey}2, ActiVision [sic], and Channel F). Another on handheld and table-model games, and finally "Great Dates in Video Games", which includes the Arkie awards up to 1982, and a brief glimpse of the future. (lkseitz)

Worley, Joyce; Video Games; [ISBN?]; Dell Publishing Co., Inc.; 1982; $0.69; 64p; PAM?.
Home: 2600, ASTROCADE, CLCO, INTV, OD^2.
Notes: Contains instructions for playing arcade games as well as some hints on how to beat them (this is bottom of the barrel stuff here). Takes 3 pages out for home video game systems (basically just to say buy one if you like playing these kinds of games). No ISBN number, but it’s #9280 in the series. (APDF35D)

6.3 – Magazines
Activisions; [ISSN?]; Activision; 1 ([Date?])-[Issue?] ([Date?]); quarterly; free; [?]p; NEWS.
Covers: HOME (2600, [more?]).
Notes: Ran through at least #7 (Fall 1983).

Blip; NO ISSN; Marvel Comics Group; 1 (Feb 1983)-7 (Aug 1983); monthly; $1.00; 32p; COM.
Covers: ARCADE, HOME.
Notes: Marvel tried to get in on the video game fad. As you can see, it didn’t last long. Despite the size, this was a magazine and not a comic book. It was aimed more at younger readers than adult, but is still enjoyable. It also has some good cartoons. (Did you know that all Donkey Kong wanted was for someone to scratch behind his ears? 😎 (lkseitz)

Digital Press; NO ISSN; Digital Press; [Issue?] ([Date?])-[Issue?] ([Date?]); bimonthly?; $10/6 issues; [?]p; [Format?].
Covers: HOME.
Notes: STILL IN PRINT. A subscription (6 issues) to DP is $10. Make checks payable to Joe Santulli at:

Digital Press
44 Hunter Place
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442

You can contact Digital Press at digitpress@aol.com.

Electronic Games; 0730-6687; Reese Publishing Co.; v1n1 (Winter 1982?)-v3n4 (April 1985?); monthly (through Jan 1984), then bimonthly?; $2.95; [?]p; MAG.
Covers: ARCADE, HOME, [more?].
Notes: The very first video game magazine. The name was changed to Computer Entertainment with the May 1985 issue. (wal) It is known that the Mar 1982 issue is vol. 1, no. 2.

JoyStik; [ISSN?] (LCCN sf93-91365); Publications International, Ltd.; v1n1 (Sep 1982)-[Issue?] ([Date?]); "six times a year"; $2.95; 64p; MAG.
Covers: ARCADE, HOME, COMPUTER.
Notes: Ran through at least v2n3 (Dec 1983). Color. Many screen shots. By the same publisher who did the Consumer Guide books.

Ken Uston’s Newsletter on Video Games; [ISSN?]; New American Library, Inc.; [Issue?] ([Date?])-[Issue?] ([Date?]); [Frequency?]; $9.95/year; [?]p; NEWS.
Covers: [Info?]
Notes: Advertised in back of Ken Uston’s Home Video ’83 and Score!. Unknown if it was ever actually published.

Video Games; 0733-6780; Pumpkin Press Inc.; v1n1 (Aug 1982)-v2n? (Mar 1984); bimonthly (Aug 1982-Dec 1982), monthly (Jan 1983-Jan 1984); $2.95; 84p (Dec 1982), 106p (Feb 1983), 82p (all others); MAG.
Covers: ARCADE, HOME, COMPUTER, HANDHELD.
Notes: This was a full color magazine. In had many photos of cabinets, consoles, handhelds, and screens. Beginning with the March 1983 issue, the back page had stats on the best selling home games, top earning arcade games, and selected scores from the Twin Galaxies International Scoreboard. This magazine is of no relation to the current VideoGames (one word) magazine. (lkseitz)

Video Games Player; [ISSN?]; [Publisher?]; 1 (Fall 1982)-[Issue?] (1983?); $[?]; [?]p; MAG.
Covers: HOME, [more?].
Notes: [Info?]

Videogaming Illustrated; 0739-4373 (LCCN sn83-8303); Ion International, Inc.; Aug 1982-[Date?]; "bimonthly in Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec"; $2.75 (Aug 1982), $2.95 (Feb 1983); 66p (Aug 1982), 74p (Feb 1983); MAG.
Covers: ARCADE, HOME.
Notes: Ran through at least Sep 1983. Color and B&W. Can you tell I only have two issues of this? 8) (lkseitz)

Internet and BBS Resources
World Wide Web pages:

• Blue Sky Rangers Website (www.webcom.com/~makingit/bluesky/)
  — If anything could be considered an "official" source of information on the Intellivision, this is as close as it comes. The page defies description, you’ll just need to point your web browser at it and check it out!

• The History of Home Video Games Web Page (www.sponsor.net/~gchance)
  — A very complete page containing information for all kinds of systems, but specifically has overlay scans for the INTV, as well as the text for some of the instruction manuals. If you have manuals/overlays for some of the less common games, do the community a favor and send them Greg’s way!! This page also has links to other video-game related information.

• VGR’s Video Game Home Page (www.wam.umd.edu/~vgriscep/)
  — Another great page, home of the ever-famous .50 Chase The Chuckwagon scan. Also contains lots of cool Intellivision stuff, including VGR’s Giant List of Intellivision games.

• Sean Kelly’s Homepage (home.xnet.com/~skelly/)
  — Not a whole lot here yet, but has great potential =) Sean has a very good selection of Intellivision games for sale, his lists for these and any other carts/hardware he has for sale are listed here.

• Bay Area Video Game Enthusiast’s Home Page (www.best.com/~insane)
  — Home page for the San Francisco Bay Area’s classic video game collector’s group, and soon to be home to the HTML version of this FAQ.

• DougM’s Super Summer Homepage (www.freenet.edmonton.ab.ca/~dougm/)
  — Doug’s an all-around Intellivision guy =) This page contains his Big List of Mattel stuff, as well as a text-only copy of this FAQ.

• Newsgroups:
  — alt.games.video.classic
  –* Discussion of classic (pre-crash) game systems and software. This group may not be available on all sites, and this group does not have very much traffic.
  — rec.games.video.classic
  –* Discussions about any classic (pre-crash) game system are fair play here… If you have a question (and ask nicely), one of the 40 or so people who lurk about regularly will be happy to help you =)
  — rec.games.video.marketplace
  –* If it’s a video game, and someone is selling it (or looking to purchase it), you can probably find it here. Please note that this newsgroup is intended for posting of items for sale or items wanted ONLY; discussions about items should be kept to r.g.video.classic. This newsgroup is not limited to the classic systems.
  — rec.games.video.intellivision
  –* Some ISP’s support this, most don’t, so I would recommend sticking to rec.games.video.classic… However, kinda nice to see a group for my favorite system =)
  — FTP Sites:
  –* (anyone??)
  — BBSs:
  –* Watch this space for information….

Larry is the original creator of The Intellivision FAQ, and collected the initial set of information that made this possible. Many, many people have referred to his original document to learn about this fun game system. We carry a debt of appreciation to Larry for letting us continue this corpus of knowledge.