Coleco Telstar
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The Telstar is a video game console produced by Coleco which first went on sale in 1976. Originally a pong clone based on General Instrument's AY-3-8500 chip, later versions of the Telstar included:
- Telstar - (model 6040, 1976) Three pong variants (hockey, handball, tennis), two paddle controllers fixed on console.
- Telstar Deluxe - (1977) AKA "Video World Of Sports", same as the Telstar but brown pedestal case with wood panel, made for Canadian market with French and English text.
- Telstar Classic - (model 6045, 1976) Same as the Telstar, woodgrain case.
- Telstar Ranger - (model 6046, 1977) Four pong games(hockey, handball, tennis, jai alai) and two gun games(target, skeet), black and white plastic case, includes light gun and separate paddle controllers.
- Telstar Alpha - (model 6030, 1977) Four pong games, black and white plastic case, fixed paddles.
- Telstar Colormatic - (model 6130, 1977) Same as the Telstar Alpha but color picture and separate paddles, uses a Texas Instruments SN76499N chip.
- Telstar Regent - (model 6036, 1977) Same as the Telstar Colormatic but no color.
- Telstar Sportsman - (1978) Case similar to Telstar Colormatic, but with light gun. Games and use of color unknown.
- Telstar Combat - (model 6065, 1977) Four variations on Kee Games' "Tank", four fixed joysticks (two per player), uses a General Instrument AY-3-8700 chip.
- Telstar Colortron - (model 6135, 1978) Four pong games, in color, built in sound, fixed paddles, uses AY-3-8510 chip.
- Telstar Marksman - (model 6136, 1978) Four pong games and two gun games in color, larger light gun with removable stock, fixed paddles, uses AY-3-8512 chip.
- Telstar Galaxy - Separate joysticks and fixed paddles, uses AY-3-8700 chip.
- Telstar Gemini - (1978) Four pinball games and two gun games in color, light gun, two flipper buttons on left and right sides of case, pinball launch button and field adjustment sliders on top, light gun, uses a MOS Technology MPS 7600 chip.
- Telstar Arcade - Cartridge-based, triangular case includes light gun, steering wheel with gear shift, and paddles, one on each side. Each cartridge includes a customized MOS Technology MPS-7600 chip and game programs stored in ROM.
The large product lineup and the impending fading out of the Pong machines lead Coleco to face near-bankruptcy in 1980.
External links
Coleco Telstar systems, with photos (http://www.pong-story.com/coleco.htm)