Debuting in 1982, the ColecoVision was a powerhouse - the first home console capable of replicating arcade games with reasonable accuracy. With advanced graphics and sound and a sophisticated (albeit uncomfortable) controller, the ColecoVision was an undeniable generational leap above more rudimentary competitors like the Atari 2600 and Mattel Intelivision.

Fueled by the popularity of its pack-in game Donkey Kong (which Coleco cleverly licensed from Nintendo), the ColecoVision went on to sell over 2,000,000 systems - a remarkable accomplishment in an era dominated by Atari.

In addition to pushing the state of the art for graphics and sound in a home console, the ColecoVision also innovated in a variety of other ways. For example, in a bit of cheeky “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!” engineering, Coleco began selling the bulky “Expansion Module #1,” which allows the ColecoVision to play virtually all 523 games released for the Atari 2600. Additional ColecoVision Expansion Modules added an arcade-style steering wheel, a roller-ball controller, and even converted the ColecoVision into a full-featured home computer called the Coleco Adam.