Summary
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Atari launches the Intellivision Sprint, a version inspired by the Mattel console from the 1980s;
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The console has a retro design, two wireless controllers and 45 built-in classic games;
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Pre-order is available for US$149.99; Deliveries are scheduled for December.
Nostalgia sells. Proof of this is that Atari has just launched a retro version of the iconic Intellivision, a game console that was announced in 1979 and was quite successful in the 1980s. With around 5 million sold at the time, the video game competed against Atari’s own consoles.
Does this mean, then, that Atari is reviving a competitor’s project? More or less. The original Intellivision was launched and distributed by Mattel and, in fact, competed for space with the Atari 2600 console, for example. However, the Intellivision brand and the rights to several of the company’s games were purchased by Atari in 2024.
It is based on this that Atari, in partnership with Plaion, launched the Intellivision Sprint, a reinterpretation of the popular console from the 1980s.
What does Intellivision Sprint offer?
It starts with the look, which is very similar to the original console, including the front detail that resembles wood.
A reinterpretation of the classic joystick, in a vertical format and vaguely reminiscent of a TV or telephone remote control, also appears here, with the difference that, in the Intellivision Sprint, the joystick is wireless. In fact, the video game comes with two of these controls, like the original console.
Connection to the TV or monitor is via an HDMI port. The new feature also has USB type A (traditional) ports that can be used to connect the original controls of the Intellivision I and II consoles, using adapters.
There is no support for cartridges. On the other hand, the console comes with 45 classic games integrated. They are:
- Armour Battle
- Astrosmash
- Auto Racing
- B-17 Bomber
- Baseball
- Body Slam: Super Pro Wrestling
- Bomb Squad
- Boulder Dash
- Bowling
- Buzz Bombers
- Chip Shot: Super Pro Golf
- Deep Pockets: Super Pro Pool & Billiards
- Frog Book
- Golf
- Hover Force
- King of the Mountain
- Motocross
- Mountain Madness: Super Pro Skiing
- Night Stalker
- Pinball
- I returned
- Sea Battle
- Shark! Shark!
- Slam Dunk: Super Pro Basketball
- Slap Shot: Super Pro Hockey
- Snafu
- Soccer
- Space Armada
- Space Battle
- Space Spartans
- Nail!: Super Pro Volleyball
- Stadium Mud Buggies
- Star Strike
- Sub Hunt
- Super Pro Decathlon
- Super Pro Football
- Takeover
- Tennis
- Thin Ice
- Thunder Castle
- Tower of Doom
- Triple Action (Racing Cars / Biplanes / Battle Tanks)
- Triple Challenge (Chess / Checkers / Backgammon)
- Utopia
- Vectron
Again preserving an idea of the original console, each game is accompanied by cards that must be placed on the controls and that serve as a guide for the game commands.
Intellivision Sprint availability and pricing
The Intellivision Sprint is already on pre-sale on the Atari website for US$149.99, which is equivalent to R$810 in direct conversion. Deliveries are expected to begin on December 5th of this year.
Source: https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/atari-lanca-intellivision-sprint-versao-retro-do-console-dos-anos-1980/
