Techno Source

Lore & Background

Techno Source entered the retro gaming market by securing a licensing agreement with Intellivision in 2003, leading to the release of the Intellivision 25, a plug-and-play TV game system featuring 25 original Intellivision games. This was followed by the Intellivision 10, and later the two-player Intellivision X2 and the Intellivision 10 2nd Edition. According to the Blue Sky Rangers, the original programmers of the Intellivision games, Techno Source sold more Intellivision games than Mattel Electronics originally sold in the 1980s.

The company also partnered with Crayola in 2003 to produce electronic handheld games and plug-and-play units for pre-school users, including My First TV Play System and My First Electronic Coloring Book, both of which received awards. In 2005, Techno Source and Coleco reintroduced the 'Head-to-Head' handheld electronic games, allowing two players to compete in football, basketball, baseball, and soccer simultaneously. That same year, a licensing partnership with Sesame Street produced a series of handheld and TV games focused on entertainment and learning.

Techno Source expanded its licensing portfolio with Activision in 2006, developing TV plug-and-play systems and LCD handheld games based on 1980s properties such as Pitfall 2, River Raid, Chopper Command, Barnstorming, and Kaboom. Also in 2006, the company announced a line of electronic games based on the Rubik's Cube. The company's handheld Touch Screen Sudoku was nominated for Game of the Year by the Toy Industry Association in 2006, and a version with embedded Swarovski crystals was distributed at the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Reader's Guide

Techno Source's significance lies in its role as a bridge between classic video game properties and modern plug-and-play hardware, particularly through its Intellivision-licensed systems. By selling over one million units of its Intellivision 25 and 10 units, the company demonstrated a sustained market for retro gaming content, even surpassing the original sales of Intellivision games from the 1980s according to the original programmers. This success helped preserve and reintroduce classic game libraries to new audiences without requiring original hardware.

The company also contributed to the educational toy market through partnerships with Crayola and Sesame Street, earning multiple awards for its preschool-focused TV play systems and electronic coloring books. Its licensing deals with Coleco for Head-to-Head games and with Activision for 1980s titles further expanded the reach of classic multiplayer and arcade-style experiences. The nomination of its Touch Screen Sudoku for Toy Industry Association Game of the Year and its appearance at the Screen Actors Guild Awards highlighted the company's ability to blend casual gaming with premium design. Techno Source's acquisition by Li & Fung in 2011 marked the end of its independent operation, but its legacy includes reintroducing Intellivision games to a generation of players and earning recognition for child-friendly interactive products.

Did You Know?

• A version of its Touch Screen Sudoku with embedded Swarovski crystals was given out at the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
• The company's My First TV Play System and My First Electronic Coloring Book received the National Parenting Center's 'Seal of Approval' in 2004 and 2005.
• Techno Source announced a worldwide licensing agreement with Activision in 2006 to develop products based on 1980s properties including Pitfall 2 and River Raid.

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