Coleco Telstar Arcade

Lore & Background

The Coleco Telstar Arcade is formed like a triangle, with each side featuring different game-specific controls: a steering wheel and lever, a lightgun, and two paddles. Depending on the game played, the player may use another side. Games came on silver-colored cartridges, each containing a MOS Technology MPS-7600-00X chip. Every cartridge has a triangular shape which connects on the top of the console. A total of four cartridges were released for the system by Coleco. Cartridge 1 (chip MPS 7600–002) includes Road Race (1 player), Tennis (Pong clone; 2-4 players), and Quickdraw (1-2 players). Cartridge 2 (chip MPS 7600–001) includes Hockey (2-4 players), Tennis (2-4 players), Handball (1-2 players), and Target (1 player). Cartridge 3 (chip MPS 7600–004) includes Bonus Pinball (1-2 players), Shooting Gallery (1 player), Shoot the Bear (1 player), and Deluxe Pinball (1-2 players). Cartridge 4 (chip MPS 7600–003) includes Naval Battle (1 player), Blast Away (1 player), and Speedball (1 player).

Reader's Guide

The Coleco Telstar Arcade stands as the most advanced console in the Coleco Telstar series, notable for its triangular design that integrated three distinct control interfaces into a single unit. This allowed players to switch between a steering wheel, a lightgun, and paddles depending on the cartridge inserted, offering a variety of gameplay experiences from racing and shooting to traditional Pong-style tennis. The use of MOS Technology MPS-7600-00x microcontrollers, each storing 512 words of ROM, enabled the system to run multiple games per cartridge without additional hardware. Only four cartridges were released, collectively offering 14 distinct game modes. The console's release across Japan, North America, and Europe in 1977 placed it at the tail end of the first generation of home video game consoles, competing with other dedicated-chip systems. Its unique form factor and multi-game cartridges represented an early attempt at versatility in a market dominated by single-game or limited-switch consoles. The Telstar Arcade's legacy is tied to its experimental triangular chassis and its role as Coleco's most sophisticated entry in the Telstar line before the company shifted focus to the ColecoVision.

Did You Know?

• The Coleco Telstar Arcade is shaped like a triangle, with each side featuring different controls.
• Each cartridge contains a MOS Technology MPS-7600-00X chip capable of storing 512 words of ROM.
• Cartridge 1 includes a Pong clone called Tennis, supporting 2-4 players.