List of Coleco Adam games
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
The Coleco Adam is a personal computer developed by Coleco from October 1983[1] to January 1985.[2]
Coleco released the computer as a separate unit and as Expansion Module #3 for its ColecoVision, which would upgrade the console to make it fully compatible with the Adam.[3] Earlier in its lifetime, the Adam suffered major defects leading to as many as 60 percent of the first batch of machines being returned. The negative publicity of the defects, along with a sluggish production rate after a late 1983 approval from the Federal Communications Commission, guaranteed dismal sales, including one missed figure in Christmas 1983 (only about 95,000 units shipped against the expected 500,000),[4] and software developers were hesitant to support the computer.[5] After failing to rectify its marred reputation despite repairing most of the defects, aggressive price cuts, and even a $500 scholarship program, Coleco discontinued the computer more than a year after its launch.[6]
One advantage of the Coleco Adam is that it is inherently fully compatible with all ColecoVision titles through its cartridge slot.[7] This list only contains games that natively support the computer and its features, which were usually released on proprietary Digital Data Pack cassette tapes.[8] For a separate list for ColecoVision, see list of ColecoVision games. Long after its support was dropped, a community of enthusiasts continues to provide hardware and software for the machine, including homebrew games.[9] Therefore, only games that have been noted by a publication are counted for inclusion.
Games[edit]
 |
| Name | Date | Genre | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010: The Text Adventure Game | 1984 | Interactive fiction | [10] | |
| A Christmas Adventure | Late 1984 | Adventure | [11] | |
| The Adam Home Software Library | Mid-1985 | Compilation | A package of 32 applications, six of which are games. | [12] |
| Adventure Pack I | Mid-1984 | Compilation, adventure | Developed by Victory Software. | [13]: 87 |
| Adventure Pack II | Mid-1984 | Compilation, adventure | Developed by Victory Software. | [13]: 87 |
| Best of B.C. | April 1985 | Compilation, action | Developed by Sydney Development Corporation in cooperation with Video Take-Out. Contains B.C.'s Quest for Tires and B.C. II: Grog's Revenge. Released noncommercially. | [14][15] |
| Best of Broderbund | January 1985 | Compilation, shooter | Contains A.E. and Choplifter. | [16] |
| Best of Electronic Arts | 1984 | Compilation | Contains Hard Hat Mack and Pinball Construction Set. | [17] |
| Bounty Hunter | Mid-1984 | Adventure | Developed by Victory Software. | [18] |
| Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom | October 1983 | Platform | The pack-in game. | [1] |
| Cabbage Patch Kids Picture Show | Late 1984 | Art, educational | [19]: 50 | |
| Campaign '84 | Q3 1984 | Simulation | Developed by Sunrise Software. | [13]: 88 [20] |
| Donkey Kong | Q2 1984 | Platform | [21] | |
| Donkey Kong Jr. | April 1984 | Platform | [22] | |
| Dragon's Lair | Q4 1984 | Interactive film | [23] | |
| Family Feud | 1984–5 | Game show | [19]: 18 | |
| Fantasy Gamer | May 1985 | Compilation, interactive fiction | Developed by Martin Consulting. Contains two games and an adventure game creator. | [24] |
| Games Pack I | May 1985 | Compilation | Developed by Victory Software. Contains three games. | [24] |
| Gust Buster | Q3 1984 | Action | Developed by Sunrise Software. | [13]: 88 |
| Jeopardy! | 1984–5 | Game show, quiz | [19]: 18 | |
| Mountain King | Q3 1984 | Platform | Developed by Sunrise Software. | [13]: 88 |
| Quest for Quintana Roo | Q3 1984 | Action-adventure | Developed by Sunrise Software. | [13]: 88 [25] |
| Richard Scarry's Best Electronic Word Book Ever | Q4 1984 | Educational | [26] | |
| Rolloverture | Q3 1984 | Educational, music, platform | Developed by Sunrise Software. | [13]: 88 [27] |
| SmartBASIC Bonanza | Late 1984 | Compilation | A package of 15 applications developed by Martin Consulting. Includes eight games. | [28] |
| Strategy Pack I | May 1985 | Compilation, strategy | Developed by Victory Software. Contains four games, including Othello. | [24] |
| SubRoc | 1984 | Shooter | [29] | |
| Trek | Q4 1984 | Strategy | Developed by Victory Software. | [30] |
| Wacky Word Games | 1984–5 | Word | [31][verification needed] | |
| The Wizard of Id's WizType | May 1985 | Educational, typing | Developed by Sydney Development Corporation. | [24] |
| Zaxxon | 1984 | Shooter | [29] |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Product Preview: Adam Plays Games". Popular Computing. Vol. 2, no. 12. October 1983. p. 142. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 114.
- ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 84.
- ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 106.
- ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 100.
- ^ Loguidice & Barton 2014, pp. 130–131.
- ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 85.
- ^ Loguidice & Barton 2014, p. 129.
- ^ Loguidice & Barton 2014, p. 131, 133.
- ^ Loguidice & Barton 2009, p. 379.
- ^ "New Software – Games". Popular Computing. Vol. 4, no. 2. December 1984. p. 187. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ "The Adam Home Software Library". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 4, no. 4. October 1985. p. 8. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Computer Entertainer". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 6. September 1984. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Time for Some Serious Sole-Searching?". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 4, no. 1. April 1985. p. 1. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Loguidice & Barton 2014, p. 120.
- ^ "The Best of Broderbund". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 11. February 1985. p. 151–160. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Barton, Matt; Loguidice, Bill (February 6, 2009). "The History of the Pinball Construction Set: Launching Millions of Creative Possibilities". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Coleco Adam Data Packs". News & Products. Compute!. No. 50. July 1984. p. 148. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Electronic Games". Electronic Games. Vol. 3, no. 4. April 1985. p. 18. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Weiss 2007, p. 173.
- ^ "Release schedule". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 2. May 1984. p. 32. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ "Donkey Kong Jr Ships for Adam". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 1. April 1984. pp. 14, 16. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ "New Games". Club Letters. TV Gamer. November 1984. p. 64. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Computer Entertainer". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 4, no. 3. June 1985. pp. 6–7, 14. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Weiss 2007, p. 189.
- ^ "Richard Scarry's Best Electronic Word Book Ever". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 9. December 1984. p. 132. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Weiss 2007, p. 191.
- ^ "SmartBASIC Bonanza". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 8. November 1985. p. 118. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "Doc Diagnoses a Software Shortage". Readers Replay. Electronic Games. Vol. 2, no. 15. October 1984. p. 16. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Trek". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 7. October 1984. p. 106, 112. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Wacky Word Games". Microcomputers in Education. Vol. 5, no. [, issue needed], . Queue, Inc. 1984–1985. p. [page needed]. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
Sources[edit]
- Feinstein, Keith (1997). Foreword. Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames. By Herman, Leonard (Second ed.). Rolenta Press. ISBN 0-9643848-2-5. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- Weiss, Brett (2007). Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-3226-4. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- Loguidice, Bill; Barton, Matt (2009). Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time. Focal Press. ISBN 978-0-240-81146-8. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- Loguidice, Bill; Barton, Matt (2014). Vintage Game Consoles: An Inside Look at Apple, Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, and the Greatest Gaming Platforms of All Time. Focal Press. ISBN 978-0-415-85600-3. Retrieved June 25, 2023.