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

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2023)
List of Coleco Adam games
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

References

  1. ^ a b "Product Preview: Adam Plays Games". Popular Computing. Vol. 2, no. 12. October 1983. p. 142. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 114.
  3. ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 84.
  4. ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 106.
  5. ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 100.
  6. ^ Loguidice & Barton 2014, pp. 130–131.
  7. ^ Feinstein 1997, p. 85.
  8. ^ Loguidice & Barton 2014, p. 129.
  9. ^ Loguidice & Barton 2014, p. 131, 133.
  10. ^ Loguidice & Barton 2009, p. 379.
  11. ^ "New Software – Games". Popular Computing. Vol. 4, no. 2. December 1984. p. 187. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  12. ^ "The Adam Home Software Library". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 4, no. 4. October 1985. p. 8. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "Computer Entertainer". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 6. September 1984. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  14. ^ "Time for Some Serious Sole-Searching?". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 4, no. 1. April 1985. p. 1. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  15. ^ Loguidice & Barton 2014, p. 120.
  16. ^ "The Best of Broderbund". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 11. February 1985. p. 151–160. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Coleco Adam Data Packs". News & Products. Compute!. No. 50. July 1984. p. 148. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c "Electronic Games". Electronic Games. Vol. 3, no. 4. April 1985. p. 18. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Weiss 2007, p. 173.
  21. ^ "Release schedule". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 2. May 1984. p. 32. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  22. ^ "Donkey Kong Jr Ships for Adam". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 1. April 1984. pp. 14, 16. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  23. ^ "New Games". Club Letters. TV Gamer. November 1984. p. 64. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Weiss 2007, p. 189.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ Weiss 2007, p. 191.
  28. ^ "SmartBASIC Bonanza". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 8. November 1985. p. 118. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  29. ^ a b "Doc Diagnoses a Software Shortage". Readers Replay. Electronic Games. Vol. 2, no. 15. October 1984. p. 16. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  30. ^ "Trek". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 3, no. 7. October 1984. p. 106, 112. ISSN 0890-2143. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  31. ^ "Wacky Word Games". Microcomputers in Education. Vol. 5, no. &#91, issue needed&#93, . Queue, Inc. 1984–1985. p. [page needed]. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

Sources

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