ataridave Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I'd love to get one of these units but I've heard that the controllers are not as comfortable-specifically the pad or disc at the bottom of the controller. Has anyone found this to be the case?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I'd love to get one of these units but I've heard that the controllers are not as comfortable-specifically the pad or disc at the bottom of the controller. Has anyone found this to be the case?? You heard correct. I've owned all three systems and the second one is the least comfortable by far. It's as if the plastic is "harder" and the corners are more rigid and sharp. Only thing I liked about the system was its size. The fact the controllers are coiled and were removable (DB9 jack, like Atari) made absolutely no sense. Unless you're getting one for collecting purposes, I'd steer clear of that POS - IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaxda Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I don't really like this model as much as the original or Sears versions. The controllers are not as comfortable, and the buttons actually hurt my fingers more than the others. They seem much stiffer. I have one, but I never play it. My CC3 is plugged into the beastly original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 The INTV II controllers are horrendous, even for INTV controllers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rik Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I find the INTV and INTV 2 controllers frustrating for the maze games,other than that,i think they're okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ataridave Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 I'd love to get one of these units but I've heard that the controllers are not as comfortable-specifically the pad or disc at the bottom of the controller. Has anyone found this to be the case?? You heard correct. I've owned all three systems and the second one is the least comfortable by far. It's as if the plastic is "harder" and the corners are more rigid and sharp. Only thing I liked about the system was its size. The fact the controllers are coiled and were removable (DB9 jack, like Atari) made absolutely no sense. Unless you're getting one for collecting purposes, I'd steer clear of that POS - IMO. Gotcha, thanks for the opinions! My only concern would be what do to do if one of the controllers on the original Intellivision broke. Unless the build quality is really good and never a worry. I think that was part of the logic of making them detachable on the model II. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 One thing you'll want to keep in mind about the fire buttons is that they're not really "buttons" in the traditional sense; "pressure points" would be a better adjective. There is no tactile action or feedback to speak of, so you'll instinctively feel that you have to press them pretty hard to get them to do anything...which will destroy your thumb in short order. However, they are fairly responsive, and don't require much pressure to operate (this assumes the controller is working properly). I don't mind INTV II controllers, myself. Granted, they're not the best controller design of all time...they're probably not even in the Top 50...but they're also not as bad as they're made out to be, either. I'd even say they're more comfortable to use than Colecovision or Atari 7800 Proline joysticks. And if nothing else, they look pretty slick. Also, Wico made a joystick controller for Intellivision II, if I'm not mistaken. Apparently, it's identical to the Colecovision Wico stick...which may or may not be an improvement over the Intellivision II controller. I have the Coleco one, and the "buttons" are similar to those on the INTV II ("pressure points"), but are actually somehow even less comfortable; they seem less responsive. It does have a telephone-style keypad (meaning, actual buttons, which is excellent as long as you don't use overlays...not sure why they didn't use these for the fire buttons) and an actual joystick, but the stick's position at the bottom of the controller, where the disc would normally be, makes the controller kind of unwieldy, unless you use the stick-mounted fire button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smatchmo Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 (edited) I was gonna pick up an INTV2 rather than an INTV1 for pretty much the same reason: replaceable controllers. But I've read that INTV 2 has compatibility issues with some 3rd party games and that the redesigned controllers are actually more uncomfortable than the originals, so I'm gonna keep an eye for a decent, inexpensive(ish) first model like I used to have. Edited October 18, 2009 by Smatchmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tr3vor Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 get a sears model, it has changeable controllers, and they dont hurt your hand as much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApolloBoy Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 get a sears model, it has changeable controllers, and they dont hurt your hand as much. Seconded. The Super Video Arcade has controllers just like the original Intellivision but are removable like the INTV II, so you effectively get the best of both worlds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 But I've read that INTV 2 has compatibility issues with some 3rd party games and that the redesigned controllers are actually more uncomfortable than the originals, so I'm gonna keep an eye for a decent, inexpensive(ish) first model like I used to have. The Intellivision II is incompatible with four Coleco games (including Donkey Kong...what a loss) and, I believe, the Electric Company games (again...what a loss). IIRC, the sound's slightly funky on Shark! Shark! as well (sort of a loss; I'd be more bummed about that than not being able to play Donkey Kong), but not enough to affect gameplay. It's a seemingly universal misconception that all Coleco titles are incompatible with the Intellivision II. Carnival, Donkey Kong, Mouse Trap, and Venture are the only Coleco titles that don't work with the II...and really, you probably wouldn't miss them, anyway. Donkey Kong Jr., Lady Bug, Turbo, and Zaxxon, however, will indeed play on an Intellivision II, should you want to for some reason. As for the controllers...they work for me. I couldn't see using one for much longer than an hour (ditto for pretty much any pre-NES controller), but I don't hate them, either. I prefer them slightly to the original Intellivision controllers because they're a little "larger" (I use quotes because, although they look bulkier than INTV I controllers, INTV II controllers are really like five joined flat surfaces; the underside is hollow to allow space for the controller cord...it kinda looks like the bottom is missing). If you want compatibility with every game -and why not? Might as well have access to everything- then you'll want an "Intellivision I" (Intellivision/Tandyvision/Super Video Arcade/INTV System III/Super Pro System...my faves are the Tandy and the III). You just won't be able to use the ECS Computer add-on (which is cool, but probably won't be missed unless you're a hardcore Intellivision person) or System Changer (my money's on you probably already having an Atari VCS anyway). Why not get both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 The Intellivision II is incompatible with four Coleco games (including Donkey Kong...what a loss) and, I believe, the Electric Company games (again...what a loss). IIRC, the sound's slightly funky on Shark! Shark! as well (sort of a loss; I'd be more bummed about that than not being able to play Donkey Kong), but not enough to affect gameplay. It's a seemingly universal misconception that all Coleco titles are incompatible with the Intellivision II. Carnival, Donkey Kong, Mouse Trap, and Venture are the only Coleco titles that don't work with the II...and really, you probably wouldn't miss them, anyway. Donkey Kong Jr., Lady Bug, Turbo, and Zaxxon, however, will indeed play on an Intellivision II, should you want to for some reason. I was wondering why those games wouldn't work on my INTV 2. Now I know. I thought the games were broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 (edited) sorry... double post. Edited October 18, 2009 by atari2600land Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 (edited) Re: an Intellivision system, I wouldn't NOT purchase the original or model III because the controllers are not "detachable"... first off, they're pretty rugged actually and secondly, they *are* detachable, you just have to open up the system if need be. They're not hardwired or soldered directly to the motherboard. Not a big deal and those systems are easy to work on. Edited October 18, 2009 by save2600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic George 2K3 Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I just owned the INTV II, and I do like the flatter keys on the keypad in comparison to the bubbly ones on the original INTV. I do think they could have done a better job with the side action buttons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ataridave Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 Re: an Intellivision system, I wouldn't NOT purchase the original or model III because the controllers are not "detachable"... first off, they're pretty rugged actually and secondly, they *are* detachable, you just have to open up the system if need be. They're not hardwired or soldered directly to the motherboard. Not a big deal and those systems are easy to work on. Good to know, thanks! Yeah, I played some Intellivision games on this VH1 site, and I LOVE Astrosmash and Buzz Bombers! Although I do think that Astroblast on the 2600 is much more challenging because you get a lot less lives. Missing out on Coleco isn't a concern of mine with the model II, because their ports generally sucked. I've read that they did that on purpose to make the Colecovision games look better, and I'm starting to believe it. Although I do love Time Pilot on the 2600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremysart Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 The Intv II may not bear the best controller ever, but overall it is a great system. It is compact, and matches the great add-ons that came out for it. They also have great life expectancies. If you are looking for comfort in the Intv, get the Intv joystick adapters made by Intv Corp. They are for use on original, sears, and System III models only! They do NOT properly fit over the Intv II controller. Have fun, of the 30 some odd systems I own, Intv II is one of my favorites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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