Coleco Telstar Arcade
Info, platforms and system requirements for thousands of games
Coleco Telstar Arcade, the triangle with tricks
The Coleco Telstar Arcade arrived in 1977 as part of the first wave of home consoles, and it does not look like anything trying to be normal. Its triangular shell gave each side a different kind of control, so the machine practically asked you to move around it. Coleco put four cartridges on the system, all from 1977, and every one of them leans into that odd, hands-on setup in its own way.
What the Coleco Telstar Arcade is
The Telstar Arcade is the most advanced console in Coleco’s Telstar series, built around MOS Technology MPS-7600-00x chips. Each chip could store 512 words of ROM, which is a neat way of saying the system squeezed a lot into a very compact design. Its triangle shape is the real giveaway, though. One side has a steering wheel and lever, another uses a lightgun, and another has two paddles, so the console changes character with the game.
That unusual construction is not just a gimmick. It shapes how the console plays and why it stands out in the catalog. The Telstar Arcade was released in Japan, North America and Europe by Coleco in 1977, and every cartridge connects on top of the console in the same triangular form. It is a machine built around the idea that the hardware should be part of the game, not just the box under the TV.
Where to start in our catalog
If you want the full picture, begin with the four cartridges in our catalog. Cartridge #1 gives you Road Race, Tennis and Quickdraw. Cartridge #2 adds Hockey, Tennis, Handball and Target. Cartridge #3 goes in a different direction with Bonus Pinball, Shooting Gallery, Shoot the Bear and Deluxe Pinball. Cartridge #4 rounds things out with Naval Battle, Blast Away and Speedball. That is the whole shelf here, and it is all Coleco.
The names tell you a lot about what kind of evening you are signing up for. There is sports, shooting, pinball and naval combat, all compressed into a tiny 1977 lineup. Start wherever your mood points, then work through the rest. The console may be a triangle, but the appeal is very direct, choose a cartridge, choose a side, and let the hardware do its peculiar little dance.
FAQ
How many games are in the Coleco Telstar Arcade catalog here?
There are 4 games in the catalog, all released in 1977. The whole set comes from Coleco, which also appears as the developer with the most games here.
What makes the Coleco Telstar Arcade unusual?
Its triangular shape is the big clue. Different sides of the console use different controls, including a steering wheel and lever, a lightgun, and two paddles. The design changes depending on the game you play.
Which games should I look at first?
Start with Cartridge #1, Cartridge #2, Cartridge #3 and Cartridge #4. They include Road Race, Tennis, Quickdraw, Hockey, Handball, Target, Bonus Pinball, Shooting Gallery, Shoot the Bear, Deluxe Pinball, Naval Battle, Blast Away and Speedball.
When was the Coleco Telstar Arcade released?
It was released in 1977 in Japan, North America and Europe by Coleco. In this catalog, every game we list for it is also from 1977.
Data is based on Steam and may change. Always check the store page.