Note: The collective of former Intellivision developers who ran Intellivision Productions through the 90s into the 2010s have a website featuring information as they remember it, as well as from internal documentation. While these are good sources of information, contemporary reporting and advertising is still relied upon for these dates when possible given the variety of production and distribution issues reported on during the Intellivision’s lifespan on the market. Also used as a general source is an internal sales document graciously shared with me that lists the year that games shipped for all first-party games up into June 1983; while this does not indicate that games were for sale, outside of year-end edge cases it’s a pretty good guide.
1979
NOVEMBER:
Mattel plans for a test market launch for the fall of 1979 in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, while Sylvania would have its own test launch for its own branded version of the Intellivision in Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Mattel’s test launch ultimately is scrapped, but Sylvania goes through with theirs. The Blue Sky Rangers indicate a Mattel-branded test launch did take place at Gottschalks stores around Fresno, California, however, and a handful of newspaper ads have turned up that bear this out. – Source: Weekly Television Digest, October 15 1979; Weekly Television Digest, November 12, 1979; Weekly Television Digest, November 26, 1979; Modesto Bee, December 7 1979; Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; San Francisco Examiner, December 23 1979; Blue Sky Rangers Intellivision History
APBA Backgammon – Source: Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; Mattel cartridge shipment memo, November 23 1983; Allentown Morning Call, February 17 1980; Blue Sky Rangers game list
Armor Battle – Source: Allentown Morning Call, February 17 1980; Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; Mattel cartridge shipment memo, November 23 1983; Blue Sky Rangers game list
Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack– Source: Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; Mattel cartridge shipment memo, November 23 1983; Blue Sky Rangers game list
Math Fun – Source: Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; Mattel cartridge shipment memo, November 23 1983; Blue Sky Rangers game list
1980
FEBRUARY:
Mattel begins its broader test marketing for the Intellivision in the Los Angeles, New York and Chicago regions, and begins advertising nationally in May; the Intellivision is widely available by the fall. – Source: Weekly Television Digest, November 26 1979; Weekly Television Digest, April 14 1980; Allentown Morning Call, February 17 1980; Santa Ana Orange Counter Register, March 27 1980
Checkers – Source: Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; Santa Ana Orange Counter Register, March 27 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Major League Baseball – Source: Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; Santa Ana Orange Counter Register, March 27 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list
NBA Basketball – Source: Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; Santa Ana Orange Counter Register, March 27 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list
NFL Football – Source: Allentown Morning Call, February 17 1980; Modesto Bee, December 10 1979; Santa Ana Orange Counter Register, March 27 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list
MAY:
Auto Racing: Allentown Morning Call, February 17 1980; Honolulu Star Bulletin, May 28 1980; Los Angeles Times, November 9 1980; Frederick The News, December 3 1980;
NHL Hockey – Source: Allentown Morning Call, February 17 1980; Honolulu Star Bulletin, May 28 1980; New York Daily News, July 2 1980; Santa Ana Orange County Register, November 30 1980; Muncie Star Press, September 5 1981; Modesto Bee, September 13 1981;Blue Sky Rangers game list
OCTOBER:
Sea Battle – Source: St. Joseph Herald Palladium, December 24 1980; Blue Sky Rangers game list
Space Battle – Source: Alton Telegraph, October 11 1980; St. Joseph Herald Palladium, December 24 1980; Blue Sky Rangers game list
NOVEMBER:
Horse Racing – Source: Santa Ana Orange County Register, November 30 1980; Frederick The News, December 3 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list
NASL Soccer – Source: Dover Times Reporter, November 27 1980; Blue Sky Rangers game list; St. Joseph Herald Palladium, December 24 1980
Word Fun – Source: Blue Sky Rangers game list; Santa Ana Orange Counter Register, November 30 1980
DECEMBER:
Las Vegas Roulette – Source: Santa Ana Orange County Register, November 30 1980; Dover Times Reporter, November 26 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list
PGA Golf – Source: Dover Times Reporter, November 27 1980; Los Angeles Times, November 9 1980; Blue Sky Rangers game list; St. Joseph Herald Palladium, December 24 1980
Tennis – Source: Dover Times Reporter, November 27 1980; Los Angeles Times, November 9 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list; Mattel Electronics internal sales memo, dated Nov. 23 1983
US Ski Team Skiing – Source: Los Angeles Times, November 9 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list; Mattel Electronics internal sales memo, dated Nov. 23 1983
1981
OCTOBER:
Boxing – Source: Coshocton Tribune, November 25 1981; Dover Times Reporter, November 27 1980; Electronic Games, May 1982; Merchandising, October 1981; Merchandising, December 1981;Blue Sky Rangers game list; Toy & Hobby World, October 1981
PBA Bowling – Source: Fairbanks Daily News Miner, November 25 1981; Coshocton Tribune, November 25 1981; Merchandising, October 1981; Merchandising, December 1981;Blue Sky Rangers game list; Toy & Hobby World, October 1981
NOVEMBER:
Astrosmash – Source: Modesto Bee, September 13 1981; Anderson Daily Bulletin, November 20 1981; Fort Lauderdale News, November 14 1981; Coshocton Tribune, November 25 1981;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Snafu – Source: Richardson Daily News, November 26 1981; Coshocton Tribune, November 25 1981; Fort Lauderdale News, November 14 1981; Anderson Bulletin, January 9 1982; Panama City News Herald, January 13 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Space Armada – Source: Modesto Bee, September 13 1981; Fort Lauderdale News, November 14 1981; Garden City Telegraph, October 3 1980;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Triple Action – Source: Fort Lauderdale News, November 14 1981; Coshocton Tribune, November 25 1981; Richardson Daily News, November 26 1981; Passaic Herald News, January 31 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
1982
JANUARY:
Star Strike – Source: Passaic Herald News, January 31 1982; Appleton Post Crescent, January 31 1982; Asbury Park Press, February 4 1982; Fort Lauderdale News, May 14 1982; Blue Sky Rangers game list
JUNE:
Night Stalker – Source: Computer Entertainer, July 1982; Great Falls Tribune, June 11 1982; Des Moines Tribune, June 16 1982; Fort Lauderdale News, June 18 1982; Salina Journal, June 20 1982; Baltimore Sun, August 15 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Reversi – Source: Burlington Free Press, June 9 1982; Detroit Free Press, June 12 1982; Salem Statesman Journal, June 27 1982; Austin American Statesman, July 2 1982; Anderson Daily Bulletin, June 30 1982; Winnipeg Free Press, July 2 1982; Fort Lauderdale News, June 18 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Space Hawk – Source: Computer Entertainer, July 1982; Great Falls Tribune, June 11 1982; Des Moines Tribune, June 16 1982; Fort Lauderdale News, June 18 1982; Daily Herald Suburban Chicago, July 30 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Sub Hunt – Source: Computer Entertainer, July 1982; Salina Journal, June 20 1982; Fort Worth Star Telegram, July 25 1982; Winnipeg Free Press, July 31 1982; Baltimore Sun, August 15 1982; Daily Herald Suburban Chicago, August 12 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Utopia – Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, January 12 1982; Salem Statesman Journal, June 27 1982; Austin American Statesman, July 2 1982; New York Daily News, July 14 1982; Fort Worth Star Telegram, July 25 1982; Blue Sky Rangers game list
JULY:
Frog Bog – Source: Computer Entertainer, July 1982; Computer Entertainer, September 1982; Salem Statesman Journal, June 27 1982; Daily Oklahoman, September 4 1982; Austin American Statesman, July 2 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
SEPTEMBER:
The Intellivoice add-on module was likely released this month. – Source: Computer Entertainer, April 1982; Computer Entertainer, August 1982; Port Huron Times Herald, September 2 1982;
B-17 Bomber – Source: Computer Entertainer, August 1982; Computer Entertainer, October 1982; Los Angeles Times, September 25 1982; Port Huron Times Herald, September 2 1982; Pensacola News Journal, October 10 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Bomb Squad – Source: Computer Entertainer, August 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Donkey Kong – Source: New York Daily News, September 15 1982; Los Angeles Times, September 25 1982; Boston Globe, September 19 1982; Des Moines Register, January 1 1983; Park City Daily News, September 26 1982
Lock ‘N’ Chase – Source: Port Huron Times Herald, September 2 1982; Los Angeles Times, September 25 1982; New York Daily News, September 15 1982; Daily Oklahoman, September 4 1982; Park City Daily News, September 26 1982; Blue Sky Rangers game list
Space Spartans – Source: Computer Entertainer, August 1982; Computer Entertainer, October 1982; Los Angeles Times, September 25 1982; Port Huron Times Herald, September 2 1982; Pensacola News Journal, October 10 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
OCTOBER:
Mattel determined the Keyboard component was not worth doing a wide release for following the New Orleans and Seattle test markets. – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1982
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1982; Ottawa Citizen, September 8 1982; White Plains Journal News, September 5 1982; Orlando Sentinel, October 7 1982; Pensacola News Journal, October 10 1982; Bradenton Herald, October 13 1982; Democrat and Chronicle, October 17 1982; Port Huron Times Herald, October 21 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Atlantis – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1982; Park City Daily News, September 26 1982; San Francisco Examiner, October 10 1982
Beauty and the Beast – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1982; San Francisco Examiner, October 10 1982;
Carnival – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1982
Demon Attack – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1982; Park City Daily News, September 26 1982; San Francisco Examiner, October 10 1982
Microsurgeon – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1982; Park City Daily News, September 26 1982; San Francisco Examiner, October 10 1982
TRON Deadly Discs – Source: Park City Daily News, September 26 1982; Computer Entertainer, October 1982; Bradenton Herald, October 13 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
NOVEMBER:
Pitfall! – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1982
Stampede – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1982
TRON Maze-a-Tron – Source: Park City Daily News, September 26 1982; Computer Entertainer, December 1982;Blue Sky Rangers game list
DECEMBER:
Royal Dealer – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1982; Computer Entertainer, January 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
1983
JANUARY:
Dragonfire – Source: Computer Entertainer, February 1983
Mouse Trap – Source: Computer Entertainer, February 1983
Shark! Shark! – Source: Computer Entertainer, February 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Sharp Shot – Source: Computer Entertainer, February 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Venture – Source: Computer Entertainer, February 1983
FEBRUARY:
Swords & Serpents – Source: Computer Entertainer, February 1983; Odessa American, March 27 1983
TRON Solar Sailer – Source: Computer Entertainer, February 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
MARCH:
Dracula – Source: Computer Entertainer, April 1983; Odessa American, March 27 1983
Ice Trek – Source: Computer Entertainer, March 1983; Odessa American, March 27 1983
USCF Chess – Computer Entertainer, March 1983; Computer Entertainer, April 1983; Los Angeles Times, March 5 1983; Herald News, March 20 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Vectron – Source: Computer Entertainer, April 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
APRIL:
Frogger – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1983
Nova Blast – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1983, Odessa American, March 27 1983
Truckin’ – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1983, Odessa American, March 27 1983
MAY:
Happy Trails – Source: Computer Entertainer, June 1983
Safecracker – Source: Computer Entertainer, June 1983
Tropical Trouble – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1983, Odessa American, March 27 1983
White Water – Source: Computer Entertainer, June 1983, Odessa American, March 27 1983
JUNE:
Burgertime – Source: Computer Entertainer, July 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Lady Bug – Source: Computer Entertainer, June 1983
JULY:
Buzz Bombers – Source: Computer Entertainer, July 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Mission X – Source: Computer Entertainer, July 1983; Blue Sky Rangers game list; Spokesman Review, December 1 1983
AUGUST:
Popeye – Source: Computer Entertainer, September 1983
Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back – Source: Computer Entertainer, September 1983
Tutankham – Source: Computer Entertainer, September 1983
Zaxxon – Source: Computer Entertainer, September 1983
SEPTEMBER:
Beamrider – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1983
Blockade Runner – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1983
Dreadnaught Factor – Source: Computer Entertainer, September 1983
Q*Bert – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1983; Montreal Gazette, September 17 1983
Sewer Sam – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1983
OCTOBER:
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin – Source: Computer Entertainer, November 1983; Blue Sky Rangers game list; South Bend Tribune, December 9 1983; Spokesman Review, December 1 1983
Donkey Kong Junior – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1983
Fathom – Source: Computer Entertainer, September 1983
Motocross – Source: Computer Entertainer, November 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Pinball – Source: Computer Entertainer, November 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Worm Whomper – Source: Computer Entertainer, November 1983; Activision press release
NOVEMBER:
Bump ‘N’ Jump – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Kool-Aid Man – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
DECEMBER:
The Intellivision ECS module reportedly came out this month, and though its games seem to be in short supply given Mattel’s exit from the video game market in 1984 and a lack of evidence, those not named in CE or other advertising are being placed into this month accordingly. – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Centipede – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1983; Computer Entertainer, January 1984
Congo Bongo – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1983
Defender – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1983
Jetson’s Way With Words – Source: Blue Sky Rangers game list
Loco-Motion – Source: Computer Entertainer, November 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Melody Blaster – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1983;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Mr. BASIC Meets Bits ‘N’ Bytes – Source:Blue Sky Rangers game list
Pac-Man (Later rereleased by INTV) – Source: Computer Entertainer, January 1984
Scooby Doo’s Maze Chase – Source:Blue Sky Rangers game list
1984
Mattel sells Intellivision rights to a former executive, who then forms INTV Corporation and begins selling Intellivision hardware and software through mail order by the end of the year. Source: Blue Sky Rangers history
JANUARY:
River Raid – Source: Computer Entertainer, January 1984; Activision press release
Turbo – Source: Computer Entertainer, February 1984
JUNE:
Mind Strike – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1984;Blue Sky Rangers game list; Spokesman Review, December 1 1983
World Series Major League Baseball – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1984;Blue Sky Rangers game list
1985
In Europe the Intellivision saw Championship Tennis and World Cup Soccer. – Source:Blue Sky Rangers game list
OCTOBER:
Thunder Castle – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1985; Computer Entertainer, February 1986;Blue Sky Rangers game list
World Championship Baseball – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1985; Computer Entertainer, February 1986;Blue Sky Rangers game list
1986
The Intellivision reentered national storefront distribution by July, as Toys ‘R’ Us agrees to begin stocking games and hardware due to successful test market sales in New York and Los Angeles. – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1986
MAY:
Championship Tennis – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1986; Computer Entertainer, June 1986;Blue Sky Rangers game list
World Cup Soccer – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1986; Computer Entertainer, June 1986;Blue Sky Rangers game list
AUGUST:
Thin Ice – Source: Computer Entertainer, September 1986;Blue Sky Rangers game list
OCTOBER:
Super Pro Football – Source: Computer Entertainer, October 1986; Computer Entertainer, November 1986;Blue Sky Rangers game list
NOVEMBER:
Hover Force – Source: Computer Entertainer, December 1986
1987
MARCH:
Tower of Doom – Source: Computer Entertainer, April 1987; Computer Entertainer, May 1987;Blue Sky Rangers game list
APRIL:
Diner – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1987;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Triple Challenge – Source: Computer Entertainer, May 1987;Blue Sky Rangers game list
JULY:
Chip Shot: Super Pro Golf – Source: Computer Entertainer, August 1987;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Dig Dug – Source: Computer Entertainer, August 1987;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Learning Fun I – Source: Computer Entertainer, August 1987;Blue Sky Rangers game list
OCTOBER:
Slap Shot: Super Pro Hockey – Source: Computer Entertainer, November 1987;Blue Sky Rangers game list
DECEMBER:
Commando – Source: Computer Entertainer, January 1988; Computer Entertainer, February 1988;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Learning Fun II – Source: Computer Entertainer, January 1988;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Slam Dunk: Super Pro Basketball – Source: Computer Entertainer, January 1988; Computer Entertainer, February 1988;Blue Sky Rangers game list
1988
National store chains stop carrying Intellivision products and INTV returns to doing mail-order business. – Source: Blue Sky Rangers history
MARCH:
Pole Position – Source: Computer Entertainer, March 1988;Blue Sky Rangers game list
FALL:
Body Slam: Super Pro Wrestling – Source: Computer Entertainer, September-December 1988;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Mountain Madness: Super Pro Skiing – Source: Computer Entertainer, September-December 1988;Blue Sky Rangers game list
Super Pro Decathlon – Source: Computer Entertainer, September-December 1988;Blue Sky Rangers game list
1989
FALL:
Spiker: Super Pro Volleyball – Source:Blue Sky Rangers game list
Stadium Mud Buggies Source:Blue Sky Rangers game list