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The main difference between the Coleco Gemini and the Atari 2600 is the controller design. The Coleco Gemini controllers featured an 8-way joystick and a 270-degree paddle on the same controller (the joystick was at the top of the controller, and the paddle was at the bottom of the controller). To play paddle games, a Y-connector was used to connect two controllers to the controller jack at the same time.
The Gemini was much more compact than the large faux-woodgrain consoles sold by Atari at the time. The Gemini also had a different game included with the system. Atari was still including the Combat game released in 1977. The Gemini most commonly included Donkey Kong, but at some point also included Carnival and Mouse Trap. Sears also offered a version of the Gemini with both Donkey Kong and Mouse Trap included as separate cartridges.
Coleco struck a deal with Columbia House to start a video game club similar to its record club. Columbia sold the Coleco Gemini as the Columbia Home Arcade through the Columbia House Video Game Club. In Canada, CBS Electronics sold the Gemini under the Columbia Home Arcade name.
The Gemini was much more compact than the large faux-woodgrain consoles sold by Atari at the time. The Gemini also had a different game included with the system. Atari was still including the Combat game released in 1977. The Gemini most commonly included Donkey Kong, but at some point also included Carnival and Mouse Trap. Sears also offered a version of the Gemini with both Donkey Kong and Mouse Trap included as separate cartridges.
Coleco struck a deal with Columbia House to start a video game club similar to its record club. Columbia sold the Coleco Gemini as the Columbia Home Arcade through the Columbia House Video Game Club. In Canada, CBS Electronics sold the Gemini under the Columbia Home Arcade name.
