Jean-François Dupuis of noted vintage game developer CollectorVision has posted on his Facebook account an update on the planned ColecoVision-compatible FPGA project, which, among other features, will have HDMI output, Super Game Module (SGM) game support, and an ability to play most MSX and Sega Master System games via its SD card slot (and, since it’s an FPGA, more system cores may be added in the future). Thanks to Michael Thomasson of Good Deal Games for the initial heads-up on the update to what is tentatively being called the Collectorvision Game System (CGS).

Here’s a summary of the major features:

• HDMI video output directly from the system
• SGM support
• Added SNES controller port, which will allow the use of the Super Famicom NTT DATA game controller, as well as allow those without a ColecoVision controller to play the system with a standard Super NES controller (although the player two port will still need to have a keypad-based controller).
• Expansion port that will allow future add-ons (not compatible with the two original expansion modules)
• Power and Reset buttons modeled after “the joystick of docked controllers”
• (They are still working to see which cores will be available at launch)

Perhaps best of all is that Dupuis is also reporting on AtariAge that they’re planning on a fresh design for a new type of ColecoVision-compatible controller. This is great news for those of us who prefer to not deal with the quirks of original, aging ColecoVision controllers.

A rough mock-up of the Collectorvision Game System

Although there are other ColecoVision-related console projects in the works, this one is perhaps the most intriguing since it should be the most flexible. Target price is sub-$200 and it will hopefully see release later this year. I’ll continue to post major updates as they happen.