Friday February 26^th 2016 was promoted for more than two weeks as being the day that the Coleco Chameleon console would be making its Kickstarter debut.  That day has come and is now gone and we only have the announcement that there is NOT going to be a Kickstarter for the Coleco Chameleon to show.  That is not entirely true, there is a bit more to the story- after the jump.

First, David Giltinan- managing editor of RETRO Magazine (owned by Mike Kennedy)- was promoting earlier today that they would not need to make use of crowdfunding for the Coleco Chameleon.  Interesting that someone employed by the magazine is now commenting on the situation of the Coleco Chameleon as the magazine, up to the latest issue and its one page “mysterious” ad, has been silent on the Coleco Chameleon.  This is mind boggling as you would think that they would be using the magazine more in the promotion of the Coleco Chameleon.  Dropping tidbits in each issue, hints, interviews, etc within the pages of their own magazine.  Maybe the backlash that the console has experienced so far is why they apparently are trying to distance the magazine and the console?

Then there is this tidbit on Retro Gaming Roundup’s forums, Mr. Kennedy’s former stomping grounds.  Post #67 (picture below) is by GameGavel- which is Mr. Kennedy’s alias on the RGR forums (he is Parrothead on AtariAge’s forums).  At first glance it is a simple explanation of how Mr. Kennedy was able to afford the Atari Jaguar molds and some background information on the litany of companies that have been created over a short period of time.  Reading in a bit though you will come to a section about RETRO Magazine – “The idea though is for the console company to pay GameGavel,LLC/RETRO Magazine for subscribers ( all buyers of the console will receive a digital and or print subscription to the magazine ) and also for a dedicated multi-page section devoted to promoting the console, its games and developers. The console company will pay the going rate for that coverage.”

Anyone that remembers the, failed, IndieGoGo campaign will remember that there were plans to strategically place RETRO Magazine subscriptions amongst backers.  That is all fine and good, on the surface but read the bolded section closely.  Exactly what would the console “company” be paying the magazine “company” for in these “…dedicated multi-page section…” of the magazine?  Wouldn’t those be ADVERTISEMENTS and should be properly marked as such?  How can anyone trust any coverage of the Coleco Chameleon in RETRO Magazine knowing this?  I have to take it that this means reviews, previews, editorials, features, etc featuring the Coleco Chameleon would be paid advertisements but presented as traditional content.  Not sure on the legality of such action but someone should pursue that type of action in print publications.

Now that I have proven it is tough to take anything coming from a company, or employee thereof, that is owned by Mr. Kennedy, let’s discuss their “press release” on Facebook.

I won’t go over the Toy Fair situation again, that was covered in my article “Coleco Chameleon at New York Toy Fair – SNES Mini Under Glass”.  Suffice to say, we were promised repeatedly over the last two weeks since, that today- Friday February 26^th, 2016, all questions would be answered.  Repeatedly they would comment to the naysayers, which were not flat out deleted, on their Facebook page with the response “wait till the Kickstarter”.  I am sorry, but that is not “good enough” in light of the concerns that Mr. Kennedy and his team have brought up in the community.  Many feel that the community is not owed answers to their questions and should just “trust” Mr. Kennedy and his “team” (whichever it is this week).  Again, that is not good enough based on the history of Mr. Kennedy and his actions regarding his attempt at a ‘console’.

The community was given a slap in the face by Mr. Kennedy and whomever is advising him today.  The Kickstarter obviously did not happen.  I knew it wouldn’t.  How could it?  They could not come onto Kickstarter with an SNES Mini inside their Jaguar case.  That is against the rules of Kickstarter.

Mr. Kennedy, or someone posting using the RETRO Video Game Systems Inc Facebook account, has stated that the Kickstarter is being delayed to “make it better!”  Claims are made that the response from the industry (it was a TOY FAIR how many game companies were there?), gamers (really? at a closed to the public fair?) and major retailers (Toys R Us was specifically mentioned previously by RVGS Inc).  Rather interesting that the vagueness continues.  No concrete information, no pictures of Mr. Kennedy rubbing elbows with these executives, gamers, or industry veterans.  Convenient, don’t you think?  Especially in light of the many videos of major retail store executives rubbing elbows with YouTube members, talking on camera about other products at the New York Toy Fair, just no proof of this happening at the Coleco Chameleon booth.  Convenient.  I would love to have seen the stack of Non-Disclosure Agreements that Mr. Kennedy must have brought to the fair.

They continue on their single Facebook update of today to state that these retailers are interested in carrying the console during the 2016 holiday season.  Interesting.  Also, they state “major game companies expressed interest in providing games for [their] system which meant [they would] need more time to solidify those partnerships and maximize content.”  Whew.  This is interesting considering Mr. Kennedy has done the impossible and licensed the COMPLETE ATARI 2600 game library of over 300 games, at least according to Engadget’s ‘tech writer’.  That is quite a feat that not even Atari themselves have yet to be able to accomplish over the last couple of decades or so.  Judging by Mr. Kennedy’s flair for promotion with no substance, he surely must be counting EACH VARIATION of the Atari 2600 games as individual releases (that gives him at least 10 Combat games, how many variations are there to Space Invaders?).  Mr. Kennedy has stated a few times in various places that he cannot control the press, what are the odds he tries to have this article removed because it is negative towards his project?

They continue to claim that their “overriding goal has always been to deliver the best possible gaming system…”  How about ANY gaming system at this point?  All we have seen is SNES Mini’s in a Jag shell and a mysterious, conveniently setup clear top shell sitting in front of a TV (can’t see the back of the console plugged into the TV for instance and a myriad of other photo anomalies to deal with).

That brings me to the fact that, even though extremely low resolution, there were videos of the New York Toy Fair “prototype” in action.  How come they were not able to do the same for this “new prototype” that they have asked the community to wait to see?  Also, what happened to dispelling the rumors of the SNES Mini in the Jaguar case at the Toy Fair?  Simply showing a COMPLETELY different case and board is not “proving the haters wrong” by any means.  A little consistency here guys, come on.

They state, “If there is ever anything we can do to enhance the product, we believe the extra time is worth it…”  Um, you have had a year to get things moving forward but find a way to go backwards repeatedly.  I believe this is a stall effort to garner more time to get ANYTHING near what they claimed working, or hoping that someone would buy them out, for real so they don’t have to actually produce anything.  Just a stall effort.  Watch where this is in 60 days, this mystery backer will probably have left for whatever reason and they will be back at crowdfunding hoping to ride a wave of positive support thanks to the recently left backer.  Thus they will try to spin that they are the “kicked dog” in this situation and play on the sympathy of anyone that doesn’t know their history.

Interestingly, they continue to state, “we have decided to delay the pre-sell, i.e. Kicstarter, campaign to finalize our prototype…”  Did your delaying have anything to do with Kickstarter requiring you have a WORKING prototype before launching your campaign?  Two weeks not long enough?  What about the few months before since the failed IndieGoGo?  Again, apparently not enough time.

It is simple, if you knew you would not have a working prototype ready by Friday, February 26^th, 2016 then you either should not have named that date or should have simply stated, the prototype is not ready.  They could not say the prototype was not ready because they claimed to have a “one of a kind” unit that would be damaged if they opened the case at the New York Toy Fair.  They painted themselves into a corner on this one and magically have received the latest saving grace in this fiasco.

Next up, “…work with developers on having the best possible content.”  Collectorvision?  The company that is supposedly producing two games (Sydney Hunter and Tiny Knight) for your console- and at least 11 other platforms?  What you need is exclusive titles.  Not just be “another” platform to play the same games as 10+ other platforms.  How about focusing on that instead of yet another color shell?  Or another fake prototype photo opportunity?  If the developer won’t go public with you then don’t mention them, just shut up and do something you can discuss fully in public.  Simple.

They claim there has been a whirlwind of interest, speculation and curiosity for the Coleco Chameleon.  There sure has.  They got that right.  Apparently in the future photographs of the system, updates etc will be made available on their Facebook page (opposed to those things being released somewhere else?).

There are concerns that Mr. Kennedy has lost the license to use the name, Coleco.  Based on the wording of their press release today, that is not the case, unless it is a timed contract termination (such as good till Midnight tonight or something).  I cannot confirm at this time whether their contract to use Coleco Holding’s trademark is invalid or not.  I will reach out to Coleco Holdings/Riverwest Brands for comment and update when I know more.

The press release finishes with the basic public relations fluff.  Basically, this is a big slap to the face of anyone that believed Mr. Kennedy earned a second chance opportunity in this situation.

Over on AtariAge’s forums members are trying to figure out what is under that clear shell in the photos released today.  Weird, that that clear shell was not available for the New York Toy Fair- it could have shut up a lot of discussion over there being an SNES Mini underneath by either confirming it or showing enough of the “prototype” board to dispute it.  Some are speculating that it is a Cyclone V dev board of some sort.  I am not a developer so I cannot speculate on this.

I can with 100% honesty state that the “prototype” shown tonight is NOT the prototype shown at the New York Toy Fair.  That is a yet another broken promise- they have cleared up nothing from that event, only made it worse.

This is a fiasco that could have easily been avoided had Mr. Kennedy simply been honest from the get go.  He has done nothing but swerve and hide and go on the offensive with any negative comment or action.  That is not how you launch a console or get support from the community you are supposedly courting.

Mr. Kennedy, or anyone on your team, I am extending an offer of doing an interview with you, again.  I have given you this option before and it obviously didn’t go your way but it was a fair chance.  That is all I offer to you, a chance to set the record straight in your own words.  If I am wrong on something I have written, please by all means, call me out on it, call me, e-mail whatever and prove me wrong and it will be corrected.  That is my promise to the readers, that I only present the full truth.  Will you do the same?

Feature image credit – Foxglove9 of AtariAge fourms.

Carl Williams

It is time gaming journalism takes its rightful place as proper sources and not fanboys giving free advertising. If you wish to support writers like Carl please use the links below. https://www.paypal.me/WCW https://www.patreon.com/CarlWilliams