Genre: Sports (Tennis)
Developer: Nice Ideas / Mattel Electronics France
Publisher: Dextell Ltd.
Year: 1986
Platform: Intellivision
Championship Tennis is an enhanced version of the original Intellivision Tennis, released in 1986. Development began at Mattel Electronics for the Entertainment Computer System (ECS) with the working title Doubles Tennis, originally supporting up to four players. The project was later transferred to the Mattel Electronics French office, where developers Patrick Aubry and John Fiddes completed it under the studio Nice Ideas.
The game offers singles or doubles tennis gameplay on famous tournament courts such as Flushing Meadows, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon. Players control their on-screen athletes using directional movement and contextual actions to serve, return, and volley. The game expands on the original by offering different court surfaces, each influencing gameplay behavior.
Visual presentation includes a top-down court view that provides better visibility and supports strategic shot placement. Controls are precise, allowing players to execute deep serves or overhead smashes. The code is rooted in the original tennis engine but significantly extended with new gameplay features and improved responsiveness.
The title was published in the U.S. by INTV Corporation in 1986, following the closure of Mattel Electronics. It represents a sophisticated iteration in Intellivision’s sports lineup, combining upgraded mechanics, authentic locations, and refined control suited to competitive Grand Slam-style play.
