Follow this link for info about the review system. 1 = Terrible, 5 = Awesome!

A much more realistic simulation than Atari's Bowling cart. Not necessarily more fun, though.

Graphics: 3 Sound: 2 Replay Value: 3 Notes: 1- to 4-player game Screen Shots

Once again, the Intellivision version of a sport concentrated heavily on truly simulating bowling and less on gameplay, per se. While much more sophisticated than the Atari version of Bowling, PBA Bowling isn't necessarily better. It's OK to play, but not outstanding. The sound is pretty sparse. With some effort, you will get the knack of how to bowl a strike every time. Best Score: 300 [right-handed, 8 lb. ball, slickness 5]

A total of twelve PBA Bowling box variants have been documented.

Image	Vendor	Part Number	Year	Origin	Description
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0910	1980	U.S.A.	Plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA on bottom
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0910	1980	U.S.A.	Trayless pocket; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA on bottom
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0910	1980	Hong Kong	Plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA on bottom
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0810	1980	Hong Kong	Plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA on bottom - via a purple sticker; note removal of PBA logo from front and spine - likely English-speaking international market version of the box
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0710-G1	1980	U.S.A.	Trayless pocket; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA on bottom
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0510	1980	Hong Kong	French-Canadian; plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada on back
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0410	1980	Hong Kong	International Edition; slots on back for manual, inside for overlays; plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. on bottom on bottom; interesting to note that unlike other sports titles, this one retains the PBA logo
Image not available.	Mattel Electronics	3333-0410	1980	Hong Kong	International Edition; NO SLOTS on back for manual, has inside for overlays; plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. on bottom on bottom; interesting to note that unlike other sports titles, this one retains the PBA logo; NEED CONFIRMATION of details; reported by Hankster
Image not available.	Mattel Electronics	3333-0410	1980	Hong Kong	International Edition; slots on back for manual, inside for overlays; plastic tray; no part number on top; © Mattel, Inc. on bottom on Lifestyle Electroncs sticker; versions without stickers likely use same box but for European market; interesting to note that unlike other sports titles, this one retains the PBA logo
	Intellivision Inc.	3333	1980	U.S.A.	Standard Intellivision, Inc. box
Image not available.	Intellivision Inc.	3333	1980	U.S.A.	Intellivision, Inc. box with UPC barcode on the bottom flap rather than title; reported by BSRSteve
	Sears	3874-0910	1980	U.S.A.	Trayless pocket; blue game title on top and back; no part number on top

Hankster has discovered an interesting variation on the international box theme. Buried in the backstock of a surprisingly large chain, a copy of PBA Bowling was uncovered that kept the PBA logo, but had the international box style. The most interesting thing here is the back of the box - it's the text-less style of the international box without the slots cut in it!

A total of sixteen PBA Bowling manual variants have been documented.

Image	Vendor	Part Number	Year	Origin	Description
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0920	1980	U.S.A.
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0920	1980	Hong Kong
Image not available.	Mattel Electronics	3333-0720	1980	Hong Kong	French-Canadian; brown artwork
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0720	1980	Hong Kong	French-Canadian; blue artwork
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0820-G1	1980	Hong Kong	International English-speaking markets, part number lower right
Image not available.	Mattel Electronics	3333-0820-G1	1980	Hong Kong	International English-speaking markets, part number upper right
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0121	1980	Hong Kong	German edition; submitted by Hankster
	Mattel Electronics	3333-0121	1980	Hong Kong	German edition with brown artwork
Image not available.	Mattel Electronics	3333-0141	1980	Hong Kong	Spanish edition; brown artwork
Image not available.	Mattel Electronics	3333-0131	1980	Hong Kong	Italian edition; brown artwork
Image not available.	Mattel Electronics	3333-0151	1980		Swedish edition; black and white; title is simply BOWLING; NEED DETAILS
	Mattel Electronics	PC-3333-0720	1980	U.S.A.	PlayCable version; PBA logo removed from cover; part number on back; oddly, uses the French-Canadian part number suffix (0720), unlike other PlayCable manuals
Image not available.	Bandai	3333-0201	None		Japanese version by Bandai; shows stylized game graphics
	Intellivision Inc.	3333-0920	None	U.S.A.	Stapled along top edge
	Intellivision Inc.	3333-0920	None		Unfolds like a map; no copyright or other information—not even Intellivision, Inc. listed
	Sears	3874-0920	1980	U.S.A.

A total of four PBA Bowling overlay variants have been documented.

Image	Vendor	Part Number	Year	Origin	Description
	Mattel Electronics	3333-4289	1980	U.S.A.
	Phil Boland	49 75223	1980	U.S.A.	Part of the Sears Super Video Arcade Overlay Set (2013)
	Intellivision Productions	N/A	None		Part of the bonus overlays included with the Sam's Club edition of the 2014 Intellivision Flashback; copyright information has been removed
	Intellivision Productions	N/A	2014	U.S.A.	Part of the Supplemental Overlay Pack for Intellivision Flashback

A total of six PBA Bowling label variants have been documented.

Image	Vendor	Part Number	Year	Origin	Description
	Mattel Electronics	N/A	None		No origin
	Mattel Electronics	N/A	None	U.S.A.	Origin upper right
	Mattel Electronics	N/A	None	Hong Kong	Origin upper right
	Intellivision Inc.	N/A	1982	U.S.A.	Origin lower right; © I.I. 1982 to left of origin; ™ small, centered vertically on right edge; smaller label, rounded corners
	Intellivision Inc.	N/A	None		No origin, copyright or date info; larger label, square corners
	Phil Boland	N/A	None		Part of the Sears Super Video Arcade Overlay Set (2013)

	Title screen for PBA Bowling.
	The side view of the bowler's approach is quite nicely done, though a little choppy.
	Just like watching on ESPN!

If you find new, contradictory, or other information you wish to share, please send a message!