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Magnavox Odyssey logo Magnavox Odyssey Magnavox Odyssey logo

  DW FACTS by Dark Watcher

Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy
Developer Manufacturer Release Date Country(s) Initial Price Model Number Game Releases Overall Rating
Magnavox Magnavox May-72 USA, Euro,
Many Others
$99.95 USD 1TL200BLAK 28 6.5
Ratings Reviews Pictures\Media Specs\Manuals Games\Emulation Models Clones Links
Magnavox Odyssey
Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release.  Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality) 06
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile) 07
Controllers (design, response, feel, use) 07
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation) 06
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects) 01
Media (game media format, design, durability) 08
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging) 07
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library) 03
Innovations (technological industrial strides) 10
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?) 01
Collector Value (good collector investment?) 06
Games Rarity (general availability of games) 06
Console Rarity (general availability of a system) 05
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Reviews

Magnavox Odyssey

Ralph Baer \ Magnavox Odyssey

  DW FACTS
 
- by Dark Watcher

The Magnavox Odyssey was the very first home video game system. It was the brilliant creation of Ralph Baer (dubbed "The Father of home video games"). It played "Ball and Paddle" games such as "Ping Pong", "Table Tennis", "Volleyball" and others.

On January 27th, 1972, Magnavox began production on the machine and the system was released in May. It was heavily advertised and reportedly sold 100,000 units in 1972 for around $100 each.

The Odyssey has no real specs. It contained no processor or memory. The box is made up of transistors, resistors and capacitors. Odyssey used cards that contained pin outs to change game settings. Plastic overlays that could be placed over the TV screen created graphics and color, but the actual display consisted of white squares (Paddle and ball) on an all black background. The Odyssey originally came with six game cards, and a 36-page user manual for the twelve games offered by the system.

Magnavox Odyssey Advertisement

The launch of Odyssey generated a severe case of "Pong Madness". Companies worldwide began developing their own "Pong" machines. The sheer madness of it all can be seen HERE.

FACT: Magnavox Odyssey was sold only in Magnavox stores. Customers were told that the Odyssey would only work on Magnavox brand televisions. A nice lie that contributed to the amount of units sold.

Before it became Odyssey, Ralph Baer's creation was simply called "The Brown Box". We were able to get our claws on this historical prototype (pictured on the left). 


 
HANDS ON REVIEW
 

Coming soon....
 

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Pictures & Media

Various picture\media for this console.  Click pictures to enlarge.

Unboxing the original 1972 release of the Magnavox Odyssey
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Complete System \ Unboxing
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - All Important RUN and Serial
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - All Important RUN and Serial
1972 Magnavox Odyssey - All Important RUN and Serial
The following pictures\articles were provided courtesy of
The Online Odyssey Museum.  Visit their excellent website for even more!!
1972 Pamphlet for the Magnavox Odyssey - Page 1

1972 Pamphlet for the Magnavox Odyssey - Page 1
1972 Pamphlet for the Magnavox Odyssey - Page 2

1972 Pamphlet for the Magnavox Odyssey - Page 2
1972 Pamphlet for the Magnavox Odyssey - Page 3

1972 Pamphlet for the Magnavox Odyssey - Page 3
Magnavox Odyssey - Box\Packaging

1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Box\Packaging
Magnavox Odyssey - PCB Board

1972 Magnavox Odyssey - PCB Board
Magnavox Odyssey - Contents

1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Contents
Magnavox Odyssey - Magazine Ad 1

1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Magazine Ad 1
Magnavox Odyssey - Magazine Ad 2

1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Magazine Ad 2
Magnavox Odyssey - Magazine Ad 3

1972 Magnavox Odyssey - Magazine Ad 3
Electronic Design article from 1972

Electronic Design article from 1972
Consumer Reports article from 1973

Consumer Reports article from 1973
Mechanix Illustrated 1975 Article

Mechanix Illustrated 1975 Article
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Specs & Manuals

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

 Processor Type  Processor Speed  Other Processor Information RAM \ Video RAM
None N\A None None

Screen Resolution

Color Palette

Polygons \ Sprites

Audio
N\A Black & White N\A None

Media Format

Media Capacity

Games Released

Other Supported Formats

Pin Out Cards

N\A 28 None

Internal Storage

External\Removable Storage

Game Controllers

Other Game \ Peripheral Devices

None

None

Square Boxed Controllers Light Gun (optional)
Controller Ports Network Ports

Other Ports

Audio \ Video

Two (2) - Hardwired

None None RF Connection

Power Supply

Other Outputs

Other Details \ Notes

External AC Adapter 9V DC 40 mA
or Six (6) type C batteries
None The external AC adapter is optional.
Manuals
Magnavox Odyssey Owners Manual (PDF) - 6.54 MB (courtesy of ReplacementDocs.com)
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Games & Emulation

Games screen shots\media released for this system.  Some pictures provided courtesy of The Online Odyssey Museum.

The Magnavox Odyssey displayed everything in Black and White.  TV Overlays were used to provide the canvas for game play.  Basically they provided a road map for the player to guide the controller.

Magnavox Odyssey Game Boxes

Magnavox Odyssey Game Boxes

The following screen shots, courtesy of Paul at DIY ROM Arcade, display the original games that came with the Magnavox Odyssey system.
Analogic

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Analogic
Cat and Mouse

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Cat and Mouse
Football

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Football
Haunted House

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Haunted House
Hockey

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Hockey
Roulette

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Roulette
Simon Says

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Simon Says
Skiing

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Skiing
States

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - States
Submarine

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Submarine
Table Tennis

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Table Tennis
Tennis

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Tennis
Accompanying the 1972 release of the Magnavox Odyssey was a coupon for a free game - Percepts.
Magnavox Odyssey Logo Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Percepts
Percepts Game Packaging

Additional Magnavox Odyssey Games released in 1972
Baseball

Magnavox Odyssey Baseball

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Baseball

Fun Zoo

Magnavox Odyssey Fun Zoo

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Fun Zoo

Handball

Magnavox Odyssey  Handball

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Handball

Invasion

Magnavox Odyssey  Invasion

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Invasion

Volleyball

Magnavox Odyssey Volleyball

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Volleyball

Wipeout

Magnavox Odyssey Wipout

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Wipout

Shooting Gallery was released in 1972 and included a Light Gun peripheral along with four additional games.
Shooting Gallery Box \ Contents

Shooting Gallery Box \ Contents

Dogfight

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Dogfight

Prehistoric Safari

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Prehistoric Safari

Shootout

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Shootout

Shooting Gallery

Magnavox Odyssey - Screen Shot - Shooting Gallery

Additional Magnavox Odyssey Games released in 1973
Basketball

Magnavox Odyssey Basketball

Magnavox Odyssey Basketball

Brain Wave

Magnavox Odyssey Brain Wave

Magnavox Odyssey Brain Wave

Interplanetary Voyage

Magnavox Odyssey Interplanetary Voyage

Magnavox Odyssey Interplanetary Voyage

Win

Magnavox Odyssey Win

Magnavox Odyssey Win

Third Party Emulators
Program Website Description

Odyemu

http://www.pong-story.com/odyemu.htm

This is the first emulator released for the Magnavox Odyssey. It is DOS based and should work on most PC's.
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Models

Additional authorized releases for this console.  Click pictures to enlarge.  All model pictures provided courtesy of The Online Odyssey Museum.

Magnavox Odyssey (US)

Magnavox Odyssey (US)

Magnavox Odyssey (US)

ITT Odyssee

ITT Odyssee

ITT Odyssee

Magnavox Odyssey (Export)

Magnavox Odyssey (Export)

Magnavox Odyssey (Export)

Magnavox Odisea (Mex)

Magnavox Odisea (Mex)

Magnavox Odisea (Mex)

Kanal 34

Kanal 34
Magnavox Odyssey (Ger)

Magnavox Odyssey (Ger)

Magnavox Odyssey (Ger)

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Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).  Click pictures to enlarge.  All clone pictures provided courtesy of The Online Odyssey Museum.

Telematch de Panoramic

Telematch de Panoramic

Telematch de Panoramic

Wonder Wizard

Wonder Wizard

Wonder Wizard

Ovekal

Ovekal

Ovekal

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Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.

Name Website Description
 Pong-Story  http://www.pong-story.com/ The site of the man himself - Ralph Baer
The Online Odyssey Museum http://www.magnavox-odyssey.com/ The best Magnavox Odyssey on the internet by far!!
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