Magnavox Odyssey Games - Discover These First Generation Video Games

Do you know that Magnavox Odyssey was the pioneer of commercial home video game consoles? Developed by Ralph H. Baer and his team released Magnavox in the US in 1972, and it was a success, selling 69,000 units in it's first year.

It features a black, white, and brown box that connects to the TV and two controllers that are attached by wires. Depending on the rules of the game, players can put plastic overlays on the screen to make visuals. 

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One or two players for separate games control their dots using three knobs and a button on the controller. It comes with paper money, dice and other board game equipment to use as you play. Read on to learn more about this.

Magnavox Odyssey Games - Discover These First Generation Video Games
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Design

Magnavox Odyssey comprises a black, white, and brown box, which connects to two rectangular controllers by wires. The primary console box links to your TV through an included switch box. 

This switch box enables the player to shift input between regular television input cable and the Odyssey. It presents itself like a television channel. The controllers that are designed to be on a flat surface have a button marked “Reset” on top and three knobs.

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Two are on the left side and one is on the right side of the controller. The reset button resets individual elements as opposed to resetting the game. You can use it to make your dot visible after turning it off during the game, etc.

Power Supply

The system is powered by six C batteries that came as part of the package. If you need an additional AC power supply, you bought it separately. Much as this game was loved by many, it lacked sound capability and color variations. This game displays only monochrome white shapes on a black blank screen.

How to Play

The Odyssey shows on your screen three square dots together with a vertical line. Two players control the two dots and the system will control the third square dot. 

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The main console has two dials: one that adjusts the computer-controlled dot’s speed and the other moves the vertical line through the screen. Different games have different rules in regards to adjusting the dials to various positions. 

Other Games

When it was discontinued in 1975, Magnavox released several dedicated consoles that could only play inbuilt games in the system. They included the Magnavox Odyssey series, the Magnavox Odyssey 100, and the Magnavox Odyssey 200 were among the first generation of video game consoles. 

Odyssey 100 could play hockey and ping pong games from the original Odyssey. Odyssey 200 had a rudimentary on-screen scoring system and you could play handball. Magnavox released eleven consoles before releasing Magnavox Odyssey 2 in 1978.

Magnavox Odyssey 2

Magnavox Odyssey Games - Discover These First Generation Video Games
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Magnavox Odyssey 2, also known as Phillips Odyssey 2 is a video game console of the second generation that was released in 1978. It had many names like Philips Videopac G700 in Europe, Phillips Odyssey in Brazil and in Japan it was Odyssey 2. 

Before the 1983 video game market crash, Magnavox Odyssey 2 was considered one of the major home consoles along with Intellivision and Atari 2600. In 2009, Odyssey 2 was named the 21st greatest video game console out of the 25 listed games. 

The Odyssey 2 game console has got a number of about 47 games; they include Alpine Skiing, Alien Invaders, Armored Encounter!, Subchase, Baseball, Computer Intro, Conquest of the World, Computer Golf, and others. 

Conclusion

Magnavox Odyssey video games marked the beginning of commercial video games. Video games and video game consoles have come a long way with the help of this pioneering console.