| Magnavox Odyssey | |
|---|---|
| |
| Manufacturer | Magnavox |
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | First generation |
| Release date | 1972 |
| Retail availability | August 1972 |
| Discontinued | 1975 |
| Units sold | 330,000 |
| Display | Digital |
| Controller input | Two paddles, Light Gun |
| Best-selling game | Table Tennis |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | Magnavox Odyssey² |
The Magnavox Odyssey is first generation made available in 1972 in North America.
Background[]
The Magnavox Odyssey is the world's first commercial home video game console. It was first shown in April 1972 and was released in August of that year, predating even Pong home consoles by three years. It is a digital video game console, however it is often mistaken to be analog, due to misunderstanding of its hardware set-up.
History[]
Magnavox Odyssey was designed by Ralph Baer. Around 1966 Ralph began working on a prototype that was finished in 1968. This prototype, known as the Brown Box, is now at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Notes[]
- The Magnavox Odyssey could be powered by six C batteries. However, an optional A/C power supply was sold separately.
- The Odyssey lacks a sound capability, something that was corrected with the "Pong systems" years later, including Magnavox's own Odyssey-labeled Pong consoles.
- Game Card 11 was originally planned for use with Basketball but was later canceled. Basketball works instead with Game Card 8.
List of games[]
| Title | Cartridge No. | Developer | Publisher | Year | Genre | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analogic | 3 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Misc. | U.S. / E.U. |
| Baseball | 3 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S. |
| Basketball | 8 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S. |
| Brain Wave | 3 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Misc. | U.S. |
| Cat and Mouse | 4 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Misc. | U.S. / E.U. |
| Dogfight | 9 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Light Gun | U.S. / E.U. |
| Football | 3, 4 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S |
| Fun Zoo | 2 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Misc. | U.S |
| Handball | 8 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S |
| Haunted House | 4 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Misc. | U.S / E.U. |
| Hockey | 3 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S / E.U. |
| Interplantary Voyage | 12 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1973 | Action | U.S |
| Invasion | 4, 5, 6 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Misc. | U.S |
| Percepts | 2 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Misc. | U.S |
| Prehistoric Safari | 9 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Light Gun | U.S / E.U. |
| Roulette | 6 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Casino | U.S / E.U. |
| Shooting Gallery | 10 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Light Gun | U.S / E.U. |
| Shootout | 9 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Light Gun | U.S / E.U. |
| Simon Says | 2 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Misc. | U.S. |
| Ski | 2 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S |
| Soccer | 3, 5 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S |
| States | 6 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Educational | U.S |
| Submarine | 5 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Shooter | U.S |
| Table Tennis | 1 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S |
| Tennis | 3 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S |
| Volleyball | 7 | Magnavox | Magnavox | 1972 | Sports | U.S |