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History of video games/Platforms/Magnavox Odyssey²

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  • The Magnavox Odyssey² and with two controllers.
    The Magnavox Odyssey² and with two controllers.

History

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Launch

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The Magnavox Odyssey² was preceded by the original Magnavox Odyssey game console and the Odyssey series of dedicated consoles. Unlike those consoles, the Magnavox Odyssey² featured a full computer, and could run games on cartridges.

The Magnavox Odyssey² was launched in 1978 at a cost of $100.[1] Early titles often had poor support for the keyboard and other system features, though support improved over time.[2] A voice module was also released, which was another feature which was panned for its poor integration with games.[3]

Legacy

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Magnavox Odyssey² production ended in March of 1984,[4] correlating with the Video Game Crash. The system had been on the market for a fairly long time, indicating company investment in the system.

The system was followed by the Philips Videopac+ G7400 in European markets, though this successor system too was scrapped during the Video Game Crash.

Technology

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An Intel 8048 similar to the one used in the Magnavox Odyssey²

The CPU of the Magnavox Odyssey² was an 8-bit Intel 8048 clocked at 1.79 megahertz.[1][5] The system had 64 bytes of RAM and 128 bytes of video RAM.[1][5]

The Odyssey² has a built in membrane keyboard with 49 keys.[6]

Notable games

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  • Quest for the Rings - An early video game to use a companion board game.[2][7]
  • Stone Sling[7]
  • Turtles[7]
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Console

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  • The Odyssey² has a QWERTY keyboard built in.
    The Odyssey² has a QWERTY keyboard built in.
  • The power button and cartridge slot are on the top of the console.
    The power button and cartridge slot are on the top of the console.
  • The rear of the console has its power jack. This version has removable joysticks.
    The rear of the console has its power jack. This version has removable joysticks.
  • Ventilation holes line the back of the unit.
    Ventilation holes line the back of the unit.
  • The bottom of the Unit has patent and FCC information.
    The bottom of the Unit has patent and FCC information.
  • A clearer view of the power jack.
    A clearer view of the power jack.

Internals

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  • The console interior, with the motherboard mounted to the top half of the console.
    The console interior, with the motherboard mounted to the top half of the console.
  • Most of the console internals beneath the keyboard is empty space, with sporadic structural supports.
    Most of the console internals beneath the keyboard is empty space, with sporadic structural supports.
  • The interior with the motherboard removed, exposing the cartridge slot, button leads, and keyboard ribbon cable.
    The interior with the motherboard removed, exposing the cartridge slot, button leads, and keyboard ribbon cable.
  • The keyboard top. The keyboard itself is quite thin due to being a Membrane Keyboard.
    The keyboard top. The keyboard itself is quite thin due to being a Membrane Keyboard.
  • The keyboard bottom. The traces and contact points are visible.
    The keyboard bottom. The traces and contact points are visible.
  • The Motherboard, referred to as a main board on the unit. The keyboard ribbon connector and the cartridge connector are visible.
    The Motherboard, referred to as a main board on the unit. The keyboard ribbon connector and the cartridge connector are visible.
  • Several Intel chips are visible on the motherboard.
    Several Intel chips are visible on the motherboard.
  • Motherboard bottom. A single capacitor bridges a gap.
    Motherboard bottom. A single capacitor bridges a gap.

References

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Wikipedia has related information at Magnavox Odyssey 2  and List of Magnavox Odyssey² games

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Magnavox Odyssey²

Parts of this page are based on materials from:
 Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia.
  1. ↑ a b c "History of Consoles: Magnavox Odyssey 2 (1978) Gamester 81". Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  2. ↑ a b Kunkel, Bill; Katz, Arnie (21 November 1981). "THE VIDEOGAMES: HOW THEY RATE (Published 1981)". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/21/style/the-videogames-how-they-rate.html. 
  3. ↑ "Home Video Games: Video Games Update". www.atarimagazines.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "The Odyssey2 Timeline! - The Odyssey² Homepage!". www.the-nextlevel.com. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. ↑ a b "Home Page". Video Game Console Library. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "When Video Game Consoles Wanted (and Failed) to Be Computers". www.vice.com. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  7. ↑ a b c "List of Magnavox Odyssey² games". Wikipedia. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
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