Magnavox Odyssey

Release: 1972
aka: Magnavox Odyssey 100

Considered to be the first home video game system, the Magnavox Odyssey is a legend.

In 1967, Ralph Baer created a video game system prototype called the Brown Box. This system could play several video games, and became the standard template for all systems. The Brown Box, still working, is still owned by Baer.

The system was presented to RCA, but no deal was made. Impressed by the system however, a lead RCA negotiater left the company and joined Magnavox (a company that would later join Phillips Electronics in 1974). Magnavox aquired the rights to Baer's technology and in 1972, the Magnavox Odyssey, and the entire video game industry, were born.

In an attempt to keep the Odyssey on top, several updates of the system were sold, The Odyssey 100, for example, followed by later models. By 1974, 200 000 systems had been sold.

Upgrades & Accessories

Screen Overlays

Some games came with two screen overlays, for different size tvs which added some colour to the games.

Cable Vision

Baer wanted to offer some nicer graphics through cable TV. He discussed the idea with a New York cable company but it never worked out.

Top Games

• Hockey
  
• Tennis
  
• Ski