Although there was only two models manufactured, there was five different variations of the magnavox odyssey produced. The first prototype created by Ralph was most commonly referred to as the Brown Box and this unit is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of AmericanHistory in Washington, D.C.ĭuring the life span of the Magnavox Odyssey ITL200. Ralph did proposed a sound extension for the Magnavox in 1973, but the idea was unfortunately rejected. This including Magnavox’s own Odyssey-labeled Pong consoles. Unfortunately the odyssey lacked colour and soundcapa bility, although the sound capability was corrected with the “Pong systems” of several years later. The games and logic itself are implemented in DTL (Diode Transistor Logic), cartridge)) a common pre-TTL (Transistor Transistor Logic), digital design component using discrete transistors and diodes. Getting a bit deeper, basically the electronic signals that are exchanged between the various parts (ball and players generators, sync generators, diodematrix, etc.) are binary. the dot on the screen could be move around to simulate the character moving through a house or through a maze etc depending what was on the plastic screen overlay. A game cartridge would be inserted into the front of the console and a plastic screen overlay would also be placed upon the tv screen. Dice, screen overlays, game money and a assortment of casino type chips could be used depending on the game you wanted to play. As for the game play that was also quite basic as well.Ī standard system came boxed with six diferent game cartridges and a wide range of accessories that was used with different games. The magnavox was a pretty basic machine with simple components, it was so simple that it even run batteries. The system was then first demonstrated on and later released in August of that year, predating the Atari Pong home consoles by some three years. It was over the next two years due to Ralphs commitment, perceveirance and determination, he eventually had a working prototype that was finally finished in 1968. The Magnavox Odyssey was the brainchild of Ralph Baer who had started designing the system around 1966. I will explain these differences further into the post. This console has to be the cream of my collection or should I say consoles due to me being lucky enough to source a run 1 and a run 2 model. The Magnavox Odyssey or Magnavox Odyssey ITL200 to use its proper title was the world’s first home video game console. I believe the Odyssey to be the Holy Grail of retro gaming systems as I hope many of you will agree and has got to be a must for any serious collector. Well, what can i say, this is t he big one.
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