Odyssey series
Designed by Ralph H. Baer and first demonstrated on a convention in Burlingame, California on May 24, 1972,[3] it was sold by Magnavox and affiliates through 1975.
The Odyssey uses a type of removable printed circuit board card that inserts into a cartridge slot, allowing the player to select the unit's various games by connecting different paths along the unit's internal logic circuitry.
[8] It uses a multi-chip discrete component design, which makes it much simpler than all later dedicated consoles Magnavox would eventually release.
Magnavox already had a single-chip design in mind that year, but wanted to have a product they could release immediately if Texas Instruments, the supplier of their single video game chips, was unable to deliver in a timely manner.
[6] Using the same TI multi-chip design, but adding 2 chips,[10] the console improved on the Odyssey 100 in several areas.
In addition to Tennis and Hockey, the Odyssey 200 featured a third game variation called "Smash" (essentially, the sport known as Squash).
The Odyssey 200 was also the first dedicated system to feature an option for four on-screen paddles instead of the customary two.
[12] Unlike Magnavox's previous two dedicated console products, the Odyssey 300 was meant to compete directly with the Coleco Telstar.
Unlike the 200, the Odyssey 300 console has three difficulty levels: Novice, Intermediate, and Expert.
Odyssey 500 offers automatic serve, displays digital on-screen scores between plays, and provides manually adjustable ball speed control.
As with all previous Odyssey units, power is delivered via an AC adapter or six "C" cell batteries.
[23][24] Its two wired game controllers are very similar to those of the Ping-O-Tronic, with each containing one button and a paddle.
A three-position handicap switch allows players to set skill level, and additional controls allow players to select automatic or manual serve, ball speed, and ball deflection angle (20 or 40 degrees).
Additional features include automatic serve and variable ball speeds.
The AY-3-8615 chip enabled the Odyssey 4000 to display their games in color instead of black and white graphics.
[15]: 25 The Magnavox Odyssey 5000 would have contained two chips, National Semiconductor's MM571068 and Signetics' MUGS-1, and featuring a total of seven games (Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Knockout, Tank, and Helicopter) which with variations could be expanded to twenty-four different gaming experiences.
Dutch electronics manufacturer Philips purchased Magnavox in 1974,[4] after which it began to release its own versions of the dedicated Odyssey consoles in Europe.
Released in 1977, the Philips Odyssey 2001 is based on the National Semiconductor MM-57105 chip, which plays Tennis, Hockey, and Squash, and allows full color and direct sound on the TV.
