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DW FACTS
by Dark Watcher

Magnavox's answer to the Atari 2600, The Odyssey² was released in 1978 to compete with the new gaming monster. The Odyssey² wasn't as powerful as the Atari 2600 (it was slower, had lower resolution, and supported only one sound channel compared to the 2600's two) . However, Odyssey² graphics were sharp with no trace of the screen flicker which sometimes plagued Atari 2600 games. Unlike any other system at that time, the Odyssey² also included a full alpha-numeric touchpad keyboard, which was to be used for educational games, selecting game options or programming. This was a major selling point of the system.

Because of limited third party support most games were copycats of arcade titles released on Atari 2600. One game in particular generated lawsuits by Atari because of similarities to Pac Man. The Odyssey² still managed to sell millions of consoles and was more popular in Europe where it was also called the G7000 Videopac.

FACT: Probably the most interesting thing about Odyssey² software was that almost all the games were written by one man. Ed Averett, a former Intel salesman who started writing all the Odyssey² games after the other Magnavox designers simply ran out of ideas, wrote twenty-four games in four years.

Image courtesy of JunctionEight

MODELS Officially licensed releases
7000 Series
Kooton Odyssey² (Japan)	Magnavox Odyssey² (United States)	Philips Odyssey² (Canada)
Philips Odyssey (Brazil)	Philips Videojeu C52	Philips Videopac G7000
Radiola Jet 25	Schneider 7000	Siera G7000

7200 Series
Philips Videopac G7200	Radiola Jet 27	Schneider 7200
Philips N60

7400 Series
Brandt Electronique Jo7400	Continental Edison/SABA Jo1450	Philips Videopac G7400
Radiola Jet 47	Schneider Videopac 74+	Siera Videopac + G7400

7401 Series
Philips Videopac G7401	Radiola Jet 471	Schneider Videopac +741

CLONES Non-licensed hardware releases
No clones were released for this system.

FORMAT, PACKAGING & GENERAL INFO Interesting facts on software for this system
Software for the Magnavox Odyssey² was distributed in the ROM cartridge format. Since Magnavox produced virtually every game for this system, the carts are nearly identical (which is not a good thing IMHO). The cartridges are about the same size as the Atari 2600, but they have a weird handle protruding from the top. This appendage allows for easier cartridge insertion\removal from the system but does not afford any room for an end label. This is a minor irritant especially when trying to find a certain game amongst those loose carts in your collection. The games were mostly packaged in a thick plastic clam-style box which contained the cartridge along with the instruction manual. The artwork is very consistent, featuring colorful illustrations that attempted to depict the 'feel' of its contents. Like the games, there is no game information on the spine so organizing these games is a pain.
	applemctom's Games that Defined Compiliation

Magnavox Odyssey² Game Boxes


SCREENSHOTS Captured in-game images
Alien Invaders - Plus	Armored Encounter \ Sub Chase	Atlantis
Baseball	Blockout \ Breakdown	Casino Slot Machine
Cosmic Conflict	Demon Attack	Electronic Table Soccer
Football	Freedom Fighters	Hockey \ Soccer
Invaders from Hyperspace	KC's Krazy Chase	Killer Bees
Monkeyshines	Out of this World \ Helicopter Rescue	Pachinko
Pick Axe Pete	Pocket Billiards	Power Lords
PT Barnum's Acrobats	Quest for the Rings	Showdown in 2100 A.D.
Smithereens	Take the Money and Run	Thunderball
Turtles	UFO	War of Nerves

EMULATION
First and third party system emulators

O2EM

Great emulator for Windows. Ensure to get the O2EM Launcher to add even more value.

SPECS & MANUALS
For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

Processor Type	Processor Speed	Other Processor Information	RAM \ Video RAM
Intel 8048 (8-bit)	1.79 MHz	Intel 8244 VDC	64 bytes \ 128 bytes
Screen Resolution	Color Palette	Polygons \ Sprites	Audio
160 x 200	12 colors	4	1 channel (mono)
Media Format	Media Capacity	Games Released	Other Supported Formats
Cartridge	8 KB	62 (49 US\Euro + 13 Euro excl)	None
Internal Storage	External \ Removable Storage	Game Controllers	Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
1024 bytes BIOS ROM	None	8-way Joystick with Fire button	Voice synthesizer, Chess Module
Controller Ports	Network Ports	Other Ports	Audio \ Video
Two (hardwired)	None	None	RF
Power Supply - External	Other Outputs	Other Details \ Notes
Input: AC 110V, 50\60Hz Output: AC 12V, 600mA	None	None
Manuals
Magnavox Odyssey2 Owners Manual North America (PDF) - 4.27 MB Magnavox Odyssey2 Service Manual (PDF) - 2.37 MB Philips Videopac G7000 Owners Manual (PDF) - 0.52 MB Philips Videopac G7200 Owners Manual (PDF) - 1.30 MB Philips Videopac G7400 Owners Manual (PDF) - 1.74 MB