Philips Magnavox Magnavox Odyssey Console

About

The Magnavox Odyssey, released by Magnavox in September 1972, is the world's first commercial video game console.; Designed by Ralph H. Baer and first demonstrated on a convention in Burlingame, California on May 24, 1972, it was sold by Magnavox and affiliates through 1975.; According to original television appearances, it launched at retail for $99.99. Within the box of the unit are a series of mylar sheets used to overlay the graphics of each game on a television ranging from 14 to 22 inches in screen-size.; Additionally, accessories were included alongside these plastic overlays, including gameboards, decks of cards, and poker chips for the included roulette game.; The Odyssey uses a type of removable printed circuit board card that inserts into a slot similar to a cartridge slot, allowing the player to select the unit's various games.; On these cartridges isn't a program; there are just a few wires that connect electrically a few parts of the intern console hardware that a game appears on the screen.

References

• Console Variations↗