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Magnavox Odyssey 2
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Magnavox Odyssey 2
The Magnavox Odyssey 2 (stylized as Magnavox Odyssey2), also known as Philips Odyssey 2, is a home video game console of the second generation that was released in 1978. It was sold in Europe as the Philips Videopac G7000, in Brazil and Peru as the Philips Odyssey and in Japan as Odyssey2 (オデッセイ2 odessei2). The Odyssey 2 faced competition from a number of other consoles, including the Atari 2600, Intellivision, and Colecovision, prior to its discontinuation following the video game crash of 1983.
In the early 1970s, Magnavox pioneered the home video game industry by successfully bringing the first home console to market, the Odyssey, which was quickly followed by a number of later models, each with a few technological improvements. In 1978, Magnavox, now a subsidiary of North American Philips, decided to release an all-new successor, Odyssey 2.
In 2009, the video game website IGN named the Odyssey 2 the 21st greatest video game console, out of its list of 25.
The Magnavox Odyssey, initially designed by Ralph Baer at Sanders Associates then later sold by Magnavox in 1972, was the first commercial video game console but only a modest commercial success. Because of this however, Magnavox had licensed a number of key video game patents which helped them sue Atari in 1974. In July 1975, Magnavox was fully acquired by North American Philips (N.A.P.).
In 1975, Intel began development on a graphics chip to accompany the Intel 4040 and 8080, some of the world's first microprocessors. Known as the Intel 8244, the graphics chip was designed by Nick Nichols, Sam Schwartz, and Stan Mazor with oversight by Ted Hoff. It was the world's first programmable sprite-based graphics chip. Although Intel contemplated selling the chip to Atari, ultimately the decision was made to sell it to Magnavox.
In early 1977, Magnavox president Alfred DiScipio announced they had begun development on a microprocessor based video game console, which they hoped to ship by the Christmas season. The decision was made to buy almost all of the internal components from Intel, including the Intel 8048 central processing unit, the Intel 8244 graphics chip, and the system's RAM and ROM. Lead designer for the console, which would eventually become the Magnavox Odyssey², was Roberto Lenarducci who gave the system its keyboard.
Intel faced a production error with the 8244 which put a delay on the release of the system. In August 1977, Magnavox management contemplated ending the Odyssey² project and laying off most of its staff. Ralph Baer, who was otherwise mostly uninvolved with the project, flew to the Magnavox's video game offices in Knoxville, Tennessee to convince management it was worth salvaging. DiScipio and senior vice president John Fauth ultimately decided to go ahead with the project.
Development on the first batch of games was the responsibility of Sam Overton. According to Baer, he was the only software developer working on the project at Magnavox. Game packaging and marketing materials were produced by artist Rob Bradford and designer Steve Lehner of Bradford/Cout Design, a marketing firm based in Skokie, Illinois. Lehner and Bradford had previously produced many of the materials for the original Magnavox Odyssey.
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Magnavox Odyssey 2 AI simulator
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Magnavox Odyssey 2
The Magnavox Odyssey 2 (stylized as Magnavox Odyssey2), also known as Philips Odyssey 2, is a home video game console of the second generation that was released in 1978. It was sold in Europe as the Philips Videopac G7000, in Brazil and Peru as the Philips Odyssey and in Japan as Odyssey2 (オデッセイ2 odessei2). The Odyssey 2 faced competition from a number of other consoles, including the Atari 2600, Intellivision, and Colecovision, prior to its discontinuation following the video game crash of 1983.
In the early 1970s, Magnavox pioneered the home video game industry by successfully bringing the first home console to market, the Odyssey, which was quickly followed by a number of later models, each with a few technological improvements. In 1978, Magnavox, now a subsidiary of North American Philips, decided to release an all-new successor, Odyssey 2.
In 2009, the video game website IGN named the Odyssey 2 the 21st greatest video game console, out of its list of 25.
The Magnavox Odyssey, initially designed by Ralph Baer at Sanders Associates then later sold by Magnavox in 1972, was the first commercial video game console but only a modest commercial success. Because of this however, Magnavox had licensed a number of key video game patents which helped them sue Atari in 1974. In July 1975, Magnavox was fully acquired by North American Philips (N.A.P.).
In 1975, Intel began development on a graphics chip to accompany the Intel 4040 and 8080, some of the world's first microprocessors. Known as the Intel 8244, the graphics chip was designed by Nick Nichols, Sam Schwartz, and Stan Mazor with oversight by Ted Hoff. It was the world's first programmable sprite-based graphics chip. Although Intel contemplated selling the chip to Atari, ultimately the decision was made to sell it to Magnavox.
In early 1977, Magnavox president Alfred DiScipio announced they had begun development on a microprocessor based video game console, which they hoped to ship by the Christmas season. The decision was made to buy almost all of the internal components from Intel, including the Intel 8048 central processing unit, the Intel 8244 graphics chip, and the system's RAM and ROM. Lead designer for the console, which would eventually become the Magnavox Odyssey², was Roberto Lenarducci who gave the system its keyboard.
Intel faced a production error with the 8244 which put a delay on the release of the system. In August 1977, Magnavox management contemplated ending the Odyssey² project and laying off most of its staff. Ralph Baer, who was otherwise mostly uninvolved with the project, flew to the Magnavox's video game offices in Knoxville, Tennessee to convince management it was worth salvaging. DiScipio and senior vice president John Fauth ultimately decided to go ahead with the project.
Development on the first batch of games was the responsibility of Sam Overton. According to Baer, he was the only software developer working on the project at Magnavox. Game packaging and marketing materials were produced by artist Rob Bradford and designer Steve Lehner of Bradford/Cout Design, a marketing firm based in Skokie, Illinois. Lehner and Bradford had previously produced many of the materials for the original Magnavox Odyssey.
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