* Odyssey^2 and Odyssey^3 Videogames FAQ
@ 1996-07-23 0:00 Robert D. Kaiser
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From: Robert D. Kaiser @ 1996-07-23 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw)
Robert D. Kaiser kaiser@pofvax.pnb.sunysb.edu
Odyssey2 (Philips G7000)
Odyssey3 Command Center (Philips Videopac + G7400)
Welcome to the world of the Odyssey^2 and Odyssey^3 !
Magnavox's Odyssey^2 was a popular American videogame console, sold
in the United States from 1978 and 1983. It never was quite as
popular as the Atari 2600 or Mattel's Intellivision, but it did
sell more units that the GCE Vectrex, Bally Astrocade, Emerson
Arcadia 2001, Fairchild Channel F or the RCA System II.
It is less well known that the Odyssey^2 was even more
popular in Europe, where it was marketed by Magnavox's parent
company, Philips Electronics. In Europe (and in other parts
of the world as well) the Odyssey^2 was sold as the Philips G7000
Videopac console. In France, it was known as the Philips C52.
Around 1983, the videogame market was beginning to
contract, and the Odyssey^2 totally lost its market share to the
next generation 8 bit videogames like the Colecovision, Atari 5200,
and the original Nintendo. In order to compete, Magnavox developed
their own next generation system, code named the Odyssey^3. Later
press releases revealed that it would be termed the Command Center.
The Odyssey^3 Command Center was to have 16k ROM, 16k RAM,
and a capacity for detailed background and foreground graphics.
The keyboard was redesigned to have more keys, and a real computer
keyboard was added in place of the Odyssey^2's flat plastic
membrane. There was a built in joystick holder, so that one person
could use both joysticks at once, for arcade style games. The unit
also had two planned accessories: A voice synthesizer and a 300
baud modem. The Odyssey^3 Command Center was hyped to the press,
and previewed at the 1983 Consumer Electronics show.
It never was released.
For years, people searched for prototypes of this unit,
although the chances of finding one were slim since only a few
prototypes were made. In time, the Odyssey^3 became known
as vaporware among most, and a 'holy grail' of videogame collectors
among those who knew that a few prototypes really existed.
Last year I made an amazing discovery: Philips had
released the Odyssey^3 ! It was only sold for a limited time in
1983, and 16 cartridges were ever made for it - but it did exist!
It was sold as the Philips Videopac + G7400. The Videopac +
console had almost exactly the same internal hardware as the
American Odyssey^3 prototype, but externally it was very different.
The keyboard did indeed have extra keys, but a flat plastic
membrane keyboard was used instead of a real keys to save costs.
Also, there was no built in joystick holder.
The Philips Videopac + G7400 could play four types of cartridges.
(1) All the standard Odyssey^2 / Philips G7000 cartridges.
The backward compatibility would ensure that many Odyssey owners
would upgrade to this system and still be able to use all their old
games.
(2) A series of remakes, in which popular Odyssey^2/Philips
G7000 games were re-released with high resolution, beautifully
rendered background graphics, similar in quality to what one would
see on a Colecovision. If these game were played on a regular
Odyssey^2/ Philips G7000 the game would play just like the classic
version, but the high-res background graphics would not be visible.
(3) A series of totally new Odyssey games. These had standard
Odyssey foreground graphics but also had high resolution background
graphics. If these game were played on a regular Odyssey^2/Philips
G7000 the game would play correctly, but the high-res background
graphics would not be visible.
(4) A series of totally new Odyssey^3/Philips G7400 only games
that could only be played on the Odyssey^3 or G7400. These games
not only had hi-res background graphics, but they had hi-res
foreground graphics, scrolling screens, multiple screens and the
ability for more complex gameplay. Only four such games were ever
made: Norseman, Helicopter Rescue, Trans-American Ralley and the
Home Computer Module.
Rarity: C = Common
U = Uncommon
R = Rare
ER = Extremely rare
UR = Ultra Rare
P = Only exists as confirmed prototype
NR = Never released/No known prototypes. Games in this
category may have been advertised, or just planned,
but apprently never even made it to the prototype stage.
*****************************************************************
* Magnavox Odyssey^2 *
*****************************************************************
Model number / name Rarity
------------------------------------------------------------
AC9400 Speedway!/Spin-Out!/Crypto-Logic! C
AJ9401 Blackjack! R
AJ9402 Football! U
AJ9403 Sub Chase!/Armored Encounter! C
AJ9404 Bowling!/Basketball! U
AJ9405 Math-a-Magic!/Echo! R
AC9406 Computer Intro! U
AJ9407 Matchmaker!/Buzzword!/Logix! C
AJ9408 Baseball! C
AJ9410 Computer Golf! U
AJ9411 Cosmic Conflict! C
AJ9412 Take the Money and Run! U
AC9413 I've Got Your Number! R
AK9414 Invaders From Hyperspace! C
AK9415 Thunderball! R
AK9416 Showdown in 2100 A.D. C
AK9417 War of Nerves! U
AK9418 Alpine Skiing! U
AC9419 Out of This World!/Helicopter Rescue! R
AK9420 Hockey!/Soccer! U
AK9421 Dynasty! U
AA9422 Volleyball! R
AA9423 Electronic Table Soccer! R
AC9424 Pocket Billiards R
AA9425 Pachinko! R
AA9426 Casino Slot Machine! U
AA9427 Blockout!/Breakdown! C
AA9428 Alien Invaders - Plus! C
AC9429 The Quest for the Rings! U
AB9430 U.F.O.! U
AB9431 Conquest of the World! U
AM9432 Monkeyshines! R
AC9433 Keyboard Creations ER
AC9434 The Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt R
AC9435 K.C. Munchkin! C
AC9436 Freedom Fighters! C
AC9437 Pick Axe Pete! U
AC9438 S.I.D. the Spellbinder (voice) ER
AC9439 Nimble Numbers Ned! (voice) ER
AC9440 Type & Tell! (voice) R
AC9441 Smithereens (voice) ER
AC9422 K.C.'s Krazy Chase! (voice) U
AC9433 P.T. Barnum's Acrobats (voice) ER
AC9445 Attack of the Timelord! (voice) R
AC9446 Turtles (voice) ER
AC9447 Killer Bees! (voice) ER
AC9448 Power Lords UR
??7605 The Voice of Odyssey^2 R
Voice and music synthesizer.
GE7710 Odyssey^3 Command Center P
GE7610 Odyssey^3 Voice Module P
Odyssey^2 Pink Panther NR
Odyssey^2 Sherlock Holmes P
Odyssey^3 Modem P
Odyssey^3 Flashpoint P
Odyssey^3 Baseball P
Odyssey^3 Killer Bees P
As an American release, this only exists as a prototype.
The prototype for the American version has not yet been found, but
I have seen a videotape of this game in action. An altered version
of this game was released in Europe (UR), the difference being that
the background graphics are completely different. In the American
prototype video we see a colorful geometric background, while in
the European release we see a yellow honey comb, and several large
'Killer Bees'.
Odyssey^3 Attack of the Timelord P
As an American release, this only exists as a prototype.
However, this game was released in Europe as "Terrahawks +" (ER).
Oddly, two large stars blink in the American version, yet are
static in the European version.
Odyssey^3 Freedom Fighters P
As an American release, this only exists as a prototype.
However, this game was released in Europe as "Freedom Fighters +"
(ER). One notable difference is that the background graphics for
this American version are *not* used on the European version.
Instead these background graphics (of a big red floating asteroid
and a starfield) are used on the European Videopac "Satellite
Attack +" which is the European Odyssey^3/Philips G7400 version of
"U.F.O.!" The G7400 version of "Freedom Fighters" features a
background with several planets (one with rings) and a starfield.
*****************************************************************
* Magnavox Odyssey games for Colecovision *
*****************************************************************
War Room R
This was the only Odyssey game that ever made it to the
Colecovision market. It was sold under the label 'Probe 2000'.
Power Lords NR
This game was advertised with screen shots, but it was never
sold and no prototype has yet been found. The Odyssey^2 version
is UR, and was commercially released.
Flashpoint NR
Creatures and Caverns NR
These games were planned but never apprently made it to the
prototype stage. No prototypes have ever been found.
*****************************************************************
* Imagic Odyssey^2 *
*****************************************************************
Model number / name Rarity
------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantis ER
Demon Attack ER
Demon Attack Plus UR
Demon Attack Plus was a limited release for the Philips
G7400, known only to have been sold in France and Portugal. One
known copy has a label showing that it was released by To Tec
International, and licsenced by Imagic. In addition to the regular
release of these Imagic games, they were also sold in some European
countries under the Philips label.
*****************************************************************
* Parker Brothers Odyssey^2 *
*****************************************************************
Model number / name Rarity
------------------------------------------------------------
Popeye UR
Q*Bert UR
Super Cobra UR
Frogger ER
Tutankham NR
Note that Popeye, Q*Bert and Super Cobra all work on American
Odyssey^2 units, but Frogger does not. In addition to the regular
release of these games, they were also released in some European
countries under the Philips label. Tutankham was advertised but
never released, and no prototype has yet been found.
*****************************************************************
* Philips Videopacs for the G7000, G7200, or G7400 *
*****************************************************************
In the following list, if there is a '+' sign next to the
Videopac number, then this means that there was a '+' version of
this game released.
Videopac number / name Rarity
(followed by name of American version.)
------------------------------------------------------------
Philips G7000 ER
Videogame console; equivalent to an Odyssey^2.
Philips G7200 UR
Videogame console with built-in B/W monitor.
Philips G7400 UR
Videopac '+' console, equivalent to the unreleased Odyssey^3
Command Center.
01+ Race/Spinout/Cryptogram C
Speedway/Spinout/Cryptologic
02 Pairs/Space Rendezvous/Logic R
Matchmaker/Out Of This World/Logix
These games were released in the US, but
not together on one cartridge!
03 American Football R
Football
04 Air-Sea War/Battle R
Armored Encounter/Subchase
05 Blackjack R
Las Vegas Blackjack
06 Ten Pin Bowling/Basketball R
Bowling/Basketball
07 Mathematician/Echo R
Math-a-Magic/Buzzword
08 Baseball R
09 Computer Programmer R
Computer Intro
10 Golf R
11+ Cosmic Conflict R
12 Take the Money and Run R
13 Playschool Math UR
I've Got Your Number
14 Gunfighter R
Showdown in 2100 A.D.
15 Samurai ER
Dynasty
16 Depth Charge/Marksman R
Never released in US
17 Chinese Logic R
Never released in US
18 Laser War R
Invaders From Hyperspace
19 Catch the Ball/Noughts and Crosses R
Never released in US
20+ Stone Sling R
Smithereens
21 Secret of the Pharoahs ER
Never released in US
22 Space Monster R
Alien Invaders - Plus!
23 Las Vegas Gambling R
Casino Slot Machine
24 Flipper Game R
Pinball
25 Skiing R
Alpine Skiing
26 Basket Game R
Pachinko
27 Electronic Table Football R
Soccer
28 Electronic Volleyball R
29 Dam Buster R
Blockout/Breakdown
30 Battlefield R
War of Nerves
31 Musician (by Sierra) ER
Never released in US
32 Labyrinth Game/Supermind R
Never released in US
33 Jumping Acrobats R
P.T. Barnum's Acrobats
34+ Satellite Attack ER
U.F.O.!
35 Electronic Billiards R
Pocket Billiards
36 Electronic Hockey/Electronic Soccer R
37 Monkeyshines R
38 Munchkin R
K.C. Munchkin
39+ Freedom Fighters R
40 Microcat / 4 in 1 Row R
Never released in US
41 Conquest of the World ER
42 The Quest for the Rings ER
43+ Pick Axe Pete R
44 Crazy Chase R
K.C.'s Krazy Chase
45 Morse ER
Never released in US
46 The Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt ER
47 The Mousing Cat /Adversaries ER
Never released in US
48 Backgammon ER
Never released in US
49 Turtles ER
50 Super Bee UR
Never released in US
51+ Terrahawks ER
Attack Of The Timelord
52+ Killer Bees ER
53+ Nightmare UR
Never released in US
54+ Looney Balloon ER
Never released in US
55+ Neutron Star ER
Never released in US
56+ Norseman UR
Never released in US - for G7400 only
57 Blobbers ER
Never released in US
58+ Air Battle UR
Never released in US
59+ Helicopter Rescue UR
Never released in US - for G7400 only
60+ Trans-American Rally UR
Never released in US - for G7400 only
A Newscaster UR
Type'n'Tell
V Kinder Im Verkehr UR
German released only. An Odyssey^2 educational game for kids.
Only a few hundred are rumored to exist.
c7010 Video Chess Module UR
c7420 G7400 Home Computer Module UR
A BASIC programming module.
xx Clay Pigeon P
xx Pink Panther NR
*****************************************************************
* Jopac Videopacs for the Philips Jopac (G7400) *
*****************************************************************
These games were only released in France; All of these are UR.
Syracuse - A ricochot" game. You must catch sunrays (dots)
with a mirror and "shoot" them at a certain angle to a city to
destroy the houses.
Chex Maxime - A platform game. It is a restaurant with three
stores, and you are the waiter and you have to serve people in
a certain time limit.
Exojet Plus
Billiards Plus (Pocket Billiards Plus)
Catapult Plus (Smithereens Plus)
Motor Crash
Robert D. Kaiser
kaiser@pofvax.pnb.sunysb.edu
Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics
SUNY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY
11794-8661
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