History- Magnavox had released the very first home video game console, the Odyssey, in 1972. Although it did not have great sales, mostly because of Magnavox's poor marketing decisions, it did inspire other companies to make their own TV games. Atari was working on a home version of PONG, and the promise of a microchip that contained a variety of PONG style games led many electronics and toy companies to plan on releasing their own consoles.

Magnavox was the only company who had ever released a home console, and hoped to build off of that reputation by releasing a line of simple and inexpensive dedicated PONG style systems. Texas Instruments agreed to make the "PONG on a chip" microprocessors that would be the heart of the new line of Odysseys. However, TI could not supply the chips in time for the planned launch of the new Odyssey. Magnavox decided to design the first consoles the same way Ralph Baer had designed the original Odyssey. A hodge-podge of discrete transistors would handle the simple logic and display functions.

The Odyssey 100 launched in 1975, predating Atari's PONG by a few months. However, Atari's arcade reputation coupled with Sears' marketing power (the first launch of PONG was exclusively through Sears department stores) made PONG a much more popular system. Magnavox followed up the 100 with a steady stream of successor consoles which slightly improved the basic PONG formula, adding new game modes and improving graphical capabilities.

Following the release of cartridge based systems like the Channel F and Atari 2600, Magnavox abandoned their now-obsolete dedicated console line in favor of their new cartridge based console, the Odyssey²,

Console Variations-

Magnavox Odyssey 100- Released in 1975. The very first Odyssey dedicated console. The system does not have a CPU, making it technically an analog console, instead of digital. There is also no on-screen scoring. Instead, the console had a little mechanical slider that the gamers would keep score on. The 100 played two different games, Tennis and Hockey.

Magnavox Odyssey 200- Released in 1975. The follow up to the 100 added a third game mode and a very rudimentary on-screen scoring system, although it did retain the mechanical scoring slider. Up to 4 players could play simultaneously.

Magnavox Odyssey 300- Released in 1976. The first system to have a real CPU. The console itself eliminated it's predecessors' scoring slider and the extra knobs that had controlled the ball's "english"

Magnavox Odyssey 400- Released in 1976. Magnavox reverted back to the analog, CPU-less design of the 100 and 200. The 400 was exactly the same as the 200, but had much improved on-screen scoring.

Magnavox Odyssey 500- Released in 1976. The 500 was an analog system like the 400, but with much improved graphics. Instead of white rectangles representing the paddles, the player controlled a little pixelated person holding a racket or a stick. This was very impressive and wasn't seen in any other PONG system at the time.

Magnavox Odyssey 2000- Released in 1977. The 2000 was a digital console with a CPU, like the Odyssey 300. In fact, the 2000 was exactly like the 300, except it played 4 different game modes instead of 3.

Magnavox Odyssey 3000- Released in 1977. The 3000 featured the first real upgrade of the physical Odyssey console, whose design had basically remained unchanged since the days of the Odysey 100. The 3000 was larger, with a more user friendly button layout, and had detachable controllers.

Magnavox Odyssey 4000- Released in 1977. The last and most advanced of the dedicated Odyssey line. The 4000 featured 8 different game modes and color graphics. It also a more advanced set of joystick controllers, the same kind that would be used on the Odyssey²,

Philips Odyssey 2001- Released in 1977 in Europe. Similar to the Odyssey 4000, but with less features. Only three games modes were available, but they were all in color. The controllers replaced the joysticks with more traditional knobs.

Philips Odyssey 2100- Released in 1978 in Europe. Similar to the Odyssey 2001, but had many more game modes. 6 different games were available, each with a number of variations.

Collector's Guide- Because of it's basic design and lack of interesting features, the Odyssey line is not considered to be very collectible. Most of the earlier consoles in the line can be found on Ebay for around $20-40, with boxed versions demanding a slight premium. Later versions, like the 3000 and 4000 are a little harder to find and are more expensive.

As with all consoles from this era, it is very rare to find any specimens in the wild. However, they are readily available at classic gaming conventions.

Gallery-

1977 magazine article featuring a review of the Odyssey 300.

A very rare TV from Magnavox, the Model 4305, which came with an Odyssey system built into it.