History of video games/Platforms/Magnavox Odyssey

History Background thumb|A 1939 Station Guide for the New York City Subway, where Ralph Baer was inspired to pursue an education in Electronics. The Magnavox company was founded on the 5th of July in 1917, and mainly produced products such as radios, speakers, and televisions for consumers and the military. Ralph Baer was born in 1922 in Germany, where he was soon denied an education under the increasing power of the Nazis.Because of Her Story https://womenshistory.si.edu/spotlight/the-father-of-the-video-game-the-ralph-baer-prototypes-and-electronic-games/biography Because of Her Story 28 November 2020 Baer and his family fled to the United States as refugees, fleeing persecution in Nazi Germany. A chance encounter on a subway in 1938 lead Baer to gain an interest in technology.Sullivan Gail The 1938 subway ride that led to the invention of video games https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/08/the-subway-ride-that-led-to-the-invention-of-video-games/ 30 March 2021 Washington Post Baer later was drafted into the American army to fight the Nazis in World War II.Motherboard TV: Oral History of Gaming: Ralph Baer and his All-Purpose Boxes https://www.vice.com/en/article/yppwaj/motherboard-tv-oral-history-of-gaming-ralph-baer-and-his-all-purpose-boxes www.vice.com 28 November 2020 enInventor Ralph Baer Was An American Success Story https://www.npr.org/2014/12/08/369402079/inventor-ralph-baer-was-an-american-success-story NPR.org 28 November 2020 en Development thumb|1969 TV Game Unit #7 / Brown Box prototype Ralph Baer, now an engineer who specialized in television, thought of an interactive television game in 1966. In 1967 a prototype unit called TV Game Unit #1, which allowed a dot to be manipulated on a television screen. This test system used vacuum tubes instead of transistors, but was still compact due to its simplicity.TV Game Unit #1, 1967 https://www.si.edu/object/tv-game-unit-1-1967:nmah_1301993 Smithsonian Institution 24 October 2020 en The following prototype TV Game Unit #2 allowed for two players, and was referred as the "Pump Unit" because of its unique up and down handle controller.The Pump Unit, 1967 https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1301996 National Museum of American History 24 October 2020 en thumb|Ralph Baer with a reproduction Brown Box in 2010. Baer convinced company leadership to fund his project with a $2000 budget.Early Home Video Game History: Making Television Play - The Strong National Museum of Play https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/early-home-video-game-history-making-television-play/1gISMn3lzjV8JQ Google Arts & Culture 25 October 2020 en The TV Game Unit #7 prototype, called the "Brown Box" could play multiple games, and had two controllers with a design that, while unrefined, was quite similar to the gamepads used in the third and fourth generation of consoles.The Brown Box, 1967–68 https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1301997 National Museum of American History 24 October 2020 en A prototype 1968 controller featuring a real golf ball on the end of a sturdy joystick was made, allowing the use of a standard golf club to be used in a golf game.The Brown Box Golf Game Accessory, 1968 https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1302398 National Museum of American History 24 October 2020 en A prototype plastic lightgun was also made for shooting games.The Brown Box Lightgun, 1967–68 https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1302000 National Museum of American History 24 October 2020 en Program card overlays served as a sort of game medium, indicating which switches needed to be pressed to access specific games. The Brown Box Program Cards, 1967–68 https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1301998 National Museum of American History 24 October 2020 en Magnavox contracted Nintendo, then a Japanese company that made a number of consumer goods including toys, to produce the light guns for the Magnavox Odyssey in 1971, adapting an existing Nintendo light gun toy for this purpose.Nude Clan: A Video Game Podcast https://nudeclan.libsyn.com/2016/04 nudeclan.libsyn.com 15 December 2020Nintendo: the history behind the gaming pioneers https://www.maxxor.com/blog/nintendo-gaming-pioneers-history/ Maxxor Blog 15 December 2020 29 July 2015Voskuil Geplaatst door Erik Nintendo Light-beam games Kôsenjû SP and Kôsenjû Custom (光線銃SP, 光線銃 カスタム 1970-1976) http://blog.beforemario.com/2011/02/light-gun-games-kousenjuu-sp-and.html 15 December 2020 On January the 27th, 1972 production of the Magnavox Odyssey began.Magnavox Odyssey - First Home Video Game System in 1972 https://www.cedmagic.com/history/magnavox-odyssey.html www.cedmagic.com 17 November 2020 The name Odyssey was chosen as a nod to the Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Launch Magnavox launched the Magnavox Odyssey in May of 1972. The cost of the Odyssey was $99.95,Range Peter Ross The space age pinball machine (Published 1974) https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/15/archives/the-space-age-pinball-machine.html The New York Times 1 December 2020 15 September 1974 which included 12 pack in games.Inside the Magnavox Odyssey, the First Video Game Console https://www.pcworld.com/article/256101/inside_the_magnavox_odyssey_the_first_video_game_console.html 24 October 2020 PCWorld 27 May 2012 en For reasons unrelated to the Odyssey, Dutch company Philips acquired the American company Magnavox in 1974.Koshetz Herbert North American Phillips Seeks Magnavox Shares (Published 1974) https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/29/archives/north-american-phillips-seeks-magnavox-shares-an-offer-is-made-for.html 17 November 2020 The New York Times 29 August 1974Timeline https://magnavoxhistory.com/timeline/ History of Magnavox 17 November 2020 The Philips company was founded in 1891, making it among the oldest companies to have a large involvement in the gaming industry.Our heritage - Company - About https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/company/our-heritage.html Philips 17 November 2020 enPhilips CD-i Retro Gamer https://www.retrogamer.net/profiles/hardware/philips-cd-i/ www.retrogamer.net 17 November 2020 The Magnavox Odyssey 100 was released in 1975, with used four integrated circuits to greatly simplify hardware.Magnavox Odyssey 100 Teardown https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Magnavox+Odyssey+100+Teardown/3531 iFixit 24 October 2020 en 30 August 2010 Legacy Production of the Magnavox Odyssey ended in 1975.Video game:Magnavox Odyssey 2 The Voice Series Sid the Sepllbinder - Magnavox Company https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/video-game-magnavox-odyssey-2-the-voice-series-sid-the-sepllbinder-magnavox-company/ggFd4UCCJGvaew?hl=en Google Arts & Culture 28 October 2020 en The console was followed by the Odyssey series of dedicated consoles. The console would later receive a proper followup in the Magnavox Odyssey². The Magnavox Odyssey sold less than 100,000 consoles its first year and about 350,000 totalFrom Wind-Up Dolls to Handheld Computers, Toys Follow Evolution of Tech https://insider.si.edu/2015/12/from-wind-up-dolls-to-handheld-computers-toys-follow-evolution-of-tech/ Smithsonian Insider 24 October 2020 21 December 2015 due to poor marketing.Video Game History https://www.si.edu/spotlight/the-father-of-the-video-game-the-ralph-baer-prototypes-and-electronic-games/video-game-history Smithsonian Institution 24 October 2020 en Magnavox salespeople would often incorrectly imply that a Magnavox Television was required to use the console to sell more Magnavox televisions, despite it's compatibility with nearly all televisions.Magnavox Odyssey Video Game Unit, 1972 https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1302004 National Museum of American History 24 October 2020 en The Magnavox Odyssey would inspire Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell to have his company make Pong, eventually leading Magnavox to take legal action against Atari.Wawro Alex Looking back at one of the very first video game rivalries https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/233898/Looking_back_at_one_of_the_very_first_video_game_rivalries.php 24 October 2020 www.gamasutra.com en In 1973, following the launch of the Odyssey, Baer demonstrated a concept All Purpose Box console pioneered a number of concepts which are now common. The Multimedia Box would run games, including some which could be advertiser supported, educational content, and mail order shopping.Cifaldi Frank Video game inventor demonstrates multimedia box...in 1973 https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/175505/Video_game_inventor_demonstrates_multimedia_boxin_1973.php 24 October 2020 www.gamasutra.com en In 2021 Handball for the Brown Box prototype would be the first video game to be depicted on currency produced by the United States Mint.Bulfinch Chris Coin Honors Inventor and the Birth of Videogame Culture https://coinweek.com/modern-coins/coin-honors-inventor-and-the-birth-of-video-game-culture/ 27 October 2021 CoinWeek 11 June 2021 Because it is commonly recognized as the first home game console, the Magnavox Odyssey is also nearly universally categorized as a first generation console. Preservation Due to it's wildly different technical architecture, and a reliance on physical objects, accurate emulation of the Odyssey relies on much different techniques compared to standard emulators. In 2017 a team at the University of Pittsburgh began working to preserve Odyssey related materials.It was a financial dud, but the first video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, may be getting a new life https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2019/02/24/magnavox-odysssey-pitt-vibrant-media-lab-fortnite-juju-smith-schuster-steelers-video-games/stories/201902170007 27 October 2021 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette en Technology thumb|Table Tennis on the Odyssey. Overlays were used to make the limited graphical capabilities of the Odyssey more expressive. The Magnavox Odyssey lacked a computer, instead using analog circuitry and game cards that manipulate internal jumpers to achieve desired results.Inside the Magnavox Odyssey, the First Video Game Console https://www.pcworld.com/article/256101/inside_the_magnavox_odyssey_the_first_video_game_console.html#slide7 PCWorld 24 October 2020 en 27 May 2012It was a financial dud, but the first video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, may be getting a new life https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2019/02/24/magnavox-odysssey-pitt-vibrant-media-lab-fortnite-juju-smith-schuster-steelers-video-games/stories/201902170007 24 October 2020 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette en Display output was limited to a line and three white blocksA Video Game Odyssey: How Magnavox Launched The Console Industry https://hackaday.com/2017/09/14/retrotectacular-a-video-game-odyssey/ 24 October 2020 Hackaday 14 September 2017, so color overlays and physical items were used to enhance gameplay.Magnavox Odyssey Video Game Unit, 1972 https://www.si.edu/object/magnavox-odyssey-video-game-unit-1972%3Anmah_1302004 Smithsonian Institution 24 October 2020 en Overlays attached to the CRT televisions via either the static electricity generated by the television, or manually with tape.In Search of the First Video Game Commercial https://gamehistory.org/first-video-game-commercial/ Video Game History Foundation 14 December 2020 10 January 2018 The system is powered by six C type batteries.Inside the Magnavox Odyssey, the First Video Game Console https://www.pcworld.com/article/256101/inside_the_magnavox_odyssey_the_first_video_game_console.html#slide6 24 October 2020 PCWorld 27 May 2012 en, though an optional AC adapter was available.Inside the Magnavox Odyssey, the First Video Game Console https://www.pcworld.com/article/256101/inside_the_magnavox_odyssey_the_first_video_game_console.html#slide5 PCWorld 24 October 2020 en 27 May 2012 Inserting a game card turned on the power, so the unit lacks a power button.Inside the Magnavox Odyssey, the First Video Game Console https://www.pcworld.com/article/256101/inside_the_magnavox_odyssey_the_first_video_game_console.html#slide3 PCWorld 24 October 2020 en 27 May 2012 Games Because the Odyssey lacked a computer, and was primarily a graphics generating device, games for the Magnavox Odyssey were simple, and were often versions of real sports like tennis.Cifaldi Frank Happy 40th birthday, video games https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/176677/Happy_40th_birthday_video_games.php 25 October 2020 www.gamasutra.com en Other games included a US Geography quiz game, and a roulette game. No matter the game, the Odyssey relies a lot on its players to use their imaginations, as well do things like keep score or enforce rules. Gallery Console Controller Accessories Technology Marketing center|200px|Odyssey wordmark. External Resources Magnavox Odyssey Magnavox Odyssey MoMA - Magnavox Odyssey exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. Smithsonian National Museum of American History - Magnavox Odyssey page featuring photo with Odyssey and packaging. Smithsonian National Museum of American History - Article about Ralph Baer and prototypes. Video Game Console Library - Magnavox Odyssey page with history and photos. Old Computers - Magnavox Odyssey Page with history and technical information. Centre for Computing History - Magnavox Odyssey page Video Game Kraken - Odyssey by Magnavox page Pong Story's website on the Odyssey. Video Game History Foundation - Page on the Odyssey focusing on the history of advertising the system. BBC Archive - Includes a video from 1973 which introduces the then novel concept of a video game. References 2100%__NOTOC__