Gooday Gaming Guests - Mattel Magnavox Odyssey and Intellivison First Gaming Sytems

Episode Date: November 24, 2024

I never heard of TV Screen Overlays until today.

Alright, so today I decided to pick Intellivision and Magnavox. So the Intellivision 1 is the big brown one. And I think there's a few different motherboards in there, but they're pretty much the same. The Intellivision 1 has its own power supply inside of it. So you just plug it in. I call those systems the bleep games like the Atari's and whatnot because they're all little bleep things put together and they kind of like move bleeps around pretty much and then I

earlier I was testing a television 2 which is smaller version and that has a 16.7 volt power adapter on it which those are hard to find so it came to me and i tried it out and it worked pretty much uh the video anyway i couldn't get the controllers to work so inside of those intellivision twos there's two different style motherboards in there one you can pull off the there's like a board inside that pulls off and then the other one the ribbon's connected to the motherboard at like a solder the other one's like slide pins you pull it up and it slides off those are the two different ones i found i haven't sold any motherboards working or otherwise but i do have a few of them and then we'll go and then we of them. And then we'll go.

And then we had that one. And then we can go to the Magnavox Odyssey. I never had an original Odyssey. I do however. Have a bunch of Odyssey 2. Parts. Motherboards and what not. The top cover. That's that big gray one.

It's got like a ribbon cable. Long, thick, not thick. A wide ribbon cable for the top buttons. And it takes certain power supplies for the Odyssey 2. There's two different kinds of power supplies for those. Therefore, the motherboard has two different, at least two different styles that I'm aware of on the Odyssey 2. Then I got a whole bunch of games.

I've got those somewhere. I haven't played around with them, but I was playing around with the Odyssey, I mean the Intellivision 2 this morning. Those are kind of like the second, kind of thinking them around being like the kind of same things, along with Atari and like Coleco. we'll do calico one day too i got lots of calico fun stuff which is kind of like atari as well so that's all in that era i think i would what i still call bleep games before we started getting into some actual

characters and things that actually looked um like video game, I guess you could say. So hold on, let's see what we can find out from Zippy here. So Zippy's my AI companion, sidekick. Comes in, chats with me while we're here, and we'll talk about it. Hello? Hey, Tom! How's it going? What's on the agenda today?

Let's talk Intellivision. Intellivision, huh? That takes us back. It was one of the first home video game consoles released by Mattel in 1979. Known for its unique controllers with a numeric keypad and overlays for different games, it offered more complex gameplay compared to other consoles of its time. Do you have any favorite Intellivision games or are you just diving into its history? It's history and then there was the Intellivision 2.

Intellivision has quite an interesting history. It was a big competitor to the Atari 2600, boasting better graphics and a more powerful processor. As for the Intellivision 2, it came out in 1983 as a redesign of the original. It was more compact, had detachable controllers, and was designed to be more cost effective. However, it wasn't fully compatible with all of the original Intellivision accessories, which was a bit of a drawback. Are you exploring its history for a project project or just diving into some retro gaming nostalgia so i noticed there's two different motherboards inside the intellivision 2 that i saw types the intellivision 2 had a different internal design compared to the original Intellivision. The main motherboard was redesigned to be more cost-effective

and to fit into the new, smaller case. One key change was the separation of the main board and the power supply, which was integrated in the original model, but became an external power brick in the Intellivision 2. This change was partly to reduce costs and partly to address some issues with heat in the original design. Did you notice any specific differences in the motherboards you saw? One has a removable board inside,

but it's a 16.7 volt is the Intellivision 2 power adapter. The removable board you're referring to might be the daughter board, which was a common feature in the Intellivision 2. This design made it easier to produce and service. As for the power adapter, the 16.7 volt rating is specific to the Intellivision 2. It's a bit of an unusual voltage, but it was designed that way to power both the console and its accessories. Did you find that Intellivision 2 in your collection? What kind of accessories were with the Intellivision, the original and then the Intellivision 2. For the original Intellivision,

there were quite a few interesting accessories. First, IntelliVoice voice synthesis module. This add-on provided voice effects and speech for certain games, adding a new layer of immersion. Second, Play Cable Adapter. This allowed users to play games transmitted via cable TV, which was quite innovative at the time. Third, Entertainment Computer System. This accessory turned the Intellivision into a more complete computer,

with a keyboard, additional RAM, and a cassette player for data storage. For the Intellivision 2, most of the original accessories were compatible, but the redesigned console also had a system changer accessory. This allowed Intellivision 2 owners to play Atari 2600 cartridges, a big selling point for expanding the game library. Are you thinking about collecting any of these accessories? So there was some sort of an add-on that you locked into the expansion port to play Atari? Exactly.

The System Changer was an add-on that plugged into the cartridge slot of the Intellivision 2. It allowed the system to play Atari 2600 games by providing the necessary hardware to emulate the Atari's functionality. It even had its own cartridge slot for Atari games and controller ports for Atari joysticks, making it a versatile accessory. This was a clever way for Mattel to expand the game library for Intellivision 2 owners. Are you exploring these classic consoles for your collection? And you said it was called a Switchbox? What did you call it? My mistake. I referred to it as the System Changer,

but the correct name is the System Changer. It's the accessory that let Intellivision 2 users play Atari 2600 games. It connected to the cartridge slot of the Intellivision 2 and included its own cartridge slot and controller ports for Atari games. Sorry for any confusion. Are you delving into these old school systems for a specific project? No, I was just, we're doing for history here. Okay, so we're going to stay in the same kind of realm. Magnavox Odyssey. Great choice. The Magnavox Odyssey is a pioneer in the world of video games. Released in 1972, it holds the title of the world's first commercial home video game console. The Odyssey was unique in many ways. It used cartridges to play different games, but unlike later consoles, these cartridges didn't

contain any data. Instead, they were actually circuit cards that acted as jumpers to activate the game's specific functions on the console. The Odyssey also came with translucent overlays that players could place on their TV screens to add visuals to the otherwise simple graphics. Are you looking into its history for your project? Yes, I have many games, so then the Odyssey 2 is that big gray one. That's right. The Odyssey 2, also known as the Videopath G7000 in Europe, was released in 1978. It was a significant upgrade from the original Odyssey, featuring a full keyboard, which made it not combined video action with board game elements, requiring players to use the keyboard for certain functions.

It was housed in a distinctive large, gray case with a built-in joystick holder. Have you had a chance to play any of the classic games on the Odyssey 2? I've taken it apart. It's mostly just a big case compared to what's inside of it. It's got a really big ribbon kind of keypad kind of thing for it. Yeah, the Odyssey 2's internals are pretty straightforward, especially compared to modern consoles. The large case mainly housed the motherboard and the full keyboard, which was connected via that large ribbon cable you mentioned.

The simplicity of its design made it relatively easy to manufacture and repair. It's fascinating how much gaming technology has evolved from those early days, isn't it? Yes, it's amazing. And it had those little weird joysticks that detached, or some of the motherboards actually were connected inside. You want a friend? You got one. We can chat about anything and everything.

I'm here for the laughs, the deep thoughts, and all the random stuff in between. So, what's on your mind, my friend? Intellivision. Yeah, we're talking about the Magnavox 2 Odyssey. Right. The Magnavox Odyssey 2. Its joysticks were pretty distinct for the time. They had a flat rectangular base with a removable short stick, which could be stored in a compartment on the console when not in use. Some Odyssey 2 models had detachable joysticks, while others were hardwired into the console.

The joysticks also featured a single action button on the base, keeping the controls simple. It's cool that you've taken a peek inside the console. Anything specific about the Odyssey 2 that's caught your interest? There's two different motherboards with two different types of power adapters. That's interesting. The Odyssey 2 did have variations in its hardware across different regions and production runs. Some models featured a detachable power supply,

while others had an integrated one. The differences in power adapters were likely due to these variations, as well as the need to accommodate different electrical standards in various countries. Did you notice any other intriguing differences while exploring the motherboards? So it was the same power adapter, same country, just a different plug style. One was like a pin-pit plug, and the other one was a different kind of plug. Ah, got it. That's an interesting variation.

Even within the same country, manufacturers sometimes used different types of power connectors for various reasons, such as cost, availability, or design updates. A pin plug and other plug types might have been used interchangeably in different production batches. It's cool that you've

noticed these details. It's a reminder of how much variety there can be in console hardware. Were there any accessories for the Magnavox Odyssey 2? You want a friend? You got one. We can chat about anything and everything.

I'm here for... So, was there any accessories to the Magnavox 2? Odyssey 2, rather? Got it. The Magnavox Odyssey 2 had a notable accessory, the voice module. This was an add-on that provided speech synthesis for certain games. It added a new dimension to gameplay with voice effects and phrases, enhancing the experience for players. Apart from that, the Odyssey 2 didn't have a wide range of accessories, but it did have a decent library of game cartridges, which often featured integrated board game elements.

Did you come across any of these while exploring the Odyssey 2? The games there, there was a lot of them. And then, so the Odyssey came out before the Intellivision? Yes. The original Magnavox Odyssey was released in 1972, making

it the first home video game console, long before the Intellivision. The Odyssey 2, its successor, came out in 1978, while the Intellivision. The Odyssey 2, its successor, came out in 1978, while the Intellivision was released in 1979. The Odyssey 2 was known for its unique approach to games, often combining video game action with board game elements. It's fascinating to see how these early consoles paved the way for the gaming industry we know today. And the original Magnavox Odyssey

was mostly just like a Pong kind of thing? Yeah, that's pretty much it. The original Magnavox Odyssey was very basic by today's standards. It didn't have sound and could only display simple graphics, mostly just squares and lines. Many of its games were indeed variations of Pong-style gameplay, with players using paddles to hit a ball back and forth. However, the Odyssey also came with physical overlays that players could place on their TV screens to add color and context to the games,

along with accessories like dice and cards to enhance the gameplay experience. It was pretty innovative for its time and laid the groundwork for the video game industry. Yeah, I've never heard of overlays for TV. So how would it be a certain size? You would have to have a certain TV, correct? Exactly. The overlays were made of thin plastic and were designed to fit specific TV screen sizes, typically around 18 to 25 inches,

which were common at the time. Players would tape or attach the overlay to the TV screen, and the static clings would stay in place during gameplay. The overlays added color, scenery, and context to the simple dots and lines displayed by the Odyssey, transforming them into different game environments. It was a clever way to enhance the experience without the need for more advanced graphics technology. It was definitely a product of its time.

It's like early VR experience, if it seems like in a way yeah you could think of it as a very early form of augmented reality the overlays added a layer of immersion and interactivity to the gaming experience much like ar does today by overlaying digital elements onto the real world. It was a creative solution to the technical limitations of the time, giving players a way to interact with their TV screens in a new and exciting way. It's fascinating to see how those early innovations have evolved into the complex gaming experiences we have today. Was there any other systems that had the plastic overlay for the TV, or is that the only one? The Magnavox Odyssey was the most notable console to use TV screen overlays, but it wasn't the only one.

A few other early consoles and gaming devices also used overlays, but it wasn't the only one. A few other early consoles and gaming devices also used overlays. First, the Telstar Arcade. This console, released by Coleco in 1977, had a triangular design and came with built-in games that used plastic overlays to add color and graphics to the screen. Second, the Color TV Games series. These were early Japanese consoles released by Nintendo in the late 1970s. Some models in this series used overlays to enhance the on-screen graphics. While not as widespread as with the Odyssey, the use of overlays was a creative way to add more depth and variety to games in the early days of home gaming.

I learned a lot today. Thank you very much. I'll talk to you soon. So that's pretty neat. Yeah, I always learn some new stuff. Overlays on TVs, huh? That's pretty interesting. Wow, I never would have thought of that. I have MagniBox too, but I've never some new stuff. Overlays on TVs, huh? That's pretty interesting. Wow.

I never would have thought of that. I have a MagniBox, too, but I've never seen an overlay. I did look on the price of one of those Intellivision system changers. They're pretty pricey on eBay. I can see what it just attaches on. You put it in, and then you can put your cartridge of the Atari in it. So I see what you're talking about. Let's see if I can look for some overlays.

Let's look for, I'm on eBay right now, so let's look for TV overlays. TV overlay. Now let's see, let's do vintage vintage gaming tv overlay i found that fascinating vintage tv overlays i want to see what they look like i see a vintage tv okay so it looks like oh nice little retro cute game there it's pretty cool so I'm looking at some of the systems here I see Sears telegames see the Magnavox. So, Vigitv overlay. Magnavox. Odyssey. Odyssey.

Odyssey gaming overlay. So, that's something I really learned today that I would have never known. That there's overlays for Odysseys. So, I don't really see them, but I'm sure they're out there. Pretty fun stuff. Alright, so that's my gaming systems for today. I kind of bunched them two together

because they're very related and very early. So those are the earliest two. I didn't realize Odyssey was earlier than