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THE ODYSSEY² TIMELINE!
The historical "Odyssey" of your favorite game machine - by William Cassidy
A Blast From the Past! What follows is a chronicle of significant (and not-so-significant) events in Odyssey² and Videopac history. Each event in this list has been carefully researched. When available, sources are provided for each entry. Please note: while most major events (e.g.: the Pick Axe Pete Pick-Off finals) can be traced to the exact day of occurrence, some events (such as game releases) are difficult to pin down to specific days, or even specific months in some cases. All dates are presented as accurately as possible.
Use this form to customize the presentation of the timeline:
Events from the Odyssey² Era: 1977-1986
Jan. 17, 1977
Magnavox President Alfred di Scipio claims that his company will have a microprocessor-based video game on the market in 1977, probably by the Christmas season.
Source: "The TV Makers' Game Plans." Business Week: Jan. 17, 1977. Page 34N.
July 13, 1977
July 26, 1977
Aug. 2, 1977
Ralph Baer has a telephone conversation with John Helms, the videogame engineering group leader at Magnavox's Fort Wayne center. Fauth states that there is serious talk of cancelling the Odyssey² project, maybe that very day. Helms suggests that Baer come to the Tennessee TV set and videogame manufacturing plant to attend an important meeting.
Aug. 10, 1977
Ralph Baer flies to Tennessee to attend the Magnavox meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. The subject: "Discontinuance of Odyssey² development by Magnavox management." Baer argues that Odyssey² has a real chance for success and urges John Fauth, a Senior VP at Magnavox, to continue the project. That afternoon, John Helms and Baer travel to Fort Wayne, IN, to visit Odyssey² engineering headquarters. The mood is bleak; black crepe paper is hung on the walls and many engineers are on the phone trying to line up new jobs. Helms expresses "cautious optimism" about the future of Odyssey² and shows Baer a fully functional development unit. Baer finds the system unique and especially appreciates its keyboard.
Aug. 11, 1977
Ralph Baer spends the day at engineering HQ in Fort Wayne, where Helms presents him with complete schematics and specs for the Odyssey². Helms wants Baer to take the specs back to his employers, Sanders Associates, for comment and "moral support." Eventually, Fort Wayne receives official confirmation that the Odyssey² project will continue. Charles B. (Chuck) Heffron is named Videogame Chief Engineer, and Gene Kale is assigned as the "Intel Game" group leader. Baer later summarizes his trip in a memo where he notes, "Almost sure I saved the program!"
Aug. 22, 1977
Sept. 19, 1977
Sept. 28, 1977
In a telephone conversation with Frank Quota, Chuck Heffron's boss at Magnavox, Ralph Baer learns that Magnavox management has officially approved the Intel Game and its European PAL equivalent. The approval came out of a meeting between Magnavox VP Chuck Dolk, Senior VP John Fauth, and Magnvaox President Alfred di Scipio. Quota tells Baer that everyone at Magnavox believes they need Sanders to design and critique their games to better compete with Atari.
Dec. 20, 1977
Dec. 26, 1977
Magnavox President Alfred di Scipio says that his company's failure to produce a programmable video game system for Christmas 1977 is not a disaster because "There is no sound evidence yet that a large unit market is there at the price points these products require."
Source: "Video Games Race to Catch a Changing Market." Business Week: Dec. 26, 1977, Page 44 B.
Jan. 23, 1978
Ralph Baer requests all available information on Odyssey² hardware to assist Sanders in making proposals regarding their level of support for the machine. Sam Overton is assigned as the Sanders coordinator. Overton says that six games are done, but that ten are needed before Christmas. Overton is concerned; he is now the lone Odyssey² programmer at Magnavox. Sanders offers to do programming.
Feb. 13, 1978
In a memo, Baer suggests using player-positioned bumpers in the Programmable Pinball game Sanders is developing for the Odyssey². This would make use of Telesketch -- a technology patented by Sanders in 1976 that allows players to draw graphics on the screen and have the game become "aware" of their positions. This suggestion is adopted.
Apr. 30, 1978
July 1978
In May, Magnavox announced that it anticipated FCC approval of the Odyssey² in July, and planned to announce the system's availability (plus eight cartridges) this month. The expected retail price: $179.
Source: "Atari's Game Plan to Overwhelm Its Competitors." Business Week: May 8, 1978. Page 50 F.
Oct. 1978
Dec. 1978
Jan. 7-10, 1979
Odyssey² is introduced at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV. According to Baer, it is "well-received." Sanders' Programmable Pinball cart is not included with the available games. (It is not to be released during Odyssey²'s commercial lifetime.)
February 1979
According to various records filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, this is the date when Odyssey² trademarks -- including the system's logos -- were first used in commerce. This indicates that Odyssey² was officially released in the United States during this month.
May 25, 1979
Sept. 30, 1979
November 1979
The First Issue date for Magnavox Service Manual No. 6510, "Odyssey² (BJ/BK7600) Video Game System."
Source: Magnavox Service Manual No. 6510
Dec. 20, 1979
Apr. 22, 1980
The copyrights for Showdown in 2100 A.D. (#TX0000569464), Hockey/Soccer (#TX0000569465), I've Got Your Number (#TX0000569466), War of Nerves (#TX0000569467), Alpine Skiing (#TX0000569468), and Invaders From Hyperspace (#TX0000569469) are registered on this date. The registrant for each game is Edward B. Averett.
July 1980
(Prerelease)
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Aug. 1980
A revised version of K.C. Munchkin is approved by North American Philips. Production of the game begins.
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Oct. 2. 1980
General Telephone and Electronics Corporation (GTE) agrees to sell its U.S. consumer electronics business, which includes the Sylvania and Philco television brands, to North American Philips. Hereafter, GTE employees are able to purchase Magnavox and Philips products -- including Odyssey² -- through the employee store at a discounted rate.
Source: Arenson, Karen W. "G.T.E. Sets Electronic Units Sale." The New York Times: Oct. 3, 1980. Section D, Page 1.
Dec. 1, 1980
Dec. 17, 1980
Apr. 1, 1981
June 1, 1981
The copyrights for UFO (#TX0000788045), Alien Invaders—Plus (#TX0000788046), Blockout/Breakdown (#TX0000788047), Casino Slot Machine (#TX0000788048), Pachinko (#TX0000788049), Pocket Billiards (#TX0000788050), Electronic Table Soccer (#TX0000788051) and Volleyball (#TX0000788052) are registered on this date. The registrant for each game is Edward B. Averett. The registrations also list June 1 as the date of publication for each game (except for Alien Invaders, which has a publication date of Dec. 1, 1980).
Fall 1981
Magnavox increases its budget by $5 million -- to $9.1 million total -- to support the Odyssey brand.
Source: McClenahan, Cheryl. "Magnavox Turmoil Leads to Campbell-Ewald Firing." Adweek: June 4, 1984.
4th Quarter, 1981
October 1981
Oct. 27, 1981
North American Philips issues the first of two memos to its sales force, emphasizing that the company does not want "others to misapply our game names and trademarks to their games. Likewise, we should not use other people's trademarks or game names to refer to our own games." These memos would later be cited in a lawsuit filed by Atari, alleging that NAP engaged in copyright infringement and unfair trade practices.
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Oct. 30, 1981
Nov. 13, 1981
Minnesota Fats, "The Video King," a retailer in the Chicago area, runs an advertisement in the Chicago Sun-Times that hails K.C. Munchkin as a "Pac-Man-type game." This ad will later be used in the Atari lawsuit to indicate that K.C. infringes on Pac-Man's copyright.
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Nov. 13, 1981
A legal secretary named Linda Pierce, who works for Atari's legal firm, is instructed to purchase a copy of K.C. Munchkin. She calls a Chicago store named Wieboldt's and is told by a store representative named Mr. Sarno that the game is "just like Pac-Man," but that the store does not have any copies in stock.
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Nov. 15, 1981
An investigator for Atari's legal team named Thomas P. Gallo visits a Minnesota Fats store in Oak Lawn, IL. He purchases one of the three K.C. Munchkin carts the store has in stock, and is told by a female sales clerk that the game is "just like Pac-Man."
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Nov. 18, 1981
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Nov. 27, 1981
North American Philips issues a second memo to its sales force that reiterates the policy outlined in the Oct. 27 memo.
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Dec. 4, 1981
A decision is reached in the Atari/Philips lawsuit. United States District Judge George N. Leighton finds in Philips's favor, ruling that K.C. Munchkin is not "substantially similar" to Pac-Man because ordinary observers would not confuse the two games. Atari's request for a preliminary injunction is denied. Atari would soon file an appeal.
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Dec. 26, 1981
Jan. 19, 1982
An appeal of the Atari/Philips lawsuit is argued before the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. The appeal is assigned case number 81-2920 and is presided over by Circuit Judges Wood and Eschbach, and District Judge Myron L. Gordon.
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Jan. 30, 1982
Early 1982
Mar. 1, 1982
Mar. 2, 1982
Source: Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982)
Apr. 6, 1982
Apr. 20, 1982
The Wall Street Journal reports that North American Philips has introduced The Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt.
Source: Sansweet, Stephen J. The Wall Street Journal: Apr. 20, 1982. Page 18.
June 1, 1982
June 5, 1982
At 6:30 p.m. in Chicago, the Second City comedy troupe presents a comedy show entitled The Odyssey & The Ecstasy Or "What's in A Game?" The show is presented for employees of North American Philips. The performance coincides with the Summer CES.
Aug. 31, 1982
September 1982
4th Quarter, 1982
Sept. 9, 1982
This is probably the date that the Fall 1982 issue of Odyssey Adventure went to press. As of this date, one winner has been announced in the Kellogg's Instant Win Odyssey Video Games contest (Fred B. McGillvray of Newville, PA), and one winning game piece is still available in a box of Kellogg's cereal somewhere.
Sept. 23, 1982
Sept. 27, 1982
Sept. 30, 1982
At a press conference in Tokyo, North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. announces that the Odyssey² will soon be "fully marketed" in Japan via two major distributors: Kawada Co. and Tsukuda Co. NAPCEC President Frank Lann talks up the educational potential of the machine, and the company expects to market 100,000 consoles and a half million cartridges in Japan within the first year.
Source: "U.S. Odyssey 2 Video Game for Sale." The Japan Economic Journal: Oct. 5, 1982. Page 14.
September 1982
Corton Trading Company begins importing and selling Odyssey² consoles and games in Japan. The console's original price in Japan: 49,800 Yen.
Source: "Corton Trading Will Slash Video Game Machine's Price." The Japan Economic Journal: May 17, 1983. Page 18.
October 1982
Oct. 4, 1982
Source: North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. et al. v. Atari, Inc., et al., 81-2237 (U.S. Supreme Court 1982)
Oct. 8, 1982
The first day of The Wizard's Great Game Giveaway. Customers who purchase an Odyssey² console between this date and the end of the Giveaway are eligible for the title of "Honorary Wizard" and are entitled to two free games: one Master Strategy title and either K.C.'s Krazy Chase or Pick Axe Pete.
Source: The Wizard's Great Game Giveaway mail-in certificate
Oct. 8, 1982
Oct. 8, 1982
Oct. 9, 1982
Nov. 1982
Nov. 15, 1982
December 1982
Dec. 24, 1982
Dec. 31, 1982
Jan. 1, 1983
Jan. 6 - 9, 1983
Jan. 10, 1983
Mail-in certificates for The Wizard's Great Game Giveaway, which ended in December, would no longer be honored after this date.
Source: The Wizard's Great Game Giveaway mail-in certificate
January 1983
Feb. 15, 1983
March 1983
Electronic Fun with Computers & Games reports that the Odyssey3 Command Center will be on the market by July 1983.
Source: Gutman, Dan. "Game Workout: Odyssey 3." Electronic Fun with Computers & Games: March 1983, Page 29
Apr. 30, 1983
May 1983
Corton Trading Company lowers the price of Odyssey² consoles in Japan from 49,800 Yen to 29,800 Yen, a 40% drop. Cartridges will sell for 7,900 Yen. Corton reports shipping about 3,000 Odyssey² units since September 1982. Corton also plans to start distributing The Voice in Japan during this month.
Source: "Corton Trading Will Slash Video Game Machine's Price." The Japan Economic Journal: May 17, 1983. Page 18.
May 19, 1983
Christer Medin, Software Manager of the Electronic Games division in Eindhoven, Netherlands, sends a letter to Peter Courtney. In the letter, Medin says that the programming and consumer groups are investigating the possibility of producing Courtney's haunted house game for the G7000.
June 1, 1983
June 4, 1983
June 4, 1983
In Chicago, The Second City comedy troupe presents "A Video Game Comedy Caper" for North American Philips employees.
Source: The Second City. A Video Game Comedy Caper. NAP Video Network: 1983.
June 15, 1983
The end date for entry into the Second Chance drawing of the Kellogg's Instant Win Video Game Sweepstakes.
Source: Back of 1983 Kellogg's Apple Jacks cereal box
June 21, 1983
Philips N.V. (Philips Europe) announces that it will cooperate with Thomson-Brandt S.A. to produce video game consoles and cartridges. This collaboration will eventually lead to the Jopac line.
Source: Reuters. "Philips Video Pact." The New York Times: June 22, 1983. Section D, Page 4.
June 30, 1983
June 30, 1983
Aug. 1, 1983
Aug. 20, 1983
The businesses Rádio Cidade and Laser Jeans, with the support of Philips and the Morumbi Shopping center in São Paulo, Brazil, sponsor an eight-day Odyssey tournament. Divided into age groups, contestants compete for high scores on Come-Come (K.C.'s Krazy Chase).
Source: Odyssey Aventura, Winter 1983, Page 4
Aug. 28, 1983
Winners of the Rádio Cidade and Laser Jeans Odyssey tournament are announced. Marcelo Polverini wins the age 10-13 group, Fábio Luiz Garbossa Francisco wins the age 14-17 group, René Rui de Souza wins the 18-21 group, and Márcia F. Pinto is the winner of the group for those over age 22.
Source: Odyssey Aventura, Winter 1983, Page 4
September 1983
September 1983
October 1983
October 1983
October 1983
Games magazine calls Turtles one of the "Best New Games."
Nov. 1, 1983
Nov. 14, 1983
North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. files a patent application for a "video game device with automatic standby mode." The device is a game console that stops supplying power when cartridges are removed. Diagrams included with the application show the Odyssey² and suggest that it incorporates the standby technology. The inventor is listed as Charles B. Heffron. This application is not granted for another two and a half years (see April 1986 entry).
Dec. 1, 1983
January 1984
Jan. 11, 1984
The Wall Street Journal reports that Philips Europe and Atari are in negotiations to produce a new kind of video game system. Nothing was to come of this collaboration, however.
Source: Karlin, Beth. "N.V. Philips, Warner's Atari Discussing Joint Effort to Produce a Video Game." The Wall Street Journal, 1/11/1984
Jan. 31, 1984
Mar. 20, 1984
NAP announces that Odyssey production has recently ceased. NAP spokesman Pat Wilson says that the Odyssey division will be dissolved within a year because of "general market conditions." Odyssey orders will be filled until supplies run out, which is expected to be in early 1985. In the meantime, most of the Odyssey division's approximately 40 employees will be reassigned to another division. Wilson goes on to say that Odyssey "was never a major factor" in the home video games market.
Source: Eblen, Tom. "Pioneer Home Video Game Is Dropped." The Associated Press: Mar. 20, 1984.
Oct. 16, 1984
With ironic timing, since the Odyssey brand had been retired mere months before, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office finally gets around to issuing Odyssey² trademarks. The original "vanishing point" Odyssey² logo (serial number 73388304) is granted registration number 1330713. A second trademark is registered for the later, block-letter style logo: serial number 73389949, registration number 1300714. Another trademark is issued for "Video Output Game Machines and Game Cartridges Therefor," serial number 73388293, registration number 1330712.
Nov. 15, 1984
December 1984
Issue 11 of the Brazilian videogame magazine Micro & Video previews A Turma da Mônica, a game based on and named after the famous South American comic strip. The game is never released.
Source: Micro & Video, Issue 11, December 1984
Apr. 30, 1985
Apr. 1, 1986
Events from the Post-Odyssey² Era: 1987-Present
Nov. 2, 1996
July 1997
Aug. 26, 1998
Sept. 1, 1998
Feb. 16, 2000
Troy Lukkarila contacts William Cassidy about Probe 2000 prototype games he owns: ColecoVision Lord of the Dungeon, ColecoVision Power Lords, and Odyssey3 Flashpoint -- games that are eventually reproduced and distributed to collectors.
July 29, 2000
Thirty Pinball! cartridges, autographed by Ralph Baer, are released at Classic Gaming Expo 2000; Sanders's Programmable Pinball game from 1978 finally sees the light of day. Reproductions of ColecoVision Power Lords and Lord of the Dungeon also debut this day.
Sept. 2, 2000
Feb. 16, 2003
June 24, 2003
ClickGamer.net releases Pocket Odyssey², a PocketPC Odyssey² emulator.
Source: ClickGamer.net e-mail announcing Pocket Odyssey²
Dec. 15, 2003
June 10, 2004
June 14, 2004
Nov. 2, 2004
May 2005
Aug. 21, 2005
Feb. 25, 2006
March 2006
Apr. 9, 2006
June 9-10, 2006
Feb. 21, 2007
May 2007
Oct. 26, 2007
Mar. 13, 2008
Oct. 5, 2008
Nov. 10, 2008
Dec. 28, 2008
This Timeline is first published.
Oct. 4, 2009
Oct. 24, 2009
Nov. 8, 2009
Oct. 3, 2010
Dec. 4, 2010
Oct. 1, 2011
Nov. 26, 2011
Revival Studios releases Mayhem, another original Videopac/Odyssey² homebrew title, at the Retrobörse in Bochum, Germany. Like Astro Dodge, Mayhem features enhanced graphics when played on G7400-compatible machines.
Mar. 3, 2012
Revival Studios releases ColorClash, a Videopac/Odyssey² homebrew title based on one of Revival's original Vectrex games, at the Retrofair in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Like Revival's other homebrews, ColorClash features enhanced graphics when played on G7400-compatible machines.