CONSOLES FROM OTHER REGIONS!

Odyssey (Brazil)

The Philips Odyssey was Brazil's version of the Odyssey². The "2" was unnecessary because the Pong-like Odyssey consoles were never sold in Brazil. The console looks practically identical to U.S. systems, except that it has two Philips logos stenciled onto the right silver frame. The logo is on a raised plastic rectangle, and lacks the "2" after "Odyssey." Two black, hardwired joysticks accompany the console, as does a trapezoidal power supply that sports an Odyssey logo. The console box features writing in Portuguese. Brazilian consoles came packed with Fórmula 1!/Interlagos!/Crypto-Logic!.

Odyssey² (Canada)

My information on Canadian consoles is still a bit sketchy. Console model CC7600 GY02 seems to have been exclusively distributed in Canada. It features hardwired black joysticks, a standard RF cable, raised logo and NES compatible power supply. I don't know what other console models may have been sold in Canada, but I suspect that many were just imported as-is from the United States. Some Canadian console boxes contain writing in French and English; "The Ultimate Computer Video Game" is also "Le Summum du Jeu Electronique Video." Canadian consoles probably came packed with a copy of Speedway!/Spin-Out!/Crypto-Logic! in special French/English packaging. In French, the game is La Course Folle!/Téte-A-Queue!/Crypto-Logic!.

オデッセイ 2 (Japan)

Odyssey² was imported into Japan by Corton Trading Company (コートン トレーディング カンパニー), an importer of fiber-optics and other high-tech products based in Tokyo. Corton apparently distributed video games under a local brand named Tally Enterprise (タリーエンターブライズ). Their presence in Asia pre- and post-dated their involvement with Odyssey², which seems to have been but a small part of Corton's business. At one time, they represented Hughes Aircraft.

Apparently, Corton simply imported Odyssey² items from America and stuck some Japanese-language stickers on the packaging to make the merchandise sellable in Japan. The distinguishing mark of Japanese console packaging is a silver sticker placed diagonally near the upper right corner of the box. This sticker features the words "Odyssey2" (オデッセイ 2) and "Programming TV Game" (プログラミング テレビゲ一ム) written in the Japanese katakana alphabet. Japanese Odyssey² games feature a similar sticker on the spine of their boxes, and come with cheaply made Japanese-language insert manuals. Consoles came packed with the ever-popular Speedway!/Spin-Out!/Crypto-Logic!, or, as its name translates from Japanese, Speedway/Runabout/Ango Kaidoku ("code break"). Japanese consoles have been reported with both flat and raised logos.

Corton began importing and selling Odyssey² consoles and games in September of 1982. The console's original price in Japan: 49,800 Yen. That's about USD$205.84, based on the December 1982 exchange rate. North American Philips predicted that 100,000 consoles and a half million cartridges would sell in Japan within the first year. By May of 1983 it was clear that this was overly optimistic. That month, Corton reported shipping about only 3,000 Odyssey² units so far, and lowered the price of consoles in Japan to 29,800 Yen – a 40% drop. Cartridge prices were lowered to 7,900 Yen. Corton also planned to start distributing The Voice in Japan during this month, although it is not known if this ever happened.

Japanese Odyssey² items are very rare and information about the subject is scarce; in fact, it took a lot of research just to dig up this limited amount of data. Thanks to Lori Cassidy, SlyDC, Gamengai, and TV Game Kan for their help.

Translation Notes: For years, Corton has been identified as "Kooton", which came from an inadequate translation of the text on the back of Japanese game manuals. Consult this article for translation notes.