PERIPHERALS!
Compared to other consoles, there aren't that many Odyssey²- and Videopac-compatible peripheral devices available. However, there's more than you might think.
Controllers
There are several different types of joysticks available for Odyssey²- and Videopac-compatible consoles (although Philips/Magnavox always called them "Hand Controls" rather than "joysticks"). A chart is available below. The differences between the basic joystick types are as follows:
- Joystick color - The plastic shell of the joystick may be black, silver, or beige.
- Fire button color - It may be red, silver, or black. In the case of Odyssey3 Command Center joysticks, which were also used on a rare variation of the Odyssey², the fire "button" is actually a long red bar.
- Joystick movement shape - The shape of the "cut out" portion of the joystick shell that allows the joystick to move may be square, or more commonly, a notched starburst shape.
- Knob - The plastic knob on top of the stick may be black or silver.
- Plug - Depending on the model and variation of a given console, joysticks may have a port-type connector (for consoles with external ports), or a molex-type connector (for consoles lacking external ports). Odyssey3 Command Center joysticks have telephone-style jacks. Most joystick types seem to be available with both port-type and molex-type plugs. Plugs have been left off the chart below to keep things simpler.
Joystick Chart
Replacement Hand Controls
In the U.S., replacement hand controls were available directly from Magnavox through their parts outlets. These came in orange and black boxes that included instructions. Replacement hand controllers are black with red fire buttons. At least two models were available. Part #171572-1 was for the hardwired-joystick model console (labeled "Hard Wire" on the box), and part #171572-3 was for the detachable-joystick ("Plug-In") model. Each came with a single sheet of dual-sided installation instructions (document #EL3462-1), showing plug-in instructions on one sie and hard-wire instructions on the reverse. Since the controllers look the same as regular Odyssey² joysticks, the true "collectibles" here are the box and instruction sheets. The instructions seem to be more difficult to locate than the boxes.
WICO Joystick Adapter
The WICO Joystick Adapter allows standard 9-pin joysticks (such as the Atari 2600's) to work on the detachable-joystick model Odyssey². It is not that easy to find. WICO produced a number of similar adapters for other classic game systems. Although the WICO units for other systems are not compatible with Odyssey², many of the other adapters look physically identical. The only way to recognize the O2 adapter is via a white sticker affixed to one side of the unit. Some units have stickers that read simply "OD" in red letters, while others read "WICO 72-4540 ODY ADAPTER," and still others read "WICO 50-0002 ODY II ADAPTER" (the part number listed in WICO product catalogs is #72-4540).Several photos can be found on this page.
WICO Trackball
The WICO Command Control Trackball was released in limited quantities for the detachable-joystick model Odyssey². Although WICO clearly advertised the Odyssey² trackball, its existence was not confirmed until mid-2000, when it was shown at the Classic Gaming Expo. The trackball looks practically identical to other WICO models; you can tell if it's for the Odyssey² by the "OD" sticker on its front panel. Model #72-4555. The trackball came packaged with an instruction manual, product registration card, and power supply. Trackball power requirements: INPUT 117V AC 60Hz 7W • OUTPUT 6V AC 600ma)
Modules
The Voice of Odyssey²
The Voice of Odyssey² was released in 1982, and allows the console to emit realistic voices and sound effects. It is silver, the same color as the console, and fits snugly into the cartridge port. Once installed, an Odyssey² with a Voice looks like a single unit, not two things hooked together. The Voice has a self-contained speaker (the voices do not come out of the television), with a volume control. Regular cartridges will play normally through the Voice unit. Voice modules aren't that rare, but every Odyssey² collector wants one, which makes them somewhat valuable. There is no European version of The Voice. In Brazil, a Voice module was announced but never released (see next entry).
The Voice, Dynacom
Dynacom was the company that planned to distribute The Voice module in Brazil. Although a prototype of Dynacom's unit was shown at a 1984 Brazilian product exposition called "UD 84," it never made its way to store shelves. A sales flyer distributed at the show reveals that the unit is identical to the American Voice module, except that the Voice logo has been replaced by a Dynacom logo. It's rumored that a big-name American collector currently owns the prototype, but until I see proof, I'm considering this only a rumor and nothing more.
C7010 Chess Module
The Chess Module, part number C7010, is more than a cartridge. It is an actual computer module that gives the G7000 enough computing power to play chess. This "piggyback" module connects to the G7000 through a "dummy" cartridge. It was released only in Europe. It came packaged with a thick, spiral-bound manual that explains the game of chess in detail. The box is made of thin cardboard, and features a die-cut chessman (a knight) that can be folded up, presumably for store display purposes. Chess modules were originally packed into precisely sized cardboard boxes. Quantities of these were packed into large shipping boxes. Both the large and small shipping boxes are made of corrugated white cardboard and marked with "Videopac C7010" in red letters.
C7420 Home Computer Module
The Home Computer Module, part number C7420, is a piggyback add-on component much like the Chess Module. Developed in part by Microsoft, this module allows G7400 or J0 7400 owners to write programs in MS-BASIC and save them to tape via its cassette port. This module was only released in Europe. In Germany, it is known as the Microsoft BASIC Ubersetzungsmodul. It came packaged with a thick-spiral bound manual. More information on this module is available at The Virtual Videopac / Odyssey2, Odyssey3 Museum.
Dev Carts
Videopac C7030 RAM Cart
The Videopac C7030 RAM cart is a "homebrewed" peripheral that was offered by Classic Consoles Center in 2003 and 2004. It can be used to upload your own programs into the console. Based on schematics developed by Sören Gust, a limited number of RAM carts were professionally assembled using high precision components. From the CCC site: "The RAM cart works on PAL Videopac and NTSC Odyssey2 consoles. It comes with a 3 meter (10 feet) RS232 Nullmodem cable, 9 pin." The original cost of the C7030 RAM cart was 69 Euros plus shipping. For an additional 25 Euros, you could have the circuit board installed in a custom-labeled Videopac cartridge case. Too expensive for you? Never fear – if you have the proper skills, it is possible to build your own RAM cart by following Sören Gust's G7000RAM schematics. (Sören's site seems to no longer be online, but archived schematics are archived on the Wayback Machine).
G7000 EPROM Cart
G7000 EPROM Cart – A testing device used by Philips engineers. It consists of a board, mounted into a Videopac cartridge case, that allows you to plug in a 16K or 32K EPROM and test it in a G7000 console. A metal switch toggles between 16K or 32K. All in all, a fairly simple, basic testing device. If you're really lucky, you might find such an EPROM cart with a case full of EPROM chips. It's happened to a small number of fortunate collectors in the Netherlands.
Odyssey3 Command Center Peripherals
Command Center Voice Module
The Command Center Voice Module was a planned peripheral, but, like the console itself, it was never released. Very few prototypes are known to exist. Like all the known Command Center prototypes, it is little more than a small black box that attaches to the back of the console. Troy Lukkarila owns one prototype that is simply a bare board (but it still works!). Part #GE 7610.
Command Center Modem
The Command Center Modem was another planned peripheral for the Command Center. This 300-baud modem would have come with a software cartridge, which would have turned the Command Center into a real terminal (see the screenshot). Precious few prototypes of the modem and the software cartridge are known to exist. Part #GE 7615.
Command Center Computer Module
The Command Center Computer Module was yet another planned add-on for the Command Center. A promotional video shown at the 1983 CES says, "Also planned... is a computer programming module that expands the uses of the standing keyboard to the expectations of tomorrow. Basic programming capability with optional mass storage packs for program and data retention." The storage pack shown in the video looks like a standard Command Center cartridge. I believe only one prototype of the Computer Module is known to exist. In the photo, it is the black box attached to the back of the console.