Magnavox Odyssey 2
The Magnavox Odyssey 2 (stylized as Magnavox Odyssey²), also known as Philips Odyssey 2, is a second generation home video game console that was released in 1978. It was sold in Europe as the Philips Videopac G7000, in Brazil and Peru as the Philips Odyssey and in Japan as Odyssey2 (オデッセイ2 odessei2). The Odyssey 2 was one of the five major home consoles prior to the 1983 video game market crash, along with Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Intellivision and ColecoVision.
Magnavox Odyssey 2 and its two wired joystick–based game controllers | |
| Also known as |
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| Developer | Magnavox Philips |
| Manufacturer | Magnavox Philips |
| Product family | Magnavox Odyssey series Philips Odyssey series |
| Type | Home video game console |
| Generation | Second generation |
| Release date | |
| Lifespan | 1978–1984 |
| Introductory price | US$179 (equivalent to $803.13 in 2022) |
| Discontinued | 20 March 1984 |
| Units sold | 2 million |
| CPU | Intel 8048 |
| Memory | 64 bytes RAM, 1024 bytes ROM |
| Removable storage | ROM cartridge |
| Display | Intel 8244 |
| Graphics | 160×200 pixels, 16 colors (4-bit RGBI) |
| Controller input | Joysticks |
| Predecessor | Magnavox Odyssey/Philips Odyssey 2100 |
| Successor | Philips Videopac+ G7400 |
In the early 1970s, Magnavox pioneered the home video game industry by successfully bringing the first home console to market, the Odyssey, which was quickly followed by a number of later models, each with a few technological improvements (see Magnavox Odyssey series). In 1978, Magnavox, now a subsidiary of North American Philips, decided to release an all-new successor, Odyssey 2.
In 2009, the video game website IGN named the Odyssey 2 the 21st greatest video game console, out of its list of 25.