The Magnavox Odyssey, the first video game console, is demonstrated

24th May 1972
The Magnavox Odyssey, the first video game console, is demonstrated

The Magnavox Odyssey was the first home video game console. It was first demonstrated on May 24, 1972 and released in September the same year.

In 1951 Ralph H Baer came up with the idea of a home video game system, and in the late 1960s developed the idea into a set of designs. One of these designs, nicknamed the "Brown Box" would go on to become the Odyssey after being pitched to Magnavox.

The initial design featured a row of switches that could be turned on and off to change the gameplay, replicating games such as Tennis, Volleyball or Hockey. These were later changed to different cartridges for each game.

The console was only moderately successful. It wasn't until the release of Atari's Pong that the public started taking notice of the new video game console industry.

Related information:

Images:

  • Magnavox Odyssey on display at The Centre for Computing History
    Credit: The Centre for Computing History


 

 

 


 

The Magnavox Odyssey, the first video game console, is demonstrated

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