Odyssey video game system

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  • Description
Date Introduced
1972
Photographer
Richards, Mark
Dimensions
overall: 6 in x 17 1/2 in x 17 1/2 in
Manufacturer
Magnavox
Credit Line
Gift of Emmuel J. Gause
Copyright Owner
© Mark Richards
Location
US
Keywords
Home game console; Baer, Ralph; Magnavox; Games
Object ID
102674784

The idea of using a TV to play video games first occurred to engineer Ralph Baer while designing a projection TV for the Loral company in 1951. But Baer didn’t begin designing a prototype game system until 1966, and it was another five years before he licensed it to Magnavox. Odyssey could only draw simple images on the TV, so players attached plastic overlays to the screen to provide the game background. Odyssey used just electronics—no microprocessors or software.