Only enjoying limited success with the worlds first home video games console, Magnavox looked to capitalise on the success of the arcade game Pong with the Magnavox Odyssey 100. Essentially, a basic version of the original Odyssey, the 100 did not let you play any cartridges but came with two games pre installed : Tennis and Hockey.
The system was powered by six batteries but like it’s predecessor, an ac adaptor was available. Although the system improved on the original by adding sound (basic beeps), it took a backward step by not including any controllers. Instead, gamers had to use the dials on the machine itself. Though at least the screen overlays were not needed anymore!
The games were very basic too. Both games were in black and white and strangely, did not count the users score on the screen. Instead, you had to mark your score up manually on the system itself, hardly practical! You couldn’t change serve in Tennis either.
They released the system towards of end of 1975, just shortly before the release of their own more powerful Magnavox Odyssey 200, which effectively made the console one of the lowest spec video game consoles available.
Because of this, they struggled to take customers away from Ataris Home Pong games system.
Specifications
The Magnavox Odyssey 100 was an analogue system which had 4 chips inside, all from electronic giants Text Instruments (TI). During development they had considered using a single chip design from National Semiconductor and in house design too, though they decided to go with TI.
