This was the first for me as well. K.C. Munchkin, Monkeshines, Quest for the Rings, Cosmic Conflict, Alien Invaders Plus... so much good stuff. I was the weird kid that had this instead of the Atari like all the other kids in my neighborhood.
IamTheBiggs haha! Same here. Only I think other kids liked to come by and see something they weren’t used to. Then I got to barter for some time to go and play Atari at their place. Good times.
Similar story. Some of the only memories I retain from that far back are from the day we got the Odyssey2, starting with a memory of us being in a store in the local mall and my dad asking if we'd like to take it home. "It" being the Odyssey2 which we had apparently either been staring at or demoing. We took it home, sure enough. My dad played probably 10 minutes and never touched it again, or any other video game as far as I know. We didn't get an Atari until much later so the Odyssey2 and the half dozen games we got with it were pretty much our whole world for several years.
Pick Axe Pete and Showdown in 2100 A.D. were my favorites. We used to have a magnavox dealer in the mid 80s. I remember being a kid and going to the magnvox store, they had a catalog with Odyssey 2 games you could buy. I remember thumbing through the catalog and order games. It would take about 4 weeks to get the game, and the store would call. It was awesome.
My favorite system growing up, hours of fun on this console. I'm still a gamer but all systems of the past are enjoyed by emulation from time to time, brings back great memories.
Received this for Christmas in 1979. My collection is not as vast as his but I still have all the original boxes and cartridges in their original boxes.
This was my first game console. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I remember the controllers used to wear out pretty often. My dad bought replacements once, then after I wore another one out he made a replacement using doorbell buttons. It worked really well and just required replacing one of the cheap buttons every now and then. I still had the homemade controllers on mine and the originals looked strange to me in this video lol.
Love KC munchkin and pickaxe Pete. Played them all the time at my Grandparents house. Also have Quest for the Rings. Very unique idea to have a board game you use while playing the game
We had an Atari VCS and Sears Super Video Arcade (aka Intellivision) back then. I was somewhat interested in this console when I saw the Quest for the Rings game, but alas never ended up getting one. I have one of the cartridges for the system that was in a lot of Atari cartridges that I bought I few years ago. Looks like a neat little system.
It's my 1st game console I got. And just a few years ago starts collecting for it again. Have all the N. American games but missing The Voice box and manual. I still play Atlantis, KC Crazy Chase and Pick Axe Pete.
I had Atlantis and demon attack for the 2600. Two of my favorites. The box art for demon attack is hilarious. Two silver painted plastic dinosaurs with missiles glued on to them.
This collection made my jaw drop. That is dedication. It's at the point where a person with a rare Odyssey2 trinket would be proud to hand it over just to see it become part of this whole.
My 1st console as well, which I own have some game, Beautiful memories.....it does not matter what console or game whether is game or bad, old or new but the memories you have either by yourself or families/friends that is priceless....
Cool flashback. Like a few others here, this was my first console as well. Very cool to see all of the different games and packaging again and you're right - the art work is amazing!
My dad told me stories about his time with these and his time with his father on these, didn’t know my grandfather much and the console was about 19 years old by the time I was born, however I just found a lot of them for cheap CIB at a bookstore of all places, the box arts incredible and I can still enjoy the simplicity of the games, hoping to get my own AV mod in so I can show my father on vacation and get some of those memories flowing for him. I know there’s not really a reason someone my age should be interested in it but hopefully I can get a few more folks to appreciate it. History’s important.
Nice, The Odyssey 2 collection! That has to be some of the coolest game box art I've ever seen from a 2nd gen console, looks like alot of effort was put into it, awesome video john
I got this as a Christmas gift. All my friends had Atari and Colecovision and all the other popular name brand gaming systems. I was embarrassed at the time and never told my friends that I had this. I was a little kid and didn't know any better. My family did the best they could at the time. I did play it a lot. This really brings back the memories. Maybe I'll try and get it again.
For how little this console is known, it seems like a lot of people saved the system boxes for these compared to other systems. I speak as someone who bought 3 of them in the wild from 2003 - 2006, and 2 of them had the box. The box just opens up so neatly, that it's easy to use as a storage container.
My bro and I got this for Christmas 82, we played golf and monkey shines till our eyes where watering. Dad and bro had big golf tourney showdown, dear old dad lost and did all Christmas dinner dishes by himself 😂
I know this video was published a while ago, but just stumbled across it. This was one of the first systems I played growing up. I've only recently picked up the console from my parents house that has sat around for the past 40 some years. Time to see if I can get the layers of dust off of it and see if it works. Such a blast from the past watching this video. Thank you.
This was my first ever gaming system. I got it for Christmas i believe 1981. Everyone enjoyed it and my brother and i would spend hours upon hours on this system
I never owned an Odyssey 2, but I remember playing it a few times in the store (specifically Bamberger's, a Macy's-like department store) in roughly the 1979-1981 time frame. To me, it was one of the three consoles from the first half of the second generation of video game consoles (or entire second generation, if you consider consoles like the Atari 5200 and ColecoVision part of the third generation) that were actually reasonably popular back in the day, after the Atari 2600 and Intellivision. I didn't remember any of the other 1976-1979 interchangeable cartridge consoles until reading about them many years later, but I was always aware of the Odyssey 2. (To be fair, that may be in part because my family owned - and I still have - two of the first generation predecessors to the Odyssey 2, Odyssey 400 and Odyssey 500.) Stated more simply, I don't consider the Odyssey 2 a forgotten console, at least for people who were old enough to remember the late 1970s and very early 1980s!
This was the first video game system I had. I really enjoyed it. This brought back some great memories. I remember playing baseball with my dad. He loved playing it. I can't say anything negative about the O2
My family had one of these growing up. The Odyssey^2's heyday was well before my time - my dad bought it before my parents got married - but I still liked it for Lord knows what reason. The golf game was the best when you hit the ball into a tree and the golfer would slam his club into the ground. We even had Conquest of the World, though I was never able to figure out how it worked.
Owned a near-complete collection of Odyssey2 games at one point, unfortunately it was one of the things I sold when my kids were born. Def one of the more interesting systems of its generation.
My favorite 2nd gen console. Ed Averett not only made KC Munchkin he also programmed 24 games for the odyssey 2. He was make a new game every 2 months!
It was my first console. I got it at a flea market in Sana Cruz California. Just bought it again and I remember taking a cartridge out and putting another in and it would "mix" the games and I called it " picking a little mix" Good times
I got my Masters degree in the city where they held the 1982 World’s Fair and go back to visit friends often. I’ll be on the lookout for that button at antique stores.
Always enjoyed the Odyssey 2 since I was a kid. I bought a few games today at game exchange actually. Thanks for the great review I definitely learned a few things I didn't know. I broke it out at new years eve last year and everyone had a lot of fun
I still have most of these. Freedom Fighters was a particular favorite, with great gameplay. The O2's controls were much smoother than the competitors of the day., and it's a shame they never developed the platform further.
Conquest Of The World, and Showdown we're probably my favorites. We had good times with Odyssey 2 and Intellivision for a long time before Nintendo. Still love those joysticks that came with the console. Easiest to pick up and use without fatigue
The only thing I missed from my growing up time was all my Lego from the mid - late 70's, until I saw this video. I LOVED my Odyssey 2! Going start looking on ebay :)
Alien Invaders and Freedom Fighters are some of the first games I ever played. My parents gave me their collection, the console and games all in amazing condition CIB. Everyone forgets this console and it's awesome to see it get some attention.
I'm 44. A couple years back I started collecting old consoles from my youth. I could remember the O2 from commercials and seeing it in stores. But we never owned one. We had the Sears Video Arcade 2(2800) growing up and then later the NES. So when I found a deal on one I bought it. I have the O2 with connected controllers. I also have a voice unit and several of the games. I have Quest for the Rings. And back in October I grabbed a sealed copy of Conquest of the World. My collection of O2 stuff isn't anywhere near as big as yours. But I consider it pretty decent. Especially as hard as it has been to find anything for the O2 in my area. Cool to see all of this in one spot. Thanks for sharing man.
If you're looking for some sort of argument or flame war go back to one of your internet forums. I'm sure you can find somebody to argue with somewhere. Maybe some senior citizens at a coffee shop?
Very good old days playing my Odyssey with friends in Brazil. It was manufactured by Philips do Brasil at that time, around 1980. It was hard to decide between it and Atari 2600 by Polyvox in Brazil. I remember deciding for the Odyssey because of the keyboard.
Awesome John. Got this console for Christmas when I was 9. Had a bunch of little chocolate candies leading down the stairs to it. I still have it and all my games. Loved played Quest of the RIngs, Pick Axe Pete, Showdown UFO and others. Still have my Apple II+ as well. Great collection you have
Great video! My first encounter with the Odyssey 2 was at my brother's house, I believe back in 1982, and tried it out with I recall KC Munchkin. I thought it was really fun, but it wasn't until maybe 2012 that I really started beginning my collection at the local used game store. Right now I have an Odyssey 2 (of course), The Voice with box and 13 games, most of which are in box. Probably my favorites are KC's Krazy Chase (which was clearly a big ol' eagle directed at Atari, since KC Munchkin was taken off the market because of a lawsuit from Atari) and PT Barnum's Acrobats. That one uses The Voice (as does Krazy Chase) to hilarious effect. Much like the Fairchild Channel F, the Odyssey 2 was a console that should not be forgotten.
I never had one of these back in the day, but I got one about a year ago. I am really impressed on how well the console itself has held up being 40+ years old. Yes, the graphics on the games aren't the greatest but the fun factor in these games are really great, examples: Pick Axe Pete and KC among others.
The Magnavox Odyssey 2 was the first system for which I actively attempted to complete a library. Ironically enough, I have completed 3 libraries that I hadn't even started when I first found the Odyssey 2. I only lack 1 game for the system.....and no, it isn't Power Lords. Atlantis is the game that has escaped my grasp since the beginning of my collecting. I am sure that I will eventually come across it but I doubt that my Odyssey 2 collection will ever be as varied as yours. Thanks for sharing. :)
One of the highlights for me every year was getting the various Christmas catalogs. I remember they had full page spreads dedicated to each system. I had an Atari but I’d see the Odyssey in the Montgomery Ward catalog (I think) and always loved the artwork. That was such a fun time!
it's hard to think it's the same gen as colecovision, but obviously it was more "game concept" than graphics. here in Canada , i don't think many retailers carried it for long . (Atari made a deal with Sears "Tele-Games", so that kinda limits sales) any one seen the "Chess Module " ?
I love my Odyssey 2! I got mine way late into the game, last year at a game convention (syracuse retro game con). I also got a ton of games for it in an ebay lot for less than a dollar a game. These pre-nintendo generation consoles are fun to play and collect for.
I've recently been playing some 2600 games, and re-realized that that these games were amazing. Even now. Totally playable, fun, and keep you in the zone. COD? Fortnight? Nah. Old skool. Lol...
The graphics were simple but the gameplay was usually pretty solid. Really relied on reflexes a lot more than in modern games. The limited number of lives also made things a challenge.
This was my first game console too. I remember games like KC Munchkin and Pick Axe Pete, which were games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. Voice control work on KC. And I forgot about Quest for the Rings. Classic. I had most of the games.
Also with a regular CIB Videopac, I am the lucky owner of aV ideopac G7200. Very interesting machine with screen included and scart output. The best image quality possible for this machine. Also the games are very cheat and most of the time CIB too. At least here in France. Thx for your videos and your eternal smile John! ^^
Saw you this year at my first PRGE with your Sega Genesis collection, most impressive. This collection, wow, super cool. The art work is so classic and I love how they made a simpler version of the box art for the cartridge. Thank you for sharing this awesome collection.
Still have mine, and in perfect working order. Philips Videopac G7000. And also an another one, just to have spare parts. Damn, I never got myself that Quest For The Rings game...
I got lured in and bought this at Sears when they went on sale at half price as my friend had one and I figured we'd share games. (The cheapskate never bought another game for his.) I immediately got a sales brochure about them going out of business and everything was half price so I spent a paycheck on games (including the voice module). As a junk store junkie I ended up getting what I thought were most of the games until I saw this video. I had no idea about the after market stuff. I'm not a gamer despite what I spent on this. I still have it all up in my attic.
The Mag odyssey 2 is one of my favorite systems! I’m glad you made this video. UFO, Alien invaders, and KC Krazy chase are some of my favorites. It may sound like blasphemy, but I actually like krazy chase better than munchkin.
Awesome collection and I like the classic video intro of yours. This was our first game console when I was 5 years old. It took my mom and brother forever to figure out how to hook up the TV/Game switch box to the back of the TV. 😀
I remember having way to much fun as a kid just playing around with the Voice unit and the Type and Tell cart, and making the console say just the worst things....lol I'm almost at a complete boxed collection for this system. Most of the games can be gotten very cheap and CIB. Also AV modding this system is easiest and cheapest to mod, and only takes about 10 minutes at most.
Great collection, the odessey 2 was my first video gaming experience. Wow we have come a long way! you showed things I never new existed. Like the homebrew games, and the board games. I just learned who Baer was sorry for the spelling , awesome to have his autograph. i enjoyed playing this with my family alot and loved seeing your collection, I better call my dad to see if I can get our system before my bro does lol
Nice collection. Highlighting The Voice would have been great since games then didn't have voice. The Intellivision own Intellivoice had very little support compared to the Odyssey2. Anyway, great video.
Ah, this was technically my first game console.. Although believe it or not, I returned it and the games I had bought (about 2 or 3) in less than a month, and got the Atari VCS. The VCS just had more games - and more of the arcade favorites that I had actually played before coming home. The VCS had worthy competition, but what they lacked at this point in time were actual arcade games. I have to admit the board games were pretty innovative for the time. One of my best friends also had an Odyssey2 (he kept his), and he got Quest for the Rings.
love the vids on classic consoles, I was way too young to ever get into them personally, my oldest console is the genesis, but rly love learning about them
In pal region we had the "philips video pac 2" i remember it as a child back in the early 80s. I lived that system! Especially 'bowling' and 'basketball'! Thanks for show casing that masterpiece!!!!!
I remember as a kid seeing this system advertised on a cereal box for a contest to win the system with some games. It seemed to be on a similar level to the Intellivision, but with some additional computer capabilities.
In the late 70s when arcade games like PAC Man, Space Invaders, and Donkey Kong were taking off this was an amazing but obviously not equal home alternative. I remember my friend had the Atari equivalent system and I could tell when he came over to play he thought my Odyssey 2 system was better which it was. My favorite games were Pick Axe Pete(Donkey Kong) and Cosmic Conflict a semi Asteroids inspired game. Also the tank/submarine and racing games were lots of fun. Definitely a great diversion before advanced gaming and really even before there was much to watch on cable. Expensive but well worth it.
Never saw this system growing up. I got a 2600 and Colecovision for Christmas the year of the crash. There are some intriguing games. I’m curious as to why we haven’t seen compilations of this system similar to Intellivision or Atari.
Had an Odyssey 2. Was my first console. My favorites was KC Munchkin, Speedway and Alien Invaders. I believe that was the only games I had, or at least I remember playing as a kid. I would love to get my hands on another one.
I had an Odyssey 3000 pong hockey/tennis machne as a kid handmedowned fromthe neighbors 70s kids. I didn’t have this oe so I have no nostalgia for it directly, but the overall aesthetic and the charm of the caracter it gets from having all those 16 signature reused sprites really makes it attractive to want to buy for. (and play!) And I just looked on Ebay and the first listing was for a full system with 18 games for 95.96! so I think it would be maybe the only system (that I would want anyway( that I could actually ever hope to have a full collection for! That’s pretty cool. About to go watch your other old video on it. Peace.
Hey John, thanks for this video. That was my very first contact with videogames. I do remember going to my sister's friend to "help" them with the homework, but I was actually there to play her Odyssey :)
Thanks for sharing! Love the older tech, and the footage looks sharp with the mod. I’ve seen these sit on Craigslist and keep thinking I need to get one. I’m starting to see a lot of games sitting with the Atari sections at game stores.
Wow ur collection is amazing !!! Just love the odyssey I was 5 years old in 1983 I still remember my brothers bought the console so much fun but she died early 90's lol but I'm thinking to get one on ebay for sure ! But wow congrats for real its not everybody who has a collection like yours !!
My first game console. Could never forget it. Cool to see all this.
This was the first for me as well. K.C. Munchkin, Monkeshines, Quest for the Rings, Cosmic Conflict, Alien Invaders Plus... so much good stuff. I was the weird kid that had this instead of the Atari like all the other kids in my neighborhood.
IamTheBiggs haha! Same here. Only I think other kids liked to come by and see something they weren’t used to. Then I got to barter for some time to go and play Atari at their place. Good times.
Same here!
Same here and this game showed some games I forgot about it.
It was our families first console. I miss it! I need to check Amazon!
I remember my dad brought this home to us out of the blue. Lots of fond memories playing with this as a family.
Cool dad
Mee too.
Same.
Similar story. Some of the only memories I retain from that far back are from the day we got the Odyssey2, starting with a memory of us being in a store in the local mall and my dad asking if we'd like to take it home. "It" being the Odyssey2 which we had apparently either been staring at or demoing. We took it home, sure enough. My dad played probably 10 minutes and never touched it again, or any other video game as far as I know. We didn't get an Atari until much later so the Odyssey2 and the half dozen games we got with it were pretty much our whole world for several years.
Pick Axe Pete and Showdown in 2100 A.D. were my favorites. We used to have a magnavox dealer in the mid 80s. I remember being a kid and going to the magnvox store, they had a catalog with Odyssey 2 games you could buy. I remember thumbing through the catalog and order games. It would take about 4 weeks to get the game, and the store would call. It was awesome.
My favorite system growing up, hours of fun on this console. I'm still a gamer but all systems of the past are enjoyed by emulation from time to time, brings back great memories.
Received this for Christmas in 1979. My collection is not as vast as his but I still have all the original boxes and cartridges in their original boxes.
My dad bought this for me when I was 12. It was so much fun. I still have it all packed away somewhere. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.
You are most welcome.
Its not forgotten, I still have the one we got when I was a child.
This was my first game console. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I remember the controllers used to wear out pretty often. My dad bought replacements once, then after I wore another one out he made a replacement using doorbell buttons. It worked really well and just required replacing one of the cheap buttons every now and then. I still had the homemade controllers on mine and the originals looked strange to me in this video lol.
Love KC munchkin and pickaxe Pete. Played them all the time at my Grandparents house. Also have Quest for the Rings. Very unique idea to have a board game you use while playing the game
We had an Atari VCS and Sears Super Video Arcade (aka Intellivision) back then. I was somewhat interested in this console when I saw the Quest for the Rings game, but alas never ended up getting one. I have one of the cartridges for the system that was in a lot of Atari cartridges that I bought I few years ago. Looks like a neat little system.
My cousin had this (my other cousin had the Atari 2600, then the 7800), & I loved it, especially KC Munchkin... such a great game!
It's my 1st game console I got. And just a few years ago starts collecting for it again. Have all the N. American games but missing The Voice box and manual. I still play Atlantis, KC Crazy Chase and Pick Axe Pete.
I had Atlantis and demon attack for the 2600. Two of my favorites. The box art for demon attack is hilarious. Two silver painted plastic dinosaurs with missiles glued on to them.
The artwork on the games and console boxes were amazing and really added to the fun!
I want a poster of each of the box covers. Amazing art.
I can’t stop thinking about how long it must’ve taken to set the collection down so nicely and organized
Odyssey 2 box art was really solid!
This collection made my jaw drop. That is dedication. It's at the point where a person with a rare Odyssey2 trinket would be proud to hand it over just to see it become part of this whole.
My 1st console as well, which I own have some game, Beautiful memories.....it does not matter what console or game whether is game or bad, old or new but the memories you have either by yourself or families/friends that is priceless....
Cool flashback. Like a few others here, this was my first console as well. Very cool to see all of the different games and packaging again and you're right - the art work is amazing!
My dad told me stories about his time with these and his time with his father on these, didn’t know my grandfather much and the console was about 19 years old by the time I was born, however I just found a lot of them for cheap CIB at a bookstore of all places, the box arts incredible and I can still enjoy the simplicity of the games, hoping to get my own AV mod in so I can show my father on vacation and get some of those memories flowing for him.
I know there’s not really a reason someone my age should be interested in it but hopefully I can get a few more folks to appreciate it. History’s important.
Nice, The Odyssey 2 collection! That has to be some of the coolest game box art I've ever seen from a 2nd gen console, looks like alot of effort was put into it, awesome video john
Alorso thank you!
I got this as a Christmas gift. All my friends had Atari and Colecovision and all the other popular name brand gaming systems. I was embarrassed at the time and never told my friends that I had this. I was a little kid and didn't know any better. My family did the best they could at the time. I did play it a lot. This really brings back the memories. Maybe I'll try and get it again.
For how little this console is known, it seems like a lot of people saved the system boxes for these compared to other systems. I speak as someone who bought 3 of them in the wild from 2003 - 2006, and 2 of them had the box. The box just opens up so neatly, that it's easy to use as a storage container.
This was my first console I had as a child. I owned Hockey, Baseball, Football, and K.C. Munchkin
My bro and I got this for Christmas 82, we played golf and monkey shines till our eyes where watering. Dad and bro had big golf tourney showdown, dear old dad lost and did all Christmas dinner dishes by himself 😂
Actually in Brazil the Odyssey 2 was a big hit! We had exclusive games for us in the 80’s. It’s remembered to this day
My brother still has this system i remember back when when he got it we all played buck Rodgers and gorf all night..good times
I know this video was published a while ago, but just stumbled across it. This was one of the first systems I played growing up. I've only recently picked up the console from my parents house that has sat around for the past 40 some years. Time to see if I can get the layers of dust off of it and see if it works. Such a blast from the past watching this video. Thank you.
I bet you it still works. Thanks for posting.
This was my first ever gaming system. I got it for Christmas i believe 1981. Everyone enjoyed it and my brother and i would spend hours upon hours on this system
I never owned an Odyssey 2, but I remember playing it a few times in the store (specifically Bamberger's, a Macy's-like department store) in roughly the 1979-1981 time frame. To me, it was one of the three consoles from the first half of the second generation of video game consoles (or entire second generation, if you consider consoles like the Atari 5200 and ColecoVision part of the third generation) that were actually reasonably popular back in the day, after the Atari 2600 and Intellivision. I didn't remember any of the other 1976-1979 interchangeable cartridge consoles until reading about them many years later, but I was always aware of the Odyssey 2. (To be fair, that may be in part because my family owned - and I still have - two of the first generation predecessors to the Odyssey 2, Odyssey 400 and Odyssey 500.)
Stated more simply, I don't consider the Odyssey 2 a forgotten console, at least for people who were old enough to remember the late 1970s and very early 1980s!
This was the first video game system I had. I really enjoyed it. This brought back some great memories. I remember playing baseball with my dad. He loved playing it. I can't say anything negative about the O2
Its amazing how graphics have changed
My family had one of these growing up. The Odyssey^2's heyday was well before my time - my dad bought it before my parents got married - but I still liked it for Lord knows what reason. The golf game was the best when you hit the ball into a tree and the golfer would slam his club into the ground.
We even had Conquest of the World, though I was never able to figure out how it worked.
Owned a near-complete collection of Odyssey2 games at one point, unfortunately it was one of the things I sold when my kids were born.
Def one of the more interesting systems of its generation.
My favorite 2nd gen console. Ed Averett not only made KC Munchkin he also programmed 24 games for the odyssey 2. He was make a new game every 2 months!
beard78748 yep listened to some podcasts about it.
It was my first console. I got it at a flea market in Sana Cruz California. Just bought it again and I remember taking a cartridge out and putting another in and it would "mix" the games and
I called it " picking a little mix" Good times
This was my first video game console. I loved this at the time.
I got my Masters degree in the city where they held the 1982 World’s Fair and go back to visit friends often. I’ll be on the lookout for that button at antique stores.
Was nice to see all this again after so many years gone by since I actually owned one,,like thirty five years ago
epic video Jon, I will need to re-watch this a few times. The artwork on the packaging and the sounds coming out of that thing are stunning!
10:18 game play starts.
Always enjoyed the Odyssey 2 since I was a kid. I bought a few games today at game exchange actually. Thanks for the great review I definitely learned a few things I didn't know. I broke it out at new years eve last year and everyone had a lot of fun
I still have most of these. Freedom Fighters was a particular favorite, with great gameplay. The O2's controls were much smoother than the competitors of the day., and it's a shame they never developed the platform further.
The odyssey 3 I do believe was coming but market collapsed.
Found this system at a local goodwill for 20 bucks with 2games
Conquest Of The World, and Showdown we're probably my favorites. We had good times with Odyssey 2 and Intellivision for a long time before Nintendo. Still love those joysticks that came with the console. Easiest to pick up and use without fatigue
The only thing I missed from my growing up time was all my Lego from the mid - late 70's, until I saw this video. I LOVED my Odyssey 2! Going start looking on ebay :)
Also my first console. Bought it new in ‘82.
I’m 54 now.
Have about a dozen games ... still have them ... including Quest for the Rings. :)
Alien Invaders and Freedom Fighters are some of the first games I ever played. My parents gave me their collection, the console and games all in amazing condition CIB. Everyone forgets this console and it's awesome to see it get some attention.
I'm 44. A couple years back I started collecting old consoles from my youth. I could remember the O2 from commercials and seeing it in stores. But we never owned one. We had the Sears Video Arcade 2(2800) growing up and then later the NES. So when I found a deal on one I bought it. I have the O2 with connected controllers. I also have a voice unit and several of the games. I have Quest for the Rings. And back in October I grabbed a sealed copy of Conquest of the World. My collection of O2 stuff isn't anywhere near as big as yours. But I consider it pretty decent. Especially as hard as it has been to find anything for the O2 in my area. Cool to see all of this in one spot. Thanks for sharing man.
Sure, if you'll learn some manners.
You too buddy.
If you're looking for some sort of argument or flame war go back to one of your internet forums. I'm sure you can find somebody to argue with somewhere. Maybe some senior citizens at a coffee shop?
So cool watching! Thank you for sharing. It was my first game console as well. Awesome memories!
Very good old days playing my Odyssey with friends in Brazil. It was manufactured by Philips do Brasil at that time, around 1980. It was hard to decide between it and Atari 2600 by Polyvox in Brazil. I remember deciding for the Odyssey because of the keyboard.
Awesome John. Got this console for Christmas when I was 9. Had a bunch of little chocolate candies leading down the stairs to it. I still have it and all my games. Loved played Quest of the RIngs, Pick Axe Pete, Showdown UFO and others. Still have my Apple II+ as well. Great collection you have
I had not heard of this and i can see getting lost in an afternoon playing those titles you showed us. Thanks, J.H!
Great video! My first encounter with the Odyssey 2 was at my brother's house, I believe back in 1982, and tried it out with I recall KC Munchkin. I thought it was really fun, but it wasn't until maybe 2012 that I really started beginning my collection at the local used game store. Right now I have an Odyssey 2 (of course), The Voice with box and 13 games, most of which are in box. Probably my favorites are KC's Krazy Chase (which was clearly a big ol' eagle directed at Atari, since KC Munchkin was taken off the market because of a lawsuit from Atari) and PT Barnum's Acrobats. That one uses The Voice (as does Krazy Chase) to hilarious effect.
Much like the Fairchild Channel F, the Odyssey 2 was a console that should not be forgotten.
I never had one of these back in the day, but I got one about a year ago. I am really impressed on how well the console itself has held up being 40+ years old. Yes, the graphics on the games aren't the greatest but the fun factor in these games are really great, examples: Pick Axe Pete and KC among others.
Very cool. Would have liked to see more gameplay though.
The Magnavox Odyssey 2 was the first system for which I actively attempted to complete a library. Ironically enough, I have completed 3 libraries that I hadn't even started when I first found the Odyssey 2. I only lack 1 game for the system.....and no, it isn't Power Lords. Atlantis is the game that has escaped my grasp since the beginning of my collecting. I am sure that I will eventually come across it but I doubt that my Odyssey 2 collection will ever be as varied as yours. Thanks for sharing. :)
We had an Odyssey 2 and I really loved it. My favorite game was Pick Axe Pete.
My first console. So many 80s memories
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Played O2 until our house got stuck by lightning and the power surge fried the console.
So sorry to hear that.
One of the highlights for me every year was getting the various Christmas catalogs. I remember they had full page spreads dedicated to each system. I had an Atari but I’d see the Odyssey in the Montgomery Ward catalog (I think) and always loved the artwork. That was such a fun time!
it's hard to think it's the same gen as colecovision, but obviously it was more "game concept" than graphics. here in Canada , i don't think many retailers carried it for long . (Atari made a deal with Sears "Tele-Games", so that kinda limits sales)
any one seen the "Chess Module " ?
It’s not forgotten! My neighbor had one!
Not forgotten by some who had one or knew someone who had one, others who did not grow up with it have never heard of it.
John Hancock well that’s true!
I love my Odyssey 2! I got mine way late into the game, last year at a game convention (syracuse retro game con). I also got a ton of games for it in an ebay lot for less than a dollar a game. These pre-nintendo generation consoles are fun to play and collect for.
I've recently been playing some 2600 games, and re-realized that that these games were amazing. Even now. Totally playable, fun, and keep you in the zone. COD? Fortnight? Nah. Old skool. Lol...
The graphics were simple but the gameplay was usually pretty solid. Really relied on reflexes a lot more than in modern games. The limited number of lives also made things a challenge.
This was my first game console too. I remember games like KC Munchkin and Pick Axe Pete, which were games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. Voice control work on KC. And I forgot about Quest for the Rings. Classic. I had most of the games.
Also with a regular CIB Videopac, I am the lucky owner of aV ideopac G7200. Very interesting machine with screen included and scart output. The best image quality possible for this machine. Also the games are very cheat and most of the time CIB too. At least here in France. Thx for your videos and your eternal smile John! ^^
I loved the Odyssey with the sound/voice module
Philips Odyssey classic! Thx for the good memories...
To anyone scrolling through the comments today, just remember you are Awesome and have a wonderful day. Thanks for the video John.
Saw you this year at my first PRGE with your Sega Genesis collection, most impressive. This collection, wow, super cool. The art work is so classic and I love how they made a simpler version of the box art for the cartridge. Thank you for sharing this awesome collection.
Still have mine, and in perfect working order. Philips Videopac G7000. And also an another one, just to have spare parts. Damn, I never got myself that Quest For The Rings game...
I never played this, but I am grateful that you shared your knowledge on the console and games as I enjoy your content greatly! Great video!
I got lured in and bought this at Sears when they went on sale at half price as my friend had one and I figured we'd share games. (The cheapskate never bought another game for his.)
I immediately got a sales brochure about them going out of business and everything was half price so I spent a paycheck on games (including the voice module). As a junk store junkie I ended up getting what I thought were most of the games until I saw this video. I had no idea about the after market stuff.
I'm not a gamer despite what I spent on this. I still have it all up in my attic.
The Mag odyssey 2 is one of my favorite systems! I’m glad you made this video. UFO, Alien invaders, and KC Krazy chase are some of my favorites. It may sound like blasphemy, but I actually like krazy chase better than munchkin.
Awesome collection and I like the classic video intro of yours. This was our first game console when I was 5 years old. It took my mom and brother forever to figure out how to hook up the TV/Game switch box to the back of the TV. 😀
I remember having way to much fun as a kid just playing around with the Voice unit and the Type and Tell cart, and making the console say just the worst things....lol
I'm almost at a complete boxed collection for this system. Most of the games can be gotten very cheap and CIB. Also AV modding this system is easiest and cheapest to mod, and only takes about 10 minutes at most.
Just made myself with the brazilian one for 60 dollars, I dont know if it was a good price but I love it is complete with all the accesories
Great collection, the odessey 2 was my first video gaming experience. Wow we have come a long way! you showed things I never new existed. Like the homebrew games, and the board games. I just learned who Baer was sorry for the spelling , awesome to have his autograph. i enjoyed playing this with my family alot and loved seeing your collection, I better call my dad to see if I can get our system before my bro does lol
Nice collection. Highlighting The Voice would have been great since games then didn't have voice. The Intellivision own Intellivoice had very little support compared to the Odyssey2. Anyway, great video.
Very cool video. I've never heard of this system before so it was cool to hear about it
Ah, this was technically my first game console.. Although believe it or not, I returned it and the games I had bought (about 2 or 3) in less than a month, and got the Atari VCS. The VCS just had more games - and more of the arcade favorites that I had actually played before coming home. The VCS had worthy competition, but what they lacked at this point in time were actual arcade games.
I have to admit the board games were pretty innovative for the time. One of my best friends also had an Odyssey2 (he kept his), and he got Quest for the Rings.
It's funny how so many of the boxes have an exclamation point after the game title! It makes you think it's going to be awesome! Now I can't stop!
love the vids on classic consoles, I was way too young to ever get into them personally, my oldest console is the genesis, but rly love learning about them
In pal region we had the "philips video pac 2" i remember it as a child back in the early 80s. I lived that system! Especially 'bowling' and 'basketball'! Thanks for show casing that masterpiece!!!!!
This is cool John! I have never even seen one of these in person. Heard about it, but never seen it.
Just bought one today, saw it collecting dust on a shelf in a video game store.
Good info! I picked up the console CIB with 27 games CIB for $75 at a flea market a few years ago. The box art is very cool on some of those games!
I remember as a kid seeing this system advertised on a cereal box for a contest to win the system with some games. It seemed to be on a similar level to the Intellivision, but with some additional computer capabilities.
In the late 70s when arcade games like PAC Man, Space Invaders, and Donkey Kong were taking off this was an amazing but obviously not equal home alternative. I remember my friend had the Atari equivalent system and I could tell when he came over to play he thought my Odyssey 2 system was better which it was. My favorite games were Pick Axe Pete(Donkey Kong) and Cosmic Conflict a semi Asteroids inspired game. Also the tank/submarine and racing games were lots of fun. Definitely a great diversion before advanced gaming and really even before there was much to watch on cable. Expensive but well worth it.
Never saw this system growing up. I got a 2600 and Colecovision for Christmas the year of the crash. There are some intriguing games. I’m curious as to why we haven’t seen compilations of this system similar to Intellivision or Atari.
Had one of these consoles growing up. Unfortunately it stopped working. I actually still have the games in their boxes, though.
Had an Odyssey 2. Was my first console. My favorites was KC Munchkin, Speedway and Alien Invaders. I believe that was the only games I had, or at least I remember playing as a kid. I would love to get my hands on another one.
I remember seeing this for sale next to the Atari 400. I got the Atari.
I had an Odyssey 3000 pong hockey/tennis machne as a kid handmedowned fromthe neighbors 70s kids. I didn’t have this oe so I have no nostalgia for it directly, but the overall aesthetic and the charm of the caracter it gets from having all those 16 signature reused sprites really makes it attractive to want to buy for. (and play!) And I just looked on Ebay and the first listing was for a full system with 18 games for 95.96! so I think it would be maybe the only system (that I would want anyway( that I could actually ever hope to have a full collection for! That’s pretty cool. About to go watch your other old video on it. Peace.
Those games look fun! Never knew about this console so thanks for sharing John.
Hey John, thanks for this video. That was my very first contact with videogames. I do remember going to my sister's friend to "help" them with the homework, but I was actually there to play her Odyssey :)
Thanks for sharing! Love the older tech, and the footage looks sharp with the mod. I’ve seen these sit on Craigslist and keep thinking I need to get one. I’m starting to see a lot of games sitting with the Atari sections at game stores.
Wow ur collection is amazing !!! Just love the odyssey I was 5 years old in 1983 I still remember my brothers bought the console so much fun but she died early 90's lol but I'm thinking to get one on ebay for sure ! But wow congrats for real its not everybody who has a collection like yours !!