Magnavox Odyssey: unreleased Round Ball demo - Winter & Baer

Demonstration by video game inventor Ralph Baer and video game historian David Winter of the Round Ball generator, which was part of an improved (but unreleased) Magnavox Odyssey console. This would have been the only model to fearture a round ball, unlike the rest of the Ball & Paddle games of the 1970s. The main reason for this is the unique and very clever design of this generator. Only games designed with transistors and/or CMOS chips could have featured this round ball. TTL games like arcades could not have featured this, as the generator would have required too many chips supposing it was really possible with this technology.

Note to collectors: I plan to make a small run of those round ball generators. The individual price will depend on the quantity made. However, I will need to salvage the original ball generator of your Odyssey, but I will install sockets on both PCBs so that you can put the transistors back without soldering. This way you can switch to square or round ball at will. Full documentation with schematic will be provided on demand with the pcb, and I will be happy to provide either the assembled and tested pcb, or a kit if you want to make it yourself and save a few bucks to ship the original ball generator. There is currently no date of release as I need to see how much interest there is.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• magnavox
• odyssey
• tennis
• pong
• atari
• video
• game
• telstar
• coleco
• unreleased
• prototype
• david
• winter
• ralph
• baer
• games

[thatsagoodone11]

I have a Magnavox Odyssey that displays just the dots and ball on the screen but the ball goes through both players when I try to play Game Cart #1. Also, the center line doesn't show up. Does anyone know what is wrong with the collision detection?

[videogamehistorian]

@thatsagoodone11 Could be some cold solders in the cartridge connector, dirty contacts in the cartridge connector, faulty gate matrix, dirty cartridge contacts, etc. Test with cartridge #3 which plays Tennis just to see whether it's due to cartridge #1. If the same problems happ"n, open the unit, try to clean the cartridge connector with some contact cleaner (insert/remove the cartridge several times to clean the contacts while the solvant is on them).

[videogamehistorian]

@thatsagoodone11 Then use a hair drier (not too hot) to dry the connector and test again. If the problem persists, either some contacts are still dirty (which would be quite rare), or you have some cold solders and/or a faulty gate matrix.

[Xxb0obwatcher]

ralph bear is german well thats wat it ses on loads of websites.

[videogamehistorian]

He was born in Germany in 1922 but definitely moved to America during WW2.

[WakemanFan90]

Hi.

Love the demo, ive been trying to get one of those for a while now.

Is there any NTSC/PAL differences on these things, or can i just buy one in the US and play it here at home in Norway.

Kind Regards

Jan-Erik

[videogamehistorian]

You can use the US Odyssey where you are but you will eventually need to adjust the vertical sync potentiometer in the unit, or adjust the vertical sync of your TV if you can do it on the TV (easier). Usually modern TVs are compatible with 60Hz framerate but if not, then you can change to 50Hz in the Odyssey.

[AtlasRedux]

It's the friggin' first video-game console. What you expect?

[TookMe20min2findThis]

For all kids out there: don`t look at this as a stupid video game but as an extrodinary machine that makes your PS3 and XBOX what they are today.

Learn to appreciate these great pionneers.

Besides, your PS3 console will sure look as stupid to your kids in a few years down the road.

[FFVIIBertoldiBrasil]

WONDERFUL video with the legend of games!! You have very luck to know this genius!!

Please,talk to father of the video games visit to BRAZIL! -- Thanks for the video!

Greetings from Brazil!

[Carlos2006ful]

@thatsagoodone11you think it would be worth buying this console for 250 dollars on ebay I collect consoles but not sure if you buy it on ebay for $ 250

[franklinpriante]

very good ,love magnavox odyssey, magnavox odyssey forever.

[Xxb0obwatcher]

@videogamehistorian cool but wen does he actually speak

[SYDWORLD]

good job guys