History of video games/Platforms/Magnavox Odyssey²

Launch
The Magnavox Odyssey² was preceded by the original Magnavox Odyssey game console and the Odyssey series of dedicated consoles. Unlike those consoles, the Magnavox Odyssey² featured a full computer, and could run games on cartridges.

The Magnavox Odyssey² was launched in 1978 at a cost of $100. Early titles often had poor support for the keyboard and other system features, though support improved over time. A voice module was also released, which was another feature which was panned for its poor integration with games.

Legacy
Magnavox Odyssey² production ended in March of 1984, correlating with the Video Game Crash. The system had been on the market for a fairly long time, indicating company investment in the system.

The system was followed by the Philips Videopac+ G7400 in European markets, though this successor system too was scrapped during the Video Game Crash.

Technology
The CPU of the Magnavox Odyssey² was an 8-bit Intel 8048 clocked at 1.79 megahertz. The system had 64 bytes of RAM and 128 bytes of video RAM.

The Odyssey² has a built in membrane keyboard with 49 keys.

Notable games

 * Quest for the Rings - An early video game to use a companion board game.
 * Stone Sling
 * Turtles