In 1976, Magnavox released the Odyssey 400. It played the same games as the Odyssey 200 and used an additional Texas Instruments chip to display digital on-screen scoring (it was the first Odyssey system to display digital on-screen scoring).
On-screen scoring was quite well designed. As a matter of fact, the scores were large and were only shown when the ball was lost, and a large 'W' letter was displayed on the winner's side when the games were over. Like the Odyssey 100 and 200, the Odyssey 400 used the same three knobs to move the bats and control the "english" effect on the ball.
Basically, the Odyssey 400 is essentially an updated Odyssey 200 with mainly an addition of automatic serve and on-screen digital scoring.
Promotional text from the box:
- Works on any TV... color or black & white
- Digital on-screen scoring
- Action sound
- Verical, horizontal, speed and english controls
- Automatic serve
- Hockey goalie/tennis doubles switch
We need more info about this pong ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system,
please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
To answer my own question, yes you do have to open it up... and then use a pen or screwdriver end to actually flick the switch.
Tuesday 23rd September 2014
Rod
Does anyone know where the sound ON/OFF actually is? This site claims that the 400 has such a thing, but I can''t locate it anywhere... unless you have to open the unit up.
Tuesday 23rd September 2014
Rod (Canada)
NAME
Odyssey 400
MANUFACTURER
Magnavox
ORIGIN
U.S.A.
YEAR
1976
BUILT IN GAMES
tennis, hockey, smash
CONTROLLERS
3 knobs for each player (vertical movements, horizontal movements, english effect)
CPU
discrete components + Texas Instruments chips
BUTTONS
none
SWITCHES
game selection, number of players (2 or 4), channel selection (3 or 4), sound (ON/OFF), power ON/OFF
