Odyssey2 questions...

[den68]

The Odyssey2 I picked up yesterday is a bit different than the one I already had. I'll list the differences, anyone familiar with these?

One has the Odyssey2 logo in the original Odyssey font, the other has the logo thats on the box and carts.

One has the Magnavox logo above the power switch, the other no Magnavox logo.

One has removable joysticks, the others are hardwired.

The one with the hardwired joysticks has the word "RENEWED" branded on the bottom. The joy ports on the back appear to be cut out. The joy connectors are labeled "AMP". I'm curious about the "RENEWED" brand. Was this thing modded by a Magnavox service tech?

Can I use an Atari 2600 power supplywith the Odyssey2? The one that came with it is fried. I tested it with a 2600 power supply and it worked but I don't know if long term use would damage the console.

It also came with a brown vinyl dust cover printed with the Odyssey2 logo. Were these standard or did I find something cool?

thanks for any info.

[Achika]

I can answere some questions, but not all.

I believe the hardwired controller model is the first model they had. I've used an Atari PSU with one of mine with no problem. One of the O2's used a PSU like that, the other used the same tip as the NES (but I think the power voltages may be different)

I didn't get a dust cover with either of mine, so I'd say it is cool.

Another difference between mine is the hardwired O2 has a brushed plastic keyboard facing whilst the other has a shiney plastic keyboard facing.

[Arcade Antics]

The cover was not standard, but a few companies made dust covers for a lot of the old systems. A cool find indeed, especially the version with the O2 logo.

My guess about the "renewed" bit is that it's their version of "refurbished." Many people prefer the removable joysticks version of the console since it's easier to swap out sticks if you ever need to.

Good haul :D

[den68]

@Achika: forgot to mention the keyboard difference. I have one of each too.

@Arcade Antics: the joyports definately look like they were added later. I've seen service tags on old consoles before but never one that was branded. It's melted right into the plastic.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Actually, the black hardwired joystick model is a later model; the original Odyssey2 (http://www.thelogbook.com/odyssey/) had silver removable joysticks. Not sure why they made the change, but you can bet it had somethin' to do with money. If you have the early model, though, Wico actually made Odyssey2 Command Control joysticks; they look more or less exactly like the "bat" style sticks they made for the Atari.

[y-bot]

I have an unusual Odyssey 2. It has black removable controllers. It is also marked renewed and is in a plain white cardboard box with a color label on it instead of the full color printed box. Anyone else have one like this? I have talked to one other person who has one like it.

Toby Wickwire

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

That's a new one on me. What kind of connectors on those removable controllers? 9-pin?

[CrazyImpmon]

Yes it's 9 pins, just like Atari but I doubt O2 would work with 2600 controller. I've gone through 6 O2 consoles in the wild and 3 were hard wired, 3 were detatchable.

And 2600 power supply will work fine as well but not all O2 can take it. I have one that uses different kind of power jack. Magnavox kept changing everything, and on top of that you need a damn near impossible oddball switch box to work with the non standard cable or take the #@%^@$% O2 apart and swap the cable for standard RCA cable.

[o2william]

This thread seems like a good place to point out that I've compiled a list of the different O2 console variations on my web site. See the table on this page (http://www.classicgaming.com/o2home/collect/hardware.shtml).

I should point out this is a "work in progress," so it might not be totally accurate. In fact, I have some new information I need to add to it, so I know it's somewhat out of date.

If anyone out there is willing to help make this list more accurate, I would appreciate it. If you have an O2, please answer this short questionnaire:

1. What's its model number? (It should be listed on a sticker on the bottom of the console, and will be something like "BB7600 GT02")
2. Is its logo raised or flat?
3. Does it have an Atari 2600-like or NES-like power supply?
4. Is its RF cord standard or nonstandard?
5. Are its joysticks detachable or not, and what color are they?
6. I suppose I should start tracking whether keyboards are brushed or shiny, so maybe you could provide that too.

Send your answers to o2williamc@yahoo.com. Thanks!


Regarding power supplies: I've never tried to use an Atari 2600 supply on an O2, because my consoles have always had the NES-compatible jacks. I'd guess that it should be safe to use because O2's are supposed to have an internal bridge rectifier that regulates voltage intake. If your supply is plus or minus about 5 volts of the O2's requirements it should be safe. (No guarantees from me though. In fact, if anyone has had problems using a non-standard supply I'd like to hear about it).

This "Renewed" console is news to me, although I have seen white boxes like the one y-bot described show up on eBay. Maybe I'll have to break down and buy one. :) I'm very curious.

Atari 2600 joysticks don't work with the 9-pin O2's, but it's easy to wire up an adapter using these pinouts (http://www.classicgaming.com/o2home/articles/o2pinout.txt).

@den68: did your dust cover look like this (http://www.classicgaming.com/o2home/inserts/image.asp?image=collect/cover.gif)? This is the "official" Philips cover, although there is at least one known third-party version. If yours is third-party, is there any chance you could post a picture?

[supaevil]

I found an oddyssey 2 a month ago and i got it in the box for 30 bucks with 20 games i was pretty happy until i got it home. There i found that all the games were very terrible and it wasnt worth anything now its taking up room it has to be my least favorite system i have ever played and i like atari its not the graphics that bother me. Oh well they cant all be great. I cant see how anyone could put up with this bland boring system it just needs to be smashed i did think they had a nice design for there carts though little handles to yank those bad boys out it was handy because they couldnt entertain me for more than 2 minutes.

[Captain Wrong]

Umm..welcome to the forums supaevil?

@o2william, are you going to be compiling a registry like someone is doing with Atari 2600 of serial numbers or are you just trying to get a handle on what serial numbers have what characteristics? Either way, I'll try to remember to email you my info this weekend because it sounds like a great project.

[Reverend JagDiesel]

I'd be more than happy to take that terrible thing off your hands, so email me with a price and lets work out a deal.. my O2 died..

Another O2 variation:
Hardwired w/ red action bar on controller, the entire width of the controller.. That is the last version I am aware of..

[supaevil]

ok then 30 bucks i would like just what i paid 20 games two joysticks all hookups it comes in the box also ten of the games come in boxes most with instructions it comes with wall street something or the other one of the rarer games i believe and some other game with the label that looks like it i forget the title right now you can paypal me z cash shipping and handling also please not sure how much something like that would be or you can pick it being a trucker and all. Or i would trade something for it.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Jag, you gotta pic of those controllers? Those almost sound like Odyssey 3 proto controllers.

[CrazyImpmon]

Never seen that kind of controller either. I've seen all silver with black bottom and all black with small red square button. Oddly I have never seen a silver controller with detatchable plug, only black and red one. And I have seen black that were hard wired as well.

[Reverend JagDiesel]

Phosphor... believe it or not, my aunt lives in Ft Smith and had that system, the O2 with larger Action buttons, but she gave it away a few yrs back.. was the only one I have ever seen with those.

Supa.. email me and we'll set up for me to buy that system and games, itsa deal for 30.. :) :)

[den68]

@o2william: It's a darker brown and the printing is white. the logo and tag line on the pic you posted are the same as on mine. I'll post a pic if I get a chance.

I've check out your site before...very nice.

I'll try to answer your questionaire as well.

[o2william]

@Captain Wrong: Right now I'm just trying to determine if there's a relationship between serial numbers and console characteristics, and how many different types of O2 consoles are out there.

@Jagdiesel: Your aunt is only the second person I know who an O2 with the "fire bar" controller. The first was Jayson Hill, who used to work at Philips and owns an O3 prototype as well as the only known proto of Sherlock Holmes. He says the "fire bar" O2's had O3-style joysticks, hardwired, and possibly had llimited distibution. However, you could find them in the Knoxville, TN area fairly easily (where's Ft. Smith BTW?). I still haven't seen one in real life though, not even a photo.

#crazyImpmon: silver detachable joysticks definitely exist, since I own one. :)

@den68: thanks!

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

@ O2william: Fort Smith is on the Arkansas/Oklahoma border, so Tennessee's not that far away. About a five-and-a-half hour drive between here and Memphis, so I suppose something could've worked its way over here. How bizarre.

Sherlock Holmes proto? Do tell, man!

[o2william]

The proto is "Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective," which was planned to be the fourth Master Strategy game (presumably with a game board and playing pieces like Quest for the Rings or Wall Street). Jayson has the only known copy. The game seems to be complete, but it is unplayable without instructions, which have never turned up. Jayson told me he's tried several times to figure it out, but never could do it. I'm not sure, but I think he doesn't want to dump the ROM because of legal reasons (he works in the electronics/games industry, so he has a right to be concerned).

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is some kind of pen-and-paper bookshelf game series I believe. I'd expect the O2 version would have been similar to that.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Would he even let screenshots loose? I'm just curious about this.

[o2william]

There are no screenshots that I'm aware of. I can't remember Jayson's stance on releasing any (our conversation about this game was years ago). In fact, O2EM didn't exist then IIRC, so dumping the game wouldn't have seemed so important.

It's too bad there's no ROM available. Now that O2EM development has started again I bet the game could be made to run on it.

Joe, if you're reading this thread, have you ever thought of asking Jayson to dump the Sherlock Holmes ROM, or maybe make an exclusive CGE cart of it?

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Oh, now there's a good idea. After all, we do need to start planning the exclusive releases for CGE 2K3... :D

[mikecronis]

He shouldn't worry since the founding company went bankrupt 20 years ago. If he's that worried, have him send it to Dan Boris and William Cassidy.

[ozyr]

This "Renewed" console is news to me, although I have seen white boxes like the one y-bot described show up on eBay. Maybe I'll have to break down and buy one. :) I'm very curious.

Haven't seen anyone reply to the 'renewed' thing, so I'll answer that.
As far as I remember, and it was a while ago, the 'renewed' stamp was branded on the bottom of any Odyssey2 that was refurbished. So, Renewed = Refurbed. I have one laying around someplace - my original - that got this brand in the early 80's when I had to take it in for service. I noticed the brand when I got it back and asked the repair guy about it, and got the above explanation.

After all these years, I'm not 100% positive on the above info - (darn memory) - but I'd bet money on the Renewed = Refurbed formula. I've only seen about 2 or 3 of them in my collecting so far.

As for the different models I have, I'll dig around and send an email - when I can (which may take longer than I'd like). :hmm:

[segagamer]

You are absolutely correct: Renewed = Refurbed. I have the "refurbed" later model Odyssey 2, after the joysticks on the system I bought from Toys R Us stopped working after extended play sessions and abuse from my friends. Luckily, I lived near an official Magnavox service center and took the defective unit in for repair, and the repairman gave me a refurbed unit in exchange for the defective one I brought in for $29.95 (I think). I swear those refurbed units looked and played like new, with no physical blemishes on the console or joysticks.