After both Atari and Magnavox released their first pong systems (Odyssey 100, Odyssey 200, Pong) in 1975, Magnavox continued with the Odyssey 300 in 1976, which was one of the first system to use a single game chip containing the major circuitry of a PONG system. This system was Magnavox' answer to Coleco Telstar, the first game to use the GI AY-3-8500 chip.
From the manual:
"Odyssey 300 literally turns your TV screen into a challenging electronic playground, and it attaches to any size or brand... black and white or color.
Odyssey 300 features games of Hockey, Tennis and Smash, and as an extra challenge has switchable skill levels of Novice, Intermediate and Expert which automatically adjusts the player size, speed of the ball and deflection of the ball."
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Oh wow, I got one of these for Christmas around 75/76. Everyone was transfixed (for about two days). Like other dedicated-chip game systems, its major drawback was lack of other games to play. Boredom set in within a year. But what thrill when I first played it!
Thursday 14th July 2011
Dan Cochran (Leesport, PA)
NAME
Odyssey 300
MANUFACTURER
Magnavox
ORIGIN
U.S.A.
YEAR
1976
BUILT IN GAMES
Tennis, Smash, Hockey
CONTROLLERS
two built-in knobs
CPU
General Instruments AY-3-8500
BUTTONS
None
SWITCHES
game selection, skill level (1, 2 or 3), power/reset
