Retro Tech Tuesday: Magnavox Odyssey

Put down those iPod touches for a minute. We're going to go back in time to another era in gaming. I'm talking of course of the Magnavox Odyssey. (Of course! You didn't think this was going to be about the Atari 2600 or Intellivision, did you?) I have an Odyssey in the office here at TDL. Sadly, it's not hooked up (TDL retro-game night, perhaps?) and it would be difficult to use effectively. You see unlike an Atari or other game systems, the (original) Odyssey uses overlays you place on the TV in order to play the games. Unfortunately, this means the overlays only fit 18-25" TV's. It's interesting that all these years later game consoles are adding accessories and doo-dads (fake drumsets/guitars, etc.) to make the game more interactive. What could be more interactive than taping overlays to Mom and Dad's TV's? I say bring it back in a special HD edition with overlays for 42-50" flat panel TVs! Watch this ad, and you'll want to head to your local (now closed) Kay-Bee Toys to pick one up: