Odyssey:Scene History

This page outlines major points in the Magnavox Odyssey's history.

1951

Ralph H. Baer (engineer) has the idea to build a television set that the owner can control in addition to its normal function of receiving signals from a remote television station. His employers, Loral Electronics do not pursue the idea.

1966

August: Baer, then the head of the Equipment Design Division at military contractor Sanders Associates, comes up with the concept of using a television to play games; writes up a four-page proposal for a "game box" that would plug into a television screen, costing around US$25

December: Baer, together with one of his technicians, Bob Tremblay, completes an initial prototype later christened "TV Game #1", which could display and move a vertical line on a television screen.

1967

February: Baer designs further prototypes, and assigns technician Bill Harrison to begin building the project, creating successive modifications to the prototype.

May: Harrison develops some early games, beginning with a two-player game where the players repeatedly press a button in competition to fill or empty a bucket of water.

June: Multiple games are completed for a second prototype, including a game where players controlled dots chasing each other and a light gun shooter game with a plastic rifle.

Baer demonstrates the console to the board of Sanders Associates - CEO Royden Sanders authorizes the project to be continued with the aim of selling or licensing the console as a commercial product.