I don't think TNL has had a thread devoted to this system before so here goes.
In 1978 Magnavox released their first programmable console, the Odyssey2. It never experienced much commercial success in North America as the Atari VCS and Mattel Intellivision dominated the market although it was supported there until 1983.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...r/odyssey2.jpg
Here are some significant games for it:
Speedway!Spin-out!/Crypto-Logic!
This was the pack in cartridge for the system consisting of simple racing games and a cryptogram game where you enter a word and it scrambles it for a second player to figure out. I think most people would agree this wasn't a good cartridge to include with the system when Atari had the excellent game Combat with theirs.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...r/speedway.gif
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ryptologic.gif
Killer Bees!
This is probably my favorite game on the system. You have to move your bee swarm to take out robots while naturally avoiding evil bees. It's fast paced and addictive.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...eater/bees.gif
Turtles!
A port of the Konami arcade game. The graphics aren't as good as the arcade but the gameplay is still excellent.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../turt-scr2.gif
K.C. Munchkin!
This is probably the most well known O2 game because of its historical significance. Atari won a lawsuit claiming that game was a rip off of Pac-Man and Magnavox was forced to discontinue the game. It's not that hard to find copies of it though.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...kcmunchkin.jpg
K.C.'s Krazy Chase!
Munchkin's sequel didn't resemble Pac-Man as much and that's part of the reason I like it more. It's a really good original maze chase game.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...krazychase.gif
The Quest for the Rings
This multiplayer dungeon crawler was the first console attempt at the Action/RPG genre and could also be played as a board game hybrid.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...questrings.jpg
Pick Axe Pete!
The O2 didn't have anywhere near as many platform games as its competitors but this one stands out in gameplay despite unimpressive graphics. It can get pretty intense when you lose your axe and have to duck and jump away from enemies.
I'm curious if this game came out before or after the arcade game Kangaroo as they both seem like they could have been the first platformer with the ability to duck and stupid little details like that interest me.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...r/pickaxe1.gif
Smithereens!
A two-player game where you had to destroy your opponents base.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...r/smithscr.gif
Cosmic Conflict!
Fun shooter but way too easy.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...r/cosm-scr.gif
Frogger
It's worth noting that Odyssey2 in Europe(known as the Philips Videopac) received a few arcade ports like this and Q*bert.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...gger_Foto2.jpg
Attack of the Timelord!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...r/time-scr.gif
Personally, I think the Odyssey2 has a weaker game line up overall than the VCS and Intellivision but there are a few games I really love for the system.
Some good O2 fansites -
http://www.classicgaming.com/o2home/index.asp
http://www.thelogbook.com/odyssey/index.html
I find the voice samples amusing- http://www.classicgaming.com/o2home/media/sounds.asp
What are your thoughts on the system?
