[game_preservation] Release date of the Odyssey?

[Bill Loguidice]

Keep in mind that magazines of the time had lead times of three months or
greater, so at best those are their safest guesses based on information
from Magnavox. Also, as was previously stated, Sears didn't carry
videogames until their rebranded Atari Pong console in 1975 (it's not like
there were any other options prior, anyway). The only known places the
Odyssey systems were sold were authorized Magnavox dealers.

===================================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director; Armchair Arcade,
Inc.<http://www.armchairarcade.com>
===================================================
Authored Books<http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Loguidice/e/B001U7W3YS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_1>and
Film <http://www.armchairarcade.com/film>; About me and other ways to get
in touch <http://about.me/billloguidice>
===================================================



On Tue, Aug 7, 2012 at 5:54 PM, Devin Monnens <dmonnens at gmail.com> wrote:


> Thank you for clarifying the release dates, Benj and Frank. I think this

> holds true for the US, but probably not so much for Japan where they had

> mastered the system of 'on-demand shipping' as part of the economy. Surely

> this was the case during the Famicom era, at least, hence why there are

> release dates for those games. It does seem pretty silly to think about

> 'release dates' when those didn't exist at the time. It's more about 'when

> and were did this go on sale first?' or 'when was it first shipped from the

> warehouse?' or 'at about what time would these have been available?'

>

> Yeah, I think the August date comes from the August and September articles

> from 1972 here:

>

> http://www.magnavox-odyssey.com/Advertising.htm

>

> Either that, or from one of the earlier game history books. Electronic

> Design suggests that the system was coming out after August, but the others

> suggest it is available at the date of publication. (Sadly, the 1973

> Consumer Reports article is missing the very beginning!).

>

> I think the surefire way to tell would be to locate ads and sales flyers

> from the period. If it's available for sale, it's advertised. However, I

> doubt those are easy to find... Same would go for shipping orders, but it's

> probably easier to just find receipts!

>

> BTW, here's the Christmas 1972 Sears Catalog:

>

> http://www.wishbookweb.com/1972_Sears_Christmas/index.htm

>

> ADDENDUM: Ok, there's actually NO Magnavox Odyssey advertised in this

> catalog! Looked under games and TVs. Nothing. Either I missed it (and

> again, I looked pretty thoroughly), or it's not advertised. No wonder the

> Odyssey didn't sell well - if it's not in the Christmas catalog, how are

> people going to know to buy it?? For this reason, I don't think you'll find

> ads for the Odyssey, unless it's from a local Sears in the Sunday paper.

>

> Was anyone aware of this?

>

> However, check out these pages from the 1975 catalog:

>

>

> http://www.wishbookweb.com/1975_Sears%20C%20Web/images/SearsC1975_Page410.jpg

>

> http://www.wishbookweb.com/1975_Sears%20C%20Web/pages/SearsC1975_Page537.htm

>

> Anyone have a clue what those electromechanical Pong games are on 537?

>

>

>

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