I have acquired a Philips Videopac G7000, which was known as the Magnavox Odyssey 2 in the USA, but they are pretty much the same machine.Although it says Videopac computer on the unit, it was more a games console with a built-in keyboard, so I'm not sure what category to put it in, I will go with computer for now as it has a keyboard so could be a computer if the right software was available
Here is the top view with the chiclet keyboard, think ZX81 and you wouldn't be far wrong, the cartridge slot doesn't have a cover
There isn't really a lot else going on with this machine
All the cables are permanently attached to the machine, and there is no power switch on the European version. There are knock-out plugs on the back though
The RF cable and the mains lead are quite long, but the controller cables are not
The sides are plain and simple
The joysticks self centre, you can move the stick like an analogue stick, but I don't think it's analogue, I may be wrong though. There is a button on the base, but it's well camouflaged, look at the top left
This is all the software that came with the machine, the cases are quite nice, however you may notice I have the box for cartridge number 4, but it's cartridge number 44 inside. But happy days I picked up cartridge number 4 below
Videopac 39: Freedom Fighters, A bit like Defender
Videopac 44: Crazy Chase, A bit like Pacman
Videopac 9: Computer Programmer, I have no idea, I need to read the manual
The cartridges have a plastic guard that pushes back into itself, and slot into the machine quite easily, and have a handle to help take them out again
I was looking through the manuals and found this handwritten note
It broadcasts on channel 32 rather than the usual 36, so that means retuning the TV, and when it did find the channel, it was garbage with white noise, this is normal for no cartridge installed
Anyway, switching off at the wall and plugging in a cartridge you get the SELECT GAME prompt, these are different variations of the same game and are chosen with the number keys, this is Crazy Chase
I can not work out what to do with the Computer Programmer cartridge, and the text in the manual needs a magnifying glass to be read
Freedom Fighters, which is just like Defender
Updates...
I picked up another Videopac G7000 off FB Marketplace for £15, it came with a box of Atari 2600 cartridges as well
This is the box I picked it up in, I NEED one of these so bad
Same model revision as above
Same blanking plugs as above
Same permenantly attached controllers as above
Cartridge slot and membrane keyboard
I now have the number four cartridge to go with the box above, number 4 is Air-Sea War
The two controllers
Mains plug and RF plug
Here's where it gets interesting, I got some documentation included
Philips G7000 club newsletter, this was from a time when peoples full adresses were printed, so I had a lot of editing to do, poorly. I wonder if Claire is still a G7000 fan?
An order form from Fordhams Audio+Video and some other promotional material
Another order form, Fordhams were really pushing the Videopac G7000
I tested this machine and it only outputs a blank screen unfortunately
Update - Boxed version
I picked this boxed Videopac from Retro Gamez HQ in Swindon, it is missing one controller and cartridge
Interestingly it is the 00 version, the first revision with detachable controllers and external power supply, whereas the above versions are later, possibly the 22 version
The box is in ok condition depending on which angle you look at it from
The worst side of the box can be seen here, the box opens like a clamshell, and the same text and graphics are printed on the underside part
Poly inserts are included
User manuals and flyers for other software which you could purchase, and handwritten notes were also in the box
This is a silver version of the joystick, the other joysticks were black, but they are the same except they are detachable and use an Atari style plug, I don't know if they are Atari compatible though
On this revision the power supply is external and detachable with a proprietary plug
The no longer compliant mains plug
And here is the beast, this version differs slightly from the above two as the controllers are detachable using an Atari style plug, as is the power supply which was fitted internally before
The cartridge slot, there is no cover so dust and other detritus can get in causing cartridge read errors
The ZX81 style keyboard, ie not very nice to type on as there is no edge to the keys meaning you need to look at the keyboard to type
Videopac Computer with a cheeky little Philips logo and G7000 with the Philips name underneath
Base of the computer with a tiny serial number in the bottom right corner
The sides
The rear of the computer with the attached RF lead and finally, sockets for controllers and power, the power socket is proprietary, it looks simililar to the Sinclair QL socket albeit with only two pins rather than three
Close up of the sockets with and without plugs inserted
The view from the front
The chonky RF plug along with an RF extension cable which was also in the box, this wouldn't have been originally there
R - Tape loading error, 0:1