Xmas News updates

 Hi again folks,

I wanted to show & tell some updates/improvements i have made for the new version of Tennis (0.11.3). 

First, the intro splash screen which fades in and out:

 As per suggestion from JDGP030302, i have added a "memory" code so when the ball leaves the screen left or right, it will return at the same "X & Y" position and also added a cleaner "beep" sound (many thanks to JDGP030302 for the cleaned wav!).

Added a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) shader which gives an old TV screen look (by pressing F10):

Added the Videojuel overlay:

 And added two USB gamepads but for now you need to plug two USB gamepads to play with them because if only one is connected it won't work (to why, i don't know...). Because at first, when i was plugging only one USB gamepad, the game worked but freezed when no gamepad was connected. At least now we can use both keyboard and two gamepads but not the keyboard and one gamepad. 

I'll check that out later as there is more improvements to add like a reset button for resetting the score and make two kinds of score for Tennis : regular (as the one it has already (by default)) or the real one: 0-15-30-40-etc... (like in real Tennis). Better ball speed as the one coded in OdySim is way to slow (when at speed 05) or way to fast (speed 1000). Add joystick "sticks" for near-real controller simulation (just got the D-pad and buttons coded for now), etc...

So in the meantime, enjoy the little gift in the previous post and take care folks! :)

- Sly -

Merry Christmas to everyone! =)

 Hi and Merry Christmas folks!

Hoping that you will have a great day with your young one(s), wife or husband, partner, family and friends! We all need a great day especially with a miserable year we had and it will get brighter in the following months to come. 

So today, it's a day to celebrate with family and friends, and opening presents if you were not naughty (lol!). So here's a picture (err...more an icon or thumbnail since the real picture is 39 Megs) of my little present for all of you folks:

An Magnavox Odyssey Poster! Click HERE to download it. :)

It's not a fancy present and once you print it, it won't be small! This is the project i was working on this summer as i wanted to print and sell some (like 20). One of my friends had made it print (the prototype poster before this final version) to see what the quality looked like and damn(!) it looks great!

So instead of asking a store to print it, buy some tubes and ship it (as shipping now costs a lot, even more outside Canada - something like $30 from province Quebec to California state) and this is the main reason not wanting to sell/ship it so instead of paying for printing the poster (says $20-30 depending the size you want it, shipping tube (about $5) and shipping price (with insurance and tracking) which is $20 minimum within Canada and at least $30-40 depending the state you live in the U.S. so the minimum cost would be about $65!! ($45 minimum for Canadians)

Now, just download the PNG file and put it on a USB stick and print it to a local printing shop and it should cost you around $20-25 depending the size you want because the printing shop i asked to print it say that the file is so big that it can be like 26x23 inches (that's the size of the prototype) to the size of a billboard! No kidding! (That should cost an arm and a leg!). And don't forget  once the poster printed, cut both grey section with an exacto (sharp knife) or leave them (your choice).

So this is my little Christmas present to you folks! You can resize it and make it a desktop wallpaper, make a mouse pad or t-shirt (see further), etc... the only thing i ask is not use the PNG file to make money out of it. This file is free of use/distribution as long anyone is not trying to make profits out of it. 

Wanna know the story behind it ? OK then, here's it is:

I wanted to do a special project for the Odyssey community (everyone that loves, collects and supports the Magnavox Odyssey) and i notice that the Odyssey never had a poster of it's own, only ads and flyers. So since the pandemic was raging during summer, i've started working on the Odyssey poster and here's the sketch/draft of it:

I glued a can of Coca-Cola to show you the size i wanted it to be which was 33½" by 30". After i made small change as the "The electric game center by Magnavox" which sounded very ancient, i replaced it with "The electronic game of the future" which sounds much better:

While working with Paint Shop Pro 6 (yup still using old software), i have changed the pattern of the games as the upper games were the 12 pack-in, after was the extras (72-73) and at last the rifle games. I didn't liked it so i changed the pattern of the games from A to Z (Analogic to Wipeout actually) and added a picture of the rifle gun on each shooting gallery games. So the printed prototype looks like this:

 

Notice that it still says "The electric game center by Magnavox" ? When i saw the result, this is when i decided to changed it to "The electronic game of the future" which now features on the final version. Also notice that the border is very thin and doesn't look professional so i enlarge the boder which is also featured in the final version. Think i have made more than 25 changes from the first sketch to the final version. So the poster you see (the upper one of this text) is the only printed prototype and i "may" give it to someone as a special contest winner in the future.

 

Oh and my friend who arranged to print out the prototype (he used the wrong file as i have sent him the final before printing) made me a little surprise by also making these:

 

 

An Odyssey Mouse Pad and a T-Shirt, very cool! (even if it's has the old inscription). When i saw the Mouse Pad, this is when i did the last change on the poster with a bigger border as this looks much nicer.

I hope that you like the little Xmas present (and the story). So all the health and celebrate with loved ones on this "Holy Day". Until next time, take care folks! =)

--- Sylvain (Sly DC) De Chantal ---

OdySim update as December 21, 2020

 Hi folks!

After an awful news regarding Don Emry, there is a good news as i am welcoming back Nicholas Broetzman after a long departure of the Odyssey collectors community. He was the one who helped me out at the beginning of this adventure (the project was called "LOVEOdyssey" back then) and after he got married, he sold out all his magnificent Odyssey collection, but now he's back and recollecting all Odyssey stuff! 

Stuart Feldhamer sent me an email about 2 weeks ago saying that he and others are looking forward for new OdySim updates. Well here's one now Stuart ...LOL!!! Sorry, wanted to tease you a bit! ;)

I wrote to him that i was thinking of updating the version of LÖVE before releasing/updating any games as i am still using LÖVE version 0.10.1 (aka Super Toaster) as this version was released in February 2016 and the latest version: LÖVE 0.11.3 (aka Mysterious Mysteries) was released in October 2019.

So i'll start with Tennis first and update it to 0.11.3 and also i'll add x2 USB gamepad to be used so it will be more faithful to the Odyssey analog controllers and add a CRT shader (for the "retro" fun of it). Maybe by updating to a newer version i'll be able to correct  the resolution problem as by an old request ?! OH and also a proper/cleaned "beep" sound thanks to JDGP030302! ;)

During 2021, i'll begin to start posting some mods/hacks/add-ons for the Magnavox Odyssey like adding sound, composite video output, power LED, etc.. as this is more my cup of tea (electronics) than programming. So stay "tuned" in 2021!

And on Christmas day (in 4 days), i'll have a surprise for you all. It is a project that i worked during summer. For now, you'll all have to wait until Xmas morning. :)

Until then, take care folks! =)

- Sly -

In Memoriam - Donald Charles Emry

 Hi folks,

It's been 3 and a half months now since the last i have posted something and i am coming back with an awful news. Donald Charles Emry or Don Emry has passed away on November 22, 2020. Just about one month ago as i have discovered this bad news just 3 hours ago when writing this post.

Obituary - Donald Charles Emry

 

For those who doesn't know who was Don, he's the guy who did the last four Magnavox Odyssey games in 1973, which was : 

 

 

These are the best designed boxes in the entire legacy Odyssey library, don't you think folks ? There was also 4 others games he started some work but these were never finished. Only one of the unfinished games is now known: Ski Festival - only the overlay is known to exist and was supposed to be bundled with "Ski" for the Odyssey "Deluxe model". 

So all my condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Donald...Our thoughts and prayers are with you Don!

OdySim update as September 2020

 Hi again folks!

Even if i've dissapeared for almost 4 months, i still worked on my OdySim project on some rainy days during summer. I have made a special project for the Magnvox Odyssey which should be revealed very soon so stay "tuned" on that. ;) 

During the past 4 months, i have received ManCaveArcade's Hunting Adventure" and "Zombie Outbreak" plus the box for "Space War" (from Mikebloke). Amazing quality!! So be sure i will make reviews in the following days to come.

Also, i have received from Vibrant Media Labs their "OdysseyNow Game Pack #2" which i will also make a review after both games from MCA. I still haven't ordered OdysseyNow Game Pack #3 as there is one original new game (Et Tu, Brute) which looks like a type of Parker Brothers "Clue's" but at the age of Julius Cesar. The other games are: Haunting of '72, a redone version of Haunting House and Interplanetary Voyage which is a re-edition (exact copy) with all the accessories and game cart #12.

This is why i hesitate to buy the Game Pack #3 has Haunting of '72 is a redone version of today (instead of the 70's) and when you have an Odyssey, you already have the original game (Haunted House).  And if you already have an original Interplanetary Voyage, then you get a copy. At least you can preserve the original game when playing the new copy. 

Mikebloke has made available/released Ben Spenger's Odyssey Multicart and also released a new homebrew called "Puck-Man" for the 40th anniversary of Pac-Man (man....Pac-Man is now 40, geeez it makes me fell so old!). Reviews of those as well will be done very soon.

And finally, i have wrote to the Museo Informatica Icatec, the museum which has the Videojuel lended by Ricardo, if they can took some pictures of the game console and especially the overlays. They did replied back the next day saying that they will take pictures but until the pandemic is over as the museum is closed during this period. Well a week after, i have found pictures of the Videojuel overlays but Ricardo is missing the overlay for "Persecucioniel Gato y el Raton" (Cat & Mouse in English).

Here's the list of all the Videojuel games with overlay and game cartridge:

01- Tenis de Mesa (Ping-Pong) - cart #1 - no overlay

02- Esqui (Ski) - cart #2 - has overlay

03- "Mama Dice" (Simon Says) - cart #2 - has overlay

04- Futbol (Soccer) - Cart #3 - has overlay

05- Tenis (add an "N") - cart #3 - has overlay

06- Carrera Espicial (Analogic) - cart #3 - has overlay 

07- Hockey (humm....) - cart #3 - has overlay

08- Persecucioniel Gato y el Raton" (Cat & Mouse) - cart #4 - has overlay

09- Ataque Submarino (Submarine) - cart #5 - has overlay

10- Para la Paleta a Peleta (handball) - cart #6 - no overlay

11- Voley (Volleyball) - cart #7 - no overlay

12- Tiro al Blanco (Target Shoot) - cart #8 - no overlay

13- Tiro al Blanco en Movimiento (Targer Shoot in Motion) - cart #9 - no overlay

And Stuart has sent me a new video he made during summer which i will link on the blog very soon. Plus JDGP030302 sent me a ton of suggestions and bugs for the OdySim, so many i think i'll take again a few months off....LOL!!! NAH!! Already had a long vacation but he really did sent so many suggestions and bugs that it will take some time to go thru all.

So thought that summer had nothing new for the OdySim and the Magnavox Odyssey ? HA!

-- Sly (summer is over) DC ---

The G.B.C Odissea manual is now available!

 Hi folks!

After almost 4 months after my last post, i'm back to resume my OdySim project. Sorry for the long delay but since summer here is not very long (3 to 4 months), me and my kids tried to enjoy the summer for all it can give (sunlight, warm temperature, beautiful days, etc). 

I have finished scanning the G.B.C. Odissea manual yesturday and already uploaded it to archive.org. 

 I was a lucky S.O.B to get my hand on this very rare manual of the G.B.C. Odissea and as for now, it is the only copy known until other copie(s) surface. But the weirdest thing is no one has the game console either for sale or in the hands of a collector. Hopefully one will surface as i wonder if some accessories (money, cards, etc) will be in Italian only or not.

So now the manual has been preserved digitally and is available HERE.

Or check out my "Magnavox Odyssey Archive" to either download/view anything related to the Magnavox Odyssey and clones (archive still not finished).

Enjoy!

New Ski & Submarine video

Hi folks,

Stuart Feldhamer and his wife made another new video of Ski & Submarine, you can watch it here:

It's so fun to see a couple playing the OdySim! ;)

Also, i have recently updated many files on my Archive account, especially the "Magnavox Odyssey Archive". You can check out anything i have put there and download what you want or all in one file.

Just click on the link: https://archive.org/details/odyssey-archive

I have uploaded all what is contained in the Odyssey box (manual, cards, tokens, paperworks, etc) and also "free" games, some extra games like Soccer and Percepts, the Shooting gallery manual (thanks to ManCaveArcade), patents, many clones manuals (missing only the GBC Odissea and Kanal 34), Odyssey box scan, Apex Blue Card and manuals...and the Videojuel instruction manual.

Still haven't finished scanning so check it out from time to time for updates.

I will do a review very soon of "Hunting Adventure" as i received the game a few days ago and later on (once i received it), a review of Game Pack #2 from Vibrant Media Labs.

I have received many issues (mostly small issues) concerning a lot of games and some suggestions from Stuart and JDGP030302 that it will take some time before i can go thru all of them. I was scanning like a madman during a few days and i'm trying to finish my game room setup in the meantime and also, trying to repair an tabletop arcade called "Golden Poker Double Up" as all the letters and some sprites are reversed (that's another story for my MAME/MESS blog).

So until next, take care folks! :)

- Sly -

www.magnavox-odyssey.com is no more....

Hi folks,

This is with regrets that i inform you that the web site "magnavox-odyssey.com" or  the "Online Odyssey Museum" of Ulf Svensson has gone into oblivion a few days ago.

This was a pioneer web site for the past 15 years or so anything related to the Magnavox Odyssey and clones. Even if it was out of date as it wasn't updated for at least 5 years, it was "THE" web site reference to any collectors and curious about the "Holy Grail" of all game consoles/systems.

At least, most of the web site has been preserved on archive.org and can access it with their Wayback machine web site here: https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.magnavox-odyssey.com

I wrote "most" of it's web site because all the big files are never kept on Wayback, only small files as they are keeping millions of web sites on their server from recent sites to long forgotten ones.

Hopefully that Ulf will upload his web site one day but until then, just click in the previous link if you need to browse it. :)

- Sly -

The G.B.C. Italiana Odissea

Hi again folks,

Third post today...i'm on fire!! LOL!! Do some of you knows or heard about the G.B.C. Italiana Odissea ? This one is an Magnavox Odyssey clone released in Italy in 1975 but this is the second release in Italy as the Magnavox Odyssey (export) was available in 1974 in Italy.

Even after all these years, not one Italian or worldwide collector has one or showed (in pictures or video) the G.B.C. Italiana Odissea except for a minor review in the magazine "Sperimentare" (in English: Experiment) dated October 1975 on page 863:

You can see that in the middle of the first photo is a TV displaying "Ping-Pong" (aka Table Tennis) and on the left is a Rifle Gun. On the second photo (which is closer), now we can see a "dude" playing with the Odyssey (i think that's the representative of G.B.C. Italiana) and under the TV is written: Il nuovo gioco elettronico (which translate to: The new electronic game).

But...i don't get it...if G.B.C. Italiana called it the "Odissea", so why it plainly says "Odyssey" ?! The only thing i can think of is that they rename it to "Odissea" a few days afterwards before they announced it in the next Sperimentare (Novembre 1975) in the back of the cover:

A full page advertisement in color! Now we see the name "Odissea" and not "Odyssey" and shows all twelve games we all know with a weird acception taht Ping-Pong (Table Tennis) has a blue background screen and a red spots ?!??!!

And just above the color game images, we can read: "* Un fucile elettronico, fornito a richiesta, permette di realizzare altri 4 giochi." (translated: * An electronic rifle, supplied on request, allows you to create 4 more games."). So they also offer the Rifle Gun to play for more games, as we saw the same Rifle Gun in the first picture posted above.

And then, the month after, they re-plublished the same advertisement (slightly modified) in the Sperimentare December 1975 on the back cover but in black & white:

And after that, nothing more...because by then, there was another game console which been more popular and was the first game console made in Italy...yep, you guessed it, the Zanussi/Seleco Ping-O-Tronic:

And guess what appeared in the Sperimentare January and February 1976 ?

A Do-It-Yourself "Ping-Pong Elettronico"! So looks like the "Odissea" sales has been screwed.

So that's still leaves the big question: Has the G.B.C. Italiana Odissea has been sold (at all) ??

Well, before i reveal the response, i can tell for sure that the instruction manual of the Odissea has 36 pages and it features 16 games! Yes...16 games! Here's the list of the games:

* Ping-Pong (aka Table Tennis)
* Tennis (hope i don't need to translate this one ?! lol!)
* Football Americano (aka Football)
* Hockey
* SCI (aka Ski)
* Il Sotto Marino (Submarine) (is called: Battaglia Navale in the advert)
* Il Gatto E Il Toppo (Cat and Mouse)
* La Casa Degli Spettri (Haunted House)
* Il Gioco Analogico (Analogic)
* La Roulette (Roulette...pretty obvious...lol!)
* Gli Stati Uniti (States)
* Simone Dice (Simon Says)

Ok, but there's 4 games missing, and they are:

* Il Safari Preistorico (Prehistoric Safari)
* Combattimento Aereo (Dogfight)
* Arrivano i Nostri (Shootout)
* Tiro Al Bersaglio (Shooting Gallery)

The same four games for the Rifle Gun, so no exclusive games (like Soccer). But how the %?%?& that i know the names of the games ?! Well because i'm waiting for this from Italy:

Your not seeing a mirage or day dreaming, it is the instruction manual of the "Odissea" so for now, this is the only proof that G.B.C. Italiana sold the Odissea and once i have received it, i'm gonna tear it and use it to make confettis....HELL NO!!! LOL!!!

What i'll really do is scan the whole manual and put it as a PDF file in the Magnavox Odyssey Archive (on Archive.org) so anyone can read the manual and especially, to preserve it digitally.

So until then, take care folks!

--- Sly DC ---

OdySim update May 2020

Hi again folks,

As a few weeks ago, i had 6 original Odyssey game to do for the OdySim and recently, i have released Interplanetary Voyage and W.I.N. so that's leaves these: Baseball, Wipeout, Invasion and Brain Wave, but seems that while coding the last two i made a few "rules" mistake as i wanted to
release the last 6 remaining so bad that i haven't implied all the game rules for each games properly.

So as today (May 08, 2020), all the 4 games remaining plus the last two official released are suspended for the time being as i have to recheck and read carefully each game rules so that they apply for each proper game. Just Interplanetary Voyage has some rules not implied but the game cartridge is not properly simulated (as i don't have a copy of the cart#12) so i assumed that it's playing like i have coded it (BIG mistake) and also the homebrew port of Gosub is suspended as it is the second game to use the cartridge #12.

So since i don't have a cartridge #12, i've decide to make (temporary) my own cart#12 with a cart#4 plus two jumpers really soon and to watch how the game cart behaves so i can simulate properly cartridge #12 (cannot do something without the proper tools & know-how).

I will release Donkey Kong from the Arcade Pak #1 real soon as this brew is almost done (just need to finished the game cards) and i've already done another homebrew game but this one is "on hold" until further notice from the author himself. At least it's totally approved and tested by the author! :)

Stuart Feldhamer sent me a new report of almost 2 pages(!) of issues related to Football as it's has many minor issues but some "rules" are not implied as i never thought someone would play this game fully by the rules (my fault!) and a very minor issue for Hockey which i already have corrected (but not uploaded yet). I know i'm not perfect, even very far from perfect and i'm not afraid to admit it and to admit my mistakes but we are all human...n'est-ce pas ? ;)

And also JDGP030302 sent me some issues for W.I.N., Percepts and Interplanetary Voyage but especially the "English" control. I did told him (and now all of you) that the English in the OdySim is intended to be auto-centering itself as many people doesn't know how to play or never played with a real Odyssey. But JDGP030302 told me that in Brain Wave, the ball needs to "curve" and not go strait once you let go of the English buttons in OdySim.

Humm...i wanted to add later on the "true" English option in OdySim but looks like i'll have to do it as soon as possible. So once that is done, people will be able to choose between "auto-centering" (novice) or "true" (pro) English, but that may take quite a while (hopefully not) so that's one of the reason i'm suspending the release of the four original games remaining.

Or...what i could do for starters i'll make the necessary corrections to the games that have issues, finish/release Baseball, Wipeout and Invasion and keep Brain Wave for last and do some homebrews in the meantime. Sometime you need to take one or two steps back to better move forward, and this is the case.

Until next, take care folks! :)

--- Sly DC ---

Hunting Adventure, Zombie Outbreak, Space War and Multicard!

Hi folks,

Even with the pandemic still going on worldwide (all my sympathies to all who lost a loved one/member of family/friend), the Magnavox Odyssey community (collectors/homebrewers) has been quite active during this period as many of us have more time while being confined at home.

ManCaveArcade (Odyssey Evil) who's made a comeback in the community after a few years, is now releasing not one but 5 new games and on those 5, Hunting Adventure (which at this very moment i'm writing this post has three games left to sell. If you want a copy, go HERE and reserve one before they all go bye-bye) which is a shooting game made for the Rifle Gun (the 1st homebrew for the Rifle Gun). You can read all about it on this AtariAge forum.

He (ManCaveArcade) is already working and taking orders for his third game: Zombie Outbreak. This is another shooting game for the Rifle Gun BUT it will use a totally new game cartridge for the Rifle Gun and this game is only for 1 player. Click on the previous link to read (or order) about this game. For the 3 others homebrews that ManCaveArcade will release, we have to wait and see.

Now, another homebrewer "Mikebloke" which has released freely his first homebrew game called "Space War Demake" is a port of the Space War from the Fairchild Channel F. You can print your own overlay and instruction on the previous link and also, read all about the game.

Now Mikebloke is offering a multicard for the Magnavox Odyssey which replaces all the game cartridges from #01 to #12, so if you are missing one or some game cartridges, this is the opportunity to get an "all-in-one" cartridge for about $25 USD/20 Euros. You can read/order HERE.

(not the final product BTW)

And this is a news at the last minute as i received an email while writing this post, that ManCaveArcade is offering to print boxes for "FREE" Odyssey homebrew games and the first game to be offered a box (and also an overlay & instruction) is "Space War" demake. 

 

You can read all about it HERE. Even homebrewers is collaborating with each other...i love this community! 

Thinks that wraps it up so until next, take care folks! :)

--- Sly DC ---

Magnavox Odyssey Archive

Hi folks,

I finally uploaded the Videojuel manual after 16 months! (better late than never) and i also uploaded many Magnavox Odyssey manuals and clones, some free games, etc. Here's the list:

* HiRez Overlays.zip (Has all 11 Pack-in overlays in Hi-Rez + Soccer)


Odyssey instruction manual & clones:
------------------------------------
* ITT Odyssey (Germany-1973).pdf
* LEH Videojuel (Argentina-1975).pdf
* Magnavox Odisea (Mexico-1972).pdf
* Magnavox Odyssey (Export-1974).pdf
* Magnavox Odyssey (France-1974).pdf
* Magnavox Odyssey (US-1972).pdf
* Overkal (Spain-1973).pdf
* Panoramic Telematch J5 (Argentina-1975).pdf
* Planil Odyssey (Brasil-1975).pdf

I was so lucky to download a copy of the Videojuel before the link
went to oblivion!


Service Manual (i scanned it at 600dpi)
* Magnavox Odyssey 1TL200 BLAK & BK12 Service Manual.pdf


(Also those extra games i scanned at 600 dpi)
* Magnavox_Odyssey-Baseball.pdf
* Magnavox_Odyssey-Invasion.pdf
(more to come in the future)


And here's a back-up of three Odyssey "free" homebrews:
-------------------------------------------------------
* Peacekeeper Command-O.zip
* Red vs. Blue.zip
* Space War.zip

You can get these files individually here:
https://archive.org/download/odyssey-archive

Or in a Zip file or Torrent file:
https://archive.org/details/odyssey-archive

Have fun! :)

--- Sly DC ---

W.I.N. is now available!

Hi again folks!

I have finally finished the game ""W.I.N." and this one was hell to do as i coded something completely new to me (drawing with a marker part) and had to be creative so i was able to simulate all the accessories. This is the first game which uses 45 buttons to play it as the second game to use many buttons is Football (it uses 40 buttons).

So be sure to read the READ-ME.txt to know which buttons are assigned to do what or simply go crazy to find out yourself (mouhhahahahaahah! - evil laugh!!). check out these screenshots:

When you start a game

 Pick a random Word card

 Pick a random Number card

The "Slates" screen with a marker

On this screen you can write down on the proper slate the information required for the game but you need to draw slowly with the mouse because it can make small dots instead of a line.

The "W.I.N." screen

For this screen, you just need to press on a specific button so it will put an "X" on the card you won during the game.

So before starting a game, i really do recommend to read the "READ-ME" text and the official instruction manual (which you can also find on Archive.org). 

And here's the zip for the game "HERE". Have fun! :)

--- Sly DC ---

Football has been updated

Hi folks,

Stuart Feldhamer has found another game that i have made a small mistake and indeed, i have coded both buttons for ball speed with Pass & Run cards (buttons 1 & 2) so each time anyone tried to pick a Pass or Run card, it was also variating by a fraction the ball speed so the ball speed wasn't usuable.

Stuart told me about that he couldn't variate the ball speed, i've checked the coding and again, he was right so now i have coded the ball speed with buttons "7" and "8" and put "60" as default speed since it was at "200" as the ball was going to fast (supposed to be at the lowest level but if i put it at the lowest ("10"), then the ball moves at turtles pace).

So if anyone needs the updated version, just click "HERE".

And Stu (aka Stuart) made another video with his lovely wife which they review two games: Table Tennis and Tennis. You can watch it right here (or on his Youtube channel):

Also note that i'm pretty sure that Stuart will make more videos about the Odyssey/OdySim on his Youtube channel so be sure to subscribe!

Until next, take care folks! =)

--- Sly DC ---

Invaders are here!

Hi folks!

Today is the release of the third game of the "Arcade Game Pak#1: Space Invaders!

Yep, another arcade port for the OdySim and maybe for the Magnavox Odyssey (BTW. if anyone is interested to make any of my homebrew games or ports for the Magnavox Odyssey, i would be very honored and the only thing (well two) is that i only ask for a copy made of the game and that any credit(s)/copyright(s) will be preserved. I may not be rich but i don't much care about money so a copy is all i would ask in return. :)

As usual, here's some screenshots:

This is Space Invaders for the Cartridge #9 as it should be played with two players. One player is the "target" (spot) and places it on an alien and the other player (with the rifle) tries to shoot it. And if failed for (xx seconds) or was successful, the the "target" player moves to another alien of his choice.

Any alien shot on the first row (blue) is worth 5 points, on the second row (green): 10 points, on the third row (yellow): 15 points, on the forth row (orange): 20 points and on the fifth row (red) is worth 25 points. So after a time period of your choosing (1 to xx minutes), the shooter writes down his score and then both players switch turns. And once the time has ended for the next shooter, he then now compares his score to the previous shooter and the shooter with the best score wins.

Pretty simple huh ? And some of you have notice another picture in the manual ? Yup, as i was going to released this game, i thought another one which fits perfectly with Space Invaders and what is happening actually worldwide. As i'm no doctor or scientific, i fell hopeless in front of the pandemic so to get out some frustration and tension regarding the Covid-19 virus, i came up with this game called: Corona Invaders 2020.

And the game plays exactly like Space Invader but with the exception that there is no points to gain, only remember how many you shot in a time period and then it is the other player to try out.

I also did Space Invaders for playing with Cartridge #10 and you can play either 1 or 2 players. If you are playing alone, just position both paddles (spots) and then press reset on player two to activate the ball, after you try to shoot one of the alien like in this picture:

And during the game, you switch row, shoot, etc..you know the drill. Scoring is the same as for Space Invaders - Cartridge #9 and again, Corona Invaders 2020 is included in this version.

No points (but can if you want) but you have to be as much centered on a virus to eliminate it.

So there you have it folks, Invaders form space and inner-space. You can get Space Invaders for cartridge #09 HERE and Space Invaders for Cartridge #10 HERE. Have fun to destroy those pesky invaders! ;)

--- Sly (Virus! Take that! BOOOM||) DC ---

Updated 2 games that had problems...

Hi again folks,

Stuart Feldhamer reported me that Haunted House had 2 problems about two weeks ago and fixed those little "bugs", after which he reported then there were another problem with the coincidence between both players (Ghost & Detective) and he was right on all counts as either i haven't read "in deep" the manual or i made a "boubou" (i would say both...heh)...that's what happens when you're getting older...LOL!!!

So after i've fixed the last problem for Haunted House, i have check Cat and Mouse since both these games uses cartridge #4 and also this one had a small glitch and corrected it without delay.

If you have Cat and Mouse 0.10.1 and/or Haunted House 0.10.1/0.10.1A, then you'll need to download the latest (fixed) version on my archive.org repository.

And BTW, Stuart and his wife had fun with Cat and Mouse, and they made a video, check it out:

Also, Chris Read pointed to me about cartridge #12 on a future release port that how exactly this cartridge works ? I have simulated it for Interplanetary Voyage but then he asks me if it actually simulates cart #12 and i've replied that i don't know exactly/not 100% sure how it works because that's the only cartridge i don't have. I have cart #01 to 10 + 13 and i don't need cart #11 as it's almost the same as cart #8 with the exception of a thinner wall (just put a jumper between pin#38 & 40 on cart #8 to get a cartridge #11).

So i've told Chris that i'll make my own cart #12 and to see how exactly it works in practice as i only deducted how it works in theory. And doing a cartridge #12 is more easier than i thought as i've checked the pinout of each cartridge (01 to 12) and the closet one is cartridge #04 by adding two jumpers: one jumper between pin#28 & 28 and another jumper between pin#3 & 5.

Some of you would states that "...but cart#12 has pin#3, 5 and 7 connected together, why you are not using pin#7 ?". And that, is a good question because pin#7 is not connected to anything...period! Even it in the Odyssey FAQ and the BLAK12 schematics states that pin#7 is connected to #3 & 5......so my question to any engineers who worked on the Odyssey back then...WHY pin#7 ????? And that may be a mystery never to be unsolved...(music of X-Files)...lol!

Ok now about the official games that i still need to simulate (Baseball, Invasion, Wipeout, W.I.N, Brain Wave - scratch Interplanetary Voyage as i've released it yesturday), i am coding them as we speak so they will be eventually be released very soon as the damn pandemic is still raging on.

Also, there are some homebrews "in the brews"...LOL!!! I can't talk about them right now and that's leaves my old own-brews, which i think i may include some of them as extra games for released sims and the rest as a "Old Man Game Pak", lol! Anyhow, as i've still need to finish the two games for my "Arcade Game Pak #1" (Space Invaders and Donkey Kong), i have more than (ahem) thirty games  IN DEV as i'm writing this, no joke or prank!

I already began working on which games will be included in Arcade Game Pak #2 and Pak #3, also a Casino Game Pak, a lot of Sports games that can be easily played on a real Odyssey, racing games (and those would be welcome as there is only Wipeout) and even new accessories.

Am i done with the Odysim ?? My answer: AH!! Think i'll die before i'm finish with it, lol!
Hope you'll bare with me for the time to come as i've just started this "Odyssey" (now that's a hell of a pun intended!! lol!).

So until next time, take good care of yourselves! =)

--- Sly DC ---

2 Games released: Pac-Man: Eat & Run and Interplanetary Voyage!!

Hi folks,

I've been coding all day long and i'm beginning to see "spots" (pun semi-intended) as i'm almost sleeping on the keyboard, so after finishing this post...i'll snore like a bear! LOL!!!

So i have not 1 but 2 games for you folks today. Here's the first one:

Pac-Man: Eat & Run!

Yep, this is the second game of my "Arcade Pak #1" which is heavily based on the Coleco tabletop "Eat & Run" but with another twist. Instead of gobbling power pellets, you (Pac-Man) has to touch/pass-thru all eight bonus items to win the game. But you have a ghost (other player) that is chasing you so watch out! It's a simple "Maze & Chase" game-type.

So here's more screenshots:

And here's today's second released: Interplanetary Voyage!

The last official game to be released on the Magnavox Odyssey and this one came with the cartridge #12, is now finally simulated. This one wasn't a piece of cake to do i assure you! Just 112 game cards for starters and so llloooonnngggg instructions to follow. So i strongly suggest to find a copy of the manual (5 pages) as it has two games: Interlanetary Voyage and University of the Solar System.

Here's more screenshots:

 Game board with space ship tokens and power chips.

Answer board.

I had to rethink how to display the game board with the answer section has this one was too small to read, so i did something quite simple, an answer board overlay by pressing "F12". 

Resizing cards and make them readable wasn't easy, especially that the knowledge card from #57 to 72 were all badly scanned so i had to redo them from scratch (you'll see the difference between those and the original one from #01 to 56)., but at least now the game is finally done and to all to enjoy.

So click HERE to get Pac-Man: Eat & Run and click HERE to get Interplanetary Voyage.

Have fun folks and take care! :)

--- Sly (RRrzzzzz...) DC ---