Magnavox Odyssey “Blue Card”

[Tarkus02]

     So I’ve had this for a few years and have been wondering if any of you may have some additional information on its value.

     From what I understand, the “blue card” is considered the most obscure accessory for the original Magnavox Odyssey. According to Pong-Story.com, the few known to exist were included with Odyssey units sold in the Miami Area in 1975 (and this description matches perfectly with the set that obtained this card from). There are two versions of this card: one with two large holes in the center (presumably to help with gripping it) and one without these holes. Mine happens to be the version without these holes, but what’s also odd is that my card doesn’t even appear to be etched from the same material as those pictured online; it’s more of a transparent turquoise rather than it is a solid-blue (I’ve attached some pictures below). From the few that are known to exist, this one appears to be “one of a kind” (for lack of better words). 
     What’s also odd is that it came with an Apex-Magnavox version of the original Odyssey manual. It seems to be a photocopied and stapled-together version of the original Odyssey manual, but in Spanish. I’ve never seen even a picture of another one of these manuals online.  
     So to any of you “Odyssey specialists” out there, what would you think this stuff is worth? Collecting for the original Odyssey seems to be a rather niche thing which I’m sure makes it very limited in its appeal. Do I have something of value here, or is it something only the serious collector would pay about $100 for? 

[Supergun]

Well, that card is “double sided” per say, and also “naked”, as compared to the way that the cards normally appear. But it appears to be a combination of cards 7 & 8, which were both made available. I think only card 11 remained largely out of site for decades. But yes, it’s definitely unique, especially with Miami being etched on it, that’s actually the part that intrigues me more then anything about it.

 

As you said, interest is low among collectors with regards to that particular “game system”, so even though aspects of it are “rare”, the desirability is just not there.

 

As for the Spanish instructions, there’s nothing strange about that at all. I grew up in Miami, and that was commonplace back then to include things like that. Everyone spoke (speaks) both languages down there.

[Mikebloke]

The Odyssey is getting quite a lot of interest here on AA at the moment, hopefully someone else could better answer your questions, but it does appear to be significantly rarer than what most of us has seen. Presumably the "double ender" card was an attempt to keep reproduction cheap, perhaps highlighted by the photocopy quality. I don't know much about it but its probably either designed for south of the border (information on exports is quite limited, but do exist), or for Spanish speaking residents in the US.

 

Its a curious oddity, an Odyssey collector may desire it, and perhaps they can number a price that might be reasonable.

Edited May 14, 2020 by Mikebloke

[Jettgogaming]

Are you interested in selling it? 

[BuckeyeFan_4eva]

The blue card is already pretty rare, no clue on rarity of this, it’s hard to decide when some things should be considered rare and collectible or if someone decided to make their own card, similar to homebrews, you collect what you’re interested in, it’s hard to discern an odyssey collectors item from an odyssey inspired project if you get what I mean, it’s only worth what people are willing to pay, an amazing rare piece nonetheless!!! Congratulations!

[jhd]

19 hours ago, BuckeyeFan_4eva said:

, it’s hard to discern an odyssey collectors item from an odyssey inspired project if you get what I mean, 

 

Is there any reasonable way to determine the (approximate) date of manufacture based on a visual inspection? Is a PCB from the 1970s significantly different from one created in the 2000s?

 

  

[BuckeyeFan_4eva]

9 hours ago, jhd said:

 

Is there any reasonable way to determine the (approximate) date of manufacture based on a visual inspection? Is a PCB from the 1970s significantly different from one created in the 2000s?

 

  

Well I mean an odyssey inspired work doesn’t have to be recent either, It could very well be from the 70s, but I also have no clue on any differences, I’m not keen on all that.

[Tarkus02]

10 hours ago, jhd said:

 

Is there any reasonable way to determine the (approximate) date of manufacture based on a visual inspection? Is a PCB from the 1970s significantly different from one created in the 2000s?

 

  

Sometimes. Like for instance, the traces are hand-drawn on the PCB inside the original Odyssey which is something you wouldn’t see much from something manufactured beyond the late ‘70s. I guess with this card (being so simplistic) there’s not really a way to tell other than that Apex-Magnavox manual having a copyright date of 1972. I was able to get in contact with David Winter of pong-story.com once more. This is what he said:

 

”It's pretty rare, and what you see is a typical manufacture issue where a different batch of raw circuit boards were used to manufacture the cards.”

 

 

[BuckeyeFan_4eva]

3 hours ago, Tarkus02 said:

 

”It's pretty rare, and what you see is a typical manufacture issue where a different batch of raw circuit boards were used to manufacture the cards.”

 

 

Does he know the specific case Of yours? 

[Tarkus02]

11 hours ago, BuckeyeFan_4eva said:

Does he know the specific case Of yours? 

He does not 

[BuckeyeFan_4eva]

13 hours ago, Tarkus02 said:

He does not 

Hmmmm maybe he would know something I’m not sure.

[Mikebloke]

If you were planning on selling it, I would probably be interested as I don't have gamecard 7 and 8 yet, but can't help with value. I imagine there is a couple of people who would buy it due to its rarity, but people like me would probably only buy it because we need the game cards! I'd be super curious if a value ever pops up somewhere regardless. I don't think I personally could justify a 3 figure number for it, but perhaps others can.