Help for a new Odyssey 2 owner...

[elviticus]

Just got an O2 from E-bay. Tested a couple of games - and both joysticks - all seems to be well!

 

Questions:

 

what's the best cart to use to test the keyboard (or is there another way?)

 

It is an attached joystick model BUT it came with an extra one (new!). In the event of problems, is a joystick change easy?

 

It's FILTHY ... any cleaning tips?

 

What games do I NEED to get? are there any good websites? and any other helpful info. appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[sku_u]

Both the KC games are great and very entertaining. KC Munchkin is a clone of Pac-man (although much more entertaining and original) and KC's Krazy Chase is a combination of Pac-man and Centipede.

 

Pickaxe Pete's a must have as well. It is a Miner 2049er like platformer that is always a perennial favorite.

 

But the absolute must have is Quest for the Rings. This is a board game and video game cartridge that is best played with two or more players. just make sure you get a complete boxed copy of this one since the game pieces are what make the game fun.

 

You can get a multicart for the Odyssey2 that includes all the games released and several hacks of Brazilian only releases, such as Frogger. You can get that at http://www.classicgamecreations.com/ . The cart costs $50.00 which is a bargain IMO.

 

BTW, I have an extra Quest for the Rings CIB if you are at all interested. PM me if you are.

 

Cheers,

 

John

[Mendon]

What's the best cart to use to test the keyboard (or is there another way?)

 

Sku gave good answers. Type & Tell, Keyboard Creations, Computer Intro and Sid the Spell Binder all use the keyboard extensively. But an easy way might be to just play one of the games (like K.C. Munchkin) that allow you to type your name in when you get a high score. When you are allowed to do this just hit keys on the board and backspace until you've tried all of the keys. Been awhile since I plugged in my O2 but I think this will work to test the keyboard.

 

And Turtles is my favorite O2 game.

 

Mendon

[BassGuitari]

UFO (1 player)

Monkeyshines (2 players)

Invaders From Hyperspace (2 Players)

Showdown in 2100 A.D. (1 or 2 Players)

Demon Attack (1 or 2 Players)

 

I also like Computer Golf, but that seems to be a hit-or-miss with most people.

[Ze_ro]

Everyone's already mentioned pretty much all the good O^2 games, so I'll cover your other questions instead.

 

what's the best cart to use to test the keyboard (or is there another way?)

 

I guess playing Crypto-Logic would be a good way of testing it... that's pretty much all Crypto-Logic is good for though

 

It is an attached joystick model BUT it came with an extra one (new!).   In the event of problems, is a joystick change easy?

 

Should be easy enough... all you have to do is remove the screws from the bottom, open the system, and change the controllers. There is actually a socket in the inside, so you don't need to solder or anything like that.

 

It's FILTHY ... any cleaning tips?

 

I guess it depends what parts are actually dirty... if it's just the case that's dirty, then you might want to take out the screws, remove the circuit board, and wash the plastic casing with soap and water (Make sure to let everything dry before re-assembling). The keyboard can probably be cleaned with a damp cloth.

 

The joysticks can be cleaned in a similar way. Magnavox was pretty good about how the Odyssey^2 stuff was put together, so don't worry about taking things apart.

 

--Zero

[PickAxePete]

Growing up, my brother and I had 9 games. One broke (Speedway, Spinout, Crypto-logic) by Ginger Ale spilling on it and another went missing (Amored Encountr, Sub Chase).

 

I just recently won an Odyssey 2 on eBay that came with 43 games. Combing my original 7 with the ones that came with my order, they are:

 

 

Alien Invaders-Plus

Armored Encounter, Sub Chase

Attack Of The Timelords

Baseball

Bowling, Basketball

Breakout, Breakdown

Casino Slot Machine

Conquest of the World

Cosmic Conflict

Dynasty

Electronic Table Soccer

Football

Freedom Fighters

Hockey, Soccer

I've Got Your Number

Invacers From Hyperspace

K.C. Munchkin

K.C.'s Krazy Chase

Keyboard Creations

Killer Bees

Las Vegas Blackjack

Matchmaker, Logix, Buzzword

Math-A-Magic, Echo

Monkeyshines

Pachinko

Pocket Billiards

Showdown in 2100 A.D.

Smithereens

Speedway, Spinout, Crypto-Logic

ThunderBall

Type & Tell

UFO

Volleyball

 

There are seven I'm still interested in getting.

Alpine Skiing

Computer Golf

The Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt

Pick Axe Pete

Power Lords

The Quest for the Rings

Turtles

 

If you go to the O2 homepage link on available cartridges, you can see which ones you want and which ones you don't.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

That's not at all a bad kick-start for getting back into game collecting there, Pete. Wow!

[Swingtown]

Monkeyshines (2 players)

 

Yes this game rocks. You chase mokeys around and "tag" them. While others may not find it as interesting, I definately think it's worth-while.

[PickAxePete]

I need to check out Monkeyshines. There are a lot I need to check out.

 

I haven't had a chance to play all of the games yet. I haven't really had a chance to play any games except for last Sunday. I had the system delivered to my parent's house, which is in Queens and I live in Manhattan. I did that for a few reasons.

 

1. Guaranteed to be received by someone, since I work.

2. My old system is there and it gave me a chance to pull all the stuff together.

3. The R/F convertor is there. I went looking for another one, but I may have to ask my brother to pick one up, since the one at my parent's house is his and you know how older brothers are with not letting you just "take" something of theirs.

4. My TV in my apartment is a 13". It's fine for my JakksPacific Atari joystick, but the TV that I plugged the Odyssey2 into is a 32", I think.

 

I may bring the system to my apartment on Monday though. I have off from work for MLK Day.

 

I'm a bit concerned actually. I live alone, but it seems many O2 games are 2 player. Can't play two player by myself. Especially the sports.

[sku_u]

I'm a bit concerned actually. I live alone, but it seems many O2 games are 2 player. Can't play two player by myself. Especially the sports.

 

Time to find a significant other. My wife is usually my gaming partner. She's the one who got me back into the older videogames in the first place

[Ze_ro]

Power Lords

 

Good luck with that one!

 

--Zero

[PickAxePete]

someone on ebay is selling 12 cartridges together.

I only need/want two of them. Alpine Skiing & Turtles.

 

But I may put in a bid and add to my collection.

This is going to be tough getting those remaining 7.

 

 

oh, and my SO isn't really that into video game playing.

But she makes up for it being a Rock n Roller chick.

When a girl's fave artists are The Clash, Slayer & Tom Waits,

how can you pass her up.

[Mendon]

I forgot to mention, try the following website:

 

Classic Game Creations

 

You can purchase the 128 - In - 1 Multi-cart for the O2 for $50. Has all those hard to find games including Frogger, Popeye, Powerlords, etc. I bought one and am **VERY** pleased with it.

 

You can also purchase Amok!, the Berzerk clone for the O2 for $20. It is included on the Multi-cart also.

 

Mendon

[+5-11under]

One of my favourite things about the O2 is how the title of most of the games end in an exclamation point, as if you must shout out the name of the game.

 

LOL!

 

5-11under

[PickAxePete]

AMOK!

 

and soon

Kill the Atacking Aliens!

 

I wonder what other games can be created for this classic system.

I think I may order AMOK!

[stayrunner]

There are no games that you NEED to get for the O2. Most are so bad that you will never play them except to make fun of them and curse the idiot programmers that screwed them up! I don't mean to offend the people who claim to enjoy playing the O2, but the truth is: it sucks! Just get every game for your collection and don't worry about playing fun games, there aren't any! After ten minutes of playing bad games you will put the O2 in the closet and forget about it until you want to break it out for a good laugh! Sorry, but that's the truth!

[Scooterb23]

Smithereens!

K.C. Munchkin!

K.C.s Krazy Chase!

Killer Bees!

Pick Axe Pete!

 

Those are a few of the really great games...and yes there are great games for this system. Actually, there aren't too many games that are flat out horrible IMO.

 

Obviously stayrunner is either: 1. Someone who has never played the system. 2. A n00b trying to act cool by wasting our time by slamming a system in a thread about the system. 3. Brain dead.

 

I'll let you choose.

[Ze_ro]

Ah, the O2 might not be a great game system... but there are MUCH worse systems out there. I mean, look at this thing:

 

 

--Zero

[PickAxePete]

O2 owners know that the system wasn't designed with the graphic cabability that some other early cartridge based systems were designed with. They also know that Phillips did not get into allowing Third Party game producers develop new games until it was too late and the Crash of 83 occurred. The recently created AMOK! & KTTA! show that even with basic graphics, more could've been done with game play

 

But video games are not all about graphics. I enjoy watching some of the games today. Rogue Squadron is unbelievable, IMO. But I'd rather sit and watch an experienced player succeed in getting through each level. I may get frustrated with not completing a board (I did actually do well with the N64 version - level 5?, but I saw the Game Cube version and it blew me away. Frustrated me. And it seems beyond complicated).

 

Simplicity has always given me interest. Odyssey has some lemons. They are fun up to a point, then since there isn't any increase in difficulty or variation in levels. But many games are fun. Do I care that my screen character resembles a kind of... fetus? No. Is it fun to play? Yes.

 

It may have to do with age. I'm in my 30s. I remember how many of these games were "state of the art." I remember George Plimpton doing Intellivision commercials. Or was it Astrocade? I remember playing Defender in an Arcade. It was awesome! Of course, I can't say for sure why stayrunner would slam a system when it could only do what the makers allowed it to do.

[stayrunner]

I didn't mean to slam the O2, only the programmers. Most games could have been better by including or excluding certain things. A good example is the way you shoot in UFO. Just make it fire in four directions and it's a good game! Shooting in the direction of the "dot" is frustrating and only serves to bring the game play down a notch!

 

I wish I could sit down and play these games with you O2 game lovers! I would love to witness the joy of O2 game playing in person. I live in Tulsa, Ok. if there are any takers on this.

[superbee]

Scooterb23 wrote:

Smithereens!

K.C. Munchkin!

K.C.s Krazy Chase!

Killer Bees!

Pick Axe Pete!

 

And many more: Attack Of the Timelord, Turtles, Acrobats, UFO, The Master Strategy Series, Videopacs: 50, 54,54,56 (well, it's a plus game) and 57, Parker Brothers & Imagic Games...

 

O2 have a lot of good games.

 

[]'s Rafael Cardoso - Br

[desiv]

I didn't mean to slam the O2, only the programmers.

 

I think you mean "programmer", not "programmers."

 

Since it was, what, 90+% of the released games were written by one guy...

 

Ed Averett wrote almost everything that was released for the O2. :-)

 

Below is a list of his games...

Take the Money and Run (O2)

I've Got Your Number (O2)

Invaders from Hyperspace (O2)

Showdown in 2100 A.D.(O2)

War of Nerves (O2)

Alpine Skiing (O2)

Hockey/Soccer (O2)

Volleyball (O2)

Electronic Table Soccer (O2)

Pocket Billiards (O2)

Pachinko (O2)

Casino Slot Machine (O2)

Blockout/Breakdown (O2)

Alien Invaders Plus (O2)

UFO (O2)

Quest for the Rings (O2)

Conquest of the Worlds (O2)

Great Wall St. Fortune Hunt (O2)

K.C. Munchkin (O2)

Freedom Fighters (O2)

Pick Axe Pete (O2)

K.C.'s Crazy Chase (O2)

Power Lords (O2)

Attack of the Timelord, with Linda Averette (1983, O2) released as

Terrahawks in Europe

 

Not bad for one guy on one system.. :-)

 

desiv

[stayrunner]

Thanks for the info desiv. I broke out the O2 and gave it another shot. It didn't change my mind. In fact, it just made me think that Ed should not have been designing games. Let him program, but keep his two cents out of the design.

 

Remember, these are just my thoughts on the matter!

[Ze_ro]

Ed Averett wrote almost everything that was released for the O2.  :-)

 

Anyone know what this guy is doing now? What did he do after the Odyssey^2?

 

--Zero