website/content/museum/magnavox-odyssey-400.md

---
title: MAGNAVOX Odyssey 400
categories:
- Pongs
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1976'
cpus:
- discrete components
params:
  name: Odyssey 400
  image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_1s.jpg
  company: /companies/magnavox
  company_name: MAGNAVOX
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Odyssey 400
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Magnavox
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1976'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: tennis, hockey, smash
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 3 knobs for each player (vertical movements, horizontal movements, english effect)
  - label: CPU
    value: discrete components + Texas Instruments chips
  - label: SPEED
    value: none
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: game selection, number of players (2 or 4), channel selection (3 or 4), sound (ON/OFF), power ON/OFF
  - label: RAM
    value: on screen scoring (digital numbers)
  - label: COLORS
    value: Black & white
  - label: SOUND
    value: Built-in speaker ?
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RF TV video output
  - label: OS
    value: 6 x C cell batteries
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: 9V DC, 100 mA external PSU - -(o- +
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 'no'
  - label: PRICE
    value: 100$ (USA, 1977)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - software
  - links
  forum_thread: 1247
  photos:
  - title: ODYSSEY 400
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_1.jpg
  - title: BELOW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_under_1.jpg
  - title: CONTROL PANEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The two little knobs at the top are used to adjust "center" (left) and speed (right).

      At the bottom, left switch is used to select game (smash, tennis or hockey) while the right one is used to toggle 2-paddle or 4-paddle game (relevant for tennis & hockey).
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_cp_1.jpg
  - title: CENTER & SPEED KNOBS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_center-speed.jpg
  - title: SWITCHES
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_switches.jpg
  - title: RIGHT PLAYER CONTROLS
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      There are 3 knobs. There are used for:\
      \- vertical movement\
      \- horizontal movement\
      \- english effect (deflection)
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_controls.jpg
  - title: BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to [Chronogamer](http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=87&) for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_box_1.jpg
  - title: 'BOX #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_box_2.jpg
  - title: BOX DETAIL
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/magnavox_odyssey400_box_detail_1.jpg
  links:
  - title: Chronogamer
    url: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=87&showentry=536
    text: Odyssey 400 review from this excellent blog
  - title: www.atariarchives.org
    url: http://www.atariarchives.org/bcc2/showpage.php?page=278
    text: This excellent web site has a scan of an old article about some Odyssey systems
  - title: www.pong-story.com
    url: http://www.pong-story.com/odyssey_other.htm
    text: Odyssey dedicated page. Excellent website.
  related:
  - /museum/magnavox-odyssey-100
  - /museum/magnavox-odyssey-200
  - /museum/magnavox-odyssey-2000
  - /museum/magnavox-odyssey-300
  - /museum/magnavox-odyssey-500
  software:
  - /software/hockey-623
  - /software/smash-624
  - /software/tennis-622
  oc_id: 1282
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230614011037/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1282
    date: '2023-06-14'
---

In 1976, Magnavox released the Odyssey 400. It played the same games as the [Odyssey 200](/museum/magnavox-odyssey-200/) and used an additional Texas Instruments chip to display digital on-screen scoring (it was the first Odyssey system to display digital on-screen scoring).

On-screen scoring was quite well designed. As a matter of fact, the scores were large and were only shown when the ball was lost, and a large 'W' letter was displayed on the winner's side when the games were over. Like the [Odyssey 100](/museum/magnavox-odyssey-100/) and [200](/museum/magnavox-odyssey-200/), the Odyssey 400 used the same three knobs to move the bats and control the "english" effect on the ball.

Basically, the Odyssey 400 is essentially an updated Odyssey 200 with mainly an addition of automatic serve and on-screen digital scoring.

Promotional text from the box:

\- Works on any TV... color or black & white\
\- Digital on-screen scoring\
\- Action sound\
\- Verical, horizontal, speed and english controls\
\- Automatic serve\
\- Hockey goalie/tennis doubles switch

---

Source: [www.pong-story.com](http://www.pong-story.com)

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>