Odyssey Baseball (1972 & 1978)
Baseball for the Magnavox Odyssey is the world’s first video game console. It was first demonstrated in May 1972 and released that fall, predating the Atari Pong home consoles by three years. Included two television screen overlays, game board, scoreboard and 26 line-up cards.

In 1978, Odyssey² was released with a cartridge based console. Baseball follows basically the official rules of the real game. The three numbers on the scoreboard at the lower left side of the screen indicate Balls, Strikes and Outs, in that order. Players on defense can control the outfielders with the joystick. During the pitch, the joystick will control the ball’s curve. Once the batter hits the ball, the defense has to try to catch it.

In 1972, it was Magnavox Odyssey Baseball that inspired the game Pong:

Learn all about the Magnavox Odyssey video game system:

Watch this review of the Magnavox Odyssey Baseball game – quite the advancement from its predecessor – though still quite basic:

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