Philips Videopac+ G7400
European third-generation console with enhanced graphics and planned American release.
The Philips Videopac+ G7400 was a third-generation home video game console that saw a limited European release in 1983. It followed the Philips Videopac G7000, which was the European version of the American Magnavox Odyssey². The console was noted for its well-designed background and foreground visuals. A North American launch under the name Odyssey³ Command Center was planned for the Odyssey line but never materialized.
The G7400 could run three types of games: standard G7000 titles; special G7000 games that displayed extra high-resolution background graphics only on the G7400; and exclusive G7400 games featuring high-resolution sprites and backgrounds. A licensed French clone, the Thomson-Brandt J0 7400 (or Jopac), was also released.
Initially announced in North America as the Odyssey 3 (stylized as Odyssey³), it was slated for a mid-1983 release. At the Winter CES 1983, it was shown as the Odyssey Command Center, with representatives uncertain whether to market it as a game console or a home computer. It was promised to be fully compatible with all Odyssey² titles and included ports for Voice compatibility. Updated versions of games like *Pick Axe Pete!* and *Freedom Fighters!* with richer backgrounds were demonstrated. The console was set for a July 1983 launch at $199, with a planned Christmas release of a peripheral that would turn it into a home computer with 16 KB of RAM.
By the Summer CES in June 1983, N.A.P. announced the North American release would be delayed to early 1984. Mike Staup stated, "We are convinced that the computer capability must be built in to the unit rather than as an outboarded capability as announced in December." Spokesman Jerry Michaelson later explained the decision to cancel the U.S. release was because they were "leapfrogging to the next [generation]." Odyssey discontinued operations in March 1984, and the Odyssey 3 was never sold in North America.
Specifications included an Intel 8048 CPU at 5.91 MHz, 6 KB plus 192 bytes of RAM, and 1 KB of ROM. The display output was 320×238×16, using an Intel 8245 for G7000-compatible 128x64 16-color graphics and Thomson EF9340 and EF9341 chips. Audio was a single channel with eight sounds. Input/output options included an RF modulator, a Péritel/SCART connector with RGB, joystick ports, and a ROM cartridge port.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Philips
- Cpu
- Intel 8048 @ 5.91MHz
- Memory
- 6 KB RAM, 1 KB ROM
- Display
- RF modulator, composite, RGB; 320×238 resolution
- Predecessor
- Philips Videopac G7000
- Successor
- Philips CD-i / Philips MSX
- Generation
- Third
- Graphics
- Intel 8245, EF9340 (VIN), EF9341 (GEN)
- Sound
- 1 channel, 8 sounds
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Philips Videopac+ G7400 was initially announced as the Odyssey 3 in North America (stylized as Odyssey³), planned for release in mid 1983. Representatives were initially unsure whether the system would be positioned as a video game console or a home computer. It was showcased at Winter CES 1983, where it was called the Odyssey Command Center. The console was announced as fully compatible with all previous Odyssey² titles with included peripheral ports for Voice compatibility. N.A.P. showcased updated versions of games such as Pick Axe Pete! and Freedom Fighters! with more graphically rich backgrounds. The system was set for a release in July 1983 at a suggested retail price of $199. A peripheral that expanded the system into a home computer platform with 16 KB of RAM was planned for a Christmas launch.
At Summer CES in June 1983, N.A.P. announced that the North American release of the Odyssey 3 would be delayed to early 1984. Mike Staup said 'We are convinced that the computer capability must be built in to the unit rather than as an outboarded capability as announced in December.' According to N.A.P. spokesman Jerry Michaelson, they chose not to release the console in the United States because they were 'leapfrogging to the next [generation].' Odyssey discontinued operations in March 1984. The Odyssey 3 was never released in North America.
The G7400 could play three types of games: all normal G7000 games, special G7000 games with additional high-res background graphics that would appear only when played on the G7400, and G7400-only games with high-res sprites and backgrounds. A licensed clone called the Thomson-Brandt J0 7400 or Jopac was also released in France.
Reader's Guide
The Philips Videopac+ G7400 occupies a notable but niche position in video game history as a third-generation console that never reached its intended global market. Its significance lies in its graphical capabilities, offering excellently tailored background and foreground graphics through a dual-chip display system that allowed for both G7000 compatibility and enhanced high-resolution modes. The console's three-tier game compatibility—standard G7000 titles, enhanced G7000 games with additional background graphics, and exclusive G7400 games with high-res sprites—was a forward-thinking approach to backward compatibility. The planned American release as the Odyssey³ Command Center, with a $199 price point and a home computer expansion module, reflected the industry's uncertainty about the console-computer divide in the early 1980s. However, the North American launch was delayed and ultimately canceled as N.A.P. decided to leapfrog to the next generation, and Odyssey discontinued operations in March 1984. The console's legacy is preserved through the Videopac Collection Volume 1, released on Steam in November 2022, which includes G7400 versions of games via emulation. The existence of a licensed French clone, the Thomson-Brandt J0 7400, further underscores its regional impact.
Did You Know?
- The G7400 could play three types of games: normal G7000 games, enhanced G7000 games with additional high-res backgrounds, and G7400-only games with high-res sprites and backgrounds.
- The system was showcased at Winter CES 1983 as the Odyssey Command Center, with a planned July 1983 release at $199.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Philips Videopac+ G7400?
It is a third-generation home video game console that Philips released in a limited run across Europe in 1983. It served as the direct successor to the Videopac G7000, which itself was the European branding of the Magnavox Odyssey².
How does the G7400's graphics differ from the G7000?
The G7400 added a dedicated background layer alongside the standard 128×64 foreground, pushing the total resolution to 320×238 pixels across 16 colors. This dual-layer approach let it render richer, more detailed scenes than its predecessor while still remaining backward-compatible with G7000 cartridges.
What types of games can the G7400 play?
It supports three tiers: regular G7000 titles, special G7000 cartridges that unlock an extra high-resolution background layer only when inserted into a G7400, and fully exclusive G7400-only games. This three-tier scheme made it a superset of the older system rather than a clean break.
Was the G7400 ever sold in North America?
A North American launch under the name Odyssey³ Command Center was planned for the Odyssey brand, but that release never materialized. As a result, the console remained a European-only product, which is why it is relatively obscure outside that market.
What are the G7400's main hardware specifications?
It is built around an Intel 8048 CPU clocked at 5.91 MHz with 6 KB of RAM plus 192 bytes of additional memory and 1 KB of ROM. Video is handled by an Intel 8245 for G7000-compatible output and Thomson EF9340/EF9341 chips for the enhanced display, while audio is a single channel with eight sound effects, and connectivity includes an RF modulator, a SCART/Péritel RGB port, joystick ports, and a cartridge slot.
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