Odyssey1

The Odyssey the first video game console for home use ever, and it was also the first programmable system ever. It was released by Magnavox in 1972. It didn't feature cartridges but it did have removable game cards; these did not contain the actual programs but altered the signal path in the machine to change the screen output. This system, unlike any other conventional console, was powered by batteries.

The Odyssey was never really sucessful, but was more of a proof that consoles for the home could be designed. The Odyssey would make way for the truly programmable Odyssey2.