As any hardcore videogame and computer collector knows, there are many intriguing classic systems out there worthy of your time that never made it to your home territory. One of the biggest challenges when importing vintage systems from foreign countries is having the necessary hardware on hand to convert either or both of the power (voltage) and video (television standard) connections.

With vintage Japanese systems in the US, it's fairly trivial to use those systems here. Generally speaking, the video signal is the same - though you may have to tune in a weird channel if you're stuck using an RF connection - and power requirements are similar, generally 100-110v to our 110-120v. While you can usually get away with just plugging a Japanese system direct into a US outlet, a simple power converter is still recommended in some situations. With vintage European systems, it's not nearly as straightforward, since they use a completely different television standard and power requirements usually run 220-240v, so you need to do double conversions. On top of that, plugs for both video and power are often unusual shapes and may require yet another adapter.

A new series of small videos, not really reviews but just some games I happen to really like. This is episodes 10 & 11.

Games: Various Magnavox Odyssey2 & 3, Philips Videopac G7000, G7400 games
Publisher: Philips / Magnavox
Platform: Magnavox Odyssey / Philips Videopac

The Philips Videopac+ G7400 console was a rare beast, it was released in very limited quantities in 1983 but only in Europa. An American release was planned named the Odyssey³ Command Center but it never saw the light of day.

The G7400 console could play all Videopac / Odyssey2 games out there. Three types of games exist. The original G7000 videogames, the plus versions sporting an additional high-resolution background which would only be visible on the G7400. And finally the special G7400 only games with high-resolution graphics very reminiscent of Teletext, BBC Micro or ZX Spectum.

Here I am playing the rare G7400 through my video-grabber with some of my favourite games whilst I comment on the gameplay, etc.

http://www.videopac.org/ - home of Philips Videopac / Magnavox Odyssey