Overkal

The information in this entry comes from Overkal – The History of the Spanish Magnavox Odyssey clone, a research article that I published on March 19, 2024 on this website. I recommend checking it out if you’re looking for extensive information about the history of this early system.

As with that article, if you plan to use the information from this page, it’s always good practice to credit this website as a reference.

Name: Overkal
Type: Clone of Magnavox Odyssey
Manufacturer: Inter Electrónica, S.A. – Barcelona
Country: Spain
Year: 1973
Release: February-March 1974

Original Price / Prices Found:

  • 9,000 pesetas (Almacenes Capitol, 24/11/1974 and 1/12/1974)
  • 6,950 pesetas (Electrodomésticos VER, July 1975)
  • 9,400 pesetas (Mail order via Promodisa, 1975)
  • 6,000 pesetas (Electrodomésticos Estratur, 6/1/1977)
  • 8,000? pesetas (El Corte Inglés, unknown date)
  • 5,900 pesetas (El Corte Inglés, clearance, unknown date)

Games: 6 built-in variants for playing 8 games
Technology: No CPU, “discrete” circuit, uses 27 transistors.
Availability: 1974 – 1976?
Units Produced: Estimated 5,000-6,000 units

The Overkal is a Spanish clone of the Magnavox Odyssey, designed by Inter Electrónica in 1973. The console was marketed in February-March 1974 at an estimated price of 9,000 pesetas. Overkal is often considered as the “first European video game console” as well as the “first pirated game console in history.”

Development

The system was designed by Santiago Arcocha Noguera (1924 – 2007), an ambulance driver with extensive electronics knowledge living in Barcelona. Due to his long-standing friendship with the executives of Inter Electrónica, it is believed that Santiago was commissioned to design a modified and adapted version of the Magnavox Odyssey.

Santiago developed a design that introduced some improvements, such as integrating the games into the console, selectable through a “programming unit.” This design, under the name “Electronic Device for Modulation and Control of the Beam in a Cathode Ray Tube,” was patented on May 7, 1973, under Santiago Arcocha Noguera’s name.

The name Overkal was chosen in homage to a radio receiver model introduced by Inter in the early 1950s. The name “Overkal” was registered with the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office on July 31, 1973, by International Radio Televisión as an electronic toy.

In December, the industrial design of the console and controller casings was registered by Santiago. This suggests that the Overkal was physically realized during the second half of 1973.

Commercialization

The Overkal was demonstrated unofficially at the SIT (Technical Inspection Service) building of Inter Electrónica among technical employees in February 1974 during a training course for the Inter TVC-366 television set. Shortly thereafter, an initial distribution took place in Barcelona among Inter brand sellers and distributors, placing the launch date around February-March 1974 at an estimated price of 9,000 pesetas. The Overkal was sold in department stores (such as El Corte Inglés) and appliance stores.

The Overkal was also distributed in 1975 by Promodisa, a subsidiary of Editorial Seix Barral for mail-order product sales. The full price for the system was 9,400 pesetas with 150 pesetas for shipping costs.

Anuncio Promodisa
Anuncio Promodisa

“Success”

Given its high price for a family entertainment product and almost nonexistent promotion, the Overkal sold very slowly. Many units were sold in discounts, sales, and clearance events. It should also be considered that the idea of playing with a television was a very novel concept at the time.

Precio Overkal descuento

The last unit with a known purchase date was acquired on January 5, 1977, for 6,000 pesetas, a third less than the original 1974 price. It was bought at a store from the former Estratur appliance chain.

Factura de consola vendida en 1977

Units Produced

Based on the fact that the console’s serial numbers begin with 418 followed by a four-digit manufacturing number, documented serial numbers range from 0501 to 5496, the highest found. It is believed that at least 5,000-6,000 consoles were produced, which is a reasonable number considering the system was marketed and distributed throughout Spain.

Features and Gameplay

The Overkal shares the same aesthetic language as the Magnavox Odyssey, bearing a striking resemblance. Its most distinctive feature is the absence of a “cartridge” connector, replaced by push buttons.

This system of switches allowed selecting 6 game variants to play 8 games using transparencies (overlays) that attached to the television, except for Table Tennis. The 6 integrated variants in the console are essentially the 6 cartridges included with the Odyssey.

Its most distinguishable feature was the absence of a “cartridge” connector, replaced by push buttons.

Selector de juegos de Overkal
Detail of the Overkal “button panel”

This switch system allowed players to select six game variations, enabling gameplay for eight different games through the use of transparencies (overlays) placed on the television screen, except for Table Tennis. The six built-in variations in the console were essentially the same six cartridges included with the Odyssey.

Being a clone of the Magnavox Odyssey, it featured nearly the same games. However, the games “States,” “Simon Says,” “Hockey,” “Haunted House,” and “Football” were removed. Instead, “Fútbol” was added as an exclusive game for the Overkal. The available games were:

Originally, the console came with seven overlays in two different sizes, depending on the television screen size.

As accessories, it included a board, play money, and chips for the “Roulette” game, as well as a score counter for “Tennis” and “Table Tennis.”

Marcador de puntuación de Overkal

Due to the nature of this machine, the Tennis game had no on-screen score display or sound. The ball did not bounce at an angle; instead, players had to adjust the ball’s trajectory using the “Trayectoria” control.

Módulos de mando de Overkal

The controllers were identical to those of the Magnavox Odyssey, with the text in Spanish. Although the type of plastic was different, they were of relatively good quality. The controls felt much more solid than those of the Odyssey—or at least to the preference of this reviewer.

The Overkal featured a ball speed control and a net centering adjustment for the Tennis game on its rear panel.

Controles de velocidad y red de Overkal

Due to its extreme technical limitations, the games relied on the overlay designs and the instructions in the manual to add complexity, making it a hybrid between a board game and a video game. However, Overkal removed the games that involved cards in the Magnavox Odyssey, making it somewhat more “playable.”

The rifle connector and shooting games were also removed from the Overkal. The reasons are unknown, possibly due to the unavailability of the Odyssey’s Shooting Gallery or the lack of interest in developing them.

The Overkal was connected via RF antenna, using a “Switch-Box” to toggle between the console signal and the television signal. This box had an output cable with a 300-ohm connector for use with a black-and-white television.

Today, this box is unnecessary, as the console can be directly connected via its built-in 75-ohm antenna connector.

The Magnavox Odyssey, on the other hand, used a non-standard connection that required an external box, which today is problematic because it necessitates a 300-to-75-ohm adapter, causing image interference and tuning difficulties.

File:Magnavox-Odyssey-Video-Cable.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
File:Magnavox-Odyssey-Switchbox.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

The Overkal could be powered by “C” batteries or a transformer through a 9V mini-jack connector on the rear. Interestingly, it used the same power adapter as the Atari 2600 and many typical Pong consoles from the 1970s, making it easily “connectable” today.

By contrast, the Odyssey had a micro-jack connector, requiring the original Magnavox power adapter—which is now a rare collectible—or an adapter to convert the mini-jack to micro-jack. Due to these inconveniences, it is more practical to power the Odyssey with batteries.

Related Links

  • Overkal Instructions (courtesy of Sly DC)
  • Overkal” by RetroMaquinitas (first research on Overkal, written by Marçal Mora Cantallops)
  • I.S.S.A Overkal” by Pong-Story (earliest online mention of Overkal, written by David Winter)
  • Overkal on magnavox-odyssey.com
  • Overkal on Retro Ordenadores Orty

References

Photos sourced from:

  • magnavox-odyssey.com
  • pong-picture-page.com
  • oepm.com
  • ebay.es

Overlay scans courtesy of Alfonso R.

Video courtesy of Dave Sweet (YouTube).

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