CD-i

Lore & Background

Development of the CD-i format began in 1984, two years after the launch of the Compact Disc, and was first publicly announced by Philips and Sony at Microsoft's CD-ROM Conference in Seattle in March 1986. The Green Book specification defined the hardware set around the Motorola 68000 microprocessor family and the CD-RTOS operating system. Philips eventually took over the majority of development at Sony's expense, investing millions in titles and players. The format was initially branded "CD-I" but changed to "CD-i" in 1991.

CD-i players were standalone boxes that connected to a standard television, though some integrated television sets and PC expansion modules existed. Most players were made by Philips, but the format was licensed to other manufacturers, including Sony, which released professional players under the "Intelligent Discman" brand. The system could play Audio CDs, CD+G, Photo CDs, and Video CDs (with an optional Digital Video Card). Media included video games, edutainment, multimedia reference titles, and business software. Philips also implemented Internet features such as web browsing, email, and online play.

Philips initially marketed CD-i as a family entertainment product, avoiding emphasis on video games to prevent competition with game consoles. Early releases focused on educational and self-improvement titles, but games became the best-selling software. Notable games included entries in Nintendo franchises—Hotel Mario and three Legend of Zelda titles—made possible by an earlier agreement between Nintendo and Philips for a CD-based SNES add-on that never progressed beyond the prototype stage. Full-motion video titles such as Dragon's Lair and Mad Dog McCree appeared, though most required the MPEG upgrade card.

Reader's Guide

The CD-i's significance lies in its attempt to merge the functions of a CD player and a game console into a single, affordable home multimedia device. It was one of the earliest platforms to offer interactive encyclopedias, museum tours, and other reference software before widespread public Internet access. Despite strong backing from major electronics companies and a technically ambitious specification, the system struggled in the market. It was underpowered compared to dedicated game consoles, and its multimedia capabilities were undercut by the falling prices of personal computers with CD-ROM drives. Philips abandoned the format in 1996, though licensees continued support for a few more years. The CD-i is remembered today largely for its unusual library of games, particularly the Nintendo-licensed titles that were not developed by Nintendo, and for its role as a pioneering but commercially unsuccessful interactive multimedia platform.

Did You Know?

• The CD-i format was first publicly announced at Microsoft's CD-ROM Conference in Seattle in March 1986, and Microsoft's CEO Bill Gates had no prior knowledge of its development.
• CD-i discs could include 'message' sectors containing audio data to warn users of standard CD players that the track was a CD-i track, not an audio CD track.
• The CD-i Digital Video format, launched in 1993, was incompatible with Video CD, though a CD-i unit with the Digital Video Cartridge could play both formats.
• Musician Todd Rundgren created the first fully interactive music CD, No World Order, for CD-i in 1993, offering over 15,000 points of customization.