CD-i

The Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I, later CD-i) is a <a href="/facts/Digital_media/QLXzDrhL">digital</a> <a href="/facts/Optical_disc/vjVDB1GH">optical disc</a> <a href="/facts/Data_storage_device/uCvJ6nrq">data storage</a> format as well as a hardware platform, co-developed and marketed by Dutch company <a href="/facts/Philips/Xp4uczGg">Philips</a> and Japanese company <a href="/facts/Sony/7x4tCtBd">Sony</a>. It was created as an extension of <a href="/facts/Compact_Disc_Digital_Audio/FDMqNLw5">CDDA</a> and <a href="/facts/CD-ROM/JwuaYLJv">CD-ROM</a> and specified in the <a href="/facts/Rainbow_Books/vn52dP0N">Green Book</a> specifications, co-developed by Philips and <a href="/facts/Sony/7x4tCtBd">Sony</a>, to combine audio, text and graphics. The two companies initially expected to impact the education/training, <a href="/facts/Point_of_sale/DwUHVn2v">point of sale</a>, and home entertainment industries, but the CD-i is largely remembered today for its <a href="/facts/Video_game/vmTdNASJ">video games</a>.
CD-i media physically have the same dimensions as CD, but with up to 744 <a href="/facts/Megabyte/RBF4XpWb">MB</a> of digital data storage, including up to 72 minutes of <a href="/facts/Full_motion_video/DGyQ52z7">full motion video</a>. CD-i players were usually standalone boxes that connect to a standard television; some less common setups included integrated CD-i television sets and expansion modules for <a href="/facts/Personal_computers/koaYfNce">personal computers</a>. Most players were created by Philips; the format was licensed by Philips and <a href="/facts/Microware/voC4tGPv">Microware</a> for use by other manufacturers, notably Sony who released professional CD-i players under the "Intelligent <a href="/facts/Discman/4YzpBbAR">Discman</a>" brand. Unlike CD-ROM drives, CD-i players are complete computer systems centered around dedicated <a href="/facts/Motorola_68000/3p2wt2D6">Motorola 68000</a>-based microprocessors and its own operating system called CD-RTOS, which is an acronym for "<a href="/facts/Compact_Disc/g51GRloc">Compact Disc</a> – <a href="/facts/Real_Time_Operating_System/IvUCFwCL">Real Time Operating System</a>".
Media released on the format included video games and "<a href="/facts/Edutainment/SXKNW3Dj">edutainment</a>" and multimedia reference titles, such as interactive encyclopedias and museum tours – which were popular before public <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a> access was widespread – as well as business software. Philips's CD-i system also implemented <a href="/facts/Online_console_gaming/XfstQz31">Internet features</a>, including subscriptions, web browsing, downloading, e-mail, and online play. Philips's aim with its players was to introduce interactive multimedia content for the general public by combining features of a <a href="/facts/CD_player/hp7dWc7l">CD player</a> and <a href="/facts/Game_console/K72D1NSS">game console</a>, but at a lower price than a personal computer with a CD-ROM drive.
<a href="/facts/Authoring_system/ykrhuQeP">Authoring</a> kits for the format were released first in 1988, and the first player aimed for home consumers, Philips's CDI 910/205, was released in late 1991. It was initially priced around US$1,000 (equivalent to $2,309 in 2024), and was capable of playing interactive CD-i discs, <a href="/facts/Audio_CD/FDMqNLw5">Audio CDs</a>, <a href="/facts/CD%2BG/z5Wcqj7d">CD+G</a> (CD+Graphics), <a href="/facts/Photo_CD/Y4Klg0hA">Photo CDs</a> and <a href="/facts/Video_CD/87gb1XJ5">Video CDs</a> (VCDs), though the latter required an optional "Digital Video Card" to provide <a href="/facts/MPEG-1/ewnQQLPD">MPEG-1</a> decoding. Initially marketed to consumers as "home entertainment systems", and in later years as a "gaming platform", CD-i did not manage to find enough success in the market, and was mostly abandoned by Philips in 1996. The format continued to be supported for licensees for a few more years after.

CD-i open-in-new

CD-i