CD-i Guide

This is a preliminary bare-bones FAQ for topics related to CD-i. This FAQ is not maintained by or endorsed by N.V. Philips and N.V. Philips is not responsible for its contents. All comments and suggestions for additional questions to be answered are welcome and encouraged.

If you have comments or suggestions please contact the authors at the end of this file.

Q. What is CD-i?

CD-i, which stands for Compact Disc Interactive, is a multimedia entertainment and information system for the use at home, education, and business.

The CD-i format is a standard for storing and handling of data on optical discs; a CD-i player in turn consists of at least a computer and an optical disc drive, with a video output for your TV or monitor, an audio output for your stereo (if desired), and an input device.

Q. What can CD-i do?

CD-i combines video and computer animation with digital audio. It was designed to be an all-purpose multimedia device for the home when hooked up to your television. On a CD-i you can play video games, use multimedia and educational software, play music, watch movies, or view photographs. CD-i supports several CD-based standards: Audio CD, CD+G (which adds graphics to standard audio CDs), Photo CD, and Video CD (with an optional add-on Digital Video cartridge).

Q. What CD-i players and accessories are available?

A List of CD-i Players and Accessories is in preparation; in meantime, here's a short list of some of the players with a brief info attached:

There are also CD-i players by GoldStar, Samsung, and probably several other companies.

Note that every CD-i player has a default shell screen which appears when you turn the player on; from this screen you can access the player memory (so that you can delete saved files) and set the player settings. Settings include at least time and date, volume level, scan time for audio CDs, etc.

The players automatically recognize audio CDs, and an on- screen program display appears when you pop one in. Among other things the display allows you to program a sequence in which to play the CD tracks. Since the players can also tell one CD from another, they will remember your program choice and offer it whenever you pop in this particular CD in the future.

Also, all CD-i players handle multiple input devices. A second controller can be plugged in at the back of the Philips 910, 205, 210, and 220 machines, while the Magnavox 450 and 550 machines accept an I/O splitter at the front.

Q. What do I need a Digital Video cartridge for?

The DV cartridge enables full-frame 30 fps video. Also, it provides additional memory for use by CD-i titles. You need the DV cartridge to play Video CDs, and you need it to play some CD-i titles like Mad Dog McCree or Litil Divil. Other CD-i titles may not require the DV cartridge but will have enhanced capabilities with it (for example Cartoon Carnival will show cartoon clips). Most CD-i titles, including Burn:Cycle, do not require the DV cartridge.

Q. What is Video CD?

Video CD discs look like regular CDs, but play movies on any CD-i player equipped with a Digital Video cartridge. Many feature films and music videos have been now released on Video CD, and a List of Video Titles is in preparation.

Video CD is a standard and other manufacturers plan on producing dedicated Video CD players or on adding video CD capability to their CD-based devices.

Q. What is Photo CD?

Photo CD allows you to put your photographs on a CD disc and view them at home on TV. The images do not have to be put on the CD disc all at once--you can keep adding new ones until the disc is full. Photo CD can be viewed on CD-i players or on Photo CD players.

Q. Can I use CD-i discs on other platforms?

If your computer has a MPEG card (such as the ReelMagic card for PCs) and some MPEG viewing software, you can view Video CDs. However, such cards will not allow you to play CD-i software. While there are CD-i cards that allow Macintosh computers to emulate a CD-i player, they are available mainly to developers. CD-i add-ons for personal computers should become available to the average consumer next year.

Q. Which CD-i titles are available?

There are hundreds of CD-i titles, including games original to the CD-i platform (e.g. Burn:Cycle, Litil Divil, International Tennis Open, Voyeur, Earth Command, Hotel Mario, Laser Lords) and those ported from another platform (e.g. 7th Guest, Mad Dog McCree, Dragon's Lair, Defender of the Crown, Lords of the Rising Sun). There are many titles for children (e.g. A Visit to Sesame Street, Little Monster, Berenstain Bears), educational titles (e.g. Treasures of the Smithsonian, World of Impressionism, A Child is Born, Renaissance of Florence), instructional titles (e.g. Private Lessons: A Rock Guitar, The Joy of Sex, Time Life Photography, Playboy Complete Massage), and reference titles (e.g. Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, Food of France, ACT College Search). Many other titles are scheduled for release soon (e.g. NFL Football Hall of Fame, Chaos Control, Merlin's Apprentice).

Q. Who developed CD-i?

CD-i was developed jointly by N.V. Philips and Sony during the early 80's. Many other companies, including Matsushita and Microware were also involved to some degree in the process. Philips is the major force behind the marketing of players and the publishing of CD-i software.

Q. Who's Philips?

N.V. Philips is a giant international electronics company based in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Among other things they developed the Compact Disc (and they get royalties when you buy one). Americans may be more familiar with some of the companies Philips owns, like Magnavox and Polygram.

Q. Where can I buy CD-i?

CD-i players and software are available at many electronic stores. CD-i software can be bought in many of the same places where you purchase computer and video games software.

If you can't find any such place, here are some phone numbers to call:

In US, call Philips Information Center at 1-800-340-7888 to get information on CD-i players and titles, and on where to get them. You can order CD-i discs from Philips Sales Center by phone at 1-800-240-7888. In UK, call Philips Media Helpdesk: 071 911 3080/081 781 8457.

Q. CD-I or CD-i or CDi?

The name used to be CD-I, as far as I know it is now officially CD-i, but I have seen CDi used quite often as well, especially in the UK mag named, what else, CDi.

Q. Where can I get more information?

There is now a CD-i support service in the US provided by Philips Interactive Media in Los Angeles which is responsible for all support of Philips Media CD-i and CD-ROM software products in the United States; call 1-800-340-7888 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. M, T, W, and F; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Pacific Time.

Magazines dedicated to CD-i:

Other mags which cover CD-i:

A more complete list next time...

Usenet: rec.games.video.cd-i should go to a vote soon!
               See rec.games.video.misc for CD-i games info,
               comp.multimedia for general CD-i info.

(Planned :-) Periodically Posted Lists:

A WWW site dedicated to CD-i is maintained by Erik Seielstad at URL http://www.acs.brockport.edu/cd-i/.

FAQ Contributions:

Please send comments, corrections, and questions to:

FAQ Maintenance: David_Stein@Mac_Link.aimla.com

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The information within this FAQ was supplied to the best of the 
knowledge of the contributors; however, the contributors can 
not accept any liability for the correctness of this information.
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-- 
I speak for myself, not Philips, not anyone else.