View source for Engineering:Philips CD-i

{{Infobox information appliance
| title        = Philips CD-i
| logo         = CDIlogo.svg
| logo_size    = 64px
| image        = Philips-CDi-220-wController-FL.jpg
| image_size   = 280px
| caption      = The Philips CD-i 220 console and controller
| manufacturer = [[Company:Philips|Philips]], [[Company:Sony|Sony]], [[Company:Magnavox|Magnavox]]
| type         = [[Engineering:Home video game console|Home video game console]]<br />[[Engineering:Data storage device|Media player]]
| generation   = [[Engineering:Fourth generation of video game consoles|Fourth generation]]
| releasedate  = {{vgrelease|NA|December 3, 1991|EU|July 10, 1992}}
| lifespan     = 1991–1996
| discontinued = 1998<ref name="gamepro">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/111823.shtml |date=May 4, 2007 |title=The 10 Worst-Selling Consoles of All Time |last=Snow |first=Blake |website=GamePro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508035815/http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/111823.shtml |archivedate=May 8, 2007}}</ref>
| unitssold    = 
| media        = CD-i, Audio CD, CD+G, Karaoke [[Engineering:CD|CD]], [[Engineering:Video CD|Video CD]]
| os           = CD-RTOS
| cpu          = Philips SCC68070
| CPUspeed     = 15.5 MHz
| memory       = 1 MB RAM
| display      = 384×280 to 768×560
| graphics     = Philips SCC66470
| sound        = MCD 221, ADPCM eight channel sound
| onlineservice = CD-Online
| predecessor  = Philips Videopac + G7400
}}

The '''Philips CD-i''' (an abbreviation of '''Compact Disc Interactive''') is an interactive multimedia [[CD player]] developed and marketed by Dutch company [[Company:Philips|Philips]], who supported it from December 1991 to late 1998. It was created to provide more functionality than an audio CD player or game console, but at a lower price than a personal computer with a [[CD-ROM]] drive. The cost savings were due to the lack of a [[Floppy disk|floppy drive]], [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]], mouse, and [[Engineering:Computer monitor|monitor]] (a standard television is used), and less [[Operating system|operating system]] software. "CD-i" also refers to the multimedia Compact Disc standard used by the CD-i console, also known as Green Book, which was co-developed by Philips and [[Company:Sony|Sony]].

In addition to games, educational and multimedia reference titles were produced, such as interactive encyclopedias and museum tours, which were popular before public [[Internet]] access was widespread. The CD-i was also one of the earliest game systems to implement Internet features, including subscriptions, web browsing, downloading, e-mail, and online play.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Sandra |title=Kits let television go online |date=1 April 1996 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/237307211 |work=Daily Press |location=Newport, Virginia |page=B7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> This was facilitated by the use of an additional hardware modem and "CD-Online" disc (renamed Web-i in the US<ref>https://adage.com/print/78169</ref>), which Philips initially released in Britain in 1995 for $150 US.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1295&dat=19960215&id=4YpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ox8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5675,2427974|title=New Sunday Times - Google News Archive Search|publisher=|accessdate=February 17, 2015}}</ref><ref name="ParkerStarrett1996">{{cite book|last1=Parker|first1=Dana|last2=Starrett|first2=Bob|title=CD-ROM Professional's CD-recordable Handbook: The Complete Guide to Practical Desktop CD|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=867bAAAAMAAJ|year=1996|publisher=Pemberton Press|isbn=978-0-910965-18-7|page=202}}</ref>

Development of the CD-i format began in 1984 and it was first publicly announced in 1986.<ref>(2005). [http://www.philipscdi.com/history.htm History of the Philips CD-i], Philipscdi.com.</ref><ref name="Cole1996">{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/network-hardware-brave-but-too-clever-by-half-1347183.html |date=13 May 1996 |title=Network hardware: Brave, but too clever by half |last=Cole |first=George |website=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print Ltd.}}</ref> The first Philips CD-i player, released in 1991 and initially priced around US$1,000,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/02/business/company-news-new-philips-cd.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/N/New%20Models,%20Design%20and%20Products |title=COMPANY NEWS; New Philips CD - The New York Times |publisher=Nytimes.com |date=April 2, 1992 |access-date=August 19, 2009}}</ref> was capable of playing interactive CD-i discs, Audio CDs, CD+G (CD+Graphics), Karaoke CDs, Photo CDs and [[Engineering:Video CD|Video CD]]s (VCDs), though the latter required an optional "Digital Video Card" to provide [[MPEG-1]] decoding. Philips also licensed the CD-i format to other manufacturers for use, and there were also CD-i players by Sony under the "Intelligent Discman" brand.<ref>http://www.icdia.co.uk/players/nonphilips.html</ref> Philips marketed the CD-i as a "home entertainment system" in Europe, but more as a games and educational machine in the U.S. The CD-i was abandoned by 1996<ref>https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-history-of-the-philips-cdi-failed-playstation-ancestor</ref><ref>http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/hardware_classics_uncovering_the_tragic_tale_of_the_philips_cd-i</ref> and was a commercial failure, estimated to have lost Philips as much as one US billion dollars in the American market.<ref>https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1996/06/28/missers-bij-introductie-fiasco-cd-i-in-de-vs-kost-7315473-a433400</ref><ref name="GPro97">{{cite magazine |editor-last=Nihei |editor-first=Wes |date=October 1996 |title=Inside Scoop |url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_087_October_1996#page/n25/ |magazine=GamePro |publisher=John F. Rousseau|issue=97 |page=24}}</ref><ref name="Trachtenberg1996"/>

==Applications==

Philips at first marketed CD-i as a family entertainment product, and avoided mentioning [[Engineering:Video game|video game]]s to not compete against game consoles.<ref name="cgw199401">{{Cite magazine |last=Miller |first=Chuck |last2=Dille |first2=H. E. |last3=Wilson |first3=Johnny L. |date=January 1994 |title=Battle Of The New Machines |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=114 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=64-76}}</ref> Early software releases focused heavily on educational, music, and self-improvement titles, with only a few games, many of them adaptations of [[Engineering:Board game|board game]]s such as ''[[Social:Connect Four|Connect Four]]''. However, the system was handily beaten in the market for multimedia devices by cheap low-end [[Engineering:Personal computer|PC]]s,<ref>{{cite magazine|last= |first= |title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: CD-i|magazine=Next Generation|issue=15 |publisher=Imagine Media|date=March 1996|page=31}}</ref> and the games were the best-selling software. By 1993 Philips encouraged MS-DOS and console developers to create games, introduced a $250 peripheral with more memory and support for full-motion video, and added to new consoles a second controller port for multiplayer games.{{r|cgw199401}}

The attempts to develop a foothold in the games market were unsuccessful, as the system was designed strictly as a multimedia player and thus was under-powered compared to other gaming platforms on the market in most respects.<ref>{{cite journal|last= |first= |title=75 Power Players|journal=Next Generation|issue=11|publisher=Imagine Media|date=November 1995|page=63|quote=CD-i started life as an ahead-of-its-time multimedia player, but ended up an under-powered game machine.}}</ref> Earlier CD-i games included entries in popular [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] franchises, although those games were not developed by Nintendo. Specifically, a ''[[Software:Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' game (titled ''[[Software:Hotel Mario|Hotel Mario]]''), and three ''Legend of Zelda'' games were released: ''Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon'', ''Link: The Faces of Evil'' and ''[[Software:Zelda's Adventure|Zelda's Adventure]]''. Nintendo and Philips had established an agreement to co-develop a CD-ROM enhancement for the [[Engineering:Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] due to licensing disagreements with Nintendo's previous partner Sony (an agreement that produced a prototype console called the SNES-CD).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamersgraveyard.com/repository/snes/history/snescdrom.html |title=The SNES CD-ROM |author=Staff writer |date= |website=The Nintendo Repository |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224060354/http://www.gamersgraveyard.com/repository/snes/history/snescdrom.html |archive-date=24 February 2008 |dead-url=yes}}</ref> While Philips and Nintendo never released such a CD-ROM add-on, Philips was still contractually allowed to continue using Nintendo characters.

Applications were developed using [[Philosophy:Authoring system|authoring software]] produced by OptImage. This included OptImage's Balboa Runtime Libraries and MediaMogul. The second company that produced authoring software was Script Systems; they produced ABCD-I.

Philips also released several versions of popular TV game shows for the CD-i, including versions of ''[[Software:Jeopardy!|Jeopardy!]]'' (hosted by Alex Trebek), ''Name That Tune'' (hosted by Bob Goen), and two versions of ''The Joker's Wild'' (one for adults hosted by Wink Martindale and one for kids hosted by Marc Summers). All CD-i games in North America (with the exception of ''Name That Tune'') had Charlie O'Donnell as announcer. The Netherlands also released its version of ''Lingo'' on the CD-i in 1994.

In 1993, American musician Todd Rundgren created the first music-only fully interactive CD, ''No World Order'', for the CD-i. This application allows the user to completely arrange the whole album in their own personal way with over 15,000 points of customization.

CD-i has a series of learning games ("edutainment") targeted at children from infancy to adolescence. Those intended for a younger audience included ''Busytown'', ''The Berenstain Bears'' and various others which usually had vivid cartoon-like settings accompanied by music and logic puzzles.

Although extensively marketed by Philips, notably via [[Finance:Infomercial|infomercial]],<ref name="NGen12"/> consumer interest in CD-i titles remained low. By 1994, sales of CD-i systems had begun to slow, and in 1998 the product line was dropped.  Philips had by then already sold its gaming subsidiary, Philips Media BV, to French publisher [[Software:Infogrames|Infogrames]] in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Philips+Media+Transferred+Multimedia+Assets+to+Infogrames.-a019082032 |title=Philips Media Transferred Multimedia Assets to Infogrames |date=3 February 1997 |author=Staff writer |website=Business Wire |location=San Jose, California |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204102128/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Philips+Media+Transferred+Multimedia+Assets+to+Infogrames.-a019082032 |archive-date=February 4, 2013 |dead-url=no |via=[[Company:TheFreeDictionary.com#TheFreeLibrary.com|The Free Library]] |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Dutch eurodance duo 2 Unlimited released a CD-i compilation album in 1994 called "Beyond Limits" which contains standard CD tracks as well as CD-i-exclusive media on the disc.<ref>https://www.discogs.com/2-Unlimited-Beyond-Limits/release/357137</ref><ref>http://www.cdinteractive.co.uk/download/mags/0102%2011-1994.pdf</ref>

A large number of [[Software:Full motion video|full motion video]] titles such as ''[[Software:Dragon's Lair (1983 video game)|Dragon's Lair]]'' and ''[[Software:Mad Dog McCree|Mad Dog McCree]]'' appeared on the system. One of these, ''Burn:Cycle'', is considered one of the stronger CD-i titles and was later ported to PC. The February 1994 issue of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' remarked that the CD-i's full motion video capabilities were its strongest point, and that nearly all of its best software required the MPEG upgrade card.<ref name="EGM55">{{cite magazine|last= |first= |title=New Life For CD-i|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=55|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=February 1994|page=20}}</ref>

By mid-1996 the U.S. market for CD-i software had dried up and Philips had given up on releasing titles there, but continued to publish CD-i games in Europe, where the console still held some popularity.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=A Cry for Help from a CD-i Owner |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=88 |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=November 1996|page=281}}</ref> With the home market exhausted, Philips tried with some success to position the technology as a solution for kiosk applications and industrial multimedia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philipsmedia.com:80/media/systems/kiosk.html |year=1997 |title=Kiosk Systems |author=Staff writer |website=Philips Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970606095911/http://www.philipsmedia.com:80/media/systems/kiosk.html |archive-date=6 June 1997}}</ref>

==Player models==

===Philips models===
[[File:CD-i-910-Console-Set.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Philips CD-i 910]]
[[File:Philips-CDi-400-Console-Set.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Philips CD-i 400 series]]
In addition to consumer models, professional and development players were sold by Philips Interactive Media Systems and their [[Finance:Value-added reseller|VAR]]s. Philips marketed several CD-i player models.

*The '''CD-i player 200 series''', which includes the 205, 210, and 220 models. Models in the 200 series are designed for general consumption, and were available at major home electronics outlets around the world. The Philips CD-i 910 is the American version of the CD-i 205, the most basic model in the series and the very first Philips CD-i model (1991).
*The '''CD-i player 300 series''', which includes the 310, 350, 360, and 370 models. The 300 series consists of portable players designed for the professional market and not marketed to home consumers. A popular use was multimedia sales presentations such as those used by pharmaceutical companies to provide product information to physicians, as the devices could be easily transported by sales representatives.
*The '''CD-i player 400 series''', which includes the 450, 470, 490 models. The 400 models are slimmed-down units aimed at console and educational markets. The CD-i 450 player, for instance, is a budget model designed to compete with game consoles. In this version, an infrared remote controller is not standard but optional. This series was introduced at CES {{wipe|Chicago}} in June 1994 and the 450 player retailed at ƒ 799 in the Netherlands.<ref>http://www.cdinteractive.co.uk/download/mags/0102%2011-1994.pdf</ref>
*The '''CD-i player 500 series''', which includes the 550 model, which was essentially the same as the 450 with an installed digital video cartridge. It was introduced at CES Chicago in June 1994.<ref>http://www.cdinteractive.co.uk/download/mags/0102%2011-1994.pdf</ref>
*The '''CD-i player 600 series''', which includes the 601, 602, 604, 605, 615, 660, and 670 models. The 600 series is designed for professional applications and software development. Units in this line generally include support for [[Floppy disk|floppy disk]] drives, keyboards and other computer peripherals. Some models can also be connected to an emulator and have software testing and debugging features.
*The '''CD-I player 700 series''', which consists of the 740 model, the most advanced player and featuring an [[RS-232]] port. It was only released in limitedly.

There also exist a number of hard-to-categorize models, such as the FW380i, an integrated mini-stereo and CD-i player; the 21TCDi30, a television with a built-in CD-i device;<ref>{{cite book |author=Staff writer |year=1994 |title=21TCDI30 Handbook |publisher=Philips |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> and the CD-i 180/181/182 modular system, the first CD-i system produced in collaboration with [[Company:Kyocera|Kyocera]] in 1988, before the actual debut of CD-i.<ref>http://www.icdia.co.uk/players/professional.html</ref><ref>http://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/Philips_CDI-180-Professional_CD-Interactive_system/</ref>

===Other manufacturers===
In addition to Philips, several manufacturers produced CD-i players, including Philips subsidiary [[Company:Magnavox|Magnavox]],<ref name="EGM55"/> [[Company:GoldStar|GoldStar]] / [[Company:LG Electronics|LG Electronics]], Digital Video Systems, [[Company:Memorex|Memorex]], [[Company:Grundig|Grundig]], Saab Electric, [[Company:Sony|Sony]] (Intelligent Discman, a hybrid home/portable CD-i player), [[Company:Kyocera|Kyocera]], NBS, Highscreen, and Bang & Olufsen, who produced a television with a built-in CD-i device (Beocenter AV5).

==TeleCD-i and CD-MATICS==
{{unsourced section|date=September 2018}}
Recognizing the growing need among marketers for networked multimedia, Philips partnered in 1992 with Amsterdam-based CDMATICS to develop TeleCD-i (also TeleCD). In this concept, the CD-i player is connected to a network such as PSTN or Internet, enabling data-communication and rich media presentation. Dutch grocery chain Albert Heijn and mail-order company Neckermann were early adopters and introduced award-winning TeleCD-i applications for their home-shopping and home-delivery services. CDMATICS also developed the special Philips TeleCD-i Assistant and a set of software tools to help the worldwide multimedia industry to develop and implement TeleCD-i. TeleCD-i is the world's first networked multimedia application at the time of its introduction. In 1996, Philips acquired source code rights from CDMATICS.

==CD-Online==
In 1995 Philips introduced CD-Online, a service which provided the CD-i with full internet access (with a 14.4k [[Modem|modem]]<ref>http://www.cdinteractive.co.uk/download/mags/0304%2004-1996.pdf</ref>), including online shopping, email, and support for networked multiplayer gaming on select CD-i games.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cardilini |first=Les |title=CDI, a low-tech Net option? |date=26 October 1995 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16909256/cdi_a_lowtech_net_option_by_les/ |work=The Age |location=[[Place:Melbourne|Melbourne]], Australia |volume=142 |issue=43808 |at=Green Guide, p.16}}</ref> The service required a CD-i player with DV cartridge, and an "Internet Starter Kit" which initially retailed for  £99.99.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24002397/cdonline_ad_by_philips/ |date=December 2, 1995 |title=Let's Make Things Better |author=Philips |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London, UK |volume= |issue= |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Andy Stout, a writer for the official CD-i magazine, explained CD-Online: {{quote|It is very much Internet-lite. The main advantages are that it's cheap - probably working out at a third of the cost of a PC or Mac solution - and incredibly user-friendly. The downside though is using a browser that doesn't support [[Software:Netscape (web browser)|Netscape]], and coping with all the drawbacks of the machine's minuscule memory - you can only ever access 10 articles on [[Usenet]] at a time, it'll only support 80 [[Bookmark (World Wide Web)|bookmarks]] maximum and for all that trouble all your saved games, preferences, and high scores will have been written over in RAM. ... It's got the full access right now but with only about 40% of the functionality, which will probably be fine for people who don't know what they're missing. But the [[Engineering:Virtual keyboard|virtual keyboard]] is a complete nightmare to use ...<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ramshaw |first=Mark James |date=January 1996 |title=Generator |url=https://archive.org/stream/nextgen-issue-013/Next_Generation_Issue_013_January_1996#page/n31 |magazine=Next Generation ||publisher=Imagine Media |issue=13 |page=31 |issn=10789693}}</ref>}} The CD-Online service went live in the UK on October 25, 1995<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cd-online.co.uk/net1.html |year=1996 |title=The Net on Your Set |author=Staff writer |website=CD-Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961031125512fw_/http://www.cd-online.co.uk:80/net1.html |archive-date=3 October 1996}}</ref> and in March 1996 in the Netherlands (for 399 guilders).<ref>http://www.cdinteractive.co.uk/download/mags/0304%2004-1996.pdf</ref> The system was reportedly scheduled to launch in the US as "Web-i" in August 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://adage.com/article/news/interactive-bulletin-board-o-m-cuts-staff-interactive-unit-yahoo-visa-team-mega-online-mall-philips-plots-entry-web-tv-market-bigbook-takes-virtual-tour-san-francisco-patent-office-offers-online-trademark-search-news/78169/ |date=August 5, 1996 |title=Philips Plots Entry to WebTV Market |website=Ad Age |publisher=Crain Communications}}</ref>

==Technical specifications==
[[File:Philips-CD-i-Paddle-Controller.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A presentation controller for the Philips CD-i. The CD-i's controllers were heavily criticized.]]
[[File:CDi Mouse Picture 2.jpg|250px|thumb|right|CD-i Mouse]]
{{columns
|col1=
'''CPU'''
*16/32-bit [[Engineering:Philips 68070|68070]] [[Complex instruction set computer|CISC]] Chip<ref name="GAMEPLAN">{{cite book |last=Forster |first=Winnie |title=The Encyclopedia of Game Machines: Consoles, Handhelds and Home Computers 1972-2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j-TROAAACAAJ |year=2005 |publisher=Gameplan |isbn=978-3-00-015359-4 |page=208}}</ref>
*Clock Speed of 15.5&nbsp;MHz<ref name="gamepro"/><ref name="NGen12"/>

'''Display'''
*Graphics Chip: SCC66470, later MCD 212<ref name="GAMEPLAN"/>
*Resolution: 384×280 to 768×560<ref name="NGen12"/>
*Colors: 16.7 million w/ 32,768 on screen
*MPEG 1 Cartridge Plug-In for VideoCD and Digital Video<ref name="NGen12"/>
|col2=
'''Audio'''
*Sound Chip: MCD 221<ref name="GAMEPLAN"/>
*ADPCM eight channel sound<ref name="NGen12"/>
*16-bit stereo sound
* Digital Out <ref>http://i.imgur.com/Xnq3rje.png</ref>

'''Operating System'''
*CD-RTOS (based on [[Company:Microware|Microware]]'s [[Software:OS-9|OS-9]])

'''Other'''
*1 MB of main RAM<ref name="GAMEPLAN"/>
*Single speed CD-ROM drive<ref name="NGen12"/>

|col3=
'''CD-i accessories'''
*CD-i mouse
*CD-I KeyControl (keyboard)
*Roller controller
*CD-i trackball
*I/O port splitter
*Touchpad controller ([[Engineering:Gravis PC GamePad|Gravis PC GamePad]])
*Gamepad controller 
*IR wireless controller
*RAM expansion and Video-CD ([[MPEG-1]]) support with DV Cart
* Peacekeeper Revolver 
}}

==Reception==
Although Philips had aggressively promoted CD-i, by August 1993 ''Computer Gaming World'' reported that "skepticism persists about its long-term prospects" compared to other platforms like IBM PC compatibles, [[Software:Apple Macintosh|Apple Macintosh]], and [[Engineering:Sega Genesis|Sega Genesis]].<ref name="cgw199308">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=109 | title=Part II of CGW's Computer Game Developers Conference Coverage | work=Computer Gaming World | date=August 1993 | accessdate=July 12, 2014 | pages=38}}</ref> The magazine stated in January 1994 that despite Philips' new emphasis on games "CD-i is still not the answer for hardcore gamers", but the console "may yet surprise us all in the future". It recommended the CD-i with video cartridge for those needing to buy a new console as "The price is right and there is more software to support it", but 3DO was probably better for those who could wait a few months.{{r|cgw199401}} An early 1995 review of the system in ''GamePro'' stated that "inconsistent game quality puts the CD-i at a disadvantage against other high-powered game producers."<ref name="GPro70">{{cite journal|last= |first= |title=Once and Future Kings: Video Game Hardware Outlook|journal=GamePro|issue=70 |publisher=IDG|date=May 1995|page=29}}</ref> A late 1995 review in ''Next Generation'' criticized both Philips's approach to marketing the CD-i and the hardware itself ("The unit excels at practically nothing except [[Software:Full motion video|FMV]], and then only with the addition of a $200 digital video cartridge"). The magazine noted that while Philips had not yet officially discontinued the CD-i, it was dead for all intents and purposes, citing as evidence the fact that though Philips had a large booth at the 1995 Electronic Entertainment Expo, there was no CD-i hardware or software on display. ''Next Generation'' scored the console one out of five stars.<ref name="NGen12">{{cite journal|last= |first= |title=Which Game System is the Best!?|journal=Next Generation|issue=12|publisher=Imagine Media|date=December 1995|page=77}}</ref>

After its discontinuation, retrospectively, the CD-i was overwhelmingly panned by critics who blasted its graphics, games, and controls. [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]] CEO [[Biography:Bill Gates|Bill Gates]] admitted that initially he "was worried" about the CD-i due to Philips's heavy support for the device and its two-pronged attack on both the games console and PC markets, but that in retrospect "It was a device that kind of basically got caught in the middle. It was a terrible game machine, and it was a terrible PC."<ref>{{cite magazine|last= |first= |title=What the Hell Does Bill Gates Know About Games, Anyway? |magazine=Next Generation|issue=18|publisher=Imagine Media|date=June 1996|page=10}}</ref> The CD-i's various controllers were ranked the fifth worst video game controller by IGN editor Craig Harris.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 Tuesday: Worst Game Controllers |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/690/690449p1.html |publisher=IGN |accessdate=August 7, 2009 |date=February 21, 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114141120/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/690/690449p1.html |archivedate=January 14, 2007 |df= }}</ref> ''PC World'' ranked it as fourth on their list of "The 10 Worst Video Game Systems of All Time".<ref>[http://www.pcworld.com/article/168348/the_10_worst_video_game_systems_of_all_time.html The 10 Worst Video Game Systems of All Time | PCWorld<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Gamepro.com listed it as number four on their list of ''The 10 Worst-Selling Consoles of All Time.''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110607060313/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/111822/the-10-worst-selling-consoles-of-all-time/ The 10 Worst-Selling Consoles of All Time, Feature Story from GamePro<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2008, CNET listed the system on its list of the worst game console(s) ever.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9862852-1.html The worst game console(s) ever | Crave - CNET<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2007, GameTrailers ranked the Philips CD-i as the fourth worst console of all time in its Top 10 Worst Console lineup.<ref>(May 6, 2007). [http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/g08xm5/gt-countdown-top-ten-worst-consoles Top Ten Worst Consoles], GameTrailers. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref> 

Games that were most heavily criticized include ''[[Software:Hotel Mario|Hotel Mario]]'', ''Link: The Faces of Evil'', ''Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon'', and ''[[Software:Zelda's Adventure|Zelda's Adventure]]''. EGM's Seanbaby rated ''The Wand of Gamelon'' as one of the worst video games of all time.<ref>[http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/egm06.htm Seanbaby.com - EGM's Crapstravaganza: The 20 Worst Games of All Time<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104213153/http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/egm06.htm |date=November 4, 2011 }}</ref> However, ''Burn:Cycle'' was positively received by critics, and has often been held up as the standout title for the CD-i.<ref name="GPro70"/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,304777,00.html | work=Entertainment Weekly | title=News Review: Burn: Cycle | date=December 9, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last= |first= |coauthors= |year=1995 |month= |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide |journal= |volume= |issue= |pages= |id= |url= |accessdate= |quote= }}</ref><ref name="NGen12"/>

In October 1994 Philips claimed an [[Finance:Installed base|installed base]] of 1 million units for the CD-i.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fvAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6925,7664744&dq=philips+cd-i+owners+worldwide&hl=en|title=The Deseret News - Google News Archive Search|publisher=|accessdate=February 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IqMaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ii0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6614,7897814&dq=philips+cd-i+1+million&hl=en|title=The Milwaukee Journal - Google News Archive Search|publisher=|accessdate=February 17, 2015}}</ref> In 1996, the Wall Street Journal reported that total US sales amounted to 400,000 units.<ref name="Trachtenberg1996">{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB835915768416880000 |date=June 28, 1996 |title=Philips Suffered a U.S. Flop With CD-Interactive Product |last=Trachtenberg |first=Jeffrey A. |website=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |subscription=yes}}</ref>

==See also==
*CD-i Ready
*[[Engineering:3DO Interactive Multiplayer|3DO Interactive Multiplayer]]
*[[Biology:Commodore CDTV|Commodore CDTV]]
*Pioneer LaserActive
*[[Engineering:Sega CD|Sega CD]]
*[[Engineering:Tandy Video Information System|Tandy Video Information System]]. 
*[[Engineering:TurboDuo|NEC TurboDuo]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Console_Platforms/CD-i}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050519082839/http://www.consoledatabase.com/faq/philipscd-i/phillipscdifaq.txt Official Philips CD-I FAQ]
*[http://www.philipscdi.com/history.htm CD-i history]
*[http://www.philipscdi.com/hardware.htm CD-i hardware]

{{Fourth generation game consoles}}
{{Home video game consoles}}
{{Rainbow Books}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cd-I}}
[[Category:Home video game consoles]]
[[Category:Fourth-generation video game consoles]]
[[Category:Joint ventures]]
[[Category:Video storage]]
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:68k architecture]]

{{Sourceattribution|Philips CD-i|1}}