What to do with a CD-i?

[blue lander]

I picked a busted one of e-bay for cheap, and I've spend the last two weeks or so fixing it. I got it up and running pretty quickly, but it took awhile to build an adapter that lets me use a Sega Genesis joypad since I couldn't find a real CD-i controller.

Now that it's working, I'm sort of at a loss of what to do with it. I have other consoles like the 3DO and Pippin that have weak libraries, but even those have one or two games worth playing. So far I've found literally nothing worth playing on the CD-i. The Zelda games are interesting, but neither of them are remotely enjoyable. Hotel Mario is so-so, but boring after the first 2 minutes. I bought Dimo's Challenge of e-bay, and it's not totally terrible for a Chip's Challenge clone. IHaven't bothered with any of the FMV games since I don't like the genre.

Does anybody have any recommendations? I've heard good things about The Apprentice, so I'll keep an eye out for it on e-bay.

[Rickstilwell1]

Play Tetris and Mutant Rampage: Bodyslam. Those two are my favorites on there. Tetris is a cool version and Mutant Rampage: Bodyslam is a very long Final Fight/Streets of Rage clone

[tom]

Always remember the CDi was NEVER meant to be a gaming console according to Philips, Netherlands, nevertheless some excellent games managed to appear on this player.

These are your friends who can help:
http://www.cdinteractive.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=4bf32f417551a19f914f964f9badef3f

.

[ubersaurus]

Decent CDI games:

Zenith
Crimson Ghost
Plunderball
Voyeur

Even Hotel Mario is alright, but those four are pretty decent games to try out with the console working and all. There's also a decent port of Flashback. Voyeur is an FMV game, more or less, so you may not like it, but the rest are just straight up standard games, and I'd put Zenith at the top of that heap.

Also remember that the CD-i has no copy protection, in the event you just want to go bootlegging to try stuff out and see if you like it.

[blue lander]

Thanks for the recommendations, that gives me something to try. I'll also check out that CD-i board.



Also remember that the CD-i has no copy protection, in the event you just want to go bootlegging to try stuff out and see if you like it.

That's what I've been doing, but I haven't been able to burn CDs in the "CD-i Ready" format. I've read that some burners don't handle subchannels properly, that's probably why.

[Xtincthed]

as I kid I LOVED the Sesame Street game on the CD-i, but I don't think that'll hold up to todays standards ^^

[tpugmire]

I'd like to hear more about this adapter for using a genesis controller. How did you do it? How much did it cost? Etc...

[blue lander]

I'd like to hear more about this adapter for using a genesis controller. How did you do it? How much did it cost? Etc...

I basically modified the plans for a PC to CD-i joypad adapter you can find here: http://www.alpinecom.net/phackmann/cdiadapter/index.php There's a zip file at the bottom with the source code and schematic.

I changed the code and circuitry a bit so it works with a Genesis pad rather than an analog PC pad, next week I'll post the modified schematic and modified source code. I'd say it cost less than 20 dollars to build (excluding a case to put the circuit in). You do need the capability to program a PIC chip, though. I already have an EEPROM programmer that could do it.

It works pretty good so far with the games I've tried, although the cursor moves a little too fast in some games that were designed to work with a mouse. I'm thinking of modifying the code so that pressing the start button on the Genesis pad toggles between two speeds, so you can accurately point when you need to. I think the original CD-i joypad had a similar feature. It also only works with a 3 button Genesis pad right now, but it wouldn't be too difficult to modify it work with a 6 button one.

[Jorpho]

Ammo for trebuchet.

Alternatively, good things have been said about The Apprentice (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131326&page=2) and Cliff Johnson's puzzle games (http://www.thefoolandhismoney.com/04-cdi/index.htm) (Cartoon Carnival, Merlin's Apprentice, Labyrinth of Crete), though the latter are easily played on a PC.

[pixelsnpolygons]

It's hard for me to come up with any recommendations. Most of the games I can think of are mostly worth playing for curiosity reasons (Nintendo licenses, etc.,). Of the 50 or so CD-i games I've played so far none has been entertaining enough for a single outing, much less subsequent ones. It makes the 3DO look like the SNES. That said, it's an interesting part of gaming history and I wouldn't part with my collection.

[Guyra]

Though I haven't played the game myself, I hear The 7th Guest is pretty good. FMV adventure game. But also available for other systems, though. :)

[binici]

I wish my CD-i 450 was working. I think I need to change the battery. Zelda's Adventure might be worth playing?

[blue lander]

Here's a picture of the genesis to cd-i adapter. I'll post the code and schematic later.

[Ze_ro]

The Zelda games are interesting, but neither of them are remotely enjoyable.
You do know there's a third one, right?


I haven't bothered with any of the FMV games since I don't like the genre.

Does anybody have any recommendations?

Honestly, given what you've said so far, I'd recommend getting rid of it.

The CD-i is great for FMV games, but that's about it. There are a handful of other interesting games, but they're all pretty much blown away by stuff on the Genesis and SNES.

--Zero

[blue lander]

You do know there's a third one, right?

There's two starring Link and one Zelda, right? I assume they're all equally bad. I will admit that I'm starting to enjoy Hotel Mario. It gets tedious after the first few levels, but it's not horrible or anything. I also like Micro Machines. It's so slow and choppy, I can get much further in it than the Genesis or NES versions. I'm going to try to hunt down Lucky Luke and Mutant Rampage, and the Apprentice of course if I can find it for the right price.




Honestly, given what you've said so far, I'd recommend getting rid of it.

The CD-i is great for FMV games, but that's about it. There are a handful of other interesting games, but they're all pretty much blown away by stuff on the Genesis and SNES.

--Zero

The CD-i isn't even very useful for FMV games if you don't have that Digital Video Cartridge! Seems like a good chunk of games require it.

I bought it because it's one of the few systems left I don't have and it always bugged me that I didn't have one. It'll probably end up on a shelf collecting dust eventually, but I wanted to give it a shot before it gets shelved. I might as well start making space for it now, though. It'll look nice between the RCA Studio II and the Playdia.

[tpugmire]

Here's a picture of the genesis to cd-i adapter. I'll post the code and schematic later.

What does the other end that plugs into the CD-i look like?

[Guyra]

There's two starring Link and one Zelda, right? I assume they're all equally bad.
Actually, there's one starring Link, and two starring Zelda. The first two are the sidescrollers, Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon. The third game, Zelda's Adventure, is completely different from the first two, and has a top down view. And from what I've read, it's supposedly decent.

[j_factor]

Zelda's Adventure is really just as bad as the other two, if not worse.

In any case, I'm surprised no one's mentioned Burn Cycle. That's a great game.

[blue lander]

What does the other end that plugs into the CD-i look like?

It's just a mini DIN that plugs into the port on the back of the CD-i. I've attached a picture.

I've also posted a RAR archive with the following 4 files:

Gamepad3.c - C source code for the PIC controller for the CCS PIC C Compiler

Gamepad3.hex - The compiled source code. You can burn this file directly to your PIC controller. You'll need some way of programming the PIC. I think there are plans on the internet for simple ones you can build yourself if you don't want to buy one.

Gen2CDiBOM.txt - List of all the components and their part numbers from digikey.com

Gen2CDi.png - The Schematic

Notes:

*For some reason the guy who originally designed the circuit has wired the outputs of the PIC directly to the CD-i rather than going through the MAX232 chip,so you need to keep the cable short between the CD-i and this adapter.

*As of right now it only works with 3 button Genesis joypads. Button A and B are the two fire buttons, C and start do nothing.

*In some games where you move a pointer around to enter your name or select a level or whatever, the pointer moves too fast. It works fine in the Zelda game I tried, but it moves too fast for Dimo's Quest.

*I've only tried this with a handful of games. Who knows if it'll work with every game.

*The CD-i I used to test it was a CD-i 910. No idea if it works with other models.

*It only works when you plug it into the back joypad plug. Doesn't work with the front.

Left to do:

* Code Button C up to be Button 1 and 2 pressed togeather

* Code the Start button to toggle the pointer speed so you can slow it down when you need more accuracy.

* Add support for 6 button joypad

* Use the Max232 to connect the PIC to the CD-i so you can use a longer cable.

[bacteria]

Yeah, the CD-i sucks. I had about 44 burnt games supplied with my CDi I got off ebay, only two games were decent IMO - backgammon (but yawn, no!), and Hotel Mario. That game is quite a good game actually, if you compare it to normal platformers, it is unique.

When I modded my CDi, I removed the FMV addon as Hotel Mario didn't need it and the space the FMV took didn't make it viable. If you need a PAL FMV unit for the CDi, I have it on ebay at the moment, I know the listing says will ship to UK only, however if anyone here wants it and wins the item, i'll post it wherever if you don't mind the postage rate.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330582692085&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

[blue lander]

Damn, I don't think that one is compatible with my system. Mine's a 910, which is the US version of the 205, which uses the other digital video cartridge. Oh well...

I think I'm going to put this thing on the shelf until I can find a decently priced cartridge. Virtually every game needs it. I have enjoyed Hotel Mario and I was able to beat Micro Machines, something I could never do in other versions. So it wasn't a total waste of time.

[FrankSerpico]

I remember Burn: Cycle getting some pretty good reviews back when it first came out. Not sure how it holds up today, but really what can you expect from a 15 year-old game with heavy FMV?

[Rickstilwell1]

That's why I like Tetris. It's a game with no FMVs. Mutant Rampage: Bodyslam has FMVs between each level, but the levels are long and the FMVs are pretty much just showing you who the level boss is going to be as they talk about how they are going to beat you up.

[blue lander]

I was looking forward to trying Mutant Rampage, but it needs the stupid Digital Video Cartridge...

[Rickstilwell1]

I was looking forward to trying Mutant Rampage, but it needs the stupid Digital Video Cartridge...

Mine plays it just fine and I don't have that. But mine is that smaller console-like model made by Magnavox. I think this model has it built into its hardware.

Looks like this: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqIOKiYE2of1(,woBNzjOMSimw~~_35.JPG

[blue lander]

When I try to play it on mine, a popup immediately comes up that says the game needs the Digital Video Cartridge.

I just placed the CD-i on top of my Nuon in the "systems I never play" pile, and there it shall stay until I find a digital video cartridge for it.

[Emperor Megas]

I just placed the CD-i on top of my Nuon in the "systems I never play" pile, and there it shall stay until I find a digital video cartridge for it.No, no. It'll stay there even after you get it, trust me.

[bacteria]

Mine plays it just fine and I don't have that. But mine is that smaller console-like model made by Magnavox. I think this model has it built into its hardware.

Looks like this: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqIOKiYE2of1(,woBNzjOMSimw~~_35.JPG

That's the 450 like I have in the pic, and the FMV is the section to the left of the drive unit; a metal box that plugs into the console below. I didn't need it any more, so hence why it's on ebay (under 1 day left on the bidding BTW). I also have the power supply on ebay too (also comes up tomorrow) as not needed any more - works fine of course.

[extra_anchovy]

if you're not into FMV games its definitely not the system for you. also don't know why the FMV cartridge is an issue for people nowadays it easy to find CD-i players with the cartridge. and doesn't really cost any extra, anyway these are the good games

the Apprentice (excellent platformer)
Burn Cycle (FMV shooter/point and click adventure)
Crime Patrol and Drug Wars (FMV shooters)
Mad Dog Series (FMV shooters)
Who Shot Johnny Rock (FMV shooter)
Mutant Rampage Bodyslam (beatemup)
Secret Mission (very good point and click adventure)
Solar Crusade (on rails shooter)
the Lost Ride (on rails shooter)
Voyeur (FMV)
de Zaak van Sam (good FMV point and click adventure but short)
Making the Grade (simulation/management)
Cyber Soldier Sharaku (point and click but it's in Japanese)

I'm sure I'm forgetting some others. most of the good games are rare and expensive to obtain but I'm selling them here http://cdinteractive.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2751 if anyone is interested