RDI Halcyon - Exposed with Pics (lots of pics, 56k beware)

[98PaceCar]

In a stroke of almost pure luck, I managed to locate and purchase a complete and working RDI Halcyon unit with both games and everything needed to play them. I've spent some time with it and wanted to share some pics and observations with everybody here.

The system itself:
http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1570.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1574.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1557.jpg

The laserdisk player is nothing more than a Pioneer LD-700 with a custom faceplate. The controller module (the unit on top) handles the main part of the work. It controls the laserdisk player through a proprietary bus. All audio and video are carried to the laserdisk player through this bus and out to the tv through the laserdisk player.

The controller module also handles all of the speech synthesis and recognition. The speech synthesis is identical to what you would have gotten from a Commodore 64 speech cart. It's all phonetic based and sounds very computer like. There is even a way to put the controller in a text to speech mode where you can type in anything you want it to say. The speech recognition is primitive at best. Both of the games allow you to play them entirely by using nothing but speech, but it's more frustrating than anything. You have to 'train' the Halcyon to your voice for every command that can be used in the game. I've found that it's easier to just use the keyboard to play!

According to the manual, there were supposed to be 2 different versions of the controller. The one I have that works with the Pioneer LD-700 and another one that would work with the Pioneer VP1000/PR8210, the Magnavox VC8040, or the Sylvania VP7200. This would allow customers to purchase a lower cost unit if they already had a compatible laserdisk player.

The Keyboard:
http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1560.jpg

The keyboard connects to the controller module through a modular cable. It's sort of a membrane keyboard, but has a much sturdier feel. The keyboard can be used as a controller to the games as well as a remote when watching a normal laserdisk. Both of the games have overlays that you can slide into the keyboard to easily know what keys to hit for each function.

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1537.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1547.jpg

The carts:
http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1529.jpg

Each of the games has a dedicated cart that's required to play the game in addition to the appropriate laserdisk. In fact, it's possible to 'play' the games without the proper laserdisk, but the footage displayed wouldn't match what's supposed to be going on.

System bootup:
http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1504.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1491.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1492.jpg

This is the one place I was very surprised when I finally got to see the system in action. I expected it to boot up with fancy graphics and all kinds of bells and whistles. Instead, I was greeted with a black screen and the voice synthesis module telling me "Welcome to Halcyon" and then asking me to enter my name. None of the above screens pop up until the laserdisk player is started, which is after entering your name and the system asking you if you want to play the game for the installed cart. It will also ask you if you want to continue your last game, if the game supports it. Also, the entire time you are playing, the system calls you by name. A cool touch for sure!

Chargers vs Raiders Football:
http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1535.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1540.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1542.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1494.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1495.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1500.jpg

It's an extremely simple football game, using actual game footage from four seasons of games. All you do is call plays and don't have any real interaction with the players. Probably the most intersting thing I've noticed while playing it is that periodically on a turnover, the system will say that either the Cowboys or the Redskins have the ball instead of the Chargers or Raiders. I'm assuming this indicates that the game was never fully tested, but no way to know for sure.

Thayer's Quest:
http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1546.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1550.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1552.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1509.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1513.jpg

http://www.mugzy.org/cm/albums/userpics/10003/IMG_1514.jpg

If you've played any of the other versions of Thayer's Quest, you've played this. It's basically the same gameplay as Dragon's Lair, only it's not as reflex based. You have to make the proper decision based on the information presented to you. Not the most exciting game I've ever played, but still kind of cool. This one feels a bit more complete than the football. I haven't noticed any obvious bugs in it yet.

Overall, the system is an amazing piece of history, especially with all of the paperwork intact. In all of my research, I have found no evidence that it was ever really shipped, but the info available on the net is very limited and tends to repeat from site to site. Personally, I don't think it would have really stood a chance at it's retail price ($2500) as the games are very limited in gameplay. Thayer's Quest is extremely linear and the NFL Football has so little footage that I began to see repeats in the very first game I played. Still, having read several vintage articles about it as well seeing as an interview with Rick Dyer (the creater) talking about the system in 1985, you have to appreciate the effort that went into it's design and genuinely feel for the amount of love that Mr. Dyer put into it. It's almost like he tried to make the system do too much instead of focusing on just being a game system, which may have stood a chance. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to meet him one of these days as I've got a ton of questions I'd like to ask him!

This particular system was purchased from one of the original investors by another collector. The previous owner had it for a number of years before I found him and purchased it from him. It's going to be in my personal collection for a LONG time to come! This is one of my absolute holy grails and was a system that I never believed I would get to play, let alone own! 8-)

[Fighter17]

It can TALK! @_@

Tell it that I love porn! :evil:

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Awesome find there! Thanks for letting us see it.

[Slate]

Thanks for posting up photos, It is hard to find any info on this system anywhere, Let alone photos of both games on and pics of the games themselves!

Great find, you're probably the only person on DP that has a halycon!

[mills]

Nice, but UGH RF only? :/

[98PaceCar]

Nice, but UGH RF only? :/

Nah, it does have a standard rca with separate audio, but I didn't have a cable with me when I had it set up for the pics. It makes the quality a bit better, but most of the noise you see is from bit rot on the disks.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Thanks for the info, that was a great read. I could only dream of owning one of those someday. I could only imagine how much that would fetch on Ebay, upwards of $2,000 bare minimum!

[Sanriostar]

I've been collecting for 12 years now, and those are first pictures of a RDI Halcyon I've ever seen. Now I know what the ^%@# people are talking about!! :eek 2:

[swlovinist]

@_@ @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@



man that is one hell of a find!
Thanks for sharing info on one of the most obcure systems of all time.

congrats, if you find another let me know :D

[Arcade Antics]

AWESOME find, thanks for sharing.

Paging stonic... :D

[mills]

are you saying that this system may have not seen a store shelf in its lifetime?

[diskoboy]

NICE!!!!

[98PaceCar]

are you saying that this system may have not seen a store shelf in its lifetime?

It's very possible. I've heard that there were less than 25 produced during the lifetime of the system. Every system that I've heard about in collector hands (3 of them, including mine) have come from the original investors in the company. Apparently, even the creater of the system doesn't have one for himself.

[mills]

jeez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @_@

[jajaja]

First time (i think) ive seen one of these :) Really cool find, congrats! How many games were made for this? 3?

[Slate]

I think there were only two games made for it, And 98PaceCar has them both. Complete, too.

[Sylentwulf]

Thanks for the pics and...

Hoily shit, I never realized how utterly HUGE that thing is.

[98PaceCar]

I think there were only two games made for it, And 98PaceCar has them both. Complete, too.

Yup, 2 games. Thayer's Quest came with the console and NFL Football was an extra $90. There is footage of 5 or 6 other games that were planned, but I don't think they exist anymore.

[jajaja]

What about Time Gal? Isnt that for this system?

[Flack]

Man that is awesome, at least an R4!

;)

[norkusa]

Oh wow. I'm a HUGE fan of laserdisc games and the RDI Halcyon has been my personal holy grail for years. I've seen bits and pieces from other Halcyon systems over the years but never a totally complete set up like this before. Thanks for sharing, that's amazing.

BTW, there are some nice tidbits of info on the Halcyon on the Dragon's Lair dvd's from Digital Leisure. Basically a couple of television interviews with Rick D. at the RDI headquarters.

@ Jajaja: Time Gal was for the LaserActive system (and later released for the Saturn & Sega CD).

[98PaceCar]

What about Time Gal? Isnt that for this system?

I don't think so. I've never seen that title mentioned in anything I've read.

The unreleased games were:
NFL Football - Cowboys vs Redskins
Orpheus
Shadow of the Stars
Voyage to the New World
The Spirit of the Whittier Mansion

That's all the references I've found to any other games even in development for the system, but there could have been more.


Man that is awesome, at least an R4!

;)

Dang! I was hoping I'd finally have gotten an R5 at least. Oh well, back to the drawing board!! LOL

[Captain Wrong]

Take notes kids. This is a find.

Excellent thread.

[vintagegamecrazy]

98pacecar that is most definitely your best find you will ever find. Those are so rare and the value is astronomical, even if it's not your personal grail, that owns all. PS is there any way you could take a pic of thing with the keyboard too, I am the section editor for the console, it would come in handy for a possible edition into the guide.

[98PaceCar]

98pacecar that is most definitely your best find you will ever find. Those are so rare and the value is astronomical, even if it's not your personal grail, that owns all. PS is there any way you could take a pic of thing with the keyboard too, I am the section editor for the console, it would come in handy for a possible edition into the guide.

I agree completely and fortunately, it is one of my personal grails!

Let me know what all pics you'd like and I'll provide them to with without the watermarks. I was worried that if I didn't protect the pics, they would show up on ebay or something like that. But for the guide, no problem! It will take me a couple days to get it all together for a pic of the system and keyboard, but I will get it done. Any preferred background or picture size? My g/friend is a pro photographer, so she's got some good equipment and can do it right!

[vintagegamecrazy]

just the console and keyboard, on a white sheet or towel just like other consoles appear in the guide.

[Ed Oscuro]

I could only imagine how much that would fetch on Ebay, upwards of $2,000 bare minimum!
lol for sure

Nice, nice pics.

[Ed Oscuro]

What about Time Gal? Isnt that for this system?
Nope. It was originally a 1985 laserdisc game by Taito (they made at least another about that time that I've seen) that eventually got ported to Mega CD, Laseractive, and Saturn.

[CRV]

The unreleased games were:
NFL Football - Cowboys vs Redskins
Orpheus
Shadow of the Stars
Voyage to the New World
The Spirit of the Whittier Mansion

Dragon's Lair Project has video from those unreleased games here (http://www.dragons-lair-project.com/community/related/homesystems/halcyon/).

I would imagine all the filming and whatnot was completed and the footage is now sitting somewhere gathering dust.

[Fighter17]

What about Time Gal? Isnt that for this system?
Nope. It was originally a 1985 laserdisc game by Taito (they made at least another about that time that I've seen) that eventually got ported to Mega CD, Laseractive, and Saturn.

The other Taito laserdisc game was Ninja Hayate. It was ported on the Sega CD by Wolf Team (they also did the Time Gal port on the Sega CD as well). The funny thing is that the Ninja Hayate port was only release for the Sega CD in the US only as "Revenge Of The Ninja."

[CRV]

Taito's third Laserdisc game was M.A.R.C 3 (Japan, arcade only release).

Do you mean "M.A.C.H. 3?" That was originally developed and released in the US by Gottlieb/Mylstar.

[Steve W]

Wow. I've looked all over the internet for some tiny fragments of info about the Halcyon, but only manage to see the same pictures over and over and get very little in the way of info. This thread has probably quadrupled the amount of into on the web about the RDI Halcyon. I didn't even know it was a rebadged Pioneer player. I wonder if Pioneer's involvement with the Halcyon might have spurred their interest in interactive laserdisc players, resulting in the LaserActive years later?

[Fighter17]

Taito's third Laserdisc game was M.A.R.C 3 (Japan, arcade only release).

Do you mean "M.A.C.H. 3?" That was originally developed and released in the US by Gottlieb/Mylstar.

Woops, my mistake. x_x

[98PaceCar]

Wow, awesome score!



If you've played any of the other versions of Thayer's Quest, you've played this. It's basically the same gameplay as Dragon's Lair, only it's not as reflex based. You have to make the proper decision based on the information presented to you. Not the most exciting game I've ever played, but still kind of cool. This one feels a bit more complete than the football. I haven't noticed any obvious bugs in it yet.

The Halcyon, arcade, and DVD versions of TQ are all a little different from each other. The arcade version is an 'edited' Halcyon version, and the DVD is closer to the Halcyon version, except some of the pathways (and most of the menu choices) have been slightly altered



Thayer's Quest is extremely linear


Actually, it's probably the least-linear laserdisc game ever made. Unlike Dragon's Lair or Space Ace, in TQ you're given choices as to which way to proceed from scene to scene.



I guess linear isn't quite the word I was looking for. I guess it's more a lack of randomness in what happens, from what I've seen. Almost like once you know the steps, you can just repeat them over and over for the exact same result. But I haven't played it a whole lot, so I may be mistaken.



The solution for the DVD version can be found in >this thread (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=62230)<, along with some other TQ info. More info and pics can be found in the Easter egg entry (http://www.digitpress.com/eastereggs/arcadethayersquest.htm).

One thing I'd love to know is how exactly TQ ends on the Halcyon- in other words, what comes up on the screen? I can send you the arcade walkthough if you'd like (I'm hoping to have it online here for everyone sometime soon).

Do you know if the walkthrough for the DVD is close enough to beat this version? I'd be more than happy to follow it through and get some screen caps of the end.

[Jeff Kinder]

>> Personally, I don't think it would have really stood a
>> chance at it's retail price ($2500) as the games are
>> very limited in gameplay.

Originally the system was going to use a MUCH cheaper CED Videodisc player. Unfortunately that deal fell thru and they were left with more expensive laser disc player to use, which caused the high retail price.


>> According to the manual, there were supposed to be 2
>> different versions of the controller. The one I have that
>> works with the Pioneer LD-700 and another one that
>> would work with the Pioneer VP1000/PR8210, the
>> Magnavox VC8040, or the Sylvania VP7200.

The other controler used an IR-LED to control the laser disc player. It was nothing more than a suction cup type arangement that would stick to the IR area on the front of the laser disc player. Pretty neat.


>> the system will say that either the Cowboys or the
>> Redskins have the ball instead of the Chargers or
>> Raiders.

I've never noticed this behavior during gameplay, but I havent been around the system enough to notice. I can tell you that the Cowboys / Redskins was supposed to be another game released for this system.

Good luck with it. A great find, indeed.

http://www.d-l-p.com/community/related/homesystems/halcyon/

[Jeff Kinder]

>> I don't think so. I've never seen that title mentioned
>> in anything I've read.
>>
>> The unreleased games were:
>> NFL Football - Cowboys vs Redskins
>> Orpheus
>> Shadow of the Stars
>> Voyage to the New World
>> The Spirit of the Whittier Mansion
>>
>> That's all the references I've found to any other
>> games even in development for the system, but
>> there could have been more.

Urban legend states that "The Spirit of the Whittier Mansion" was actually completed, but never released.

[CRV]

Urban legend states that "The Spirit of the Whittier Mansion" was actually completed, but never released.

Like I said before, the video must at least all be shot. Production costs money.

[98PaceCar]

>> Personally, I don't think it would have really stood a
>> chance at it's retail price ($2500) as the games are
>> very limited in gameplay.

Originally the system was going to use a MUCH cheaper CED Videodisc player. Unfortunately that deal fell thru and they were left with more expensive laser disc player to use, which caused the high retail price.


>> According to the manual, there were supposed to be 2
>> different versions of the controller. The one I have that
>> works with the Pioneer LD-700 and another one that
>> would work with the Pioneer VP1000/PR8210, the
>> Magnavox VC8040, or the Sylvania VP7200.

The other controler used an IR-LED to control the laser disc player. It was nothing more than a suction cup type arangement that would stick to the IR area on the front of the laser disc player. Pretty neat.


>> the system will say that either the Cowboys or the
>> Redskins have the ball instead of the Chargers or
>> Raiders.

I've never noticed this behavior during gameplay, but I havent been around the system enough to notice. I can tell you that the Cowboys / Redskins was supposed to be another game released for this system.

Good luck with it. A great find, indeed.

http://www.d-l-p.com/community/related/homesystems/halcyon/

Thanks for the info Jeff! Do you happen to know if the controller bus is the same for the CED player as it is for the laserdisk player? I've heard that a few of the disks were mastered to CED, but as far as I've learned that's just a rumor.

I'll try to get some screenshots of the Cowboys/Redskins screens. The voice is correct, but the screens are wrong. I probably wouldn't have noticed it myself, but my girlfriend was playing at the time and spotted it.

[Captain Wrong]

This could be a clue in the Halcyon/CED link...http://cedmagic.com/featured/nfl.html

I'm assuming the gameplay isn't identical, but I find it a bit of a coincidence that the two matchups in the arcade game are Chargers/Raiders and Cowboys/Redskins.

[tteich]

@98PaceCar:
Congratulations for your find! This is awesome. I've seen a couple of RDI Laserdiscs (TQ, and the Football game) on eBay over the years, but never spotted a RDI computer, let alone a complete working system.

While I'm thinking about this, do you see any possibility to dump the contents of the two game cartridges (probably with the help of the dragons-lair-project.com guys, or the daphne.com guys, -> Jeff Kinder probably)? This would open the door for emulating the Halcyon stuff so the small number of laserdiscs left could be used used sometimes (although a lot of work would still be required).

[98PaceCar]

@98PaceCar:
Congratulations for your find! This is awesome. I've seen a couple of RDI Laserdiscs (TQ, and the Football game) on eBay over the years, but never spotted a RDI computer, let alone a complete working system.

While I'm thinking about this, do you see any possibility to dump the contents of the two game cartridges (probably with the help of the dragons-lair-project.com guys, or the daphne.com guys, -> Jeff Kinder probably)? This would open the door for emulating the Halcyon stuff so the small number of laserdiscs left could be used used sometimes (although a lot of work would still be required).

Wow! This thread came up out of nowhere!

It's funny you ask about dumping the carts.. I spent some time trying to get them open without destroying them when I first got the system. I never was able to figure it out, but truthfully, I didn't try all that hard. I did dump the 2 eproms that are in the computer and have them safely archived though.

I've thought about releasing the roms before, but I never was able to decide if it was better to keep them to myself or release them. Since both of the games are available on other platforms, I felt the need to release them was not as important, but it would be nice to preserve them should something happen and being able to play the games without having to drag the system out would be nice.

I'd be interested in knowing what some of the other collectors of small run items think about this. It's been a hot button topic in the past and one that I've avoided, but I'm open to discussion if the interest is there.

[Vectorman0]

Wow! This thread came up out of nowhere!

It's funny you ask about dumping the carts.. I spent some time trying to get them open without destroying them when I first got the system. I never was able to figure it out, but truthfully, I didn't try all that hard. I did dump the 2 eproms that are in the computer and have them safely archived though.

I've thought about releasing the roms before, but I never was able to decide if it was better to keep them to myself or release them. Since both of the games are available on other platforms, I felt the need to release them was not as important, but it would be nice to preserve them should something happen and being able to play the games without having to drag the system out would be nice.

I'd be interested in knowing what some of the other collectors of small run items think about this. It's been a hot button topic in the past and one that I've avoided, but I'm open to discussion if the interest is there.

It's up to you, whatever feels right.

If you don't mind making them available to others though, I would encourage you to do so. I can only see it benefiting everyone.

[idrougge]

Nope. Time Gal was originally a 1985 laserdisc game by Taito (they made at least another about that time that I've seen) that eventually got ported to Mega CD, Laseractive, and Saturn.

The first port must have been the MSX port (http://www.generation-msx.nl/msxdb/softwareinfo/781), using JVC's VHD discs.

[ProgrammingAce]

The chances of an emulator for the Halcyon are beyond remote. At the very least, you'd probably have to destroy one of the systems. Besides, as has been said before, the games are on other platforms. There's not much incentive for a coder...

[tteich]

Wow! This thread came up out of nowhere!

It's funny you ask about dumping the carts.. I spent some time trying to get them open without destroying them when I first got the system. I never was able to figure it out, but truthfully, I didn't try all that hard. I did dump the 2 eproms that are in the computer and have them safely archived though.

I've thought about releasing the roms before, but I never was able to decide if it was better to keep them to myself or release them. Since both of the games are available on other platforms, I felt the need to release them was not as important, but it would be nice to preserve them should something happen and being able to play the games without having to drag the system out would be nice.

I'd be interested in knowing what some of the other collectors of small run items think about this. It's been a hot button topic in the past and one that I've avoided, but I'm open to discussion if the interest is there.
Thanks, 98PaceCar. I'm happy you're at least considering to put some effort into dumping the ROMs. I think there is considerable interest in having the Halcyon emulated by means of the Daphne emulator, or MAME. This would make the system known, and prevent it from being forgotten in the realms of 1 or 2 collectors (Museum effect comes to mind). There are also probably a few dozens of Halcyon laserdiscs in collectors hands, and those could be awaken to life with an emulation.

I certainly don't expect you to destroy the precious cartridges, if opening them would mean to destroy them. Great to hear you managed to save the ROMs from the computer.

I could try to contact some of the DPL or Daphne guys to discuss possibilities how the contents of these cartidges can be saved. I guess they consist of a kind of memory, holding the program code, so it should be possible to access it as such and read out the contents. Just a few thoughts...

[tteich]

The roms wouldn't be of any use to anyone except other Halcyon owners, unless someone decides to write a Halcyon emulator (which would be very cool!).

I don't remember -did you ever play Thayer's Quest to the end to see what happens?
The LDs could be MPEG'd and with a "Halcyon enabled" MAME or Daphne one would be able to play them, including the voice i/f and everything. I'm already using Daphne to play my Arcade LDs, so playing real Halcyon discs could be possible as well. I have one of those Halcyon LDs in my collection, and would volunteer (once we have the ROMs and the cartridge code) to team up with e.g. the Daphne guys to work on an emulation.

[sabre2922]

Sweeet very nice:)

[tteich]

@98PaceCar:
Is there any chance you make some very detailed photographs from the inside (PCBs) of the computer (not the laserdisc player:)), in order to check which kind of processors/logic/custom chips it contains. This could give us some hints what kind of processor the ROM code is for.

I'd guess: the PCBs are basically the same which came with the TQ conversion kit and/or they are comparable with what was built in the Palcom MSX computers, which had the same laserdisc player interface.

[98PaceCar]

I don't remember -did you ever play Thayer's Quest to the end to see what happens?

I have to apologize, I completely forgot to do this for you. I was working on getting a set of disks that aren't bit rotted and was waiting for that before I played. I never did get the disks and forgot to play through it.

I'll drag it out sometime in the next week or so and get those pics for you.


@98PaceCar:
Is there any chance you make some very detailed photographs from the inside (PCBs) of the computer (not the laserdisc player:)), in order to check which kind of processors/logic/custom chips it contains. This could give us some hints what kind of processor the ROM code is for.


I should be able to do this the same time I play through TQ for Stonic.

I'm still not sure if I'm willing to release the roms or not, but would be interested in at least exploring the possibility a bit further.

[CosmicMonkey]

Nice one for the collection of pictures. I like to show this sort of stuff to my mates and the members of our Anime club. I mean, everyone's seen a Megadrive so it's not interesting. But stuff like this, Vistars, NPDP Gamecubes/Dolphin dev boxes etc. even seem to actually catch the attention of the non-gamers.

It's also nice when one of the lassies at the anime club asks me if this is rarer than ''that black Korean SuperNES-that-isn't'' (she meant the Super A'can). Success! someone's actually listening to me gibbering on about incredibly rare consoles and dev kits that you probably shouldn't be seeing....