What is a Timekeeper?
The Timekeeper is the CD-i NVRAM chip. It will keep the settings, time and date of your player and the saved games (storage). Hidden inside the chip, a little lithium battery is placed with a longevity up to 10 years or more if the player is stocked in optimal conditions (temperature, humidity).
This is not the place where they are stored, this it just the mechanism to keep them recorded, just like a lithium battery keep the BIOS setup in a computer.
Tag Archives: Chronicle
Chronicle #13 – How did you get into the Philips CD-i?
Chronicle #13We all have our story about how we meet the CD-i for the 1st time, even if it was just a quick moment.
This is a very interesting topic to understand if you keep loving it, just tried it or hated it. No matter if you are a CD-i follower, the important is to know how you did get found it!
I have my own story, and this is what I am going to talk about, why I love the CD-i so much, why I can’t stop talking about it, even if I don’t play everyday.
Chronicle #14 – The CD-i used by institutions
Chronicle #14
The Compact Disc Interactive was more than a familiar multimedia player, it was also a professional teacher.
From the early days many enterprises adopted the CD-i for personnel training, products showcase, touchscreen information point, medical training and knowledge, driving school, and many many other.
Even after the official abandon of the CD-i from Philips back in 1997, a lot of companies continued to use and produce for this support.
Chronicle #15 – CD-470/40 Timekeeper Substituition
The World of CD-i Chronicle #15
This CD-i 470/20 is from Thorsbabelis, a member of our website who asked me to repair his player.
Thank you for the trust you placed on me to touch, open and fix your beautiful player!
Beside the Timekeeper, the door was also making noise and didn’t close completely, needing the help of our hand to completely close it.
Chronicle #16 – CD Shoot Review
The World of CD-i Chronicle #16
I have decided to review this game because it reminds me good days back in the mid 90’s, while playing in Paris with my 2 best friends. I was the only one of all my friends with a CD-i, so many of them used to visit me just to play some games. CD Shoot was one of our favorite at that time because we all could play alternatively.
Chronicle #18 – L’Ange et le Démon – Review
The World of CD-i Chronicle #18
Here is the first exclusive regional game review!
This is a French game that will takes you through one of the most beautiful place in France, Le Mont-Saint-Michel!
I have the chance to know this incredible place after a visit and a night, and believe me, the game is absolutely identical as the real place!
SOME HISTORY:
L’Ange et le Démon is a French game produced by Smart Move back in 1992.
Have you played Myst? Well, this is a similar game, played as picture-by-picture, but instead of traveling in a 3D environment, you are walking in a real photographs place, at Le Mont-Saint-Michel isle located in Normandie, the north of France.
Chronicle #20 – The Crayon Factory – Review
The World of CD-i Chronicle #20
Here is the 1st review for a Kids title!
When I got my CD-i back in the 90’s, a demo CD was included. In this demo disc I remember to watch a demo of Richard Scarry’s Best Neighborhood Disc Ever. Even if I was already a teenager, I was delightful with the quality and possibilities the little kids had with games like this. To improve the imagination, the reaction, etc…
Today I am not going to talk about this one, I am going to review The Crayon Factory, a game for kids that is deeply placed near my heart… I am going to play the French version, “L’Usine aux Crayons”. I used the German covers because my covers aren’t in good condition for scanning.
I enjoy playing this game with my daughter aged 7, she really loves it, and the Roller Controller is her favorite accessory to play. We play together alternatively just like if I had her age!
Chronicle #29 – Mind Quest – Review
The World of CD-i Chronicles #29
Mind Quest Review
There is many unpublished or unreleased CD-i titles. I am going to review another one for you and this time I choose Mind Quest.
This one never passed Testing Phase 1. Unlike my last unpublished title What’s it Worth?, this one isn’t available for free download.
SOME HISTORY:
This game never passed the Testing Phase 1 and the latest known disc is version 1.02 from 24th January 1994. But we assume the official date as 1993 because in the credits of the title, it is 1993.
Catalogue number 811 023(England) was already given to this title, but unfortunately, for some reason, it didn’t reach the release status.
SOME FACTS:
Created by Fit Vision, George Scott was the producer of this amazing title! The team is almost the same as the one who created Great British Golf and Nature Under Threat. We still do not know why it as been cancelled, but in the USA CD-i Magazine issue 2, it was reviewed and announced for very soon at that time.
Chronicle #8 – Alien Gate – Review
Chronicle #8
With my job and the Covid-19 who took the whole week, I had to make a last minute chronicle!
Oh damn! What the hell?! Hell? Yeah! Hell! Let’s talk about Alien Gate!
SOME HISTORY:
This is not my favourite game, by far, but there is some very cool graphics on it. When Philips was still balancing between the family multimedia player and the gaming introduction, SPC Vision came with a demo of this game and Philips loved it! Very worked graphics for the early 90’s.
This is how Alien Gate came to the Philips CD-i, from a scratch demo made by a new programmer that became a SPC Vision employee.
Console Purist Chronicle #7 – Atlantis The Last Resort Review
For Console Purist Facebook Group, here is The World of CD-i Chronicle #7, here is the review of Atlantis – The Last Resort!
Enjoy!