Philips Digital Video Cartridge (22ER9956)

Summary

The CD-i models were not as powerful as originally planned. The usual games always contained small film sequences, but no long, smooth video sequences in full screen mode. Therefore Philips donated a module port to the later CD-i devices, where an extension module could be installed. For example, the Digital Video Cartridge 22ER9956 could be installed in the Philips CD-i 450, Magnavox CD-i 450, Philips CD-i 210 and Philips CD-i 220 models. This extended the capabilities of the consoles with an extra 32-bit processor to include video and music capabilities. Normally, the devices can only move 128 color objects over a 16.7 million color background, but with the cartridge MPEG video sequences can be decoded, and then 30 images/seconds with full 16.7 million colors are possible, as well as MPEG-1 Layer I and II audio files can be decoded. Modern MP3 files are not included. And usually the devices have 1 MiB memory, the cartridge expands it by 1.5 MiB, whereby the decoding of it takes 512 KiB when it is switched on. So 2.5 MiB are available without decoding. Estimated 75% of all CD-i titles require an extension. Games like Dragon’s Lair were not even playable without the add-on module, but offered fine video sequences.

The cartridge itself decodes the MPEG media sequences and passes them on to the CD-i device via the 48x4 pin connector bar. In addition to the 22ER9956 there is the larger and older 22ER9141. Both devices basically do the same, only the older one outputs analogue signals via the connector, the newer one digitally.