The experience of CD-i shared by people is always different when they owned the CD-i from the very beginning: Those who owned a CD-i when it was brand new are generally more positive (nostalgic?) about the system, compared to people who try it for the first time nowadays, comparing it to what was on the market in all those years. A few opinions capture these memories very well.
CD-i member Christdw tells us: " I was in fourth grade and my parents got a CD-i for me for Christmas after being told it was the “wave of the future” by a Sears salesmen. At first it was really cool... it really did feel like the future with CD games, “full motion video,” etc. I was also kind of a nerd, so the more educational games (I remember I had a Smithsonian one) were cool. But over time the lack of games for it - and the horrible controls for any “traditional” video games - made the shine wear off. I loved watching the infomercial every Saturday morning though."
CD-i member BenFuHolo: "I asked for a Mega CD for Christmas and my Dad was sold a CD-i player. He told me before Christmas so I was about 14 and old enough to arrange what I wanted for Christmas. Because I'm me... I was so into CD-i, subscribed to the magazine in the UK and bought as many games as I could and the DV converter add on thingy. My PC was my main gaming hub though and eventually the CD-i got used less and less. That is until last year where I eventually set up a retro gaming room in my new home, and wowed my children with my Mad Dog McRee gun slinging skills!"
CD-i member Arcee: "I got my CD-i new from when Best stores were still around. I was blown away by the infomercials when I was 14 or 15, watching it way early in the morning right before school started. I got the 400 model with digital video card and the controller with three buttons. I loved Burn:Cycle and (unpopular opinion) the Zelda games. I really loved that system."
The pictures are taken by CD-i member Videogames Obsession, who owns a brand new CD-i 910 player. Matthew:"Philips sent this to me when I started working for them. I already had a 910, which I bought, so I kept it as a spare. Unfortunately the box has been through some rough times. They also included a Digital Video Cart, which was also nice of them."
[Thanks to the CD-i Community] - Pictures courtesy of Videogameobsession