Commodore CDTV facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Commodore CDTV

Manufacturer	Commodore International
Type	Home multimedia entertainment / Home video game console / Personal computer
Generation	Fourth generation
Release date	March 1991; 34 years ago (1991-03)
Introductory price	US$999 (equivalent to $2,150 in 2022)
Units sold	Germany: 25,800 UK: ~29,000
Operating system	AmigaOS 1.3
CPU	Motorola 68000 @ 7 MHz
Memory	1 MB RAM
Storage	2 KB non-volatile RAM
Removable storage	CD-ROM
Display	Television, Composite or RGB monitor; 736×567 4 bpp (PAL) 736×483 4 bpp (NTSC) 368×567 6 bpp (PAL) 368×483 6 bpp (NTSC)
Graphics	OCS, ECS
Sound	4 channels, 8 bits, 28 kHz sampling rate
Predecessor	Commodore 64 Games System
Successor	Amiga CD32

The CDTV (which stands for Commodore Dynamic Total Vision) was a special kind of home entertainment system and video game console. It was made by a company called Commodore International and first came out in April 1991. You could even turn it into a full personal computer by adding extra parts!

What is the CDTV?

The CDTV was a lot like the Amiga 500 home computer, but it had a CD-ROM drive and a remote control. If you added a keyboard, mouse, and floppy disk drive, it could do everything a regular Amiga computer could.

Commodore wanted the CDTV to be an all-in-one entertainment device for homes. It was meant to compete with systems like the Philips CD-i. However, this new market for home multimedia devices didn't really take off, so neither machine sold very well. Even though the CDTV used Amiga parts, Commodore decided not to use the Amiga name on the product.

Commodore first showed off the CDTV in the summer of 1990. They promised it would be released by the end of that year with 100 games and programs. It officially launched in North America in March 1991 and in the UK shortly after. The CDTV unit, remote, and two software titles cost about £499 in the UK and $999 in the United States.

Many people who liked Amiga computers didn't buy the CDTV. They were waiting for a CD-ROM drive that could be added to their existing Amiga computers. This add-on, called the Amiga A570, eventually came out. An Amiga 500 with an A570 could do the same things as a CDTV. This made it less appealing for Amiga owners to buy a separate CDTV.

One supporter of the CDTV, Nolan Bushnell, believed the main reason it didn't sell well was its high price. He said it's very hard to sell many units of anything that costs more than $500.

The CDTV came with AmigaOS 1.3, which was an older version of the Amiga operating system. A newer, easier-to-use version (2.0) came out around the same time. The CDTV was important because it helped develop the CDXL video format. This made it one of the first home systems where you could watch videos directly from a CD-ROM.

Commodore stopped making the CDTV in 1993. They then launched the Amiga CD32, which was also based on Amiga parts but was made specifically for playing games.

The Commodore CDTV sold about 25,800 units in Germany and around 29,000 units in the UK.

How the CDTV Looked

Commodore CDTV setup with a monitor showing the CDTV's audio CD player.

The CDTV was designed to look like a piece of home stereo equipment, not a typical computer. It was similar in size and style to other audio components from that time. It came with a wireless infrared remote control.

At first, it didn't come with a keyboard or mouse, but you could buy them separately. Later, some versions included them. The CDTV used the same basic technology as older Amiga computers. It had a CD-ROM drive but didn't have a floppy disk drive built-in.

Technical Details of the CDTV

Close-up of the CDTV buttons.

The CDTV remote control.

Notes

1. North American model
2. UK model
3. European model

Official Upgrades for CDTV

The CDTV could work with many accessories made for Amiga computers from the same time. Also, there were special CDTV accessories and upgrades:

• Wireless infrared mouse (CD1252)
• Wireless trackball
• A black keyboard
• A SCSI controller to connect hard disk drives and other SCSI devices
• An external black hard disk drive
• An external black floppy disk drive (CD1411)
• Special memory cards (64 KB or 256 KB) to save game scores and progress
• Genlocks for NTSC or PAL (CD1300/CD1301) to mix video signals

Different Versions of CDTV

• CDTV: This included the CDTV unit and its remote control/gamepad.
• Pro pack: This version came with the CDTV unit, remote control/gamepad, keyboard, mouse, and floppy disk drive. It also included a software collection on CD-ROM.

Games for CDTV

There are currently 62 games on this list.

CDTV Bundles

CDTV Software

Who Were CDTV's Competitors?

The CDTV faced competition from other systems trying to do similar things.

High-end Audio/Video Systems (Main Competitors)

These were multi-purpose systems for audio and video:

• Philips' CD-i
• Pioneer's LaserActive
• Tandy Video Information System

Video Gaming Systems (Secondary Competitors)

These were other game consoles around at the time:

• NEC PC Engine with Super CD-ROM expansion
• Nintendo's SNES
• Sega Mega Drive with CD-ROM expansion
• The 3DO Company's 3DO Interactive Multiplayer

See also

• Amiga A570
• Amiga CD32
• Amiga models and variants