RDI Video Systems
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | Advanced Microcomputer Systems |
| Founder | Rick Dyer |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Rick Dyer |
| Products | Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, Halcyon gaming system |
RDI Video Systems—originally established as Advanced Microcomputer Systems by Rick Dyer—gained recognition for pioneering Laserdisc video game technology, with its debut hit being Dragon's Lair. The company ultimately faced insolvency shortly after finalizing, but prior to the market release of, the Halcyon gaming system.
History
In the early 1980s, Rick Dyer initiated the creation of interactive narrative games and, after witnessing Sega's LaserDisc title Astron Belt at a 1982 trade exhibition, decided to incorporate LaserDisc players into arcade machines. Drawing inspiration from Don Bluth’s animation work on The Secret of NIMH (1982), Dyer partnered with Bluth's studio to produce Dragon's Lair (1983) under the Advanced Microcomputer Systems name. This title rapidly became a commercial triumph, earning $48 million despite a play cost of 50 cents, and emerged as the leading arcade game of 1983. Subsequently, Dyer and Bluth collaborated on Space Ace (1984). The company was later rebranded as RDI Video Systems ("Rick Dyer Industries") with ambitions to diversify beyond arcade gaming.
RDI pursued development of the Halcyon home entertainment console, designed to deliver interactive laserdisc experiences to consumers. The system attracted considerable attention during its showcase at the 1984 Consumer Electronics Show, generating excitement even though it faced entry into a $33 billion yet unstable consumer electronics sector. Analysts noted that while VCRs were common in American households, laser video players were not, rendering RDI’s voice-controlled Halcyon both innovative and a substantial risk.
Unfortunately, RDI Video Systems filed for bankruptcy near the intended 1985 launch of the Halcyon. The home video game market had dramatically contracted following the 1983 industry crash—from a billion-dollar valuation down to roughly $100 million by 1985. Priced around $2,500 and burdened by expensive manufacturing costs, the Halcyon struggled to attract adequate investment or consumer interest. As a result, financial backers withdrew support, leading to the company's closure before the console could reach consumers.
Games
- Zzyzzyxx (1982)
- Dragon's Lair (1983)
- Space Ace (1984)
- Thayer's Quest (1984) (Initially created for the Halcyon platform, later adapted for arcades)
- NFL Football (1985) (Developed originally for Halcyon, subsequently released in arcades)
- Orpheus (unreleased)
- The Spirits of Whittier Mansion (unreleased)
- The Shadow of the Stars (unreleased)
- Voyage to the New World (unreleased)
- Dallas vs. Washington (unreleased)