Editing Nuon (DVD technology)

{{short description|Video game console}}
{{Lead too short|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox computing device
| title = NUON
| logo = VM Labs Nuon logo.svg
| image = File:Nuon-N2000-wController-L.jpg
| caption = The DVD-N2000 Nuon player made by Samsung with pack-in controller
| developer = [[VM Labs]]
| manufacturer = [[Motorola]], [[RCA]], [[Samsung]], [[Toshiba]]
| type = [[Home video game console]]
| generation = [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|Sixth]]
| releasedate = July 2000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nuon-tech.com/hardware.html |title=NUON Hardware page |publisher=nuon-tech.com |access-date=2022-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020203033504/http://www.nuon-tech.com/hardware.html |archive-date=3 February 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| discontinued = 2003–2004
| website = {{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20020802082913/http://www.nuon-tech.com/|www.nuon-tech.com}} (archived)
}}

'''Nuon''' (stylized as '''NUON''') is a technology developed by [[VM Labs]] that adds features to a [[DVD player]]. In addition to viewing [[DVD]]s, one can play 3D [[video game]]s and use enhanced DVD navigational tools such as zoom and smooth scanning of DVD playback. One could also play CDs while the Nuon graphics processor generates synchronized graphics on the screen. There were plans to provide [[Internet]] access capability in the next generation of Nuon-equipped DVD players.

==History==
[[Image:Nuon DVD player with game controller.jpg|thumb|A Nuon DVD player made by Samsung]]
[[File:Toshibo-Nuon-SD-2300-DVD-Player-Front-2.jpg|thumb|A Nuon manufactured by [[Toshiba]]]]
Nuon was first unveiled under the codename "Project X",<ref>{{cite magazine |title=X Marks the Spot |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=103|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=February 1998 |page=26}}</ref><ref name=NGen37>{{cite magazine |title=Project X Confirmed for 1998 |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=37|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=January 1998 |pages=18–19}}</ref> set for a release during the 1998 [[Christmas shopping season]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Project X Files|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=115|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=April 1998|page=26}}</ref> and was featured in ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'}}s 1999 Video Game Buyer's Guide. One of the Nuon's main software developers was [[Jeff Minter]], who created a version of ''[[Tempest (arcade game)|Tempest]]'' titled ''[[Tempest 3000]]'' for the system and the built-in [[Virtual Light Machine|VLM-2]] [[music visualisation|audio visualizer]].<ref name=EGM105>{{cite magazine |title=Fast, Cheap and Out of Control |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=105|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=April 1998|pages=22–23}}</ref> Manufacturing of the hardware was handled by several [[original equipment manufacturer]]s.<ref name=EGM105/>

The system's [[software development kit]] (SDK) was priced at roughly one-third of that of the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] SDK, and following a strong showing at the 1998 [[Consumer Electronics Show]], VM Labs shipped out several dozen SDKs to developers.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Project X Progresses |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=40|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=April 1998|page=18}}</ref>

When it was first announced, the Nuon's creators envisioned it as a competitor for the upcoming [[video game console]]s from the leading manufacturers.<ref name=NGen37/> However, the Nuon platform was primarily marketed as an expanded DVD format. A large majority of Nuon players that were sold in fact resembled typical consumer DVD players with the only noticeable difference being a Nuon logo. Nuon players offered a number of features that were not available on other DVD players when playing standard DVD-formatted titles. These included very smooth forward and reverse functionality and the ability to smoothly zoom in and out of sections of the video image. In addition, Nuon provided a software platform to DVD authors to provide interactive software like features to their titles.

In North America, Nuon was used in the [[Samsung]] DVD-N501 and DVD-N2000 models; they also released several models in other parts of the world: DVD-N504 (Europe), DVD N505 (Europe), and DVD-N591 (Korea). [[Toshiba]] released the SD-2300 DVD player, and there are two [[RCA]] models, the DRC300N and DRC480N. The Nuon was also used in [[Motorola]]'s Streamaster 5000 "Digital DNA" [[set-top box]].

Nuon was created by [[VM Labs]], whose assets were sold to [[Genesis Microchip]] in April 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4094510/Genesis-Microchip-to-buy-assets-of-bankrupted-DVD-chip-supplier |title=Genesis Microchip to buy assets of bankrupted DVD chip supplier |publisher=Eetimes.com |access-date=2011-09-20}}</ref> By November 2004, there were no Nuon-enabled DVD players shipping and no new Nuon software titles released or in development.

===Specification===
[[File:Toshibo-Nuon-SD-2300-DVD-Player-Motherboard-Top-2.jpg|thumb|The motherboard of a Toshiba SD-2300 player, showing the Nuon XCMMP-L3BZPDVD processor]]

*Four 128-bit 54&nbsp;MHz or 108&nbsp;MHz Nuon MPE (Media Processing Element) [[very long instruction word]] processors supporting [[parallel computing|parallel operations]] on (at most) 32-bit scalars. An MPE's register file contains eight 128-bit [[processor register|registers]], which can be used to store vectors of that size (composed of 4 scalars), or be partitioned down to offer thirty-two 32-bit (scalar) registers, or eight packets of 3 (pixel) or 4 ("small") 16-bit vectors. Each MPE operates on [[random access memory|RAM]] that is local to itself, but MPEs 1 and 4 can directly operate on data located in system memory. Those same specific MPEs can use their memories as configurable caches, and have access to additional tag RAM for that purpose. MPEs have a hardware multiply unit, but no hardware division. There is no hardware support for floating point computation.<ref>[https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/1383659488_NUON-Architecture-26-OEM.pdf] "NUON Multi-Media Architecture Aries 3 Specifications, Full OEM Version", September 26th, 2001</ref> Some report(s){{By whom|date=June 2023}} suggested that a certain model had sported a 333+&nbsp;MHz [[clock frequency]] but it was never released widely.
*[[MCS-251]] [[microcontroller]] for background task
*32 [[megabyte|MB]] 8-bit [[Fast Page Mode DRAM|Fast Page DRAM]] at 33&nbsp;[[MHz]], 512 [[kilobyte|KB]] sound RAM and 24 KB programmable [[read only memory|ROM]]
*2x 3d Media GL MPE with 8 MB 32-bit [[video RAM]] at 66 MHz.
*64~256&nbsp;MB writable ROM and optional hard drive (up to 137&nbsp;GB)   
*Optical drive support DVD or [[CD-R]]

===Peripherals and accessories===
Peripherals for Nuon-enhanced DVD players included the following:

[[File:Nuon-Logitech-Controller-FL.jpg|thumb|right|The Logitech gamepad]]
*[[Logitech]] Gamepad
*Pro-elite controller
*AirPlay wireless controller
*Stealth controller
*Warrior Digital-D pad
*controller extension cable
*[[port replicator]] to move the Nuon ports to anywhere desired

===Released movies===
Only four DVD releases utilized Nuon technology. All of them were released by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]:

*''[[The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension]]''
*''[[Bedazzled (2000 film)|Bedazzled]]'' (2000 remake)
*''[[Dr. Dolittle 2]]''
*''[[Planet of the Apes (2001 film)|Planet of the Apes]]'' (2001 remake, Bug Free Version UPC - 024543028987)

===Released games===
Only eight games were officially released for the Nuon:
*''[[Tempest 3000]]''
*''[[Freefall 3050 A.D.]]''
*''Merlin Racing'' (Later had a sequel entitled ''Miracle Space Race'' for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]), and an altered version called Rascal Racers; released for PlayStation in 2002.
*''[[Space Invaders|Space Invaders X.L.]]''
*''[[Iron Soldier 3]]'' (later recalled due to incompatibility with some players)<ref name="T&T88">{{cite magazine|last=Santulli|first=Joe|url=https://archive.org/details/tips-and-tricks-issue-88-june-2002/page/n92/mode/1up|title=Collector's Closet: Collecting Nuon|magazine=[[Tips & Tricks (magazine)|Tips & Tricks]]|issue=88|publisher=[[Larry Flynt Publications]]|date=June 2002|page=93}}</ref>
*''[[Ballistic (videogame)|Ballistic]]'' (only available with Samsung players)
*''[[The Next Tetris|The Next Tetris DLX]]'' (only available with Toshiba players)
*''[[Crayon Shin-chan]] 3'' (Korean-only release)

===Collections and samplers===
*Interactive Sampler (three different versions)
*Nuon Games + Demos (collection from Nuon-Dome)
*Nuon-Dome PhillyClassic 5 Demo Disc (giveaway collection)

=== Proposed games ===
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''aMaze''<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://arcryphongames.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/nuontechpr.pdf|title=VM Labs' Nuon Technology Endows Next Generation Of DVD Products With Interactivity|publisher=[[VM Labs]]|date=January 6, 2000|access-date=2024-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316030939/https://arcryphongames.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/nuontechpr.pdf|archive-date=2024-03-16|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GSpot">{{cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Sam|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nuon-shows-its-face-at-ces/1100-2446026/|title=NUON Shows its Face at CES|work=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CNET Networks]]|date=April 26, 2000|access-date=2024-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316200409/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nuon-shows-its-face-at-ces/1100-2446026/|archive-date=2024-03-16|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="VMLabs">{{cite web|url=http://nuon.tv/games.html|title=NUON Games|publisher=[[VM Labs]]|year=2000|access-date=2024-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020123014712/http://nuon.tv/games.html|archive-date=2002-01-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''Atari's Greatest Hits''
* ''[[Battleship: Surface Thunder]]''
* ''[[Boggle (video game)|Boggle]]''
* ''[[Breakout (video game)|Breakout]]''<ref name="VMLabs"/><ref name="UGFv2i2">{{cite magazine|last=Mehta|first=Andrew J.|url=https://issuu.com/unitedgames/docs/united-games-march-2001|title=Nuon: Cambridge hits the USA; "Show me the Games!"|magazine=United Games Fanzine|volume=2|issue=2|publisher=United Games|date=March 2001|pages=25, 26–27}}</ref>
* ''[[Bugdom]]''<ref name="UGFv2i2"/>
* ''[[Bust-A-Move 4]]''<ref name="UGFv2i2"/><ref name="MDesigns">{{cite web|url=http://www.miracle-designs.com/techno.htm|title=Technologies: M3DL|publisher=Miracle Designs|year=2007|access-date=2024-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311230247/http://www.miracle-designs.com/techno.htm|archive-date=2014-03-11|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="TE">{{cite web|last=Day|first=Ashley|url=https://www.timeextension.com/features/ultimate-guide-nuon-the-dvd-player-that-tried-to-be-a-games-console-and-failed|title=Nuon, The DVD Player That Tried To Be A Games Console And Failed|work=[[Time Extension]]|publisher=[[Hookshot Media]]|date=July 26, 2023|access-date=2024-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731192345/https://www.timeextension.com/features/ultimate-guide-nuon-the-dvd-player-that-tried-to-be-a-games-console-and-failed|archive-date=2023-07-31|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''[[Dragon's Lair (1983 video game)|Dragon's Lair]]''<ref name="UGFv2i2"/>
* ''[[Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp]]''
* ''[[The Game of Life]]''<ref name="UGFv2i2"/><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://nuon.tv:80/releases/05_10c_00.html|title=VM Labs and Hasbro Interactive Ink Multi-Title Software Deal for NUON Interactive DVD Games|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|date=May 10, 2000|access-date=2024-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210225215/http://nuon.tv:80/releases/05_10c_00.html|archive-date=2001-02-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''[[Hoyle Card Games]]''
* ''[[Jeopardy! (franchise)#Video games|Jeopardy!]]''
* ''[[Knockout Kings (video game)|Knockout Kings]]''
* ''[[Madden NFL]]''<ref name="ArsT">{{cite web|last=Moss|first=Richard|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/06/before-the-ps2-nuon-famously-tried-and-failed-to-combine-dvd-and-game-consoles/|title=Remembering Nuon, the gaming chip that nearly changed the world—but didn't|work=[[Ars Technica]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|date=June 28, 2015|access-date=2024-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629182849/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/06/before-the-ps2-nuon-famously-tried-and-failed-to-combine-dvd-and-game-consoles/|archive-date=2015-06-29|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''[[Monopoly (2000 video game)|Monopoly]]''<ref name="UGFv2i2"/><ref name="MDesigns"/><ref name=":1"/>
* ''[[Myst (video game)|Myst]]''<ref name=":0"/><ref name="GSpot"/><ref name="NGen63">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen63Mar2000/page/n11/mode/1up|title=News: Tempest in a Teapot? NUON Revealed at CES|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=63|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=March 2000|page=10}}</ref>
* ''[[Sturmwind|Native II]]''<ref name="UNT">{{cite web|author=Raso, Domenic (V-SNES)|url=https://www.thehelper.net/threads/untold-nuon-tales-native-ii%E2%80%A6or-is-it-feuerland.178975/|title=Untold Nuon Tales: Native II…or is it Feuerland?|website=The Helper|date=February 24, 2023|access-date=2024-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307022048/https://www.thehelper.net/threads/untold-nuon-tales-native-ii%E2%80%A6or-is-it-feuerland.178975/|archive-date=2023-03-07|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''[[Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit]]''
* ''[[Scrabble#Video game versions|New Scrabble]]''
* ''NUON Board Games''
* ''NUON Casino''
* ''NUON R.C. Racing''
* ''[[Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure]]''<ref name="GXN1">{{cite news|last=Mehta|first=Andrew J.|url=https://issuu.com/unitedgames/docs/gx-august-2001|title=United World: Activision To Publish Nuon Games|work=Game eXtra Newsletter|issue=1|publisher=United Games|date=August 2001|page=19}}</ref>
* ''[[Pong: The Next Level]]''
* ''Power Shovel''<ref name="UGFv2i2"/>
* ''[[RC de Go!]]''<ref name="UGFv2i2"/>
* ''[[Risk II]]''
* ''[[Riven]]''<ref name="UGFv2i2"/>
* ''Shanghai: Mahjong Essentials''
* ''[[Sorry! (video game)|Sorry!]]''
* ''[[Space Ace]]''
* ''[[Speedball 2100]]''<ref name="VMLabs"/>
* ''[[Spider-Man (2000 video game)|Spider-Man]]''<ref name="TE"/>
* ''[[Star Trek: Invasion]]''<ref name="GXN1"/><ref name="TE"/>
* ''[[PGA Tour (video game series)|Tiger Woods PGA Golf]]''
* ''Titan 3''<ref name="Playbox1">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=312&num=14250&album=oui|title=Dossier — Nuon: quand les lecterus DVD deviennent des consoles!|magazine=Playbox|issue=1|publisher={{ill|Posse Press|lt=Posse Press|fr|Posse Press}}|date=December 2000|page=61|language=fr|access-date=2024-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402163901/https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=312&num=14250&album=oui|archive-date=2024-04-02|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''[[Wheel of Fortune video games|Wheel of Fortune]]''
* ''[[Yahtzee#Electronic versions|Yahtzee]]''
* ''zCards''<ref name="VMLabs"/><ref name="Playbox1"/>
{{div col end}}

==Homebrew development==
In late 2001, VM Labs released an [[Software development kit|SDK]] which allowed developers to program apps/games for their Nuon system. Only the Samsung DVD-N501/{{zwsp}}DVDN504/{{zwsp}}DVDN505 and RCA DRC300N/{{zwsp}}DRC480N can load homebrew games.

Some homebrew titles have been created for or ported to Nuon.  They are not commercially available and require the user to burn the material to a Nuon-compatible CD-R.

== Notes ==

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web|last1=Moss|first1=Richard|title=Remembering Nuon, the gaming chip that nearly changed the world—but didn't|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/06/before-the-ps2-nuon-famously-tried-and-failed-to-combine-dvd-and-game-consoles/|website=[[Ars Technica]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|access-date=3 January 2016|date=28 June 2015}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Moss|first1=Richard|title=Life after death: meet the people ensuring that yesterday's systems will never be forgotten|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/life-after-death-meet-the-people-ensuring-that-yesterdays-systems-will-never-be-forgotten/|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge Online]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605202227/http://www.edge-online.com/features/life-after-death-meet-the-people-ensuring-that-yesterdays-systems-will-never-be-forgotten/|archive-date=5 June 2014|date=2 June 2014}}
{{refend}}

== References ==

{{refs}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020802082913/http://www.nuon-tech.com/ NUON's homepage (archived August 2002)] 
* [http://www.nuon-dome.com/ Nuon—Dome Page]
* [http://www.vmlabs.de/team.htm Nuon Alumni Page]
* [http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg00-nuon.htm Entry] at Video Game Console Library
* [https://www.giantbomb.com/nuon/3045-85/ Entry] At [[Giant Bomb]]
* [https://arcryphongames.wordpress.com/2015/02/22/a-fans-history-the-nuon/ "A Fan’s History – The NUON" blog post] at arcryphongames.wordpress.com (Dated February 22, 2015. It has a copious amount of embedded video links and media shots.)

{{sixth generation game consoles}}
{{Home video game consoles}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nuon (Dvd Technology)}}
[[Category:Hardware DVD players]]
[[Category:DVD interactive technology]]
[[Category:Home video game consoles]]
[[Category:Sixth-generation video game consoles]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 2000]]
[[Category:Discontinued video game consoles]]