halcyon-video/halcyon-video

What it solves

Halcyon Video transforms a digital media library (from Jellyfin or Plex) into a walkable, 3D immersive experience that mimics a 1990s video rental store. It replaces traditional grid-based menus with a spatial environment where movies and games are represented as physical cases on shelves, bringing nostalgia and a tactile feel to media browsing.

How it works

Built with Vite, TypeScript, and three.js, the application procedurally generates a store layout based on the user's library. It connects to media servers like Jellyfin or Plex (and RomM for games) to populate shelves with correctly proportioned 3D models of VHS or DVD cases. Users can navigate the store in first-person walk mode or via a cursor, interact with physical cases to read synopses and technical specs, and simulate the rental process—including a soft-body cloth simulation for the rental bag.

Who it’s for

Home theater PC (HTPC) users and media enthusiasts who want a nostalgic, gamified way to browse and launch their movie and game collections.

Highlights

• Procedural Store Generation: Automatically builds aisles, genres, and new release walls based on your library data.
• Immersive Interaction: Features first-person walking, VR support (WebXR), and a simulated checkout process with a living room playback environment.
• Dynamic Branding: Users can customize the store's name, colors, and logos, which are applied across all signage and rental cases.
• Smart Recommendations: A built-in clerk (directional sprite) provides recommendations based on actual library data and watch history, not generative AI.
• Integration with Request Systems: Connects to Jellyseerr or Overseerr to show missing collection gaps as requestable cases on the shelf.
• Hardware Flexibility: Offers a "2.5D mode" for low-power devices like Raspberry Pi and remote play for browser access.