LaserActive

Last updated
LaserActive
LaserActive logo.svg
Pioneer-LaserActive-Set-FL.jpg
LaserActive CLD-A100 with the Sega Genesis PAC module installed
Also known asNEC LD-ROM² System
Manufacturer Pioneer Corporation
Product family LaserDisc
Type Converged device, home video game console
Generation Fourth
Release date
  • JP: August 20, 1993
  • NA: September 13, 1993
Introductory price
  • ¥89,800(equivalent to ¥93,910 in 2019)
  • US$970(equivalent to $2,111 in 2024)
Discontinued1996
Units soldest. 10,000
Media
Controller input
  • Sega Genesis 6-Button Controller
  • Turbografx-16 Controller

The LaserActive (Japanese: レーザーアクティブ, Hepburn: Rēzā Akutibu) is a hybrid LaserDisc player and home video game console released by Pioneer Corporation in 1993. Marketed as a high-end, modular entertainment system, it was designed to combine movies, music, and video games into a single unit. Out of the box, the base unit could natively play standard LaserDiscs and Compact discs, but support for video games required optional expansion modules known as PACs. Each PAC enabled compatibility with a specific gaming platform and its media formats.

Contents

With the Mega-LD PAC, the system could play exclusive Mega-LD discs (a proprietary LD-ROM format), as well as Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges and Sega CD/Mega-CD discs. With the LD-ROM² PAC, it supported exclusive LD-ROM² discs, along with HuCard cartridges and CD-ROM² discs for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16. The LaserActive was the only system capable of playing LD-ROM game discs, which were not cross-compatible between PACs.

Pioneer released LaserActive model CLD-A100 in Japan on August 20, 1993, for ¥89,800(equivalent to ¥93,910 in 2019), and in North America on September 13, 1993, for US$970(equivalent to $2,111 in 2024). An NEC-branded version of the player, the LD-ROM² System (model PCE-LD1), launched in December 1993 at the same price and was fully compatible with Pioneer's PAC modules. [1] The LaserActive was discontinued in 1996, with approximately 10,000 units sold. [2]

Accessories

PAC modules

LaserActive CLD-A100 and on top are, from left: Mega-LD PAC with controller, standard 24-button remote, and LD-ROM2 PAC with controller Pioneer LaserActive CLD-A100.jpg
LaserActive CLD-A100 and on top are, from left: Mega-LD PAC with controller, standard 24-button remote, and LD-ROM² PAC with controller

Pioneer released several expansion modules, known as "PACs," which enabled the LaserActive to play software from other platforms and expand its capabilities. In each case, the Japanese model number is listed first, followed by the North American version.

Mega-LD PAC (PAC-S1 / PAC-S10)
Developed with Sega, this PAC enabled support for Mega-LD software as well as standard Sega Genesis cartridges, Sega CD discs, and CD+G discs. It included a LaserActive-branded 6-button Genesis controller (model CPD-S1) and retailed for US$600(equivalent to $1,306 in 2024). [3] It was the most widely adopted module among LaserActive owners.
LD-ROM² PAC (PAC-N1 / PAC-N10)
Developed with NEC, this PAC added support for LD-ROM² titles, along with HuCard cartridges, CD-ROM² discs, and CD+G discs. The Japanese model could also play Arcade CD-ROM² titles using an Arcade Card Duo. Like the Sega module, it sold for US$600(equivalent to $1,306 in 2024) and included a branded Turbo Pad (CPD-N1/CPD-N10). NEC also released a version in their branding called the PC Engine PAC (model PCE-LP1). Due to the TurboGrafx-16's limited success in North America, the PAC-N10 is significantly rarer than its Sega counterpart.
Karaoke PAC (PAC-K1)
This PAC enabled playback of the LD-ROM-based LaserKaraoke (LD-G) discs. It featured two microphone inputs with individual volume and tone controls. Retail price was approximately US$350(equivalent to $762 in 2024). [3]
Computer Interface PAC (PAC-PC1)
This PAC was equipped with an RS-232 port, allowing the CLD-A100 to be controlled with custom computer software. It shipped with a 33-button infrared remote (more advanced than the standard 24-button remote) and a DOS/Classic Mac OS program called LaserActive Program Editor on floppy disk, including demo programs for the Tenchi Muyo! LaserDisc series.

LaserActive 3-D Goggles

The LaserActive 3-D Goggles (model GOL-1) used an active shutter 3D system compatible with several LD-ROM titles, including 3-D Museum (1994), Vajra 2 (1994), Virtual Cameraman 2 (1994), Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video (1994), Goku (1995), and 3D Virtual Australia (1996), the last official LaserActive release.

The goggles could also display 3D autostereogram images. [4] A separate goggle adapter (model ADP-1) allowed one or two goggles to connect to the CLD-A100.

Software

The LaserActive uses a unique disc format called LD-ROM (LaserDisc Read-Only Memory). Like the LV-ROM format on which it is based, the LD-ROM is an optical disc format that can store analog video, analog audio, and computer files (in a file system) on the same side of a disc. LD-ROMs do not use the same file system as LV-ROMs, however; also, an LD-ROM can store up to 540 megabytes of file data, compared with LV-ROM's 324. An LD-ROM can store up to 60 minutes of analog audio and video alongside the digital file system.[ citation needed ]

The tables below list 31 software titles released on LD-ROM for the LaserActive; of these, 13 were released only in Japan. 23 of the 31 were made for the Mega LD PAC, and 15 were made for the LD-ROM² PAC. Only a handful of titles were released in both formats.

One additional title listed below, Myst , was never officially released for the LaserActive. Circa 1995, a game developer named Brian Rice (of Brian Rice Inc.) was leading the conversion of Myst to Mega LD. Conversion was almost entirely complete, and the game was to be published by Sunsoft. But, Rice encountered a major problem. Normally, an animated dissolve or wipe effect transitioned the view when the player moved between scenes in the game. Each transition animation had six frames. Yet in some circumstances, the animation did not stop at the sixth frame, but continued to shift the player's view to other scenes in the game. Rice ascribed the runaway animation to a bug in the LaserActive hardware. Development and publication were scrapped. [5]

Another unreleased game, called Steel Driver, is rumored to exist.

North American market
TitleLanguage optionsLD-ROM²Mega LD
JapaneseEnglishRelease dateCatalog numberRelease dateCatalog number
3D MuseumNoYes1994PEANU10121994PEASU1012
Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven CrystalsNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASU5022
Ghost Rush!YesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1995PEASU1018
GokuNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1995PEASU1010
The Great PyramidYesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASU5002
Hi-Roller BattleYesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASU1002
HyperionNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASU5019
I Will: The Story of LondonYesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASU1001
J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago BluesYesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1995PEASU5036
J.B. Harold - Manhattan RequiemYesYes1993PEANU5004Unavailable as Mega LD
Melon BrainsNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASU1011
Myst NoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²Unreleased
Pyramid PatrolNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASU5001
Quiz EconosaurusYesYes1993PEANU5001Unavailable as Mega LD
Road Prosecutor [a] YesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1995PEASU1033
Rocket CoasterNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASU5013
Space BerserkerYesNoUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASU1003
Triad Stone YesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASU5014
VajraNoYes1993PEANU1001Unavailable as Mega LD
  1. Road Prosecutor is the localized title of Road Blaster (aka Road Avenger).
Japanese market
TitleLanguage optionsLD-ROM²Mega LD
JapaneseEnglishRelease dateCatalog numberRelease dateCatalog number
3D MuseumNoYes1994PEANJ10121994PEASJ1012
3D Virtual Australia [a] YesNo11 March 1996PEASJ5042Unavailable as Mega LD
Akuma no Shinban (Demon's Judgment) [a] YesNo1993PEANJ5003Unavailable as Mega LD
Angel Mate [a] YesNo1993PEANJ5002Unavailable as Mega LD
Back to the Edo [a] YesNoUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASJ5021
Billusion Collection: Minayo Watanabe [a] YesNo1994PEANJ50251994PEASJ5025
Billusion Collection, Vol. 2: Yuko Sakaki [a] YesNo1994PEANJ50281994PEASJ5028
Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven CrystalsYesNoUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASJ5022
Dora Dora Paradise [a] YesNo1994PEANJ5005Unavailable as Mega LD
Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video [a] YesNoUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASJ5030
Ghost Rush!YesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASJ1018
GokuYesNo1995PEANJ10321995PEASJ1010
The Great PyramidYesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASJ5002
Hi-Roller BattleYesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASJ1002
HyperionNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASJ5019
I Will: The Story of LondonYesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASJ1001
J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago BluesYesYes1994PEANJ50171995PEASJ5036
J.B. Harold - Manhattan RequiemYesYes1993PEANJ5004Unavailable as Mega LD
Melon BrainsYesNo1994PEANJ10311994PEASJ1011
Pyramid PatrolNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASJ5001
Quiz EconosaurusYesYes1993PEANJ5001Unavailable as Mega LD
Road Blaster YesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1995PEASU1033
Rocket CoasterNoYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993 ?
Space BerserkerYesNoUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASJ1003
Time Gal [a] YesNoUnavailable as LD-ROM²1995PEASJ5039
Triad Stone YesYesUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASJ5014
VajraNoYes1993PEANJ1001Unavailable as Mega LD
Vajra 2 [a] NoYes1994PEANJ1016Unavailable as Mega LD
Virtual Cameraman [a] YesNoUnavailable as LD-ROM²1993PEASJ5015
Virtual Cameraman 2: Phuket, Thailand / Pickup Compilation [a] YesNoUnavailable as LD-ROM²1994PEASJ5020
Zapping "Satsui" [a] YesYes1994PEANJ50231994PEASJ5024
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Released only in Japan.

Contemporary devices

In the early 1990s, a number of consumer electronics manufacturers designed converged devices around CD-ROM technology. At the time, CD-ROM systems were expensive. The LaserActive was one of several multipurpose, multi-format, upmarket home entertainment systems with software stored on optical discs. These systems were premised on early conceptions of multimedia entertainment.

Some comparable systems are the Commodore CDTV, Philips CD-i, 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, and Tandy Video Information System.

Reception

Computer Gaming World in January 1994 stated that although LaserActive was "a better product in many ways" than 3DO, it lacked software and the NEC and Sega control packs were too expensive. [6]

See also

References

  1. "International News". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 54. Sendai Publishing. January 1994. p. 94.
  2. "Console Histories". Pink Gorrilla LLC. 2007-12-03. Archived from the original on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  3. 1 2 "Pioneer's LaserActive Arrives" (Press release). Pioneer Electronics. 13 September 1993. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  4. "Pioneer LD in 3-D". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 57. Sendai Publishing. April 1994. p. 60.
  5. "Myst". The Virtual LaserActive Museum. Archived from the original on November 25, 2017.
  6. Miller, Chuck; Dille, H. E.; Wilson, Johnny L. (January 1994). "Battle Of The New Machines". Computer Gaming World. pp. 64–76.