LaserActive

LaserActive
	LaserActive CLD-A100 with the Sega Genesis PAC module installed
Also known as	NEC 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);
Discontinued	1996
Units sold	est. 10,000
Media	Native: LaserDisc, CD; With LD-ROM² PAC: LD-ROM (LD‑ROM²), CD-ROM (CD-ROM²), Hucard; With Mega-LD PAC: LD-ROM (Mega‑LD), CD-ROM (Mega-CD/Sega CD), Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges;
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.

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

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). 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 / PAC-K10): 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).

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

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

North American market
Title	Language options		LD-ROM²		Mega LD
Title	Japanese	English	Release date	Catalog number	Release date	Catalog number
3D Museum	No	Yes	1994	PEANU1012	1994	PEASU1012
Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven Crystals	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASU5022
Ghost Rush!	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU1018
Goku	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU1010
The Great Pyramid	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU5002
Hi-Roller Battle	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU1002
Hyperion	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASU5019
I Will: The Story of London	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU1001
J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago Blues	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU5036
J.B. Harold - Manhattan Requiem	Yes	Yes	1993	PEANU5004	Unavailable as Mega LD
Melon Brains	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASU1011
Myst	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		Unreleased
Pyramid Patrol	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU5001
Quiz Econosaurus	Yes	Yes	1993	PEANU5001	Unavailable as Mega LD
Road Prosecutor^[a]	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU1033
Rocket Coaster	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU5013
Space Berserker	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU1003
Triad Stone	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASU5014
Vajra	No	Yes	1993	PEANU1001	Unavailable as Mega LD

^ Road Prosecutor is the localized title of Road Blaster (aka Road Avenger).

Japanese market
Title	Language options		LD-ROM²		Mega LD
Title	Japanese	English	Release date	Catalog number	Release date	Catalog number
3D Museum	No	Yes	1994	PEANJ1012	1994	PEASJ1012
3D Virtual Australia^[a]	Yes	No	11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)	PEASJ5042	Unavailable as Mega LD
Akuma no Shinban (Demon's Judgment)^[a]	Yes	No	1993	PEANJ5003	Unavailable as Mega LD
Angel Mate^[a]	Yes	No	1993	PEANJ5002	Unavailable as Mega LD
Back to the Edo^[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5021
Billusion Collection: Minayo Watanabe^[a]	Yes	No	1994	PEANJ5025	1994	PEASJ5025
Billusion Collection, Vol. 2: Yuko Sakaki^[a]	Yes	No	1994	PEANJ5028	1994	PEASJ5028
Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven Crystals	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5022
Dora Dora Paradise^[a]	Yes	No	1994	PEANJ5005	Unavailable as Mega LD
Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video^[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5030
Ghost Rush!	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ1018
Goku	Yes	No	1995	PEANJ1032	1995	PEASJ1010
The Great Pyramid	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ5002
Hi-Roller Battle	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ1002
Hyperion	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5019
I Will: The Story of London	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ1001
J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago Blues	Yes	Yes	1994	PEANJ5017	1995	PEASJ5036
J.B. Harold - Manhattan Requiem	Yes	Yes	1993	PEANJ5004	Unavailable as Mega LD
Melon Brains	Yes	No	1994	PEANJ1031	1994	PEASJ1011
Pyramid Patrol	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ5001
Quiz Econosaurus	Yes	Yes	1993	PEANJ5001	Unavailable as Mega LD
Road Blaster	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU1033
Rocket Coaster	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	?
Space Berserker	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ1003
Time Gal^[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASJ5039
Triad Stone	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5014
Vajra	No	Yes	1993	PEANJ1001	Unavailable as Mega LD
Vajra 2^[a]	No	Yes	1994	PEANJ1016	Unavailable as Mega LD
Virtual Cameraman^[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ5015
Virtual Cameraman 2: Phuket, Thailand / Pickup Compilation^[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5020
Zapping "Satsui"^[a]	Yes	Yes	1994	PEANJ5023	1994	PEASJ5024

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m 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.^[5]

References

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

External links

Pioneer LaserActive at Computer Closet
Pioneer LaserActive Archived 2010-08-10 at the Wayback Machine at laserdiscarchive.co.uk
LaserActive Preservation Project

[5] Road Prosecutor is the localized title of Road Blaster (aka Road Avenger).

[ja-exclusive-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Released only in Japan.

[1] "International News". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 54. Sendai Publishing. January 1994. p. 94.

[sales-2] "Console Histories". Pink Gorrilla LLC. 2007-12-03. Archived from the original on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2014-08-12.

[3] "Pioneer LD in 3-D". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 57. Sendai Publishing. April 1994. p. 60.

[4] "Myst". The Virtual LaserActive Museum. Archived from the original on November 25, 2017.

[cgw199401-7] Miller, Chuck; Dille, H. E.; Wilson, Johnny L. (January 1994). "Battle Of The New Machines". Computer Gaming World. pp. 64–76.

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v t e Video game consoles from NEC
Home consoles	TurboGrafx-16 SuperGrafx TurboDuo Mini LaserActive PC-FX
Handheld consoles	TurboExpress
Technology	HuC6280 HuC6270 HuCard