LaserActive

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LaserActive
Manufacturer: Pioneer

The Pioneer LaserActive (CLD-A100) is a laserdisc player manufactured by Pioneer, which allows the user to plug in additional modules (called PACs) to build up a home entertainment center. It was released in Japan on August 20, 1993 at a cost of ¥89,800, and in the United States on September 13, 1993 at a cost of $970 USD.

Pioneer struck a deal with Sega creating a PAC for both the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega CD. This allowed the system to play Sega Mega Drive, Mega CD and a brand new Mega Drive-laserdisc format titled "Mega LD". Other modules were created to support NEC's TurboGrafx-16 console, 3D glasses and karaoke discs.

NEC also released a cloned version of the system, identified as the NEC PDE-LD1. Both systems supported the additional PAC modules interchangeably.

The LaserActive is not fondly remembered, as the laserdisc media format was considered too expensive and the design often too cumbersome for the average consumer. The VHS video format continued to dominate the market throughout the 1980s and 1990s, being inevitably replaced with DVDs, which remain in use today.

Though the CLD-A100 was discontinued in the mid-1990s, Pioneer would continue manufacturing laserdisc players until 2009. As Sega did not manufacture their own brand of laserdisc players, the Mega LD format also faded into nonexistence.

Modules

The plug-in modules listed below are suffixed by (American model number/Japanese model number).

Sega PAC (PAC-S10/PAC-S1)

Sega PAC

Pioneer Electronics (USA) and Sega Enterprises released this module that allows users to play 8-inch and 12-inch LaserActive Mega LD discs, in addition to the hundreds of existing Sega Mega Drive and Mega CD titles, and standard CD+G discs. It cost around $600 USD, and was the most popular add-on bought by LaserActive owners. It comes with a Mega Drive/Genesis controller that bears a gold Pioneer LaserActive logo.

NEC PAC (PAC-N10/PAC-N1)

Pioneer Electronics (USA) and NEC Home Electronics released this module, which allows users to play 8" and 12" LaserActive LD-ROM discs, as well as TurboGrafx CD-ROM discs, game HuCards and CD+G discs. This PAC is today one of the most sought-after accessories for the LaserActive, and the Laserdisc compatible games are equally rare. The retail price was $600 USD. The module comes with a PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 controller pad signed with a gold Pioneer LaserActive logo.

Note: the Japanese version of the PAC is unable to play American HuCard games, and vice-versa.

Karaoke PAC (PAC-K10/PAC-K1)

This PAC allows the CLD-A100 to play all NTSC LaserKaraoke titles. The front panel has two microphone inputs with separated volume controls, as well as tone control. The retail price was $350 USD.

Computer Interface PAC (PAC-PC1)

This PAC has a 25-pin serial port, allowing the CLD-A100 to be controlled by custom programs authored on PC or Macintosh computers. This PAC came with a 33-button infrared remote control providing more functionality than the 24-button remote included with the CLD-A100. Also included on DOS and Mac floppy disks was the LaserActive Program Editor. The floppy disks included some sample programs created with the editor, for use with the first five LaserDiscs in the Tenchi Muyo! anime series.

LaserActive 3-D Goggles (GOL-1)

Used in conjunction with the various 3-D games that were released for the CLD-A100, the design was also compatible with the Sega Master System and could be used with that system.

Please clarify the latter statement

3-D Goggles Adaptor (ADP-1)

Packaged and sold separately from the 3-D Goggles, this adaptor allowed the user to connect the goggles to the CLD-A100, and allowed for up to two users to view content simultaneously.

Gallery

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  Box

Software

Standard LaserActive games came on Laserdiscs, encoded in the LD-ROM format. An LD-ROM had a 540 MB data area (where digital audio would have normally been stored) with sixty minutes of analogue audio and video.

Title	Region(s)	Required module(s)	Release date	Catalog number
3-D Museum	U.S.	Sega	1994	PEASU1012
3D Virtual Australia	Japan	Sega		PEASJ5042
Akuma no Shinban	Japan	NEC		PEANJ5003
Angel Mate	Japan	NEC		PEANJ5002
Back to the Edo	Japan	Sega		PEASJ5021
Bi Ryojon Collection	Japan	NEC	1994	PEANJ5025
Bi Ryojon Collection II	Japan	NEC		PEANJ5028
Don Quixote	U.S.	Sega		PEASU5022
The Demon's Judgment	Japan	NEC	1993	PEANJ5003
Dora Dora Paradise	Japan	NEC		PEANJ5005
Dr. Paolo No Totteoki Video	Japan	Sega		PEASJ5030
Ghost Rush!	U.S.			PEASU1018
Goku	U.S.	Sega	1995	PEASU1010
Goku	Japan	Sega	1995	PEASJ1010
The Great Pyramid	U.S.	Sega		PEASU5002
The Great Pyramid	Japan	Sega		PEASJ5002
High Roller Battle	U.S.	Sega	1993	PEASU1002
High Roller Battle	U.S.	Sega	1993	PEASJ1002
Hyperion	U.S., Japan	Sega	13/07/1994	PEASU5019
I Will: The Story of London	U.S.	Sega	1993	PEASU1001
I Will: The Story of London	Japan	Sega	1993	PEASJ1001
J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago Blues	U.S.	Sega	1994	PEASU5036
J.B. Harold: Manhattan Requiem	U.S.	NEC	1993	PEANU5004
J.B. Harold: Manhattan Requiem	Japan	NEC	1993	PEASJ5004
Melon Brains	U.S.	Sega		PEASU1011
Melon Brains	Japan	Sega		PEASJ1011
Pyramid Patrol	U.S.	Sega	1993	PEASU5001
Pyramid Patrol	Japan	Sega	1993	PEASJ5001
Quiz Econosaurus	U.S.	NEC		PEANU5001
Road Blaster	Japan	Sega	1995	PEASJ1033
Road Prosecutor	U.S.	Sega		PEASU1033
Rocket Coaster	U.S.	Sega	1993	PEASU5013
Space Berserker	U.S.	Sega		PEASU1003
Space Berserker	Japan	Sega		PEASJ1003
Steel Driver				PEA????
Time Gal	Japan	Sega	1995	PEASJ5039
Triad Stone	U.S.	Sega	1994	PEASU5014
Triad Stone	Japan	Sega	1994	PEASJ5014
Vajra	U.S. (Japan)	NEC		PEANU1001
Vajra Ni	Japan	NEC, Goggles	1994	PEANJ1016
Virtual Cameraman	Japan	Sega	1993	PEASJ5015
Virtual Cameraman 2	Japan	Sega, Goggles	1994	PEASJ5020
Zapping TV Satsui	Japan	NEC	1994	PEANJ5023