LaserActive

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LaserActive
Manufacturer: Pioneer
Variants: NEC PDE-LD1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1993-08-20 ¥89,800 (92,494)89,800e CLD-A100 US 1993-10-08 $970.00970.00 CLD-A100

The Pioneer LaserActive (レーザーアクティブ) is a video game compatible LaserDisc player designed and manufactured by Pioneer. Released in Japan and North America in late 1993, the system featured interchangeable hardware expansions known as "PACs", which enabled compatibility with Mega Drive and Mega-CD games, PC Engine and PC Engine CD-ROM² games, and a new type of Laserdisc-based format: Mega LD and LD-ROM² games.

Hardware

The LaserActive is a relatively large device, mostly to accommodate the large size of physical LaserDiscs. It is also capable of playing CD-ROMs.

Both Mega LD and LD-ROM² are encoded in the LD-ROM format, complete with a 540 MB data area (where digital audio would have normally been stored) with sixty minutes of analogue audio and video. Since are no region codes, software from either region can play on any system. Many games are even bilingual with options to choose between Japanese and English. PALCOM LaserDisc games will not play on the LaserActive since they are not compatible with NTSC systems.

PACs

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

Sega PAC (PAC-S10/PAC-S1)

See: Sega PAC

Sega PAC

The Sega PAC allows the system to play Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, and Sega Mega LD games. Shipping with the Pioneer-branded Six Button Control Pad (LaserActive), the PAC was reportedly the most popular expansion among owners of the system.

NEC PAC (PAC-N10/PAC-N1)

See: NEC PAC

Pioneer and NEC released this module, which allows users to play 8" and 12" LaserActive LD-ROM discs, as well as TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD discs, 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 US$600. The module comes with a PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 controller pad 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)

See: Karaoke PAC

The Karaoke PAC allows the system to play LaserKaraoke media, and features karaoke-oriented inputs and controls.

Computer Interface PAC (PAC-PC1)

See: Computer Interface PAC

The Computer Interface PAC allows the system to be controlled by a Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh personal computer, by way of a custom program authored to communicate via the PAC's 25-pin serial port. The PAC is the only Japan-exclusive peripheral for the system.

Peripherals

3D Goggle (GOL-1)

See: 3D Goggle

The 3D Goggle is an active shutter 3D glasses peripheral that allows viewing of certain three-dimensional content. The technology is cross-compatible with both the Sega Master System's 3-D Glasses and the Nintendo Family Computer's Family Computer 3D System.

3D Goggle Adaptor (ADP-1)

See: 3D Goggle Adaptor

The 3D Goggle Adaptor is a peripheral which allows a second user to simultaneously view three-dimensional content using an additional 3D Goggle.

Magazine articles

Main article: LaserActive/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: LaserActive/Promotional material.

Artwork

• 

  Mega LD logo

Images

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Physical scans

LaserActive, JP
Manual

PAC-S1, JP
Cover
Manual

External links

• Video Game Console Library
• LaserActive Preservation Project

References

NEC Retro has more information related to LaserActive