Difference between revisions of "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^[1]	CLD-A100
US	1993-09-13	$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.

Hardware

Mega LD & LD-ROM²

Certain games were developed to take advantage of the LaserDisc media. Similar to how the popular LaserDisc-based arcade game Dragon's Lair used special technology to add an interactive layer to the video, Mega LD and LD-ROM² could do the same. These two formats were rebranded versions of Philips' LD-ROM format, adapted for each's respective PAC. However, the format's generally 480i content had to be downsampled to 240p whenever developers wished to display additional on-screen graphics with their games (to match the resolution of the 16-bit hardware the format works with.)

PACs

The LaserActive is designed to be an expandable and widely-compatible system. In addition to its existing ability to play LaserDisc and LD-G formats, the system can be expanded with plug-in hardware called PACs. PACs expand the system's capabilities, such as the Sega PAC giving the system the capabilities of a Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega-CD combined, allowing for playback of additional formats such as CD-G. While PACs are generally region locked, Sega Mega LD and NEC LD-ROM² games are region free and will play on any NTSC system.

The PACs listed below are suffixed by (American model number/Japanese model number).

Sega PAC (PAC-S10/PAC-S1)

See: Sega PAC

The Sega PAC allows the system to play Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, and Sega Mega LD games, in addition to CD-G media. Like it's counterpart, the NEC PAC, it also expands the LaserDisc functionality of the system by adding advanced playback features like frame-by-frame view and multi-speed jogging.^[2]

NEC PAC (PAC-N10/PAC-N1)

See: NEC PAC

The NEC PAC allows the system to play NEC PC Engine, NEC PC Engine CD-ROM², and NEC LD-ROM² games, in addition to CD-G media. Like it's counterpart, the Sega PAC, it also expands the LaserDisc functionality of the system by adding advanced playback features like frame-by-frame view and multi-speed jogging.^[2]

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 an NEC PC-98, Microsoft Windows, or Apple Macintosh personal computer^[3], 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.

Magazine articles

Main article: LaserActive/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: LaserActive/Promotional material.

Artwork

Mega LD logo

Images

Physical scans

LaserActive, JP

Manual

PAC-S1, JP
Cover
Manual

External links

References

NEC Retro has more information related to LaserActive

LaserActive
Topics	Technical specifications \| List of games \| Magazine articles \| Promotional material \| LA Express \| Pioneer LDC \| Multimedia Creators Network
Hardware	Japan \| United States NEC PCE-LD1
Add-ons	Sega PAC \| NEC PAC \| Karaoke PAC \| Computer Interface PAC
Controllers	Control Pad \| Turbo Pad \| Remote Control Unit \| Computer Interface Pack Remote Control Unit
Accessories	3D Goggle \| 3D Goggle Adaptor \| Control Pad Extension Cord \| Turbo Pad Extension Cord \| Karaoke Microphone \| Karaoke Microphone (Key Control)

Sega Mega Drive
Topics	Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) \| History \| List of games \| Magazine articles \| Promotional material \| Merchandise \| Cartridges \| TradeMark Security System
Hardware	Japan \| North America \| Western Europe \| Eastern Europe \| South America \| Asia \| South Korea \| Australasia \| Africa EZ Games \| Genesis 3 \| LaserActive \| Mega Jet \| Mega PC \| Mega Play \| Mega-Tech System \| Mega 6 \| Nomad \| Teradrive \| Mega Drive Mini \| Mega Drive Mini 2 New Mega Drive \| Tianli VCD/DVD Players \| "Consoles on a chip" \| Licensed clones (Magic 2 \| Mega Game II \| Power Pegasus \| Super Bitman) Unlicensed clones
Add-ons	Game Box \| Power Base Converter \| Mega-CD \| 32X (Mega-CD 32X) \| Mega Modem \| Demo System DS-16
Cases	Sega Genesis Nomad Carrying Case \| System Carry Case
Controllers	Control Pad \| Six Button Control Pad \| 6 Button Arcade Pad \| Arcade Power Stick 6B \| Konami Justifier \| MK-1470 Action Chair \| Activator \| Arcade Power Stick \| Keyboard \| MegaFire \| Mouse \| Mega Stick \| Menacer \| Remote Arcade System \| Ten Key Pad \| Third Party Controllers
Accessories	4 Way Play \| AC adaptor \| Cleaning System \| Control Pad Extension Cord \| Game Factory \| Genesis Speakers \| Headset \| HeartBeat Catalyst \| Microphone \| Region converter cartridges \| Mega Terminal \| Nomad PowerBack \| RF Unit \| SCART Cable \| Stereo Audio Video Cable \| Team Player \| Video Monitor Cable \| Third-party AC adaptors \| Third Party Accessories
Network services	Sega Channel \| Sega Game Toshokan \| Mega Anser \| Mega Net \| TeleBradesco Residência \| XB∀ND
Development tools	ERX 308P \| ERX 318P \| Sprobe \| SNASM68K \| SNASM2 (Mega Drive) \| SNASM2 (32X) \| PSY-Q Development System (Mega Drive) \| PSY-Q Development System (32X) \| 32X CartDev \| Sega Mars Development Aid System \| Sega 32X Development Target
Unreleased	Edge 16 \| Floppy Disk Drive \| Mega Play 1010 \| Sega VR \| Teleplay System \| Video Jukebox

Sega Mega-CD
Topics	Technical specifications \| History \| Magazine articles \| Promotional material
Hardware	Mega CD (Asia \| North America \| Western Europe \| Eastern Europe \| South America \| Australasia \| Africa) Sega Multi-Mega (Asia \| North America \| Europe \| South America \| Australasia) Wondermega \| LaserActive \| CSD-G1M
Misc. hardware	CD BackUp RAM Cart \| Mega-CD Karaoke \| Pro CDX
Development tools	SNASM Mega-CD \| PsyQ Mega-CD SDK \| PSY-Q CD Emulation System (Mega-CD)
Unreleased hardware	Game Genie

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1993-10.pdf_p18-1] Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-08), page 18

[https:.2F.2Flaseractive.wordpress.com.2Fabout-the-laseractive.2F-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://laseractive.wordpress.com/about-the-laseractive/

[https:.2F.2Flaseractive.wordpress.com.2Fimage-gallery.2F.23jp-carousel-338-3] ttps://laseractive.wordpress.com/image-gallery/#jp-carousel-338

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-The '''Pioneer LaserActive''' (レーザーアクティブ) is a video game compatible [[wikipedia:LaserDisc|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, [[nec:PC Engine|PC Engine]] and [[nec:PC Engine CD-ROM²|PC Engine CD-ROM²]] games, and a new type of Laserdisc-based format: [[Mega LD]] and [[nec:LD-ROM²|LD-ROM²]] games.
+The '''Pioneer LaserActive''' (レーザーアクティブ) is a video game compatible [[wikipedia:LaserDisc|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, [[nec:PC Engine|PC Engine]] and [[nec:PC Engine CD-ROM²|PC Engine CD-ROM²]] games, and a new type of [[wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]-based format: '''Mega LD''' and '''LD-ROM²'''.
 ==Hardware==
-The Pioneer LaserActive is designed to be an expandable and widely-compatible system. In addition to its existing ability to play the LaserDisc and [[wikipedia:LD-G|LD-G]] formats, the system can be expanded with plug-in hardware called PACs. PACs expand the system's capabilities, such as the [[Sega PAC]] giving the system the capabilities of a [[Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Sega Mega-CD]] combined, allowing for playback of additional formats such as [[wikipedia:CD-G|CD-G]].
+===Mega LD & LD-ROM²===
+Certain games were developed to take advantage of the [[wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]] media. Similar to how the popular [[wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]-based arcade game [[wikipedia:Dragon's Lair|Dragon's Lair]] used special technology to add an interactive layer to the video, '''Mega LD''' and '''LD-ROM²''' could do the same. These two formats were rebranded versions of Philips' [[wikipedia:LD-ROM|LD-ROM]] format, adapted for each's respective PAC. However, the format's generally [[wikipedia:480i|480i]] content had to be downsampled to [[wikipedia:240p|240p]] whenever developers wished to display additional on-screen graphics with their games (to match the resolution of the 16-bit hardware the format works with.)
-While PACs are generally region locked, [[Sega Mega LD]] and [[nec:NEC LD-ROM²|NEC LD-ROM²]] games are region free and will play on any NTSC system.
+===PACs===
+The LaserActive is designed to be an expandable and widely-compatible system. In addition to its existing ability to play [[wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]] and [[wikipedia:LD-G|LD-G]] formats, the system can be expanded with plug-in hardware called PACs. PACs expand the system's capabilities, such as the [[Sega PAC]] giving the system the capabilities of a [[Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Sega Mega-CD]] combined, allowing for playback of additional formats such as [[wikipedia:CD-G|CD-G]]. While PACs are generally region locked, [[Sega Mega LD]] and [[nec:NEC LD-ROM²|NEC LD-ROM²]] games are region free and will play on any NTSC system.
-===PACs===
 The PACs listed below are suffixed by (American model number/Japanese model number).