Difference between revisions of "LaserActive"
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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 Laserdisc-based format: [[Mega LD]] and [[nec:LD-ROM²|LD-ROM²]] games. | ||
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==Hardware== | ==Hardware== |
Revision as of 06:12, 15 June 2021
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LaserActive | |||||||||||||||
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Manufacturer: Pioneer | |||||||||||||||
Variants: NEC PDE-LD1 | |||||||||||||||
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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.
Contents
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
Pioneer and Sega 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 US$600, and was the most popular add-on bought by LaserActive owners. It comes with a 6-button Mega Drive/Genesis controller that bears a gold Pioneer LaserActive logo.
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)
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.
List of Games
Mega LD
- 3D Museum (1994)
- 3D Virtual Australia (1995)
- Back to the Edo (1994)
- Bi Ryojon Collection: Minayo Watanabe (1994)
- Bi Ryojon Collection Vol. 2: Yuko Sakaki (1995)
- Blue Chicago Blues (1994)
- Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven Crystals (1994)
- Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video
- Ghost Rush! (1994)
- Goku (1995)
- The Great Pyramid (1993)
- Hi-Roller Battle (1993)
- Hyperion (1994)
- I Will: The Story of London (1993)
- Melon Brains (1994)
- Pyramid Patrol (1993)
- Road Prosecutor (1995)
- Rocket Coaster (1993)
- Space Berserker (1993)
- Time Gal (1995)
- Triad Stone (1994)
- Virtual Cameraman (1993)
- Virtual Cameraman 2 (1994)
- Zapping TV Satsui (1994)
LD-ROM²
- Akuma no Shinban (1993)
- Angel Mate (1993)
- Bi Ryojon Collection: Minayo Watanabe (1994)
- Bi Ryojon Collection Vol. 2: Yuko Sakaki (1995)
- Dora Dora Paradise (1994)
- Manhattan Requiem (1993)
- Quiz Econosaurus (1993)
- Vajra (1993)
- Vajra 2 (1994)
- Zapping TV Satsui (1994)
Unreleased
Magazine articles
- Main article: LaserActive/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-11: "November 1993" (1993-10-08)[5]
- Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-12: "December 1993" (1993-11-08)[6]
also published in:
- Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-08: "August 1994" (1994-07-08)[7]
Photo gallery
Artwork
Physical scans
External links
References
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-08), page 18
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 https://laseractive.wordpress.com/laseractive-release-database/
- ↑ https://laseractive.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/cancelled-laseractive-game-legacy/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-01-04 21:37)
- ↑ https://laseractive.wordpress.com/interviews/
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1993" (JP; 1993-10-08), page 22
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1993" (JP; 1993-11-08), page 20
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 129
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-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 |