LaserActive
From Sega Retro
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| LaserActive | |||||
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| Manufacturer: Pioneer | |||||
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The Pioneer LaserActive 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 originally released in 1993.
The LaserActive is notable in Sega circles due to a deal struck between Pioneer and Sega, allowing for the creation of a PAC for both the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega CD. On top of this, the added functionality of the device led to a brand new Mega Drive LaserDisc-based game format titled "Mega LD". Other modules were created to support NEC's TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine console, 3D glasses and karaoke discs.
The LaserActive is not fondly remembered, as the LaserDisc 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 Mega LD compatible players, the Mega LD format also faded into nonexistence. NEC also released a cloned version of the system, identified as the NEC PDE-LD1. Both systems supported the additional PAC modules interchangeably.
Contents
Modules
The plug-in modules listed below are suffixed by (American model number/Japanese model number).
Sega PAC (PAC-S10/PAC-S1)
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)
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)
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 US$350.
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, as they both worked in the same way and had identical connectors.
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 3-D content simultaneously.
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. 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.
| 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 | |
| Hi-Roller Battle | U.S. | Sega | 1993 | PEASU1002 |
| Hi-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 |