LaserActive
From Sega Retro
The Pioneer LaserActive (CLD-A100) is a Laserdisc player by the company Pioneer, which allows the user to plug in additional modules (called PACs). One of these allow the user to play Sega Mega Drive / Genesis and Sega Mega CD / SegaCD games. It can also display Mega Drive graphics over streamed video from compatible Laserdiscs; this format, called Mega LD, received only a handful of games. Furthermore, 3D glasses were usable with compatible discs, and other modules allowed the user to play TurboGrafx 16 games and karaoke discs.
The Pioneer CLD-A100 system 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 US. 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 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.
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 |