LaserActive
From Sega Retro
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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 Pioneer LaserActive is designed to be an expandable and widely-compatible system. In addition to its existing ability to play the 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.
PACs
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)
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 |
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 Manual |
| PAC-S1, JP |
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   Cover
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 Manual |
External links
References
 NEC Retro has more information related to LaserActive
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| 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 |