LaserActive

Pioneer LaserActive

Manufacturer: Pioneer

Add-ons: Sega PAC, NEC PAC, Karaoke PAC, Computer Interface PAC, 3D Goggle

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 (パイオニア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 features interchangeable hardware expansions known as PACs, which enable compatibility with Mega Drive and Mega-CD games, PC Engine and PC Engine CD-ROM² games, and a new type of LaserDisc-based format: Sega Mega LD and NEC LD-ROM².

NEC produced a rebranded version of the system, the NEC PCE-LD1.^[2]^[3]

Hardware

A 1993 promotional photograph.

LaserDisc

The LaserActive plays all sizes of LaserDisc media. Considered a mid-range player in terms of playback quality, inserting a Sega PAC or NEC PAC expands the hardware with advanced playback features like frame-by-frame view and multi-speed jogging.^[4] The LaserActive cannot automatically switch between a disc's sides, and requires users to eject, flip, and re-insert discs halfway between most movies and software.

The system outputs in composite video (the format which all LaserDiscs are natively encoded in), and when playing video games, boasts superior video quality to both the Mega Drive and PC Engine's composite video output.

The hardware lacks the popular Dolby AC-3 surround sound capabilities found on later players, instead relying on software developers to encode spatial audio effects into their releases (usually Roland Corporation's RSS technology.)

Sega Mega LD & NEC LD-ROM²

Certain games were developed to take advantage of 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, Sega Mega LD and NEC LD-ROM² could do the same. These two formats were rebranded versions of Philips' LD-ROM format, adapted for each company'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 modules called PACs (sometimes stylized as Packs.) 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)

Main article: 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.^[4]

NEC PAC (PAC-N10/PAC-N1)

Main article: 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.^[4]

Karaoke PAC (PAC-K10/PAC-K1)

Main article: Karaoke PAC.

The Karaoke PAC allows the system to play LaserKaraoke media, and features karaoke-oriented inputs and controls.

Computer Interface PAC (PAC-PC1)

Main article: Computer Interface PAC.

The Computer Interface PAC allows the system to be controlled by an NEC PC-98, IBM PC DOS, or Apple Macintosh personal computer^[5], 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.

Technical specifications

Main article: LaserActive/Technical specifications.

History

Main article: History of the Pioneer LaserActive.

Localised names

Also known as
Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English (US)	Pioneer LaserActive	Pioneer LaserActive
Japanese	パイオニアレーザーアクティブ	Pioneer LaserActive

List of games

Main article: List of LaserActive games.

The following is a list of Pioneer LaserActive games. 34 games were published for the system, produced on Sega Mega LD or NEC LD-ROM² formats, and released in Japan or the United States.

Sega 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)
Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven Crystals (1994)
Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video (1994)
Ghost Rush! (1994)
Goku (1995)
The Great Pyramid (1993)
Hi-Roller Battle (1993)
Hyperion (1994)
I Will: The Story of London (1993)
J.B. Harold Blue Chicago Blues (1994)
Melon Brains (1994)
Pyramid Patrol (1993)
Road Blaster (1995)
Rocket Coaster (1993)
Space Berserker (1993)
Time Gal (1995)
Triad Stone (1994)
Virtual Cameraman (1993)
Virtual Cameraman 2 (1994)
Zapping Satsui (1994)
Bi Ryojon Collection Vol. 3 (unreleased)^[6]
Legacy (unreleased)^[6]^[7]
Myst (unreleased)^[6]^[8]
Steel Driver (unreleased)^[6]^[8]
UFO & ET (unreleased)^[6]^[9]

NEC 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 Ni (1994)
Zapping Satsui (1994)
Bi Ryojon Collection Vol. 3 (unreleased)^[6]
NHK Conversational Chinese (unreleased)^[6]^[8]
Ozone (I Will: The Story of London) (unreleased)^[6]
UFO & ET (unreleased)^[6]^[9]

Magazine articles

Main article: LaserActive/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: LaserActive/Promotional material.

Artwork

Sega Mega LD logo.

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

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