LaserActive

The Template:Nihongo is a hybrid LaserDisc player and home video game console released by Pioneer Corporation in 1993. Marketed as a high-end, modular entertainment system, it was designed to combine movies, music, and video games into a single unit. Out of the box, the base unit could natively play standard LaserDiscs and Compact discs, but support for video games required optional expansion modules known as PACs. Each PAC enabled compatibility with a specific gaming platform and its media formats.

With the Mega-LD PAC, the system could play exclusive Mega-LD discs (a proprietary LD-ROM format), as well as Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges and Sega CD/Mega-CD discs. With the LD-ROM² PAC, it supported exclusive LD-ROM² discs, along with HuCard cartridges and CD-ROM² discs for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16. The LaserActive was the only system capable of playing LD-ROM game discs, which were not cross-compatible between PACs.

Pioneer released LaserActive model CLD-A100 in Japan on August 20, 1993, for Template:JPY, and in North America on September 13, 1993, for Template:USD. An NEC-branded version of the player, the LD-ROM² System (model PCE-LD1), launched in December 1993 at the same price and was fully compatible with Pioneer's PAC modules.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The LaserActive was discontinued in 1996, with approximately 10,000 units sold.<ref name="sales">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Accessories

PAC modules

File:Pioneer LaserActive CLD-A100.jpg

LaserActive CLD-A100 and on top are, from left: Mega-LD PAC with controller, standard 24-button remote, and LD-ROM² PAC with controller

Pioneer released several expansion modules, known as "PACs," which enabled the LaserActive to play software from other platforms and expand its capabilities. In each case, the Japanese model number is listed first, followed by the North American version.

Mega-LD PAC (PAC-S1 / PAC-S10)

Developed with Sega, this PAC enabled support for Mega-LD software as well as standard Sega Genesis cartridges, Sega CD discs, and CD+G discs. It included a LaserActive-branded 6-button Genesis controller (model CPD-S1) and retailed for Template:USD.<ref name="LaserActive Press Release">Template:Cite press release</ref> It was the most widely adopted module among LaserActive owners.

LD-ROM² PAC (PAC-N1 / PAC-N10)

Developed with NEC, this PAC added support for LD-ROM² titles, along with HuCard cartridges, CD-ROM² discs, and CD+G discs. The Japanese model could also play Arcade CD-ROM² titles using an Arcade Card Duo. Like the Sega module, it sold for Template:USD and included a branded Turbo Pad (CPD-N1/CPD-N10). NEC also released a version in their branding called the PC Engine PAC (model PCE-LP1). Due to the TurboGrafx-16's limited success in North America, the PAC-N10 is significantly rarer than its Sega counterpart.

Karaoke PAC (PAC-K1)

This PAC enabled playback of the LD-ROM-based LaserKaraoke (LD-G) discs. It featured two microphone inputs with individual volume and tone controls. Retail price was approximately Template:USD.<ref name="LaserActive Press Release" />

Computer Interface PAC (PAC-PC1)

This PAC was equipped with an RS-232 port, allowing the CLD-A100 to be controlled with custom computer software. It shipped with a 33-button infrared remote (more advanced than the standard 24-button remote) and a DOS/Classic Mac OS program called LaserActive Program Editor on floppy disk, including demo programs for the Tenchi Muyo! LaserDisc series.

LaserActive 3-D Goggles

The LaserActive 3-D Goggles (model GOL-1) used an active shutter 3D system compatible with several LD-ROM titles, including 3-D Museum (1994), Vajra 2 (1994), Virtual Cameraman 2 (1994), Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video (1994), Goku (1995), and 3D Virtual Australia (1996), the last official LaserActive release.

The goggles could also display 3D autostereogram images.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> A separate goggle adapter (model ADP-1) allowed one or two goggles to connect to the CLD-A100.

Software

The LaserActive uses a unique disc format called LD-ROM (LaserDisc Read-Only Memory). Like the LV-ROM format on which it is based, the LD-ROM is an optical disc format that can store analog video, analog audio, and computer files (in a file system) on the same side of a disc. LD-ROMs do not use the same file system as LV-ROMs, however; also, an LD-ROM can store up to 540 megabytes of file data, compared with LV-ROM's 324. An LD-ROM can store up to 60 minutes of analog audio and video alongside the digital file system.Template:Fact

The tables below list 31 software titles released on LD-ROM for the LaserActive; of these, 13 were released only in Japan. 23 of the 31 were made for the Mega LD PAC, and 15 were made for the LD-ROM² PAC. Only a handful of titles were released in both formats.

One additional title listed below, Myst, was never officially released for the LaserActive. Circa 1995, a game developer named Brian Rice (of Brian Rice Inc.) was leading the conversion of Myst to Mega LD. Conversion was almost entirely complete, and the game was to be published by Sunsoft. But, Rice encountered a major problem. Normally, an animated dissolve or wipe effect transitioned the view when the player moved between scenes in the game. Each transition animation had six frames. Yet in some circumstances, the animation did not stop at the sixth frame, but continued to shift the player's view to other scenes in the game. Rice ascribed the runaway animation to a bug in the LaserActive hardware. Development and publication were scrapped.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Another unreleased game, called Steel Driver, is rumored to exist.

North American market

Title	Language options		LD-ROM²		Mega LD
	Japanese	English	Release date	Catalog number	Release date	Catalog number
scope="row" Template:Rh | 3D Museum	Template:No	Template:Yes	1994	PEANU1012	1994	PEASU1012
scope="row" Template:Rh | Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven Crystals	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASU5022
scope="row" Template:Rh | Ghost Rush!	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1995	PEASU1018
scope="row" Template:Rh | Goku	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1995	PEASU1010
scope="row" Template:Rh | The Great Pyramid	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASU5002
scope="row" Template:Rh | Hi-Roller Battle	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASU1002
scope="row" Template:Rh | Hyperion	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASU5019
scope="row" Template:Rh | I Will: The Story of London	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASU1001
scope="row" Template:Rh | J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago Blues	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1995	PEASU5036
scope="row" Template:Rh | J.B. Harold - Manhattan Requiem	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	1993	PEANU5004	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Melon Brains	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASU1011
scope="row" Template:Rh2 | Myst	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	colspan="2" Template:Beta
scope="row" Template:Rh | Pyramid Patrol	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASU5001
scope="row" Template:Rh | Quiz Econosaurus	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	1993	PEANU5001	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Road ProsecutorTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1995	PEASU1033
scope="row" Template:Rh | Rocket Coaster	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASU5013
scope="row" Template:Rh | Space Berserker	Template:Yes	Template:No	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASU1003
scope="row" Template:Rh | Triad Stone	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASU5014
scope="row" Template:Rh | Vajra	Template:No	Template:Yes	1993	PEANU1001	colspan="2" Template:N/A

Japanese market

Title	Language options		LD-ROM²		Mega LD
	Japanese	English	Release date	Catalog number	Release date	Catalog number
scope="row" Template:Rh | 3D Museum	Template:No	Template:Yes	1994	PEANJ1012	1994	PEASJ1012
scope="row" Template:Rh | 3D Virtual AustraliaTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	Template:Start date	PEASJ5042	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Akuma no Shinban (Demon's Judgment)Template:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	1993	PEANJ5003	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Angel MateTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	1993	PEANJ5002	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Back to the EdoTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASJ5021
scope="row" Template:Rh | Billusion Collection: Minayo WatanabeTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	1994	PEANJ5025	1994	PEASJ5025
scope="row" Template:Rh | Billusion Collection, Vol. 2: Yuko SakakiTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	1994	PEANJ5028	1994	PEASJ5028
scope="row" Template:Rh | Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven Crystals	Template:Yes	Template:No	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASJ5022
scope="row" Template:Rh | Dora Dora ParadiseTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	1994	PEANJ5005	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Dr. Paolo no Totteoki VideoTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASJ5030
scope="row" Template:Rh | Ghost Rush!	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASJ1018
scope="row" Template:Rh | Goku	Template:Yes	Template:No	1995	PEANJ1032	1995	PEASJ1010
scope="row" Template:Rh | The Great Pyramid	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASJ5002
scope="row" Template:Rh | Hi-Roller Battle	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASJ1002
scope="row" Template:Rh | Hyperion	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASJ5019
scope="row" Template:Rh | I Will: The Story of London	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASJ1001
scope="row" Template:Rh | J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago Blues	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	1994	PEANJ5017	1995	PEASJ5036
scope="row" Template:Rh | J.B. Harold - Manhattan Requiem	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	1993	PEANJ5004	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Melon Brains	Template:Yes	Template:No	1994	PEANJ1031	1994	PEASJ1011
scope="row" Template:Rh | Pyramid Patrol	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASJ5001
scope="row" Template:Rh | Quiz Econosaurus	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	1993	PEANJ5001	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Road Blaster	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1995	PEASU1033
scope="row" Template:Rh | Rocket Coaster	Template:No	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	Template:Dunno
scope="row" Template:Rh | Space Berserker	Template:Yes	Template:No	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASJ1003
scope="row" Template:Rh | Time GalTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1995	PEASJ5039
scope="row" Template:Rh | Triad Stone	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASJ5014
scope="row" Template:Rh | Vajra	Template:No	Template:Yes	1993	PEANJ1001	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Vajra 2Template:Efn	Template:No	Template:Yes	1994	PEANJ1016	colspan="2" Template:N/A
scope="row" Template:Rh | Virtual CameramanTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1993	PEASJ5015
scope="row" Template:Rh | Virtual Cameraman 2: Phuket, Thailand / Pickup CompilationTemplate:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:No	colspan="2" Template:N/A	1994	PEASJ5020
scope="row" Template:Rh | Zapping "Satsui"Template:Efn	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	1994	PEANJ5023	1994	PEASJ5024

Contemporary devices

In the early 1990s, a number of consumer electronics manufacturers designed converged devices around CD-ROM technology. At the time, CD-ROM systems were expensive. The LaserActive was one of several multipurpose, multi-format, upmarket home entertainment systems with software stored on optical discs. These systems were premised on early conceptions of multimedia entertainment.

Some comparable systems are the Commodore CDTV, Philips CD-i, 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, and Tandy Video Information System.

Reception

Computer Gaming World in January 1994 stated that although LaserActive was "a better product in many ways" than 3DO, it lacked software and the NEC and Sega control packs were too expensive.<ref name="cgw199401">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

See also

• LD-ROM
• Edutainment
• Multimedia PC

External links

• Pioneer LaserActive at Computer Closet
• Pioneer LaserActive Template:Webarchive at laserdiscarchive.co.uk
• LaserActive Preservation Project