LaserActive

The LaserActive (レーザーアクティブ, RēzāAkutibu) is a converged device and fourth-generation home video game console capable of playing LaserDiscs, Compact Discs, console games, and LD-G karaoke discs. It was released by Pioneer Corporation in 1993. In addition to LaserActive games, separately sold add-on modules (called "PACs" by Pioneer) accept Mega Drive/Genesis and PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 ROM cartridges and CD-ROMs.

LaserActive

LaserActive CLD-A100 with the Sega Genesis module
Manufacturer	Pioneer Corporation
Product family	LaserDisc
Type	Converged device, home video game console
Generation	Fourth
Release date	JP: August 20, 1993 NA: September 13, 1993
Lifespan	1993–1996
Introductory price	¥89,800 $970.00
Discontinued	1996
Units sold	est. 10,000[1]
Media	LD-ROM, CD-ROM, ROM cartridge, Hucard
Controller input	Sega Genesis 6-Button Controller Turbografx-16 Controller
Backward compatibility	PC Engine PC Engine CD-ROM² Super CD-ROM² Mega-CD/Sega CD Mega Drive/Genesis

Pioneer released the LaserActive model CLD-A100 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. An NEC-branded version of the LaserActive player known as the LD-ROM² System, or model PCE-LD1, was released in December 1993, which was priced identically to the original system and also accepted Pioneer's PAC modules.^[2]

Accessories

PAC modules

The Japanese LaserActive shown with the Sega and NEC pacs

In the headings below, the Japanese model number occurs first, followed by the North American model number.

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

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 standard Sega CD discs and Genesis cartridges, as well as CD+G discs. It was the most popular add-on bought by the greater part of the LaserActive owners, costing roughly US $600. It comes with a LaserActive-branded version of Sega's 6-button control pad (CPD-S1).

LD-ROM² PAC (PAC-N1 / PAC-N10)

Pioneer Electronics (USA) and NEC Home Electronics released this module that allows users to play 8-inch and 12-inch LaserActive LD-ROM² discs, as well as CD-ROM² and Super CD-ROM² discs, HuCards and CD+G discs. The Japanese version of the PAC can also run Arcade CD-ROM² discs through the use of an Arcade Card Duo. The retail price was US $600. It came with a LaserActive-branded version of NEC's Turbo Pad (CPD-N1/CPD-N10). An NEC branded version of the LD-ROM² PAC known as the PC Engine PAC (model PCE-LP1) was also released. Due to the unpopularity of the TurboGrafx-16 in North America, very few PAC-N10 units were produced, resulting in their scarcity compared to its Sega counterpart.

Karaoke PAC (PAC-K1 / PAC-K10)

This PAC allows the CLD-A100 to use 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)

The Computer Interface PAC has an RS-232 port, enabling the CLD-A100 to be controlled by a custom software developed for a home computer. The PAC came with a 33-button infrared remote control providing more functionality than the 24-button remote included with the CLD-A100. It also included a computer program called LaserActive Program Editor on floppy disk for DOS and classic Mac OS. The floppy disks had some sample programs created with the editor for use with the first five LaserDiscs in the Tenchi Muyo! anime series.

LaserActive 3-D Goggles

The LaserActive 3-D Goggles (model GOL-1) employ an active shutter 3D system compatible with at least six 3D-ready LD-ROM software titles: 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 software title published for the LaserActive.

They can also be used to view 3-D images from autostereograms.^[3]

A goggle adapter (model ADP-1), packaged and sold separately from the 3-D Goggles, enables the user to connect one or two pairs of goggles 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[4]

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
3D Museum	No	Yes	1994	PEANU1012	1994	PEASU1012
Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven Crystals	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASU5022
Ghost Rush!	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU1018
Goku	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU1010
The Great Pyramid	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU5002
Hi-Roller Battle	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU1002
Hyperion	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASU5019
I Will: The Story of London	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU1001
J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago Blues	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU5036
J.B. Harold - Manhattan Requiem	Yes	Yes	1993	PEANU5004	Unavailable as Mega LD
Melon Brains	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASU1011
Myst	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		Unreleased
Pyramid Patrol	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU5001
Quiz Econosaurus	Yes	Yes	1993	PEANU5001	Unavailable as Mega LD
Road Prosecutor[a]	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU1033
Rocket Coaster	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU5013
Space Berserker	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASU1003
Triad Stone	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASU5014
Vajra	No	Yes	1993	PEANU1001	Unavailable as Mega LD

1. Road Prosecutor is the localized title of Road Blaster (aka Road Avenger).

Japanese market

Title	Language options		LD-ROM²		Mega LD
	Japanese	English	Release date	Catalog number	Release date	Catalog number
3D Museum	No	Yes	1994	PEANJ1012	1994	PEASJ1012
3D Virtual Australia[a]	Yes	No	11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)	PEASJ5042	Unavailable as Mega LD
Akuma no Shinban (Demon's Judgment)[a]	Yes	No	1993	PEANJ5003	Unavailable as Mega LD
Angel Mate[a]	Yes	No	1993	PEANJ5002	Unavailable as Mega LD
Back to the Edo[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5021
Billusion Collection: Minayo Watanabe[a]	Yes	No	1994	PEANJ5025	1994	PEASJ5025
Billusion Collection, Vol. 2: Yuko Sakaki[a]	Yes	No	1994	PEANJ5028	1994	PEASJ5028
Don Quixote: A Dream in Seven Crystals	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5022
Dora Dora Paradise[a]	Yes	No	1994	PEANJ5005	Unavailable as Mega LD
Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5030
Ghost Rush!	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ1018
Goku	Yes	No	1995	PEANJ1032	1995	PEASJ1010
The Great Pyramid	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ5002
Hi-Roller Battle	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ1002
Hyperion	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5019
I Will: The Story of London	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ1001
J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago Blues	Yes	Yes	1994	PEANJ5017	1995	PEASJ5036
J.B. Harold - Manhattan Requiem	Yes	Yes	1993	PEANJ5004	Unavailable as Mega LD
Melon Brains	Yes	No	1994	PEANJ1031	1994	PEASJ1011
Pyramid Patrol	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ5001
Quiz Econosaurus	Yes	Yes	1993	PEANJ5001	Unavailable as Mega LD
Road Blaster	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASU1033
Rocket Coaster	No	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	?
Space Berserker	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ1003
Time Gal[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1995	PEASJ5039
Triad Stone	Yes	Yes	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5014
Vajra	No	Yes	1993	PEANJ1001	Unavailable as Mega LD
Vajra 2[a]	No	Yes	1994	PEANJ1016	Unavailable as Mega LD
Virtual Cameraman[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1993	PEASJ5015
Virtual Cameraman 2: Phuket, Thailand / Pickup Compilation[a]	Yes	No	Unavailable as LD-ROM²		1994	PEASJ5020
Zapping "Satsui"[a]	Yes	Yes	1994	PEANJ5023	1994	PEASJ5024

1. Released only in Japan.

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.^[5]

See also

• LD-ROM
• Edutainment
• Multimedia PC