LaserActive
A modular LaserDisc player that played video games via expansion PACs.
The LaserActive, released by Pioneer Corporation in 1993, was a hybrid device that functioned as both a LaserDisc player and a home video game console. It was marketed as a high-end, modular entertainment system meant to bring together movies, music, and video games in one unit. The base model could play standard LaserDiscs and compact discs without any extras, but playing video games required optional expansion modules called PACs. Each PAC allowed the system to work with a specific gaming platform and its media. The Mega-LD PAC (PAC-S1 in Japan, PAC-S10 in North America) was developed with Sega. It let the LaserActive play exclusive Mega-LD discs (a proprietary LD-ROM format), along with Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges and Sega CD/Mega-CD discs. It came with a six-button Genesis controller branded for the LaserActive and was the most popular PAC among owners. The LD-ROM² PAC (PAC-N1 in Japan, PAC-N10 in North America) was developed with NEC and added support for exclusive LD-ROM² discs, HuCard cartridges, and CD-ROM² discs for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16. The Japanese version could also play Arcade CD-ROM² titles with an Arcade Card Duo. This PAC included a branded Turbo Pad. Because the TurboGrafx-16 was less successful in North America, the PAC-N10 is much rarer than its Sega counterpart. The LaserActive was the only system that could play LD-ROM game discs, and those discs were not interchangeable between the two PACs. The LaserActive model CLD-A100 launched in Japan on August 20, 1993, and in North America on September 13, 1993. An NEC-branded version, the LD-ROM² System (model PCE-LD1), came out in December 1993 at the same price and was fully compatible with Pioneer’s PAC modules. The system was discontinued in 1996, with about 10,000 units sold. Other accessories included the Karaoke PAC (PAC-K1), which played LD-ROM-based LaserKaraoke (LD-G) discs and had two microphone inputs with individual volume and tone controls. The Computer Interface PAC (PAC-PC1) had an RS-232 port for computer control, came with a 33-button infrared remote, and included a floppy disk with the LaserActive Program Editor for MS-DOS and Classic Mac OS, plus demo programs for the Tenchi Muyo! LaserDisc series.
Quick Facts
- Aka
- NEC LD-ROM² System
- Manufacturer
- Pioneer Corporation
- Family
- LaserDisc
- Generation
- Fourth
- Release Date
- JP · August 20, 1993 · NA · September 13, 1993
- Discontinued
- 1996
- Units Sold
- est. 10,000
- Media
- Native: LaserDisc, CD · With LD-ROM² PAC: LD-ROM (LDROM²), CD-ROM (CD-ROM²), Hucard · With Mega-LD PAC: LD-ROM (MegaLD), CD-ROM (Mega-CD/Sega CD), Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges
- Controllers
- Sega Genesis 6-Button Controller · Turbografx-16 Controller
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The LaserActive was released as model CLD-A100 in Japan on August 20, 1993, and in North America on September 13, 1993. An NEC-branded version, the LD-ROM² System (model PCE-LD1), launched in December 1993 at the same price and was fully compatible with Pioneer's PAC modules. The system was discontinued in 1996, with approximately 10,000 units sold. Pioneer released several expansion modules known as PACs. The Mega-LD PAC (PAC-S1 / PAC-S10), developed with Sega, enabled support for Mega-LD software as well as standard Genesis cartridges, Sega CD discs, and CD+G discs. It included a LaserActive-branded 6-button Genesis controller and was the most widely adopted module. The LD-ROM² PAC (PAC-N1 / PAC-N10), developed with NEC, added support for LD-ROM² titles, HuCard cartridges, CD-ROM² discs, and CD+G discs. The Japanese model could also play Arcade CD-ROM² titles using an Arcade Card Duo. 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. Other accessories included the Karaoke PAC (PAC-K1) for LaserKaraoke discs, the Computer Interface PAC (PAC-PC1) with an RS-232 port and a 33-button infrared remote, and the LaserActive 3-D Goggles (model GOL-1) using an active shutter 3D system compatible with several LD-ROM titles. The goggles could also display 3D autostereogram images.
Reader's Guide
The LaserActive occupies a unique place in video game history as a converged multimedia device that attempted to unify LaserDisc movies, music CDs, and multiple game platforms into a single high-end system. Its modular PAC approach allowed it to play software from Sega and NEC platforms, making it the only system capable of playing LD-ROM game discs. However, the high cost of the base unit and the additional expense of each PAC module limited its market appeal. Computer Gaming World in January 1994 noted that although the LaserActive was 'a better product in many ways' than the 3DO, it lacked software and the control packs were too expensive. With only approximately 10,000 units sold, the LaserActive remains a rare collector's item. Its legacy includes a small library of 31 LD-ROM titles, of which 13 were Japan-only, and one unreleased conversion of Myst that was scrapped due to a hardware bug causing runaway animation transitions. The system's use of LD-ROM discs—storing up to 540 megabytes of digital data alongside analog video and audio—represented an early attempt at interactive multimedia on optical disc, comparable to the Commodore CDTV, Philips CD-i, 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, and Tandy Video Information System.
Did You Know?
- The LaserActive was the only system capable of playing LD-ROM game discs, which were not cross-compatible between PACs.
- The last official LaserActive release was 3D Virtual Australia in 1996, compatible with the 3-D Goggles.
- A conversion of Myst for the Mega LD PAC was nearly complete but scrapped due to a hardware bug causing runaway animation transitions.
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