Pioneer LaserActive

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Pioneer LaserActive
Pioneer LaserActive.jpg
Manufacturer Pioneer Corporation
Generation Fifth generation
Release date 20 August 1993 (JP)

13 September 1993 (USA)

Media type CD, LD-ROM, cartridge

The Pioneer LaserActive is a converged device and fifth-generation 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) accepts Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine ROM cartridges and CD-ROMs.

Pioneer released the LaserActive model CLD-A100 in Japan on 20 August 1993 at a cost of ¥89,800, and in the United States on 13 September 1993 at a cost of US$970.

Technical specifications[edit]

Pioneer LaserActive specs.jpg







Add-ons[edit]

PAC modules[edit]

Sega PAC (PAC-S10 / PAC-S1)[edit]

PAC-S10.jpg
  • 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 the hundreds of existing Sega CD and Genesis titles, as well as standard CD+G discs. It comes with the usual Mega Drive/Genesis controller pad signed with a gold Pioneer LaserActive logo on it. The retail price was US$ 600.

NEC PAC (PAC-N10 / PAC-N1)[edit]

PAC-N1.jpg
  • 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 current TurboGrafx CD-ROM discs, game HuCards and CD+G discs. It comes with the usual TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine controller pad signed with a gold Pioneer LaserActive logo on it. The retail price was US$ 600.

Karaoke PAC (PAC-K10 / PAC-K1)[edit]

  • 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)[edit]

  • 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 Mac OS.

LaserActive 3-D Goggles[edit]

  • The LaserActive 3-D Goggles (model GOL-1) employ an active shutter 3D system compatible with at least four 3D-ready LD-ROM software titles: 3-D Museum (1994), Vajra 2 (1994), and Virtual Cameraman 2 (1994), and 3D Virtual Australia (1996). 3D Virtual Australia was the last software title published for the LaserActive.
  • The goggles are also compatible with the Sega Master System, and are interchangeable with the SegaScope 3-D Glasses. 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.