Popular in Japan for use in the Love Hotel circuit (after all you need something to do during your down time), this beast combines the PC Engine, Sega MegaDrive, Karaoke and Laserdisc player all in one XBOX-sized steel case. A collector's dream, and the grand daddy of all video game systems - the Pioneer LaserActive. Moreover, LaserActive plays the 31 extremely hard to find LaserActive games such as Melon Brain, Space Berserker and Angel Mate.

While if you look hard enough, you can probably find a Japanese version of the console, it is rumored that the US version is uber rare with very few units being sold stateside. And with a price tag of $970 for the base unit, it's easy to understand why. The LaserActive is believed to be one of the most expensive game consoles ever released. With a total cost topping out at about $3000, back in the day, you needed to mortgage your house to purchase the complete system with some games.

The greatest feature of the LaserActive was the separately sold add-on modules, referred to as PACs by Pioneer, which allowed you to play PC Engine games, Mega Drive/Sega Genesis games or sing Karaoke to your favorite Amuro Namie tunes. Wanna play Phantasy Star? Just hit the eject button, and replace the PC Engine PAC with the Mega Drive (or Sega Genesis) PAC. Feel like belting out your own rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," pop out the game PAC, and slam in the Karaoke PAC and your ready to go. This was truly an all-in-one system.

Other features include digital audio, control ports for PC Engine or Mega Drive/Sega Genesis controllers (PAC specific), microphone jack, ability to play audio CD's, and remote control. One of the rarest accessories for the LaserActive are the 3-D goggles. At its release, the system was touted as "the industry's first multi-platform system to combine high-quality full motion video, digital sound and interactive capabilities. In its press release, the company's president, Mr. "Fo' Sho" Yamada boasted, "LaserActive offers an unprecedented level of interactive performance. It achieves the highest quality full motion interactive video possible and realizes the potential for future compatibility with other multimedia formats. Based on its future viability, LaserActive will not only expand the LaserDisc business, but will create an industry-wide demand for more sophisticated interactive home entertainment."

Unfortunately, the steep price tag prevented the LaserActive from reaching its potential. The LaserActive, however, is truly a collector's gem and one of Pink Gorilla's favorite systems. What's not to love about a system that can play PC Engine Hu Cards, all the PC Engine CD-ROM formats for any region, Mega Drive and Genesis carts, Mega CD games, and the elusive LaserActive games.

Plug-in Modules

The SEGA PAC - PAC-S10/PAC-S1

Pioneer Electronics in collaboration with SEGA Enterprises released this module allowing users to play 8-inch and 12-inch LaserActive Mega LD discs in addition to the hundreds of existing Mega CDs, Mega Drive and Genesis ROM cartridges, and standard CD+G discs. It was the most popular add-on that the greater part of the LaserActive owners bought at the price of $600. It came with the usual Mega Drive/Sega Genesis control pad printed with a gold Pioneer LaserActive logo.

NEC PAC - PAC-N10/PAC-N1

Pioneer Electronics with NEC Home Electronics released this module that allow users to play 8-inch and 12-inch LaserActive LD-ROM 2 discs, as well as current PC Engine and Turbo Graphx 16 CD-ROM discs, PC Engine Hu Cards and CD+G discs. This PAC is really hard to find. Note: the Japanese version of the PAC cannot play USA NEC Hu Card games, and vice versa. But for the USA version, there does exist a third party universal cartridge adapter, which allows you to play all the Japanese titles. The PAC comes with the usual PC-Engine/TurboGrafx control pad emblazoned with a gold Pioneer LaserActive mark on it.

KARAOKE PAC - PAC-K10/PAC-K1

This PAC allows you to fully utilize all NTSC Laser Karaoke titles. The front panel has two microphone inputs with separate volume and key control. The retail price was $350.

Software Titles

LaserActive's LD-based games originally retailed for $120 a piece.

3-D Museum
3D Virtual Australia
Angel Mate
Back To The Edo
Don Quixote
The Demon's Judgment
Dr. Paolo No Totteoki Video
Ghost Rush!
Goku
The Great Pyramid
High Roller Battle
Hyperion
I Will: The Story of London
J.B. Harold - Blue Chicago Blues
J.B. Harold - Manhattan Requiem
Manhattan Requiem
Melon Brain
Pretty Illusion - Minayo Watanabe
Pretty Illusion - Yuko Sakaki
Pyramid Patrol
Quiz Econosaurus
Road Blaster
Rocket Coaster
Space Berserker
Time Gal
Triad Stone
Varja
Vajra 2
Virtual Cameraman
Virtual Cameraman 2
Zapping TV Satsui

At a glance:
RELEASE DATE:
US - October 1, 1993
Japan - August of 1993
ORIGINAL PRICE:
Base Unit - $970
PC Engine PAC - $600
Mega Drive/Genesis PAC - $600
Karaoke PAC - $300
Media: Laserdisc; Hu Card (PC Engine); Compact Disc (PC Engine & Mega CD); Cartridge (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
REGION:
US and JAPAN
COMPATIBILITY:
PC Engine/Turbo Grafx 16 CD-based games are region free; Sega Carts are region free; but Hu Cards and Sega CDs are region locked.

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