Question about the Pioneer LaserActive...

[dave4shmups]

I'm interested in Laser Disc games, and the LaserActive. Can the LaserActive play any Laser Disc game, or only the "special" LaserActive LD games that were made for the system? In other words, could you pop Firefox into the LaserActive, and be able to play it?

[Fudoh]

no, just LD-Rom² discs with the PCE pak and Mega LDs with the MD pak.

[SuperDeadite]

LA games and arcade LDs work differently. Arcade games use a standard disc for the video, and a pcb with roms for the sprites and overlay hardware.

The LA discs actually store the sprites and game data on the digital tracks of the disc. The overlays are done by the player itself, however it can't actually do them from real time streaming, it actually loads chunks at a time into the digital memory.

[dave4shmups]

LA games and arcade LDs work differently. Arcade games use a standard disc for the video, and a pcb with roms for the sprites and overlay hardware.

The LA discs actually store the sprites and game data on the digital tracks of the disc. The overlays are done by the player itself, however it can't actually do them from real time streaming, it actually loads chunks at a time into the digital memory.

Gotcha. What about Laser Disc movies?

[SuperDeadite]

On an LA? They work fine. Though you should eject any game PACs as with a PAC inserted they get poorly downscaled to 240p. With no PAC they run in their native 480i. A lot of people will tell you the LA is a poor LD video player, but honestly it's midrange. Biggest thing it lacks is auto-flip.

[NightSprinter]

Movies alone are fine. You may need a remote to access certain features of movies (like additonal audio tracks that my collector's box set of TRON has). I think the biggest issue with the LaserActive is its hellishly-high price. People are now wanting at least a thousand dollars for a working one, and even more for either or BOTH of the game system expansions.

[noonan2678]

Maybe a reply for the trading thread, but I have a LA, great condition, Sega Pac, branded LA Sega controller, official remote and a couple of discs.

I've been considering selling it, but not sure if I want to and didn't want to go through the hassle of trying to find a buyer. Let me know if you're interested.

If not, I could probably answer other questions as well.

[SuperDeadite]

Was your Sega PAC recapped? Sega PACs are ticking time-bombs they destroy themselves due to leaking caps.

[noonan2678]

Was your Sega PAC recapped? Sega PACs are ticking time-bombs they destroy themselves due to leaking caps.

Likely not as I've had it for many years. I've used the PAC very, very little, so likely that it's not something that couldn't easily still be done. I'll open it up and happy to take pictures if there is general interest...