Year of Release: 1993, Discontinued in 1995
Quick Overview: Another all-in-one product, the Pioneer LaserActive entered the gaming market in the early 90s to compete with Panasonic’s 3DO. To its credit, it was one of the only multi-platform consoles released in its day, though it required an expansion module in order to play, adding on to an already expensive price. Its Laserdisc games (LD-ROMS), were apt to scratches due to an awkward size.
Best Game on the System: Road Prosecutor
As part of the Road Blaster canon, the Laserdisc version of the famous arcade game was a continuation of a trusted gaming franchise. Not that it was superior to its original, or any of its successors (PlayStation, Sega), but it was well received by critics during its release in 1994.
Reason for Downfall: Too many additional things to buy and utilized failed Laserdisc technology
Because of the LaserActive’s dependence on add-ons, consumers felt the cash strain of a console that cost them $700, but was unable to function on its own. Though Laserdisc technology was on the right track (it later developed into today’s DVDs), the discs never caught on, limiting the titles released for a device that only seemed reasonable for those with large incomes.
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