The laserdisc players of the 1980s often had command protocols and/or features that were unique to each model. This means that it's usually impossible to directly swap out an arcade game's original laserdisc player for a newer and more reliable model. Standards that allowed compatibility between models came later.

Several commercial products have been developed over the years specifically to allow the laserdisc players in arcade games to be replaced/upgraded. If you are looking to find a newer substitution for an original laserdisc player, or if you are just trying to determine whether your game already had a conversion installed into it before you got it, all of these products are shown below.

This line reconfirms the current prices shown on this page as of March 13, 2023. The Dragon's Lair Project does not sell these products. This list is a reference.

Additionally, some freely downloadable conversion methods that use either a desktop PC, or modified ROMs, or other components are available in the "Disc Player Info and Conversions" section of our main Tech Center.

Hi-Tech
The Hi-Tech card converts the original signal output from a Dragon's Lair or Space Ace PCB to work with almost any Sony LDP series industrial duty laserdisc player.
Compatible with: Dragon's Lair, Space Ace
Availability: Available new
Website:Hi-Tech info at D-L-P.com
Produced by: Joe Rovito, Ron Schwar
Release date: September 19, 1999
Price (USD): $199 + $20 S&H
LaserAce
LaserAce converts the signals for multiple old laserdisc players to the RS-232 standard, enabling replacement with many late-model Pioneer and Sony players. LaserAce also has advanced game-independent features such as disc media and output player performance testing, as well as power supply voltage monitoring.
Compatible with: Albegas, Astron Belt, Badlands, Bega's Battle, Casino Strip, Cliff Hanger, Cobra Command, Dragon’s Lair, Esh's Aurunmilla, Firefox, Galaxy Ranger, Goal to Go, Inter Stellar, M.A.C.H. 3, Ninja Hayate, Space Ace, Star Blazer, Super Don Quix-ote, Thayer's Quest, Us vs. Them
Availability: Discontinued
Website:LaserAce archival info at D-L-P.com
Produced by: Ruben Panossian, Marc Alexander
Release date: September 28, 2001
Former price (USD): $199 + $16 S&H   + Dev+ LCD add-on optional at $89
LaserCon
LaserCon converts the original signal output from the game's PCB to the serial commands used by late-model Pioneer laserdisc players.
Compatible with: Astron Belt, Casino Strip, Cliff Hanger, Cobra Command, Dragon’s Lair, Esh's Aurunmilla, Galaxy Ranger, Goal to Go, Inter Stellar, M.A.C.H. 3, Space Ace, Super Don Quix-ote, Thayer's Quest, Us vs. Them
Availability: Discontinued
Website:http://wood1st.com/LaserCon/LDPC/
Produced by: Shaun Wood
Release date: January 29, 2007
Former price (USD): $150 + $5 S&H
Merlin-8000
Merlin-8000 is a MultiROM board that alters the Dragon's Lair and Space Ace ROM to add protocols for late-model Pioneer players. (also adapted to the Arthur board)
Compatible with: Dragon's Lair, Space Ace
Availability: Available new
Website:http://wood1st.com/LaserCon/Merlin/
Produced by: Shaun Wood
Release date: August 10, 2012
Price (USD): $205 + $5 S&H
Dexter
Dexter plays the video for the game digitally from a custom file format. Unlike the products that convert to a newer laserdisc player model, no player or disc is needed with Dexter. Dexter uses the original signals through the original interface cable.
Compatible with: more than two dozen different game titles & hardware configurations, and still counting
Availability: Available new
Website:http://laserdisc-replacement.com/
Produced by: Matt Ownby, Warren Ondras
Release date: April 26, 2016
Price (USD): $499 + S&H   + certain video content licenses starting at $10
I want to... Hi-Tech LaserAce LaserCon Merlin Dexter
convert to a Sony LDP  
 
   
convert to a Pioneer LDP  
 
 
eliminate the need for an LDP  
 
     
convert games other than Dragon's Lair/Space Ace only    
order a new item
(versus finding a used one)
   


Additionally, some freely downloadable conversion methods that use either a desktop PC, or modified ROMs, or other components are available in the "Disc Player Info and Conversions" section of our main Tech Center.


Connecting more than one of these products to a game simultaneously is needlessly redundant and potentially error-prone, even though the game may be able to function that way.

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