It may be easier to reach Pluto in a day. However... MD and LD hardware interface with each other to some degree considering the several Mega LD titles that require a Laseractive Genesis PAC. The Genesis PAC doesn't output RGB stock, so before we could even consider hooking up a 32X to the setup, some hardware modding would have to be done. After the 32X interfaces with the Genesis hardware properly, would it theoretically be possible to have the 32X and LD hardware communicate by using the Genesis PAC as a middleman of sorts (much like Sega CD 32X)? As to whether a 32X could do anything to improve LD video quality, I am doubtful, but it could still improve storage capacity on the 32X's end. Let's port Virtua Hamster.
Pyramid Patrol is a fine example of a good FMV game. The Genesis hardware generates the interactive end of things (your gun and your enemies) and a handful of sound effects, the analog medium generates the soundtrack and the video that acts as the background. Combined, it has all the basic concepts of a first person rail-shooter. What benefits could the 32X bring? If it didn't have to render backgrounds and draw distance, could it's resources be redirected towards more optimized character models and better sound effects? This idea has it's limitations, but it could make for some cool ideas: 2.5D Sonic + Homing attack + the surfing level in Battletoads. Once again, I know that any of this is next to impossible: Between interfacing, programming for, and optimizing multiple types of mostly undocumented hardware, or even finding/producing new Laserdiscs, and especially mastering them the right way once it's all done and set... But man, if it isn't a fun concept. Give 3D Printers some time, they may just be able to produce an already mastered disc... Who knows.
Possible as there are RGB mods for the SegaPAC that would allow connectivity to the 32x. I've seen it done at least once. And there was a system for burning LD-Rs but I can't imagine any blank LD-Rs are still any good these days. I can't imagine a 3D printer would be capable of printing this sort of thing, go hit up Google to see how discs are manufactured and you'd see why anything short of Star Trek level tech would allow you to produce something in your living room.
APE: I read up on the process and it is undoubtedly complex. I still hope that someday in the future we will see a 3D Printer capable of producing a disc of a similar or even better quality. 3D Printers are still too primitive, at least they can make playable vinyl records (something complex in it's own right). Well, until someone starts making Laserdiscs again (you never know!), there's always the idea of building a GDEMU-esque 'LDEMU' that converts digital files on an SD card into an LD-friendly analog format that's compatible with Laseractive. The idea just gets more and more complicated.
If it can do records, it can also do video disc. CED is one of the first to have video on disc format and it is just like record, uses grooves and needles to record signal for playback. However one would also need a case (from a CED with bad disc) or print one because the disc needs to be protected and some players won't be able to take naked disc anyway.
Not without some major limitations, and a new video mixing circuit. The reason is that when the Mega Drive VDP graphics are on top, which is really the only mode that works properly, the MegaLD hardware uses the same video overlay technique to mix the VDP video output with the MegaLD video as the 32x does, namely, it uses the VDP YS output line to know when the VDP is drawing a background pixel. Since the MegaLD hardware latches this line internally, it'll always be driving the video signal when the VDP isn't, not leaving any room for the 32x to do its thing. You could take the straight composite video output from the CLD-A100 unit and use a sync separator to feed a sync signal into the 32x, but you'd need some way to decide when to let the MegaLD unit drive the video output, and when to let the 32x drive it. You could define a magic "background" color for the 32x VDP and do an analog video mixer to switch between the 32x and MegaLD colour signals based on the 32x output colour, but you'd probably see some artifacts with this, such as a visible "border" around 32x graphics, since the voltage is analog, and will have to transition most of the way towards the target colour before it's detected. Basically, I don't see it working very well. You could try and use the SH2 processors in the 32x to allow extra processing power, and you could use the PWM sound chip in the 32x by splicing together the audio outputs, but in terms of video, I don't think you'll get a very good result.
So the bottleneck in this situation mostly stems from the singularity of the VDP's YS output? Would it be possible to intercept the VDP YS directly with a pre-mixer that converges the two signals into one if and when it's needed? It basically entails the idea you have of separating the signal externally, which would have to be done first for the sake of experimenting anyway, and making it internal. Even then, I can picture the borders around the 32X graphics being a problem that could only be aided by odd visual trickery of some sort.. Either way, the idea would require too many modifications to stock hardware before it could even be applied which sort of defeats the purpose... Still, it would be an amazing sight to see. Thank you for the informative answer, Nemesis.
