lonerangerface wrote:
Makes me wonder why they didn't release any MCA DiscoVision discs in Japan.
That is a good question. Even though I was following the whole "video discs are coming!" news trail from the mid-1970s, and though I was in the Laser Disc business from the beginning of its expansion into the Chicago, Illinois area in late 1980, I would love to learn more of the "behind the scenes" story of it all, and the timing of various events.
I know Pioneer's VP-1000 player was available in at least some USA cities in mid or late 1980, but I wish to learn more about when the laser disc format was made available in Japan.
The earliest days of the format are full of odd clashes, mixtures of companies and standards that were not always either in agreement or willing/able to work together or to identify and solve problems.
By the last days of DiscoVision in 1981-82, some of its discs were being made in Pioneer's Japanese plant(s), if I remember right (or if I remember some of my discs/jackets, haha).
Mix in the European laser disc introduction by Philips (nearly the same players as the USA Magnavox ones), and the story becomes even more complex and fascinating (and fun!).