American Laser Games
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Robert Grebe |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Acquired by HeR Interactive |
| Headquarters | Albuquerque, New Mexico , United States |
| Products | Light gun laserdisc video games, arcade machines, light-gun peripherals |
Number of employees | Not specified (reduced by one-third in 1996) |
American Laser Games was a company headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, specializing in the production of light gun laserdisc video games that utilized live-action full motion video. Established in the late 1980s by Robert Grebe, who originally created a police training simulator under the Institute for Combat Arms and Tactics (ICAT), the firm repurposed this technology for arcade entertainment. Their landmark release, Mad Dog McCree, was a light gun shooter set in the American Old West. By the middle of 1995, American Laser Games had established itself as a prominent name in laserdisc arcade games, predominantly producing light gun shooters frequently themed around Western motifs.
The arcade machines were built using a Sony Lasermax LaserDisc player to deliver video footage, paired with an Amiga 500 computer responsible for overlaying graphics and controlling game mechanics. This configuration incorporated a proprietary interface for the LaserDisc player, an auto-boot ROM board, and a Roctec Genlock device.
Subsequently, the company transitioned to compact disc technology by porting many arcade titles to platforms such as Sega CD, CD-i, and DOS-based PCs equipped with CD-ROM drives. They supported the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer system by releasing versions compatible with the console and providing a modified 3DO unit as an arcade upgrade kit, which allowed compressed video playback at reduced expense. In 1995, ALG launched Mazer targeting the 3DO home market and introduced Orbatak, their first internally developed non-FMV game, for arcades. Additionally, they sold light-gun peripherals including the 3DO Game Gun and PC Gamegun; however, the latter was criticized for its lack of precision.
Due to declining arcade popularity, ALG halted direct manufacturing of coin-operated machines in November 1995 and redirected efforts towards developing titles for Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. This approach did not revive financial performance; revenues in 1996 fell to roughly half of the $16 million recorded in 1995. By late 1996, the company reduced its workforce by approximately one-third, appointed Jan Claesson as president in place of Grebe, and concentrated primarily on its "games for girls" series under the HeR Interactive label—initiated with releases such as McKenzie & Co. The majority of mainstream projects were discontinued except for Shining Sword.
Ultimately, American Laser Games ceased operations and was acquired by HeR Interactive, which had been spun off prior to ALG’s shutdown and continues game development as of October 2024. In 2000, Digital Leisure, Inc obtained development and publishing rights to ALG’s library from HeR Interactive, subsequently reissuing numerous titles for PC and DVD-based TV game formats.
Light gun arcade games
- Mad Dog McCree (1990)
- Who Shot Johnny Rock? (1991)
- Space Pirates (1992)
- Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold (1992)
- Gallagher's Gallery (1992)
- Crime Patrol (1993)
- Crime Patrol 2: Drug Wars (1993)
- The Last Bounty Hunter (1994)
- Fast Draw Showdown (1994)
- Shootout at Old Tucson (1994, limited arcade release; 3DO port cancelled)
Other games
- Mazer
- Way of the Warrior (in collaboration with Naughty Dog)
- Orbatak
- McKenzie & Co.
- McKenzie & Co. : More Friends
- The Vampire Diaries
- Battles in Time (in partnership with QQP)
- Shining Sword (cancelled)
- Blood Bath at Red Falls (1995)