Computer 30 years of Playstation - the success story of the Sony console
The first Playstation was launched in Japan on December 3, 1994. The console and its four successors turned the world of video games on its head. The 30-year history of the Playstation in anecdotes:
30.11.2024, 05:27
SDA
Prototype
The Playstation began as a collaboration between Nintendo, an experienced video game manufacturer at the time, and the electronics company Sony. The initial idea was to equip the Nintendo Super Famicom console - known as Super Nintendo in Europe and the USA - with a CD drive. A prototype, which was never marketed, fetched a price of 360,000 dollars at an auction in 2020.
Sony's counterattack
But Nintendo terminated the collaboration, which was widely interpreted as a humiliation for Sony. However, the electronics manufacturer did not give up and set about launching a device on its own. The initial release in Japan was followed by the USA almost ten months later on September 9, 1995 and Europe on September 29. With over 102 million units sold, the PS1 sold extremely well.
Gray in gray
The first Playstation was gray - inspired by the workstation computers of the time. "The heads of Sony's US division would have preferred the color black, which they thought was more elegant, but the Japanese side categorically refused," says video game history expert Hiroyuki Maeda. In the end, however, the Japanese did give in. Apart from the colorful limited editions, the Playstation 2, 3 and 4 were black. The Playstation 5, which was launched in 2020, is white.
Controller
Sony had hardly any experience in video games. "Developing the controller was one of the biggest challenges," says Maeda. It is said to have taken more than 200 prototypes. But the design hardly changed over the years - "a sign that it was really well thought out". It was largely due to the then Sony boss Norio Ohga, who was an experienced pilot.
Japanese peculiarity
In Japan, a circle is a sign of approval, and so for years this was the controller button for "OK", while the cross button stood for "cancel". The symbols were swapped on the Playstation models sold in the West. However, Sony abandoned this Japanese peculiarity with the Playstation 5.
Successful CD model
The use of CDs instead of special cartridges, as with competitors Nintendo and Sega, reduced manufacturing costs and shortened production times. With cheaper developer kits and lower license fees than Nintendo, Sony was able to score points with game developers. A large part of the console's success can be attributed to the wide and often innovative range of games.
Classics
Playstation classics include the 3D racing game "Ridge Racer", which took the genre out of the arcades and showed off the console's technical capabilities. The early stealth game "Metal Gear Solid" bridged the gap between gaming and cinema. "Final Fantasy VII" was the first 3D part of the cult series and also the first that was not developed for Nintendo consoles. Other notable titles include the survival horror classic "Resident Evil" and the action-adventure series "Tomb Raider".
Two birds with one stone
With more than 160 million units sold, the Playstation 2 is the best-selling console in the history of video games. One reason for its success was that it can also play DVDs. Due to the enormous demand, the launch of the PS2 in 2000 led to fights in some stores, such as the Virgin Megastore on the Champs-Elysées in Paris.
War equipment
At the end of 2000, the US broadcaster NBC reported that Iraq under Saddam Hussein had purchased 1,400 Playstation 2s to use their powerful microprocessors in missile guidance systems. In the same year, the Japanese government reportedly placed the device on a list of sensitive goods due to its advanced graphics processing capabilities.
