I thought about calling this article “The PlayStation’s Genesis,” but I figured that might confuse Sega fanboys.
Sony just recently announced its releasing a special edition PS4 themed in the original colors of the PSone (which hit store shelves exactly 20 years ago this month). The limited run is to honor the birth of its flagship console, which took this electronics company from regional success to global dominance in less than a decade. To call its creation significant would be an understatement to say the least, as very little of our industry’s landscape has been the same since 1994.
But have all you young whippersnappers out there ever bothered to put down your DualShocks and Google the roots of your favorite video game system? Knowing our history is just as important as understanding where we’re headed in the future, so how’s about we take a little stroll down memory lane for story time? You might find the origins of the PlayStation to be quite spurring if you’re not familiar with the tale.
Things played out like this… <cue shimmering flashback>…
Back in the early ‘90s, Nintendo planned to release a CD based add-on for its Super Nintendo console (yes…just like the Sega CD). They signed a contract with Sony and work began, with the hope of bringing a prototype to fruition sometime by 1993. However, after the business relationship fell apart (mostly due to Nintendo reneging and doing some double-dealing behind Sony’s back with competitor Philips) the entire project was eventually scrapped. Having invested far too much time and money into their efforts, Sony attempted to salvage their investment by searching for alternative ways of bringing their product to market. What they needed now more than anything was a new partner!
Their first move was to reach out to Nintendo’s counterpart Sega. Unfortunately, the board of directors were less than impressed, and immediately rejected the melding of Sony’s tech with Sega’s quite valuable brand name. By that point, the console war was in full swing and Sonic had become the popular new hipster on the block (making everyone’s favorite pudgy Italian seem dated by comparison). With no other options left, Sony faced one of two choices: fold up shop or venture out into unfamiliar waters. At the time, Sony had yet to prove themselves as a competent force in the gaming worlds (another huge factor as to why Sega passed on their proposal). At this point I probably don’t have to tell you the path Sony chose, because the rest as they say, is history. Launching in the United States in the beginning of fall 1995, the PSone quickly became the most talked about achievement since the original 8-bit NES. In the years to come, its popularity would only grow ‘till eventually it became the first system to ever sell a million units worldwide.
It also locked down the title of “best-selling” for many years; that is until Nintendo came alone to renew their old rivalry and challenge this claim (by launching the uber-successful Wii). However, it was this little grey box that will forever be remembered as ushering in the age of the polygon. Titles like Virtua Fighter, Tomb Raider and others laid the foundation for what many players find at retailers like GameStop to this day. Their fourth iteration is currently blazing its own next-gen trail through our industry, with no signs of stopping. To celebrate that milestone, Sony is hosting their very own E3-esque event this weekend entitled the “PlayStation Experience” out in sunny Las Vegas. Not a bad way to mark the occasion I must say.
So here’s to 20 years of greatness! If 2014 was any indication, we may very well be in for 20 more with Sony at the helm.