December 3, 1994 saw the birth of PlayStation. More specifically it saw the launch of the original PlayStation (or PSX as it was referred to) in its native Japan (it would go on to launch in Europe on September 29, 1995). The most significant title at launch was Ridge Racer - a series that became synonymous with PlayStation hardware launches, a tradition that was broken with PS4 as it's the first PlayStation console/handheld not to feature a Ridge Racer title at launch.
"Whether it was on PSOne or Sega Saturn, that particular console generation saw a huge leap when it came to racing games. With Wipeout, Colin McRae Rally and V-Rally being the first to spring to mind from the plethora of options (I also have fond memories of Twisted Metal - played out on a huge screen via a projector - but that, perhaps, was a different kettle of fish). The racing genre had never looked better, and thanks to titles like Ridge Racer and the original Gran Turismo, it had never played better either. A truly golden age." - Mike Holmes
"Beating the Devil Car. The PSOne adaptation of Namco's arcade title launched with just one track (albeit with different versions). You became intimate with every corner, bump and curve. Essential if you wanted to overcome the Devil 13th Car. Nerves of steel and a little luck were required in keeping the beast at bay, beating it back with your rear fender time and time again. But beat it you did, and the victory was one of the sweetest moments in our gaming lives." - Gillen McAllister
For us the original PlayStation is a cherished console. In many ways it was the trailblazer for the gaming scene we enjoy today, as it was the first console to break through the 100 million barrier. Its expansive library of games coming close to 8,000 titles stands out and the diversity of entertainment found on PlayStation was unrivalled. So join us as we celebrate the anniversary of the first PlayStation with a few choice memories and highlights.
"The Bowl in the first Destruction Derby was a massive highlight. I'd sit with friends, taking it in turns to grip the controller, taking on other drives in an arena of car smashing fun and exhilarating destruction. Getting the all important 360 degree spins was the best way to earn the points needed to finish high on the leaderboard. There was a league system that gave you specific racers that you needed to finish above, which created an interesting meta game, with promotion (and relegation) always at the back of your mind. A huge time sink and one that I still dip into every now and then." - Mike Holmes
You may have heard that originally the console was meant to be a CD add-on for Super Nintendo, but when Nintendo decided to pull out of the joint venture they indadvertedly created their biggest competitor. Our Danish editor-in-chief worked in a game store in the 90s and he recalls what happened when piracy became widespread:
"Nintendo's fear of the CD medium wasn't unfounded. Pirates went on to crack the security with Sony's black discs and soon more RGB cables (required to run copied games) were sold than games. The revenue at my store took a dive pretty much from one day to the next. From taking in approximately 35,000 DKK [approximately £3,700] a day to just 3,000 DKK, where most of the revenue came from, you guessed it, RGB cables. I stopped carrying the actual console as you only made around 80 DKK from selling it, something that didn't even cover postage for repairs. I had to cut down stock on games and started to carry more movies and peripherals. It became a console many bought in order to play free games. In Denmark, that had never been a big console country, it meant that Sony cemented themselves in gamers' minds as the first console - even if that was not true at all." - Lee West
A young Lee West in his game store owner days.
What Sony did was a truly amazing feat. They came into a new market, and while they had been publishing games through Sony Imagesoft, they were the rookies coming into a space that was dominated by Sega and Nintendo. Much of the great work they did with PlayStation laid the foundations for the best-selling console of all time, PlayStation 2, that reached 100 million units sold in just five years.
"I have a confession to make. I never actually owned an original PlayStation console. My first Sony console was the PS2, and I got all the following ones, including PSP and PS Vita, but the original got away. At the time I had to make a choice, and I went from the Sega Saturn to the Nintendo 64, which was actually a superior console in terms of graphics (how times change!). Despite not having the console, I did had a strong connection with it, since several friends got it. At the time we were 15 and 16 years old, blessed with the glorious summer vacations away from school that allowed for some epic gaming moments around the PlayStation.
Being Portuguese, football games were always a constant presence, especially ISS Pro Evolution. At its peak, we were perhaps 10 friends all gathered around the console, taking turns or playing together. Naturally, beat 'em ups were also very appealing to play with friends, which resulted on some fierce Tekken 3 tournaments. The only rule? No one could choose Eddie Gordo. These are my fondest memories of the PlayStation, later I got to know it better, borrowing the console from friends. I got to experience gems like Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Tenchu and many others, that ultimatly converted me into a PlayStation believer." - Ricardo Esteves
"If there was one thing that swayed a non-PlayStation adopter like myself in those early days it was Final Fantasy. The franchise had near mythical status in this part of the world, and the sheer number of discs and the quality of the pre-rendered cutscenes of Final Fantasy VII and later VIII had me salivating. The Final Fantasy titles are some of the games that have kept best to this day, and if like me you were a late adopter you owe it to yourself to visit them." - Bengt Lemne
There was a huge variety of titles available on PlayStation and many franchises that are successful to this day first gained popularity on the original PlayStation.
We've talked about the size of the gaming library and some highlights. There were many. Gran Turismo stands as the best-selling game released on the original PlayStation, followed by the likes of Final Fantasy VII, Gran Turismo 2, Resident Evil, Tekken 3, Final Fantasy VIII, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Tomb Raider II, Crash Bandicoot: Warped and Metal Gear Solid...
"I see you like Castlevania, don't you?" In a time before the internet spoiled everything prematurely, Kojima's head-melting trick some way through the original Metal Gear Solid by evil psychic Psycho Mantis freaked us all out. The programming needed for what was but a single line of dialogue - the game reading other Konami game saves on your Memory Card and adding some extra dialogue to creep you out - was insane, but not unusual knowing what we do now about the MGS creator. Great character, great moment." - Gillen McAllister
"If there was one thing that swayed a non-PlayStation adopter like myself in those early days it was Final Fantasy. The franchise had near myth status in this part of the world, and the sheer number of discs and the quality of the pre-rendered cutscenes of Final Fantasy VII and later VIII had me salivating. The Final Fantasy titles are some of the games that have kept best to this day, and if like me you were a late adopter you owe it to yourself to visit them." - Bengt Lemne
The DualShock (introduced in late 1997 in Japan) was a smart move to counter the innovations Nintendo brought with Nintendo 64, and by linking up consoles and using multi-tap (for up to 8 players on one console with certain games), PlayStation also innovated console multiplayer.
There has been many controllers and devices over the years bearing the PlayStation brand.
"Linking up two PSOnes was a great way of experiencing LAN parties in the console space. I have plenty of memories of playing Doom tournaments with friends in the summer holidays, and there's late night Command & Conquer: Red Alert battles that will forever be etched in my memory. The other local multiplayer experience that springs to mind was passing the PS controller around the room and taking it in turns to move our soldiers around the destructible environment in that most violent of video games, Worms. Is there any feeling finer than sending your mortal enemy plummeting to their death with a well placed Dragon Ball or Fire Punch? I think not." - Mike Holmes
You probably have many more memories of the original PlayStation and its successors. Feel free to share any memories you have in the comments section below.
