PlayStation

The idea for PlayStation started back in 1998 when Sony and Nintendo were working together on a new project involving a system that could use discs as well as Nintendo cartridges. The CD-ROM drive was meant to be an attachment of the upcoming console, it was designed to be a multi-media piece of equipment meaning you could use two different types of game without having to buy the CD drive could play audio CDs as well as disks with computer and video information on them. Sony were the ones who manufactured the product but only a few hundred were actually made but they never left the factories.

Sony and Nintendo decided to part ways after Nintendo decided to partner with Philips that, at the time, were Sony’s main rival. This left Sony to carry on developing a consol with just a CD drive that was a modified version of the original PlayStation that never saw the light of day. The project was lead by Sony engineer Ken Kutaragi who took a large active role in the technology within the system.

In 1994 the PlayStation was released along with a few lunch titles, it cost 37,000 yen. Now players could experience full 3D worlds so Ken Kutaragi thought it was important to get the level of control right, therefore the joy pad came into the light, he said they spent about the same amount of time working on the joy pad on the controller that they did on the system itself. The controller had a total of eight buttons, the shape of the controller was important as well the 2 elongated handles on either side made it easier to use and fit into your hands better.

After a year of the PlayStation being released in Japan Sony turned to the United States. In May 1995 America got it’s first look at the PlayStation at The Electronic Entertainment Expo or E3 as it is also known. It was a huge hit besting the Sega Saturn and Nintendo’s newest consol the Virtual boy. The PlayStation was then released in America in September 1995.