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The Father of Playstation
Ken Kutaragi got the idea to use 3D computer graphics in a console style gaming system while attending Sony’s Information Processing Research Center. They were a doing a presentation on their System-G workstation, which provided real time 3D graphic to television broadcasts.Kutaragi was also able to convince Sony to develop a high powered sound chip for the 16-bit console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). -
Deal Gone Wrong
In 1991, at the Consumer Electronics Show, Sony originally announced that they would be releasing the SNES with CD-ROM as a Playstation add-on. They also mentioned that there were already several games in the development stages. Unfortunately, it was later announced that Nintendo would be releasing the CD-ROM add-on with Philips, instead. The deal with Philips would be for profitable for Nintendo and after several negotions between Sony and Nintendo, the deal was officially called off. -
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The Rise of CD-ROM
The early 90's introduced us to the CD-ROM, a cheaper alternative to the cartridges that were being used for gaming at the time. In 1990, Sony and Phillips created the CD-I. However, the deal was called off, Kutaragi was more determined to create a gaming console that used 32-bit technology that provided 3D graphics and a better sound quality. -
The Release
After years of work, the PS-X (PlayStation X) was released in Japan in 1994 and the United States in September of 2005. It was widely popular and shipped over 100 million units. Production continued into 2005. -
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PlayStation 2
In the early 2000's, the PlayStation 2 arrived. It was one of the first 64-bit gaming consoles released. It was the most successful console of all the releases due to it's extensive list of games that were also released. 29 games were released. Among the popular were games like Grand Theft Auto, Spiderman and Resident Evil. The success continued until the release of the PlayStation 3. -
Portable
Between the PS 2 and 3, Sony launched the first portable PlayStation handheld device in 2004. The PlayStation Portable was given a processor that was closer to the PS 2 than that of other handheld games. It was also created with networking capabilities and a web browser, something else most handhelds of the time did not have. -
PlayStation 3
In March of 2007, the PlayStation 3 was released. At the time of its release, it was the most sophisticated and advanced console. The graphics had improved and the controllers were motion- sensing. It also had network abilities. This meant having the ability to connect to online games and play against others. The PlayStation Network became a very popular feature. Not only could you play video games, you could also play CDs and DVDs on the PlayStation 3. -
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PlayStation Home
One very popular feature of PlayStation was PlayStation Home. This was an interactive virtual world that you could interact with other people in. You'd create a virtual character and purchase items such as clothes, homes, cars, boats, pets and more. Unfortunately, it did not do as well as expected and possibly due to the hackers, the project was shut down in 2015. -
PlayStation Vita
Another very impressive handheld device from PlayStation is the Vita. This device showed off a rear trackpad, a touch pad that was usable during gameplay. The PSV also featured a gyroscope, front and rear cameras, and optional 3G connectivity. -
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 was released in 2013. It was designed to challenge the Xbox One. This new system, once again, improved graphics and sound, but now also included a blue-ray player and streaming services. Various apps such as Netflix and Hulu were available to download and stream movies and TV shows. Another feature was the ability to purchase and download games right to the system. A cellphone app version was also released for the PlayStation, bringing the games to the palm of our hands. -
PlayStation 5
The most recent edition to the PlayStation family is the PlayStation 5. After seven years, the PS5 was released in 2019. The system went through some major upgrades in that time. The CPU was enhanced for even better graphics and a smoother gameplay experience. The controllers also received an upgrade. The shoulder buttons are pressure sensitive, making for a more interactive experience.