Gaming : PlayStation (Fifth Gen)

Sony PlayStation

Technical Specifications

General

Game format : Optical disc
Disc loading type : Top loading
Disc capacity : 650 MB

Controllers / accessories

Controller type : Wired
Controllers (max) : 2
Direction control : D-pad
Other peripherals : Joystick, Arcade stick, Mouse

Audio / video

Video outputs : Antenna / RF, RCA / composite
Audio outputs : RCA stereo

Media

Audio playback : CD audio

Storage

System storage : Memory card (Proprietary)
Proprietary card location : Console
Proprietary card capacity (max)128 KB

Hardware

Processor : 32-bit R3000A
CPU speed : 33.87 MHz
CPU cores : 1
System RAM : 2 MB
Internal ROM : 512 KB

Graphics

Video RAM : 1 MB
Resolution : 640x480 maximum
Colors : 24-bit (16,777,216) maximum
Maximum sprite size : 256 pixels high x 256 pixels wide
Polygon rendering : 360,000 polygons per second

Power

Power adapter : External

Design 

PlaysStation1

A rectangular shape holding a circular lid which opens and closes.  Three circular buttons, one for power and the other to open the lid, lastly atop the power button is a smaller circular button to restart the console. In the front you will find 4 ports, the bottom 2 for the joysticks and the top 2 for the memory cards. The back holds a port where you can plug in the adapter. A list is also found on the edge of console under the power button indicating if the play station is on or not.

PlayStation 1 Slim

Redesigned to have an even sleeker look, most notably rounding its edges.

Controller Button Functions

PlayStation Controller

History

Pre PlayStation (80's) - Sony was never a major part of the gaming industry.Sony had tried to make a few entries into the computer business, most popular was the MSX chip in the 80's but it had also failed. What really brought Sony into the market was the CD-ROM/XA, it was a joint venture With a German Company Phillips  pushing the capabilities of the conventional CD-ROM allowing both visual and computer data to be accessed at the same time. It started integrating itself into the computer market but Sony was happy with that, they where looking at the bigger picture.

1988 - Sony's first entry into the gaming industry was when it had mad a deal with Nintendo to supply CD-Rom drives for the Super NES which was not going to be released for another 18 months. Using the same technology that was proposed for the SNES Sony began developing a console of their own, Originally named Super disc, it was to be compatible with bot cartridges of the SNES and Sony's CD's. With this Nintendo started to get worried of the "Super Disk's capabilities and Sony's privileges with their tech.

1991 - In 1991 Phillips and Sony parted ways due to major complications over the CD-Rom. During the same year at Chicago CES Sony announced the Play Station. The Play station would be able to play both super disc's and Nintendo cartridges. It would also be able to using other interactive tools which at the time where considered to be quite important. Sony wanted to utilize it's companies to help develope games for its console, the  chief of Sony Electronic company was seen on the set of Peter Pan thought to be discussing how the movie can be turned into the game from the start. He also stated that that " The video game industry will be much more interesting than when it was cartridge based".

The day after Sony's Announcement, Nintendo instead of supporting  the Play Station as everyone had expected but rather announced that it had joined forces with Phillips in creating the new CD-Drive compatible with the SNES. Sony was furious and sought legal action for the breaking of the contract but Nintendo got off scot free as it was reasoned that it was in their mutual interest to stay friends as Sony was still planning to use ports for the SNES and also Nintendo was using Sony's Audio chip.

1994 - in this year the PlayStation was finally officially released in Japan, 1 week after the Sega Saturn. Initially priced at $387, games at launch included King's Field , Crime Crackers and Ridge Racer. What made it kick off was its design, compared to the Saturn at the time which was coloured beige and somewhat stupid looking, the Sony PlayStation on the other hand was sleek in design with a controller which was revolutionary and ahead of its time. Sony sold 300,000 in the first 30 days.

1995 - launched in the USA on September  9th, it received immediate success. Retailed at 299$ 100,000 were presold at launch sporting 17 games with it. In the next months everything was selling out was beginning to be sold out. By 1994 the PlayStation had sold over 17 million consoles 

and in May 1996 they further dropped the price to 199$ which made it even more attractive to buy.

This was console was Embraced as the gateway into the 5th Generation of Consoles.

PlayStation Commercials

Vol.1 

Vol.2 

Vol.3

References 

How it Works . 1998. How PlayStation Works . [ONLINE] Available at:http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/playstation5.htm. [Accessed 27 April 15].

Design Patent. 2010. The Sony PlayStation Design Patent. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.patentadesign.com/gallery/sony-playstation-design-patent.html. [Accessed 27 April 15].

IGN. 1998. HISTORY OF THE PLAYSTATION. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/28/history-of-the-playstation. [Accessed 27 April 15].