Website Temporary Closed

Hello everyone. We are moving to a new, bigger premises so website ordering will be closed for the next month while we move everything to our new building, reorganise and do a full stock take. We will not be taking any orders or able to reply to any messages during this time. We will be open again at the start of December. Many thanks. Console Passion

Sony Playstation

The first conceptions of the Playstation console date back to 1988. Nintendo had been attempting to work with disk technology since the Famicom, but the medium had problems. Its rewritable magnetic nature could be easily erased (thus leading to a lack of durability), and the disks were a piracy danger. Thus, when word came out of a new optical storage technology being developed by Sony and Philips, Nintendo was interested. Nintendo approached Sony to develop a CD-ROM add-on, tentatively titled the "SNES-CD". A contract was struck, and work began.

In 1991, the SNES-CD (now titled the Play Station) was to be announced at the June CES. However, when Hiroshi Yamauchi read the original 1988 contract between Sony and Nintendo and learned that it allowed Sony 25% of the profits from the machine, he was furious. He deemed the contract totally unacceptable, and secretly cancelled all plans for a joint Nintendo-Sony SNES CD attachment.

[collapse collapsed title=read more...]

Indeed, instead of announcing their partnership, at 9AM the day of the CES, Nintendo chairman Howard Lincoln stepped onto the stage and revealed that they were now allied with Philips, and were planning on abandoning all the previous work Nintendo and Sony had accomplished. Lincoln and Minoru Arakawa had (unbeknownst to Sony) flown to Philips headquarters in Europe and formed an alliance of a decidedly different nature- one that would give Nintendo total control over its licenses on Philips machines.

The 9am CES announcement was a huge shock. Not only was it a complete surprise to the showgoers (Sony had only just the previous night been optimistically showing off the joint project), but it was seen by many in the Japanese community as a massive betrayal- a Japanese company snubbing another Japan-based company in favour of a European one was considered unthinkable in Japanese business.

Initially, Nintendo's abandonment of the joint project caused Sony to consider halting their research, but ultimately the company decided to use what they had developed so far and make it into a complete, stand alone console. This led to Nintendo filing a lawsuit claiming breach of contract and attempted, in U.S. federal court, to obtain an injunction against the release of the PlayStation, on the grounds that Nintendo owned the name. The federal judge presiding over the case denied the injunction. Thus, in October 1991, the first incarnation of the new Sony Playstation was revealed. As for the deal between Philips and Nintendo, it fell through as well. However, because of the deal, Philips was able to create games for its CD-i computer based on Nintendo licenses. The games were terrible, and seen as another attempt by Philips to market the ill-fated computer.

The PlayStation was officially launched in Japan on December 3, 1994, the USA on September 9, 1995 and Europe on September 29, 1995. In America, Sony enjoyed a very successful launch with titles of almost every genre including Toshinden, Twisted Metal, Warhawk, Philosoma, Wipeout and Ridge Racer. Almost all of Sony's and Namco's launch titles went on to produce numerous sequels.

The PlayStation was also able to generate interest with a unique slew of ad campaigns. Many of the ads released at the time of launch were full of ambiguous content which had many gamers rabidly debating their meanings. The most well-known launch ads include the "Enos Lives" campaign, and the "You Are Not E" ads (the "E" in "You Are Not E" was always coloured in red, to symbolize the word "ready", and the "Enos" meant "ready Ninth Of September", the U.S. launch date). It is believed that these ads were an attempt to play off the gaming public's suspicion towards Sony as an unknown, untested quantity in the video game market.

The first new version was actually a revision in early 1996, produced in response to complaints that PlayStations were overheating. Sony did not change the technical aspects or the cosmetics but did remove the RCA ports left over from the Japanese release. The parallel port (which was mostly unused by Sony) was also removed to reduce production costs. Sony also slightly improved the laser assembly. Many gamers experienced skipping full-motion video or dreaded physical "ticking" noises coming from their PlayStations. The seemingly universal fix for this was to turn one's PlayStation sideways or upside-down—although some gamers smacked the lid of the PlayStation to make a game load or work. This problem was carried over to many first-generation PlayStation 2s in the form of the very well known Disc Read Error message.

Sony produced a redesigned version of the original console, called the PSone, in a smaller (and more ergonomic) case which was introduced in September 2000. The original PlayStation was abbreviated in Japan to "PS" and was often abbreviated as "PSX" by American gamers, as this was Sony's internal code name for the system while it was under development (PlayStation Xperimental). This led to some confusion in 2003, when Sony introduced a PS2-derived system in Japan actually called the PSX. The PlayStation is now officially abbreviated as the "PS1" or "PSone," although many people still abbreviate it "PS" or "PSX". There were only 2 differences between the "PSone" and the original, the first one being cosmetic change to the console, and the second one was the home menu's Graphical User Interface.

A version of the PlayStation called the Net Yaroze was also produced. It was more expensive than the original PlayStation, coloured black instead of the usual gray, and most importantly, came with tools and instructions that allowed a user to be able to program PlayStation games and applications without the need for a full developer suite, which cost many times the amount of a PlayStation and was only available to approved video game developers. Naturally, the Net Yaroze lacked many of the features the full developer suite provided. Programmers were also limited by the 2MB of total game space that Net Yaroze allowed. That means, your whole game had to be crammed into the 2MB of system RAM. You couldn't officially make actual game discs. The amount of space may seem small, but games like Ridge Racer, ran entirely from the system RAM (except for the streamed music tracks of course). It was unique in that it was the only officially retailed Sony PlayStation with no regional lockout; it would play games from any territory.

Another version that was coloured blue (as opposed to regular console units that were grey in colour) was available to game developers and select press. Later versions of this were coloured green. Contrary to popular belief, the RAM was not 4 megabytes but instead the standard 2 megabytes. The console included a CD-ROM emulator board connected to a PC. It was also able to run in-development games which lacked region coding (which would be rejected by a normal PlayStation as though they were pirated copies). A few of these units eventually appeared for sale through somewhat dubious channels at high prices.

The installation of a modchip allows the PlayStation's capabilities to be expanded. This allows unauthorized copies of games to be played, but it also allows the playing of games from other regions, such as PAL titles on a NTSC console. Since modchips allow playing games recorded on a regular CD-ROM, it created a wave of games developed without official Sony approval, using free GNU compiler tools.

The console was extremely popular, spawning the so-called "PlayStation Generation". Well known titles on the PlayStation include Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy 7, Resident Evil, Tekken, Wipeout, Gran Turismo, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Parasite Eve, Silent Hill, and Metal Gear Solid. As of May 18, 2004, Sony has shipped 100 million PlayStation and PSone consoles throughout the world. As of March 2004, there were 7,300 software titles available with cumulative software shipment of 949 million. The PlayStation logo was designed by Manabu Sakamoto, who also designed the logo for Sony's VAIO computer products.

[/collapse]

Duke Nukem

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£12.00
Manual: 
yes
£12.00

Murderous aliens have landed in futuristic Los Angeles, and the humans suddenly find themselves atop the endangered species list. The odds are a million-to-one, just the way Duke likes it. Step into Duke's shoes as you drive the sinister aliens through the streets of L.A., out to an orbiting station, onto the surface of the moon itself, and ultimately to extinction.

Driver 2

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£8.00
Manual: 
yes
£8.00

The Wheelman is back! America's coolest undercover cop and the crime worlds fastest getaway driver is back on the streets in Driver 2, follow up to the hugely successful PlayStation game Driver. Like it's predecessor Driver 2 is an adrenalin fueled, high speed car chase through the streets of four cities, where you, as Tanner, infiltrate the criminal underworld, using your driving skills as well as your cunning to disrupt their plans.

Driver

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£8.00
Manual: 
yes
£8.00

The Criminal Underworld has accepted you as one of their own. You are a getaway driver for hire. Speeding through the streets of real cities with working traffic systems, pedestrians and motorists on the street and cops an patrol. You are the best driver in the criminal community. You are the Wheelman!

Dragon Ball Z - Final Bout

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£8.00
Manual: 
yes
£8.00

Sangoku, Super Vegata, Trunks. The most powerful warriors are back in a game with three 3D modes. Depending on your fighting style, you can improve your character battle skills. Up to eight players can play together. A final fight with unexpected warriors! A stunning battle mode.

Dracula 2 - The Last Sanctuary

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£12.00
Manual: 
yes
£12.00

As Jonathan Harker, you know that your wife, Mina, trapped under the Vampire's spell, will never be safe as long as Dracula is still alive. You must now hunt down Dracula in an attempt to vanquish him forever. Follow a lethal trail in a chase from London back to Transylvania: from an insane asylum to Dracula's Castle, and through an underground prison littered with the bones of forgotten men, arriving finally at Dracula's Last Sanctuary.

Dracula - The Resurrection

Box: 
yes
£7.00
Manual: 
yes
£7.00

London, 1904. Seven years after defeating and destroying Dracula. Jonathan Harker finds that his wife Mina has been overcome by an irresistible yearning for the bloodlust of the vampire and has returned to Transylvania. Your adventure begins as you depart on a journey to save your beloved wife. Enter into the shadows, explore catacombs and hidden passages as you travel the pathway to darkness. Become completely immersed in an adventure that you won't soon forget.

Divers Dream

Box: 
yes
£6.00
Manual: 
yes
£6.00

Divers Dream of long wrecks, bursting with treasure and packed with adventure. Submerge yourself in clear, warm Mediterranean waters and go in search of fame and fortune. Enjoy open waters before heading into claustrophobic cave systems and mysterious sunken ships. Fend off predators from the deep and keep an eye on dwindling air supplies as you dive beyond the limits.

Disneys Story Studio Mulan

Box: 
yes
£6.00
Manual: 
yes
£6.00

Recreate the legend of Mulan in this enchanting reading adventure, packed with games, activities and more! Dress up as Mulan and Mushu, create your own tales with the 'Imperial Storymaker' and sing along with your favourite characters from the film. Strengthen reading and storytelling skills. Build vocabulary with a fun dictionary and thesaurus. Improve problem solving with games and puzzles. Inspire creativity with do-it-yourself activities.

Disruptor

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£15.00
Manual: 
yes
£15.00

Discworld 2

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£22.00
Manual: 
yes
£22.00

Syndicate content