The History Of The Sony Playstation

This is the story of how Sony got into the gaming business. Lots of interesting info in this G4 documentary, highly recommended. It might also change your view of Ken Kutaragi...







Part 1


Part 2:


Part 3:

[Sphinx]

You guys crack me up!

[THE TRUTH]

What's wrong with these videos? It has become increasingly evident that some "gamers" on this site have no sense of what Sony is. What's the harm on a quick history lesson?

It could help to stop some of this rabbid fanboy crap we deal with everyday.

Sphinx: I don't even see no hope in responding to you, it's clear you didn't watch the videos!

[Sphinx]

I didn't. I'm at work and do not have the ability to watch and listen. The thing you're forgetting is that I couldn't care less. I don't care about Sony or Microsoft, I only care about the Xbox360 and the PS3. I really couldn't care less about what Sony or Microsoft does as a company... as long as their respective consoles provide entertainment by way of good hardware and software. If Microsoft also sells babies, or if Sony also sells nuclear bombs, it doesn't affect my feelings on how much fun their consoles and games are. I'm here for the games, the fun, the entertainment, the anti-boredom factors, and the ability to play games with friends and family members I don't live near. Other than that, everything else doesn't matter. If you, or anyone else, enjoys learning about companies (I get enough of that in my college classes), go right ahead. I just think it is funny how so many of us on here get so frantic and defensive over their COMPANY of choice.

[THE TRUTH]

If you don't know what your talking about do yourself a favor and STFU! Focus on work man. I have no time to deal with your immaturity! Don't respond just stay away from me and I will do the same to with you! Your just wasting bubbles and making yourself look like an complete a$$

[Captain Tuttle]

and you have 6 bubbles? How'd that happen?

[Sphinx]

The Truth, funny name... ok, let me make sure I understand you: I am making myself look like a complete ass, and I am also immature. Do I understand right? Ok, good.
I went home last night and watched those vids... pretty interesting, except for the fact that I knew most of it already. No biggie, just something I wrote a report on in Business Ethics, I won't go into it here. Anyway, let me give you a history lesson: in the year 1944, my father was born in Chicago. He never met his father since he was born while his father was in WWII, and never returned. His mother remarried, that one died, and she remarried again. My father's last name changed three times. His first name changed twice. My father grew up in a wealthy home, but spent the later teenage years in bording schools. He later became a professional F1 driver, but left that after losing sight in his right eye when he got into an off-track accident.
Long story short? That little history lesson didn't change the present, did it? By you learning a little about my father didn't make your cereal magically have raisins in it, right? Me retelling an old story, did my father suddenly become presently better? Nope. What does all this mean? History is history, it doesn't change the present just because you retell something that happened in the past. Sure, Sony did some pretty cool things, great. No one is disputing that. However, at present, Sony and your beloved Ken are not delivering on the many promises they made. True HD? Emotion Engine? 3X more powerful than 360? Come one, seriously, did you think posting those YouTube videos would make us think the PS3 is super duper cool now? That is why I laugh.
The past may shape the future, but having some history lesson doesn't magically change the present. That is why you crack me up.

[Harry]

You're an ass.

You telling that little story made me change my present view on you.

[FirstknighT]

Ouch! The Truth got pwned hard!!! Good point Sphinx!

[THAMMER1]

It took me back to when I was in middle school. I loved Play station. I had a Super Nintendo and a Sega Genesis with the 32x too. When PS1 came out my family was like "H@ll no boy you got games. But my DAD found a PS1 in one of the old homes he was renovating. He brought it home and I exploded.
But everything is in those video reminds me of why I like XBOX now. They have the games and the developers are happy. I do not think Kin K. Was ready to push Blu Ray yet. I know that Sony was for sure.

So today in 2007 we have some thing different to think about. We can say there is a choice. I could not be stuck in the land of the Wii. Could you? I have evidence of what next Gen games are going to be like from the PS3 and the XBOX360. So do I choose what promises on next gen or what delivers it?

I love GRAW. And damn it if I had a PS3 and only a PS3 and found out that my S#!T was going to be delayed until 2008. I would be LIVID and I would also have the worst buyer’s remorse case ever.

I’m not happy with the PS3 and I refuse to be a charity case. The PS3 will be attractive when it attracts some games. Right now I’m waiting for Sony to bring back what made me happy about them.

Those videos reminded me of what I love about games and games consoles. I love the one that brings me the games and dose not fU(k with my flow. And what is up with the on line stuff. What did you just not copy xbox just alittle. *DAMN!!

[ChickeyCantor]

Snes used a chip named SPC-700 made by SONY
it was the snes DSP.

well sony was producing such things so why not use it?
but then after nintendo wanted more help from sony they broke the contract and sony had to do something with the CD's and there was the PS1.

ha ! in the second part they say SEGA with virtua fighter made developers walk to sony.
sega killed them self!

[Harry]

well sony was producing such things so why not use it?

Well let's say you have worked for years on a games console, now you are stuck, you need someone who can make a media format reader.

Now some other company comes along and says 'we'll give you the parts you need, but we want to own 80% of the console'

Would you do it?

[TheMART]

What about history?

Let's look at the future.

360 is here

And UT2007 aka Unreal Tournament 3 is coming to the 360 after Epic brought us Gears. Another PS3 console 'exclusive' on the best next gen system

Dinosaurs are history, as is Sony with Playstation

[PS3alltheway]

NICE FIND MATE,

THEMART PLZ STFU PLAY YOUR XBOX360 WHILE U STIL CAN .

[Harry]

Oh noes! Do the PS3s have rocket launchers in that home in on the nearest Xbox 360 console?

[ChickeyCantor]

THEMART PLZ STFU PLAY YOUR XBOX360 WHILE U STIL CAN . "

while you still can ?......why? if the PS3 is out in europe... wont make a freaking difference

[MicroGamer]

that Sony has had great success and made a sh1tload of money in the past. It is their actions and attitudes today that make people hate them.

[Shadow Flare]

i think people in general like sony more than microsoft

geeks like microsoft more than sony

[Raist]

Sony's situation now is very reminiscent of Nintendo's a few years ago. Lead the market and crush opponents for 2 generations, then go crazy with crap talking and arrogance. And KK may be a bit like Hiroshi yamauchi, except he doesn't seem to be a tyrant like yamaushi was.

Will the PS3 be Sony's N64 ?
I'm not sure. however, i think that in 3-4 years, Sony won't hold 70% of the market, like they did before with the PS/PS2. But i doubt they will fail as much as nintendo did with the N64.

[AllroundGamer]

nice documentary, enjoyed watching it, thx TRUTH

[GaMr-]

"Will the PS3 be Sony's N64 ?"

Sorry bro not calling you out but thats not even a valid argument. Difference being "Blu-ray has a high chance of becoming the next medium for data storage. Catridges had no chance and we all knew that. The 64's release was more like a wow Sony screwed us over lets try to hit back harder. And it failed miserably. But im not jocking sony but if you read non-biased sources alot of people are saying Blu-ray for the win. Even though format war isnt over. Either way im sure sony loves its gaming department and likes being on top but I think at the moment they have a much bigger picture. The PS3 is just a pawn. Sony is trying to take over the storage media. Crazy thing is they are currently winning. When you think about it. Its kinda of genious. Its incredibly hard for them to fight against the people that control "computer software" as we know it. So they figure lets even it out. Maybe we should control somethin big as well.

[Raist]

That was just a circumstances comparison. I wasn't comparing the 2 consoles at all.

Lead for 2 generations -> Crap Talk and Arrogance and issues -> Failure

As I said at the end of my post anyways, i doubt it will be a failure as strong as nintendo's with the N64. It MAY be a "failure" because of market share loss. I think this generation may be much more balanced.

However, for the next gen format war, it seems like it may be a very very smart move.

[Harry]

I'm still adamant that Blu-ray will be the new Betamax.

HD-DVD just seem far more plausable as a new format.

[DR GRIM]

360 out selling ps3 because it was out for a year. and if 360 lose this gen that means they s u c k. stop talking sh!t mark and look ahead

[Syko]

The title should've of read "The Sony Playstation is History" of course this was about Sony up till the PS3 when they were not passing off movie players as a game machine. PS1 Great,PS2 Even better(Minus the DVD Drive),PS3 Failure

[True Gamer]

Reminds me of how much I used to love Sony.

[BlackCountryBob]

After watching those videos I am very surprised that it made no mention of how much important for the Playstation Tomb Raider was, It was really the platforms first killer app and was responsible for millions of console sales.

[True Gamer]

the gaming industry looked a lot better before than it is now.

[THAMMER1]

I love this generation of games. We have allot to look forward too. The PS3 and the 360 are on two different schedule and they will both have great games.

I liked that I was a kid and could spend 1000's of hour playing my games. And that is real. Now that I am a grown man I like the games that deliver the goods. Back then it took me months to beat a game now it takes amount a few weeks.

This video reminded me of what about games that I like more not why I should support SONY. Is it not ironic to you that every thing Sony was doing then looks nothing like what they are doing now?

I’m not trying to make people switch their preferences but GOODNESS MAN they have made horrible choices for the PS3 hard ware. And no amount of brand loyalty can make up for the fact that owning a PS3 right now is only for the Sony faithful.

And your comment about nerds liking M$ is not true. That is like saying white boys only listen to Country music. How bias.

DID you watch the part of the video where they said that they launched the PS1 at a lower price point than their direct competitors and made great strides to get developer to make games? Dose that not sound like 360 to you or what? That is what gamers really want we want great games at a good price. Sony is not delivering on that at all. Just because it says Sony dose not mean it right. People did not cry this much when 3DO or Jaguar tanked. People said good riddance it cost too much any way.

I've said it before I'm no M$ fan but I love good games. If the next XBOX comes around in 2010 and look like a big fat failure I just will not buy one and I would hope that either Nintendo or Sony has their crap together by then.

The original Xbox was worth the argument because the games were awesome 1st party and 2nd party looked a lot better than PS2 and game cube. The PS3 needs space to prove it is worth me typing 300+ words to defend it. The action is not there at all.

[True Gamer]

Yeah I saw all 3 videos and I don't think the gaming industry is too bad right now, but if people would stop comparing game consoles as if you were being paid for it and instead cared more about the games then the gaming industry would look a lot better now.

[R34GTR]

Since your into such simple thought might as well correct yourself then. It should go PS1 Great, PS2 Failure, PS3 Failure. PS3 start is very similar to the PS2 start. Cause its been on the market for little to no time in only two regions not to mention in one of them it is trampling xbox360 sales even though its selling slowly.

Here is a realistic one Original Xbox average, Xbox360 slightly below average. Based on sales thats how its doing. Cause thats what you sony haters are basing everything on right? Sales. Well 360 is barely if at all outselling Xbox. There biggest sale surge came from sonys christmas shortage. Sony basically did Microsoft a favor.

[Syko]

You simpletons watch how fast the public turns when you can pick up a 360 for that magic price of 199$ "This is how the console war ends". I know it wont be at 199$ for a lil' while but tell me is Sony gonna get there first? The 360 owns the PS3. If you guys were really into history you would know that price is all the public care about in the end. With the PS3 and the 360 looking so similar price will win the battle as the games will always be the same. Even though you guys seem to think Blu-Ray is needed for games,Trust me it is not it is Sony's Trojan horse for another failed format.

Also PS fans want to compare the 360 to the dreamcast, When in reality it is more fair to compare the PS3 with the original Xbox. Hell in this argument I'll even give you the fact that the PS3 is more powerful OK? So was the Xbox over the PS2 however this made very little difference, due to the fact that PS2 had all the games (exclusive and Cross platform)and was hammering MS on price at every oppritunity. This is why MS adopted the plan to cut losses on the xbox and try to force Sony to show it's hand before they were ready with the 360. Which is clear by the 1 year delay and piss poor launch in US and Japan. Now granted the Europe launch line-up is better and they have solved many of the major problems but the price is to high. The inclusion of Blu-Ray might pay off for Sony but I doubt it will happen in time to help the PS3 at this current price point. I would love to hear an argument against this as MS is soon gonna hammer sony with a price cut, More than likely $50 but it very well could be $100. At the very least they will upgrade the HDD on the 2 SKU's to 120 and 60 with no price cut due to the IPTV but I dont see this as the likely route as average Joe Schmo's don't care\use this much space. If this happens, once again MS will force Sony to make a move before they are ready. It's kinda like kicking somebody into a corner, If you're the guy in the corner sure a well placed haymaker gets you out and right back in the game but if you swing and miss the ass beating continues worse than before.

So if you want to play the games now get a 360 if you want the most future game support get a 360, If you want to gamble and hope Sony pulls an unexpected KO punch then get a PS3. I just don't see why you would get one before this happened?! When you can play all the games now on the 360.

Don't be brand loyal it only hurts the future products! Hell the way I see it MS wins this gen then goes on to win the next-gen then they screw it up like Nintendo and Sony thinking they can do no wrong. That's when I switch back to NINTY or SONY or mabye Apple by then!

(I originally posted this about games getting delayed but it fits here also)

[True Gamer]

I agree with some of what you said however it is important that you know, Blu-ray is winning the format war overwhelmingly right now. And the PS3 will have been a success if Blu-ray replaces DVD as a standard.

http://www.dvdempire.com/in...

[Syko]

Honestly how long did it take DVD to take over VHS. How will Blu-Ray possibly take over DVD in time to help the PS3. Dude I'm not gonna knock BD for movies but come on it is not needed for games. Sure blue Dragon is 3 discs, but it's a freakn' RPG changing a disc every 20 hours of gameplay has never killed anybody. Hell I save that time by not having to get up and turn on the console by hand,LOL. Just don't see either format working out in time to help this gen. Remember the wal-mart customers are 10 years behind geeks like us. these same customers make up a good chunk of the beloved 100 million+ you guys always brag about.

Sony would have won easily with a DVD drive and a 400$ price tag, Because of brand name alone $600 people need a clean pair of shorts after seeing that! It is not 200$ better than the 360 when it comes to games. PERIOD! But it is a hell of a movie player! and that is my problem, don't force me to buy your format when I just want to game. Even you die-hards gotta understand that!

[Grown Folks Talk]

and i'll pick 1 up. a good syphon filter, overblood, & tenchu wouldn't hurt either.

[Syko]

The other thing is that all the kids that have a PS2 from mommy when it was 199 or less probably do want a PS3 but will never get one till it is 199 or less. This is why eventually these kids will Jump in. Really they have no choice the PS3 will continue to be outa price range for a while. The 360 is selling slow for the same reason:400 price tag. But this is soon to come down and trust me you guys will cry when the numbers JUMP UP. DENY DENY DENY but this is what will happen. Sure sony has rabbid fanboys but dissapointment will soon open their eyes.

[True Gamer]

A lot of adults in their 20s and 30s buy game consoles, not just kids.

Adults can easily afford a $500 console if they see some good games coming out for it.

[Sphinx]

I don't know about "easily", but I do see your point. Most gamers are in their 20s and 30s, and therefore have the ability to save money up, or put off something else, and drop $400, $500, $600 for a game console. I have the 360 and Wii, and will probably get the PS3 when the good games start coming out, but I can't say I'm rich enough to easily drop $600 on a PS3. I'm definitely going to have to save a little.

[THAMMER1]

I'm an adult with 6 bank accounts and 3 credit cards. I could go buy a PS3 right now. But my cash flow is not what makes me buy a games man. Also my wife would be so pissed. "SHE WOULD BE ALL $600.00 WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!"

I would look like a tool if I said. “Honey its Sony’s PS3." She would just say no it is $600.00 for another games console.

My need to play games is what dose that. The PS3 cost too much for what it delivers. I'm no Wii60 fan but you can have much more fun with your $600.00 there. This may change in the next 2 years but D@MN 2years. Your better of buying a PS2 with Guitar Hero 1 for like $200.00 bucks. Just to pass the time. And when that day comes when the PS3 hits $400.00 or less and has great game to boot I’m on it like white on rice. But until then we wait.

[R34GTR]

But i still think it is an extremely premature conclusion. I have a PS3 to continue my gaming enjoyment I had with PS2. Sure 3sixty has two killer titles i wouldnt mind playing lost planet & Gears of war but as for the rest I can wait till they arrive and enjoy them with the comfort of a controller scheme im familiar with. I see alot of people relating the 360's success to the Sony take over and they are not at all similar. PS1 mopped the floor with N64, PS2 Mopped the floor with dreamcast,gamecube, and big bro Xbox, 360 is selling at a decent if not slightly lower rate than big bro Xbox. Judging by there sales not eveyone thinks like you. People are either buyin PS2 waiting for PS3 to come along or just not ready to adopt to next gen. But you dont exactly have a flood of market eating up the 360 as you would like to think. 37 countries just over 10 mill sold. PS2 37 countries 30 mill sold @ $299 (the new higher prices are due to a thing called "inflation" so these new prices are not that far fetched $399 and $599). In the same year lifespan the 360 has been out. So your calling out a exaggerated 360 takeover and a pre-mature sony demise. and realistically alot of people know that.

[calderra]

Can't watch this vid atm, but real consoles buffs should look up how bot Sony's and Microsoft's first console was a joint venture- the MSX.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
If this vid supposedly changes your view of Kutaragi, maybe this one will change your view of Gates. Heh.

"Before the appearance and great success of the Nintendo Famicom, MSX was the platform for which major Japanese game studios, such as Konami and Hudson Soft, produced their titles. The Metal Gear series were originally written for MSX hardware."

[Sphinx]

Nice find... I've heard of the MSX before, and knew just a little, but this is really interesting. I'll be reading this all day between phone calls (I'm at work).

[Syko]

I know a lot of 20-30 buy the consoles im 23 all the guys on my friends list are 25+ pretty much. The thing is 600 is a ton of money anyway you slice it. Sony put to much stuff that had little effect on gaming (IMO) which insanely raised the cost past what was reasonable. Sure It is a good value as a Movie player with the ability to play games. They screwed up thats what I think. Yes I will own 1 but not for a long long time. and I don't give 2 S's and a Funk about Blu-ray or HD-DVD for that matter. I just wanna play games on my 1080i display and love it. Just gimmie back my games! Sony is just so damn c0cky this time around, you know. it gets irritating hearing the same BS from them time and time again. Dont talk about it be about it!

[Anerythristic26]

First off , this is a good post , good job. Secondly what confuses me is this ; what are you trying to say ?

Should I respect Sony and only buy Sony products because the PS1 and PS2 were a success ? Should the Playstation brand be the only home console on the market ? If so ,why ? Because the PS2 was so cool ?

What it seems that the OP is saying is that we are being disrespectful and we should only support Sony because Sony was there for him when he was a kid. Guess what, I had Atari and Colecovison , sorry , but old friends sometimes go away.

[THE TRUTH]

I am the OP I guess I should answer you.

I posted this news topic for the sole purpose of letting some people know how exactly Sony became the company they are (at least in video games). I could careless if you buy a PS2, PS3, PSP or any Sony product. Fact is I don't make a dime if you do, if you want a 360 or a wii go ahead and do it, I am happy that your just enjoying games.

What makes me alittle fusterated is when some fanboy disrespect Sony and or Ken Kutaragi without even knowing what they have done to change the way we all play and enjoy video games for the better.
It's your decision, just enjoy games/consoles and let others enjoy the games/consoles they choose without the endless fanboy BS.

[jmliu]

Although price and games are very important, there's also the fact that people usually just buy what they want, simple as that. Sure us gamers want lots of games and if it's reasonably priced, fantastic, but I know tons of people who just play a game or have a couple games for an entire console generation(i.e. Madden, Halo, Final Fantasy players that I know). And these people don't care about online, don't go to these gaming websites, and don't even talk about games because they don't care, they just want to play them and that's it. So when you think about it, getting your console sold is really just getting people to want it and believe me, having a brand is pretty important. Just think about it, the generation before the original Playstation came out, the total amount of consoles owned between SNES, Genesis, and TurboGrafx 16 was around 80-90 million. PS1/PS2 both have sold over 100 million each. Think about how many people where their first console was a PS and perhaps only console. I don't have to tell you that when a lot of people think about video games they'll think PS first. I'm just telling you the truth, most people who buy these systems probably wouldn't even be considered gamers by our standards. I own both 360 and PS3 and they're both great. I might be a huge minority around here because I'm not really big on the Wii because there's nothing there i really want. Also, look at World of Warcraft as a perfect example of what I'm talking about. $150 per year to play one game and yet, it's probably the most popular game for the past 2 years. And why would people spend so much money for anything they do, no matter how much money it is? Because they want to.

[power of Green]

The adults that have the cash have bought the 360. Why isn't the PS3 flying off the shelves if what 18.1 saying is true.

[GaMr-]

At this point its not a reasonable buy. There isnt much content. There is still firmware upgrades and alot of games coming. Maybe adults have learned there lesson on buying consoles during game droughts. When Gas prices are high we dont see SUV sales sky rocketing now do we. Every console has game droughts. People forget no console with a decent or half decent library launched with max content. When a good majority of PS3 content has hit the market if consoles are still sitting on shelves. then and only then will sony have a problem. But right now anyone who buys or owns one feels like a damnn beta tester. that why no one is buying it. Late March-April will be "all eyes on Sony" either a big pick up or a even bigger let down.

[power of Green]

It should be a very intresting year for next-gen console's with the dev's now focused on the new hardware and not 6th generation ports. So many built from the ground up titles for the new hardware coming this year, so many!, most will not be able to keep up, sale's/content wise nothing will change with the gap, in 2007.

Adults know better" is a good point, now!; all we have to do is figure out what lesson they learned, time will tell like you said. lol

[DJ]

from people "Well, Sony still sucks!", it was a great video.

[kewlkat007]

I'm gonna fire up my PS2...
Actually I haven't played FF12 in 2 weeks. Still on Lost planet and portrait of ruin for the DS.

[Maddens Raiders]

Hey everybody, get you're fires stoked to exactly 451 degrees Farenheit and burn those silly history books. History? We don't need no stinkin' history! Let's just worry about today and forget the past. You prolly wanna post some '85 Bears footage now don't you, but that's just old news. Who cares about that right? Let's just worry about how bad Rex Grossman sux Right Now. =]

[HiSpeedSoldier61]

I myself had forgotten how significantly the PSone and PS2 expanded the videogame industry as a whole in the past ten years; the fact that my own mother was a PSone fanatic is a personal testiment to that claim. (Believe it or not she was hooked on Twisted Metal 2)

I seriously don't want any MS butt buddies to jump on my back or anything for saying this, but after only 2 months on the market, some PS3 haters just need to keep their mouths shut and wait until more substantiating software for PS3 is released; which is only in the next few months.

-Oh, BTW Maddens Raiders, Rex Grossman hasn't been playing that bad in the past few weeks; he hardly threw any interceptions this past week against the 'aints, he has definetly been focusing more. (He better not choke at the super bowl, where it really counts) I'm just happy the Giants didn't make it to the super bowl, Eli Manning is a little B!tch and Jeremy Shocky is a little cry baby. Go Chicago! 2007 Super Bowl Champs!! (Don't believe me, anybody wanna bet?)

[Harry]

N64 games absolutley SHAT on the psx games.

[MicroGamer]

The graphics engine in the N64 was stronger than the Playstation, but the limitations of the cartridge medium held it back. With less memory to store code, games on the N64 had to be smaller and couldn't have any of the dazzling CGI sequences that gamers loved on the Playstation. Also, to do huge games like Final Fantasy on Playstation, you could do it cheaply using multiple CD-Roms. Games on multiple cartridges were possible, but they would have been very expensive. Nobody would have paid $80 or $90 for a N64 game, no matter how good it was.

[ApocalypseShadow]

just gave the reason why blu-ray is better than dvd.cheaper to have 1,1,1 global sku.and be able to put more content on 1,1,1 disc.if i want,i could buy the japanese version.if i want,i could buy the european version.thanks microgamer for your input.

[ChickeyCantor]

i was talking about the SPC-700 chip( the one with stereo output and 8 channels support), that was made by sony, since they had nothing to do with game-consoles it was normal to ask sony for a chip for your own console.

nintendo then wanted a CD drive and yess sony wanted all of it(all of the credits), and no, if i was nintendo i would have walked away too.