We were not ready: the PlayStation turns 15


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We were not ready: the PlayStation turns 15

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There was a time when Sony's entry into the world of gaming was far from assured. When the PlayStation One was announced many claimed it was a fool's errand, and that only Nintendo and Sega could do well with gaming hardware.

1995, it stands to point out, was a very different world.

After saving for almost a year I finally had enough for the PlayStation and a few games, along with one of these new-fangled memory cards. The PlayStation games would come on discs, you see, so you couldn't save your game directly to the cart. Despite my friends' laughter at the purchase, I felt like we were looking at the future. Looking back, we certainly were. The PlayStation was one of the most popular systems of all time, and helped usher in modern gaming. Happy Birthday.

This was supposed to be an SNES accessory

The Play Station (as it was originally called) started out as a CD add-on for the Super Nintendo, until the deal was broken in a very public way and Philips entered into a similar partnership with Nintendo. The Philips and Nintendo combination ended with some terrible licensed games on the CD-i platform and nothing else. Sadly for Nintendo, Sony was infuriated by the double-cross and vowed to enter the gaming market. Rarely has revenge tasted so sweet.

Sony made all the right moves. The system was powerful, and did 3D very well. It was simple to code for. The CD media was inexpensive to mass produce, a stark contrast to Nintendo's cart-based Super Nintendo and later Nintendo 64. It came in at a lower price point than its immediate rival, the Sega Saturn, which featured a tricky dual-processor design that made it difficult to program for. Sony was often accused of dissuading publishers from releasing 2D games in order to push the 3D aspects of the system. These restrictions were loosened over time, but the company made its point: the PlayStation became known for 3D games, and looked more advanced than its competitors

Sony began hyping the system with a brash, striking set of TV ads that ended with the now infamous "You are not [e]" tagline, with the "e" written in red. When you preordered your console you were given a disc filled with music. When the PlayStation One was released on September 9, 1995, you could insert said disc into the system to view a number of videos, including the legendary T-Rex. This was mind-blowing stuff back in the day.

Source and full article: Ars Technica

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I was 16 when it came out, got the Playstation from a catalogue my Mum's friend had and spent the next year paying it off from my paper round.

For me it was never as good as the Megadrive I had through my school years but those were different days. The Playstation's graphics were mind blowing at the time.

Good days :)

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I remember one Christmas my Grandfather was a big Sony fan and knew I liked games. He visited and brought up a PlayStation 1.

I think that system had the biggest impact on my gaming hobbies. The PS1 probably had one of the most iconic game libraries of all time.

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I was 11 when it released and also when I won my first PlayStation along with Resident Evil, Street Fighter Alpha 1, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Darkstalkers, and Star Gladiator in a GamePro contest from Capcom.

All those nights of sleeping with the letter from them under my pillow and asking my mom if she knows if it's coming in the mail the next day for the next 4 weeks was truly the most i've ever been impatient for it. :laugh:

Happy 15th Birthday PlayStation! :wub:

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I got the original Playstation on release, trading in my Atari Jaguar for it. I remember I could only get enough out my bank that day for just the console. Had to go back the next day to buy Ridge Racer and Battle Arena Toshinden.

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Another great console was released 11 years ago today, as well: the Sega Dreamcast. Hard to believe it's been that long already. Only seems like yesterday we were just marveling over how awesome the games were, and grumbling over CD load times. lol

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I remember being a kid and first hearing the word "Playstation". Sounded like something... epic. I even remember being like,"Play... station?" :laugh:

Gotta love the Playstation, especially the beginning Sony intro on all the games. :heart:

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I remember being a kid and first hearing the word "Playstation". Sounded like something... epic. I even remember being like,"Play... station?" :laugh:

Gotta love the Playstation, especially the beginning Sony intro on all the games. :heart:

...which then stuck on the screen for 5 minutes so you had to restart the system!

My uncle has one and I was only 1 when it was released but I remember playing one in about 2002 and then I thought it was amazing, shortly before I discovered the PS2 and then the GameCube.

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Hop into Home to get yourself a PS1 ornament. ;D

I remember getting a PS1 in 1996 and really loved it, played it every night. :D Been here since the beginning, and glad I got a PS3 so I can play those old games again.

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I had no idea it started out as an add-on for the SNES. Anyway, I still remember my best friend's face when he got a PS1 on the 25th of December, 1998 (Christmas Day). At the time, I had a N64; but I desperately wanted a PS1. I'd go to his house every other day just so I could play. I have to say, the PS1 has shaped my taste in gaming. I'll miss the days of playing Tomb Raider and Crash Bandicoot.

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toke me a while to jump on the play station bandwagon but i finally did with my ps3. love it! i always stole my cousins psx though so i could play metal gear and the final fantasys

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Ah, the Playstation...

I remember being in Comet with my dad and going to the console section. There was the Dreamcast, Sega Saturn, N64 and the Playstation. Something about the PS held my attention, although I couldn't tell you what. A few weeks later, I get home from school, my dad leads me to the living room and I see the Playstation all set up and ready to go. Crash Bandicoot on the Demo One CD...I remember that distinctly. I also remember being very sad about having to go to Scouts the same evening instead of being able to continue my gaming adventure.

Thinking about it, that's probably where my gaming habit got serious :laugh:

Happy Birthday, Playstation! From one of your biggest long-term fans. :fun:

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Remember those cheat cartridges that would allow for some disc swapping? Good memories though. I remember i lent one to my friend and he ended up breaking it, so i had to buy a new one :pinch:

Oh, and the hours i must have spent playing CTR 4 player split screen.

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Have had all the playstations like many of you here but i'll be completely honest and say that while i love these consoles, they do not give me the same nostalgic feel as my Sega Megadrive did. There was something magical about that console, as was the case with the SNES.

That said, i remember the good old Demo One disc, with the T-REX and Manta-ray and owning Classics such as Crash Bandicoot, Croc, Spyro, Pandemonium, Destruction Derby, and so on :)

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The PSX for me is and will always be the most epic gaming console of all time. Ahh such memories, such memories. My first game for it was Ridge Racer Revolution, and then Tekken 2, wowzers.

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