Welcome to The History of PlayStation, an interactive
voyage through the life of what is indisputably the world's biggest name in
console gaming.
In only ten years, Sony Computer Entertainment has gone from being the aspiring
new kid on the scene to the leader of the pack. You can chart the rise of
PlayStation using our fantastic timeline, and check out some of the most
important games that contributed to its success along the way.
However, this isn't a boring history lesson; as you explore the timeline you'll
learn fascinating bits of PlayStation trivia, view screenshots and videos from
dozens of top games, download loads of exclusive wallpapers for you
Sony has announced that a flaw in the PSP's manufacturing process that could lead to stuck square buttons has been resolved. According to PlayStation.jp's support section, the molding of the casing was the problem. Units manufactured in the new year no longer suffer from the problem, thanks to new procedures; older units that did were under warranty and have been repaired or replaced by Sony.
Sony has previously claimed that only 0.6% of the units
shipped last year were repaired for square button problems. Anecdotal evidence
suggests the problem is more widespread. Either way, it's now resolved, which
means that statistics are largely moot.
Playstation2 Review
by Steve Mandeson
Building on the success of the worldwide best-selling PlayStation game console with hardware shipments exceeding 60 million units, PlayStation2 is designed to bring together movies, music and games to form a new world of computer entertainment.
Supporting both the audio CD and DVD-Video formats, PlayStation2 offers consumers a wide range of music and video entertainment options. The new system is backwards compatible with the original PlayStation, bridging the gap between the two systems while legitimizing consumers' investment in their existing PlayStation software libraries.
"PlayStation2 is charting a path toward the future of networked digital entertainment," said Ken Kutaragi, president and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Just as PlayStation brought interactive gaming to an unprecedented mass market, PlayStation2's combination of breathtaking digital graphics, superb sound and DVD video will open the doors to a new computer entertainment experience in the home."
Playstation2 is delivering simplicity and style in a breakthrough compact design that frees up valuable workspace. Measuring only 12 inches wide, 7 inches high, and 3 inches deep, and weighing 2.1 kg (4 lbs. 10 oz.).
Playstation2 comes with a 300MHz 128 Bit "Emotion Engine" CPU , 32MB Direct RDRAM, 150MHz "Graphics Synthesizer" with 4MB VRAM, a 4X/24X DVD-ROM and the SPU2 with 2MB sound memory features 48 channels plus software.
The new console comes packed with a "Dual Shock2" analog controller, a memory card of 8mb, a demo disc, an AV multi cable and an AC power cord. Playstation2 has two controller ports, two memory card slots, two usb ports, an optical digital output, an i.link and a PCMCIA card slot type III.
More than 200 companies worldwide announce support for new computer entertainment platform. The long list of companies includes not only prominent game publishers currently supporting the PlayStation, but also famous names from a wide range of entertainment fields. This expansive support exceeds that of the launch of the original PlayStation, whose success has been due in great part to the broad variety of third party content available for the platform.
First unveiled at 2004's E3 show and already available in Japan, Sony's long-awaited and heavily hyped PSP, a.k.a. the PlayStation Portable, will finally be released in the United States on March 24. Unlike the Nintendo DS, the PSP is more than a gaming machine--it also plays music and movies. In addition to the handheld console itself, the $249 PSP Value Pack will include a 32MB Memory Stick Duo card, headphones, an in-line remote, a slip-case, and a sampler disc (in the PSP's proprietary Universal Media Disc, or UMD, format) containing movie clips, music, and game demos. The first million units will also include the full Spider-Man 2 movie on a second disc.
Upside: The PSP has rich graphics and sound that raise the bar for handheld gaming. Other impressive features include a 16:9 wide-screen aspect ratio (480x272; 4.3 inches diagonal), a built-in Memory Stick Duo slot, and Wi-Fi. USB 2.0 is onboard, as well as 32MB of memory. The PSP's controller looks and feels similar to the PS2's, so PlayStation fanboys can jump right into the action.
Downside: The large screen is gorgeous, but this "portable" gaming device is a bit bulky--and $100 more than Nintendo's DS. Also, early reports from Japan indicate a fairly short battery life, as well as some quality control issues (dead pixels and dodgy buttons, for instance). Finally, it uses yet another proprietary Sony format, which is similar in size to MiniDisc. At 1.8GB, it has more than enough capacity, but why not just use mini-DVDs or large Memory Sticks instead?
Outlook: With an affordable $249 price tag and an impressive slate of launch titles, the PSP could very well herald a tectonic shift in portable gaming. And with its impressive media capabilities--and rumors of a gaggle of compatible accessories (cameras, keyboards, GPS add-ons, and so forth) in the pipeline--it seems that Apple's iPod is just as much in Sony's crosshairs as Nintendo's DS.
