PlayStation

PlayStation
Playstation logo colour.svg
Type Video game console
Handheld game console
Owner Sony Computer Entertainment
Country Minami-Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Introduced 1994
Markets Worldwide
Registered as a trademark in Worldwide
Website Japan
North America
Europe

The PlayStation (プレイステーション Pureisutēshon?, officially abbreviated PS) brand is a series of video game consoles created and developed by Sony Computer Entertainment. Spanning the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations of video gaming, the brand was first introduced on December 3, 1994 in Japan.[1] The brand consists of a total of three consoles, a media center, an online service, a line of controllers and a handheld as well as multiple magazines.

The first console in the series, the PlayStation, was the first video game console to ship 100 million units after 9 years and 6 months of its initial launch.[2] While its successor, PlayStation 2, is the best-selling console to date having reached over 140 million units sold as of September 30, 2009.[3] Sony's current console, PlayStation 3, has sold over 38.1 million consoles worldwide as of July 29, 2010.[4] The first handheld game console in the PlayStation series, PlayStation Portable (PSP), has sold a total of 60 million units worldwide as of March 14, 2010.[5]

Other hardware released as part of the PlayStation series include the PSX, a digital video recorder which was integrated with the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, though it was short lived due to its high price and was never released outside of Japan. The main series of controllers utilized by the PlayStation series is the Dualshock which is a line of vibration-feedback gamepad having sold 28 million controllers as on June 28, 2008.[6] The PlayStation Move for the PlayStation 3 will be the brand's first foray into the motion gaming industry.

The PlayStation Network is an online service with over 40 million users worldwide.[7] It comprises an online virtual market, PlayStation Store, to download games as well as various forms of multimedia, a subscription-based online service known as PlayStation Plus and a social gaming networking service called PlayStation Home which has over 14 million users worldwide.[8] Current generation PlayStation products also use the XrossMediaBar which is an award winning graphical user interface.[9] Apart from that, PlayStation 2 and original PlayStation 3 consoles also featured support for the Linux Operating System though this has since been discontinued. The series has also been known for its numerous marketing campaigns and most notably its It Only Does Everything commercials in the United States.

The series also has a strong lineup of first-party titles due to Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, a group of fifteen first-party developers owned by Sony Computer Entertainment dedicated to developing first party games for the series. In addition the series also features various budget re-releases of titles by Sony with different names for each region these include the Greatest Hits, Platinum Range and The Best range of titles.

Contents

History

Origins

PlayStation was the brainchild of Ken Kutaragi, a Sony executive who had just come out of his hardware engineering division at that time and would later be dubbed as "The Father of the PlayStation".[10][11] The console's origins date back to 1986 where it was originally a joint project between Nintendo and Sony to create a CD-ROM for the Super Famicom/SNES console.[12] The PlayStation made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in June 1991 when Sony revealed its console, a Super Famicom/SNES with a built-in CD-ROM drive. However, a day after the announcement at CES, Nintendo announced that it would be breaking its partnership with Sony, opting to go with Philips instead.[13]

The breaking of the deal by Nintendo resulted in increasing financial problems between the two companies over a period of time after Nintendo refused to accept a financial proposal by Sony over the revenue generated by the sale of CD-ROMs. Furthermore, the breaking of the partnership between the two companies infuriated Sony President Norio Ohga, who responded by appointing Kutaragi with the responsibility of developing of the PlayStation project to rival Nintendo.[13]

At that time, negotiations were still on-going between Nintendo and Sony, with Nintendo offering Sony a "non-gaming role" with regards to their new partnership with Philips. This proposal was swiftly rejected by Kutaragi who was facing increasing criticism over his work with regards to entering the video game industry from within Sony. Negotiations officially ended on May 1992 and in order to decide the fate of the PlayStation project, a meeting was held in June 1992, consisting of Sony President Ohga, PlayStation Head Kutaragi and several senior members of Sony's board. At the meeting, Kutaragi unveiled a proprietary CD-ROM-based system he had been working on which involved playing video games with 3D graphics to the board. Eventually, Sony President Ohga decided to retain the project after being reminded by Kutaragi of the humiliation he suffered from Nintendo. Nevertheless, due to strong opposition from a majority present at the meeting as well as widespread internal opposition to the project by the older generation of Sony executives, Kutaragi and his team had to be shifted from Sony's headquarters to Sony Music, a completely separate financial entity owned by Sony, so as to retain the project.[13]

Formation of Sony Computer Entertainment

At Sony Music, Kutaragi worked closely with Shigeo Maruyama, the CEO of Sony Music, and with Akira Sato to form Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI) in November 1993.[14]. A building block of SCEI was its initial partnership with Sony Music which helped SCEI attract creative talent to the company as well as assist SCEI in manufacturing, marketing and producing discs, something that Sony Music had been doing with Music Discs. The final two key members of SCEI were Terry Tokunaka, the President of SCEI from Sony's headquarters, and Olaf Olafsson. Olafsson was CEO and president of New York based Sony Interactive Entertainment which was the mother company for the 1994-founded Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA).

The PlayStation project, SCEI's first official project, was finally given the green light by Sony executives in 1993 after a few years of development. Also in 1993, Phil Harrison, who would later become President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, was recruited into SCEI to attract developers and publishers to produce games for their new PlayStation platform.[13]

After a demonstration of Sony's distribution plan as well as tech demos of its new console to game publishers and developers in a hotel in Tokyo in 1994, numerous developers began to approach PlayStation. Two of whom later became major partners were Electronic Arts in the West and Namco in Japan. One of the factors which attracted developers to the platform was the use of a 3D-capable, CD-ROM-based console which was much cheaper and easier to manufacture for in comparison to rival consoles from Sega and Nintendo which used cartridge systems. The project eventually hit Japanese stores in October 1994 and gained massive sales due to its lower price point than its competitor, the Sega Saturn. Popularity of the console spread after its release worldwide in North America and Europe.[13]

Consoles

PlayStation

The original PlayStation
Main article: PlayStation (console)

The original PlayStation released in December 1994 was the first of the ubiquitous PlayStation series of console and hand-held game devices. It has included successor consoles and upgrades including the Net Yaroze (a special black PlayStation with tools and instructions to program PlayStation games and applications), "PSone" (a smaller version of the original) and the PocketStation (a handheld which enhances PlayStation games and also acts as a memory card). It was part of the fifth generation of video game consoles competing against the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64. By March 31, 2005, the PlayStation and PSone had shipped a combined total of 102.49 million units,[15] becoming the first video game console to reach the 100 million mark.[2]

Main article: PS one

Released in July 2000, concurrently with its successor the PlayStation 2, the PS one was a considerably smaller, redesigned version of the original PlayStation video game console. Originally launched on July 7, 2000,[16] it went on to outsell all-other consoles including its successor, PlayStation 2, throughout the remainder of the year.[17] It featured two main changes from its predecessor, the first being a cosmetic change to the console and the second being home menu's Graphical User Interface.

PlayStation 2

The original PlayStation 2
Main article: PlayStation 2

Released in 2000, 15 months after the Dreamcast and a year before its other competitors, the Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube, the PlayStation 2 is part of the sixth generation of video game consoles, and is backwards-compatible with most, original PlayStation games. It has also been released as a media center configuration and also having, like its predecessor, a slimmer redesign. It is the most successful console in the world,[18] having reached over 140 million units in sales as of July 20, 2008.[19] On November 29, 2005, the PS2 became the fastest game console to reach 100 million units shipped, accomplishing the feat within 5 years and 9 months from its launch. This achievement occurred faster than its predecessor, the PlayStation, which took "9 years and 6 months since launch" to reach the same benchmark.[2]

Main article: PlayStation 2 Slimline

Released in 2004, four years after the launch of the original PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 2 Slimline was the first major redesign of the PlayStation 2. Unlike its predecessor, the Slimline was smaller, thinner, quieter and also included a built-in Ethernet port (in some markets it also has an integrated modem). In 2007, Sony began shipping a revision of the Slimline which was lighter than the original Slimline together with a lighter AC adaptor.[20] In 2008, Sony released yet another revision of the Slimline which had an overhauled internal design incorporating the power supply into the console itself like the original PlayStation 2 resulting in a further reduced total weight of the console.[21]

PlayStation 3

The original PlayStation 3
Main article: PlayStation 3

Released on November 11, 2006, the PlayStation 3 is the third and current iteration in the series. It competes with the Xbox 360 and the Wii in the seventh generation of video game consoles. It is the first console in the series to introduce the use of motion controls in games through the use of the SIXAXIS Wireless Controller along with other features, such as Blu-ray Disc and Full High-definition resolution graphics capability. The PlayStation 3 comes in 20 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB, 160 GB, 120 GB, 250 GB, and 320 GB, with the last four being the current models. Like its predecessors, a slimmer redesigned model of the console has been released. As of June 30, 2010, the PlayStation 3 has sold 38.1 million units worldwide according to Sony Computer Entertainment.[22]

Main article: PlayStation 3 Slim

Released in 2009, the redesigned model of the PlayStation 3 is the only model in production. The redesigned model is 33% smaller, 36% lighter, and consumes 34% to 45% less power than previous models.[23][24] In addition, it features a redesigned cooling system and a smaller Cell processor which was moved to a 45nm manufacturing process.[25] It sold in excess of a million units within its first 3 weeks on sale.[26] The redesign also features support for CEC (more commonly referred to by its manufacturer brandings of BraviaSync, VIERA Link, EasyLink and others) which allows control of the console over HDMI by using the remote control as the controller. The PS3 slim also runs quieter and is cooler than previous models due to its 45 nm Cell. The PS3 Slim no longer has the "main power" switch (similar to PlayStation 2 slim), like the previous PS3 models, which was located at the back of the console.[23] It was officially released on September 1, 2009 in North America and Europe and on September 3, 2009 in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.[23][27][28]

Comparison

Handheld systems

PlayStation Portable

The original PlayStation Portable.
Main article: PlayStation Portable

Released in March 2005,[39] the PlayStation Portable (PSP) was Sony's first handheld console. The console is the first to utilizes a new proprietary optical storage medium known as Universal Media Disc (UMD), which can store both games and movies.[40][41] It contains 32MB of internal flash memory storage, expandable via Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.[42] It has a similar control layout to the PS3 with its PlayStation logo button and its PlayStationTriangle.svg ('Triangle'), PlayStationCircle.svg ('Circle/O'), PlayStationX.svg ('Cross/X') and PlayStationSquare.svg ('Square') buttons.

2000/3000 model

Main articles: PSP Slim and Lite and PSP-3000

Released in September 2007, the PSP Slim & Lite (also known as the PSP-2000) was the first major hardware revision of the PlayStation Portable. The Slim & Lite was 33% lighter and 19% slimmer than the original PlayStation Portable.[43][44] The capacity of the battery was also reduced by ⅓ but the run time remained the same as the previous model due to lower power consumption. Older model batteries will still work and they extend the amount of playing time.[45] The PSP Slim & Lite has a new gloss finish. Its serial port was also modified in order to accommodate a new video-out feature (while rendering older PSP remote controls incompatible). On a PSP-2000, PSP games will only output to external monitors or TVs in progressive scan mode, so that televisions incapable of supporting progressive scan will not display PSP games; non-game video will output in either progressive or interlaced mode. USB charging was also made possible.[46] Buttons are also reportedly more responsive on the Slim and Lite.[47] In 2008, Sony released a second hardware revision called the PSP-3000 which included several features that were not present in the Slim & Lite, such as a built-in microphone and upgraded screen.

PSPgo model

The PSP Go

Released in October 2009, the PSP Go is the biggest redesign of the PlayStation Portable to date and unlike previous PSP models, the PSP Go does not feature a UMD drive but instead has 16 GB of internal flash memory to store games, video, and other media.[48] This can be extended by up to 32GB with the use of a Memory Stick Micro (M2) flash card. Also unlike previous PSP models, the PSP Go's rechargeable battery is not removable or replaceable by the user. The unit is 43% lighter and 56% smaller than the original PSP-1000,[49] and 16% lighter and 35% smaller than the PSP-3000.[50] It has a 3.8" 480×272 LCD[51] (compared to the larger 4.3" 480×272 pixel LCD on previous PSP models).[52] The screen slides up to reveal the main controls. The overall shape and sliding mechanism are similar to that of Sony's mylo COM-2 internet device.[53] The PSP Go is being produced and sold concurrently with its predecessor the PSP-3000 although it will not replace it.[49] All games on the PSP Go must be purchased and downloaded from the PlayStation Store as the handheld is not compatible with the original PSP's physical media, the Universal Media Disc. The handheld also features connectivity with the PlayStation 3's controllers the Sixaxis and DualShock 3 via Bluetooth connection.[50]

Future

On July 7, 2010, a report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that a new portable device is currently in development by Sony and that it "shares characteristics of game machines, e-book readers and netbook computers". It is unclear whether it is to be part of the PlayStation brand or connected with Sony Computer Entertainment.[54] Sony is also currently in talks with Japanese mobile carrier, NTT DoCoMo, to add 3G network connections to its next handheld gaming console.[55] In addition, Shuhei Yoshida, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, revealed in an interview with UK video game magazine, Develop, that Sony was currently working on a new hardware platform. In the interview he mentioned that when Ken Kutaragi left Sony Computer Entertainment, the new CEO, Kazuo Hirai, told him to engage SCE Worldwide Studios in the development of the next PlayStation. Yoshida also said that developers were present at the meetings from the very beginning when SCE was developing new hardware, and that SCE had to constantly keep talking with Worldwide Studios developer when developing the new hardware.[56]

On August 12, 2010 Engadget reported that Sony Ericsson was working on a smart-phone which would carry both the PlayStation as well as Xperia branding. The device was described as a cross between the PSP Go and the Samsung Captivate in design and runs the Gingerbread (Android 3.0) firmware. The device features standard PSP buttons, a landscape slider similar to the PSP Go which features a directional pad, and a "long touch pad" for analog controls replacing the analog stick. The display would be 3.7 to 4.1 inches, and there would be a 5 megapixel camera and a 1Ghz Snapdragon processor. The device is also said to feature games which are graphically within the range of the PlayStation or PlayStation Portable. That may indicate that the device may not be an entirely new platform but rather a new PlayStation Portable model. Engadget also mentioned that the device may be released at earliest during October 2010.[57]

Other Hardware

PSX

The PSX

Released solely in Japan in 2003, the Sony PSX was a fully integrated DVR and PlayStation 2 video game console. It was the first Sony product to utilize the XrossMediaBar (XMB)[58] and can be linked with a PlayStation Portable to transfer videos and music via USB.[59] It also features software for video, photo and audio editing.[58] PSX supports online game compatibility using an internal broadband adapter. Games that utilize the PS2 HDD (for example, Final Fantasy XI) are supported as well.[60] It was the first product released by Sony under the PlayStation brand that did not include a controller with the device itself.[61]

Pocketstation

The PocketStation was a miniature game console created by SCE as a peripheral for the original PlayStation.[62] Released exclusively in Japan on December 23, 1999,[63] it featured a monochrome LCD display, a speaker, a real-time clock and infrared communication capability. It could also be used as a standard PlayStation memory card by connecting it to a PlayStation memory card slot.[62] It was extremely popular in Japan and Sony originally had plans to release it in the United States but the plan was ultimately scrapped due to various manufacturing and supply-and-demand problems.[64][65]

Games

Each console has a wide variety of games. Most games released on the original PlayStation are backwards compatible and can be played directly on its successors, the PlayStation 2, PSX and PlayStation 3, some of these games can also be played on the PlayStation Portable however these games must be purchased and downloaded from a list of PSOne Classics from the PlayStation Store. Games released on the PlayStation 2 can currently only be played on the original console as well as the PSX and the early models of the PlayStation 3 which were backwards compatible. The PlayStation 3 has two kinds of games, those released on Blu-ray Discs as well as downloadable games from the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation Portable consists of numerous games available on both its physical media the Universal Media Disc as well as through Digital Download from the PlayStation Store, however some games are only available on the UMD while others are only available on the PlayStation Store.

First Party Games

Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios is a group of video game developers owned by Sony Computer Entertainment dedicated to developing video games exclusively for the PlayStation series of consoles. The series has produced several best-selling franchises such as the Gran Turismo series of racing video games as well as critically acclaimed titles such as Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Other notable franchises include Ape Escape, God of War, Twisted Metal and more recently LittleBigPlanet, MotorStorm and Resistance.

Re-releases

Greatest Hits (North America), Platinum Range (PAL territories) and The Best (Japan and Asia) are video games for the Sony PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable consoles that have been officially re-released at a lower price by Sony. Each region has its own qualifications to enter the program. Initially during the PlayStation era, for a game to enter the Greatest Hits range, it had to sell at least 150,000 copies (later 250,000)[66] and be on the market for at least a year.[67] During the PlayStation 2 era, the requirements increased with the minimum number of copies sold increasing to 400,000 in addition the game had to be on the market for at least 9 months.[66] For the PlayStation Portable, games had to be on the market for at least 9 months and have sold 250,000 copies or more.[68] Currently, a PlayStation 3 game must be on the market for 10 months and sell at least 500,000 copies to meet the Greatest Hits criteria.[69] PSone Classics were games that were released originally on the PlayStation that have been re-released on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable.

Online Services

Logo of the PlayStation Network

PlayStation Network

Main article: PlayStation Network

Released in 2006, the PlayStation Network is an online service[70] focusing on online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery. The service provided/run by Sony Computer Entertainment for use with the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable video game consoles.[71] The service currently has over 50 million users worldwide.[72] The PlayStation Network provides other features for users, like PlayStation Home, PlayStation Store, and Trophies.

PlayStation Store

The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The store uses both physical currency and PlayStation Network Cards. The PlayStation Store's gaming content is updated every Thursday and offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games, add-on content, playable demos, themes and game and movie trailers. The service is accessible through an icon on the XMB on the PS3 and PSP. The PS3 store can also be accessed on the PSP via a Remote Play connection to the PS3. The PSP store is also available via the PC application, Media Go. As of September 24, 2009, there have been over 600 million downloads from the PlayStation Store worldwide.[73]

Video content such as films and television shows are also available from the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation 3 and PSP and will be made available on some new Sony BRAVIA televisions, VAIO laptop computers and Sony Blu-ray Disc players from February 2010.[74]

Life with PlayStation

Main article: Life with PlayStation

Life with PlayStation is a Folding@home application available for the PS3 which connects to Stanford University’s Folding@home distributed computer network and allows the user to donate their console's spare processing cycles to the project.[75] This research may eventually contribute to the creation of vital cures. Folding@home is supported by Stanford University and volunteers who are making a contribution to society by donating computing power to this project. The Folding@home client was developed by Sony Computer Entertainment in collaboration with Stanford University.[76] Life with PlayStation also consists of a 3D virtual view of the Earth, containing current weather and news information of various cities and countries from around the world. As well as a World Heritage channel which offers historical information about historical sites and United Village channel which is a project designed to share information about communities and cultures worldwide.[77][78]

PlayStation Plus

Main article: PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus is a subscription-based service on the PlayStation Network, which compliments the standard PSN services.[79] PlayStation Plus enables an auto-download feature, which allows the console to automatically download game patches and system software updates. Subscribers also gain early or exclusive access to some betas, game demos, premium downloadable content (such as full game trials of retail games like Infamous and LittleBigPlanet) and other PlayStation Store items, as well as a free subscription to Qore. Other downloadable items include PlayStation Store discounts and free PlayStation Network games, downloadable content, PSone Classics, PlayStaton Minis, themes and avatars.[80]

PlayStation.Blog

PlayStation.Blog is an online PlayStation focused gaming blog which is part of the PlayStation Network. It was launched on June 11, 2007[81] and since its launch it has featured numerous interviews with both third-party companies such as Square Enix[82] as well as posts from high-ranking Sony Computer Entertainment executives such as Jack Tretton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment.[83] A sub-site of the blog called PlayStation.Blog Share was launched on March 17, 2010 and allowed readers of the blog as well as users of the PlayStation.Blog to submit ideas to the PlayStation team about anything PlayStation-related as well as vote on the ideas of other submissions.[84][85]

Online social networking services

PlayStation Home

Main article: PlayStation Home

PlayStation Home is a community-based social gaming networking service for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network (PSN). It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar. Membership is free, and only requires a PSN account. Home has been in development since early 2005 and started an open public beta test on December 11, 2008.[86] Home allows users to create a custom avatar, which can be made to suit the user's liking.[87] Users can decorate their avatar's personal apartment ("HomeSpace") with default, bought, or won items. Users can travel throughout the Home world (except cross region) which is constantly updated by Sony and partners. Each part of the world is known as a space. Public spaces can just be for display, fun, or for meeting people. Home features many mini-games which can be single player or multiplayer. Users can shop for new items to express themselves more through their avatars or HomeSpace.[88] Home features video screens in many places for advertising, but the main video content is shown at the theatre for entertainment. Home plays host to a variety of special events which range from prize-giving events to entertaining events. Users can also use Home to connect with friends and customize content.[86] Xi, a once notable feature of Home, is the world's first console based Alternate Reality Game that took place in secret areas in Home and was created by nDreams.[89][90]

Room for PlayStation Portable

"Room" (officially spelled as R∞M with capital letters and the infinity symbol in place of the "oo"), it was being beta tested in Japan from October 2009 to April 2010. Development of Room has been halted on April 15, 2010 due to negative feedback from the community.[91] Announced at TGS 2009, it was supposed to be a similar service to the PlayStation Home, was being developed for the PSP.[92] It was able to be launched directly from the PlayStation Network section of the XMB. Just like in Home, PSP owners would have been able to invite other PSP owners into their rooms to "enjoy real time communication."[93] A closed beta test had begun in Q4 2009 in Japan.[94]

Software

XrossMediaBar running on the PlayStation 3

XrossMediaBar

The XrossMediaBar is a graphical user interface currently used for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable as well as a variety of other Sony devices; it was originally used on the PSX. The interface features icons that are spread horizontally across the screen. Navigation moves the icons, instead of a cursor. These icons are used as categories to organize the options available to the user. When an icon is selected on the horizontal bar, several more appear vertically, above and below it (selectable by the up and down directions on a directional pad).[95]

In-game XMB

In-games XMB allows players to access certain areas of the XMB menu from within the game and is only available for the PlayStation 3.[96] Although the capacity to play users' own music in-game was added with this update, the feature is dependant on game developers who must enable the feature in their games, or update existing games.[97]

Linux operating systems

Linux for PlayStation 2

In 2002, Sony released the first useful and fully functioning operating system for a video game console, after the Net Yaroze experiment for the original PlayStation. The kit, which included an internal hard disk drive and the necessary software tools, turned the PlayStation 2 into a full fledged computer system running Linux. Users can utilize a network adapter to connect the PlayStation 2 to the internet, a monitor cable adaptor to connect the PlayStation 2 to computer monitors as well as a USB Keyboard and Mouse which can be used to control Linux on the PlayStation 2.[98][99]

Linux for PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3 (excluding Playstation 3 Slim) also supports running Linux OS, on firmwares prior to 3.21, without the need for buying additional hardware purchase. Yellow Dog Linux provides an official distribution that can be downloaded, and other distributions such as Fedora, Gentoo and Ubuntu have been successfully installed and operated on the console.[100] The use of Linux on the PlayStation 3 allowed users to access 6 of the 7 Synergistic Processing Elements; Sony implemented a hypervisor restricting access to the RSX. The feature to install a second operating system on a PlayStation 3 was removed in a recent firmware update.[101]

Controllers

Early PlayStation controllers

A PlayStation control pad.

Released in 1994, the PlayStation control pad was the first controller made for the original PlayStation. It featured a basic design of a D-pad, 4 main select buttons [ PlayStationTriangle.svg ('Triangle'), PlayStationCircle.svg ('Circle/O'), PlayStationX.svg ('Cross/X') and PlayStationSquare.svg ('Square')], and start and select buttons on the face. They also feature 'shoulder buttons' on the top [L1, L2, R1, R2] (named by the side [L=Left, R=Right] and 1 or 2 [top and bottom]). In 1996, Sony released the PlayStation Analog Joystick for use with flight simulation games.[102] The original digital controller was then replaced by the Dual Analog in 1997, which added two analog sticks based on the same potentiometer technology as the Analog Joystick.[103] This controller was then also succeed by the DualShock controller.

DualShock series

A DualShock 3 controller.

Released in 1998, the DualShock controller for the PlayStation succeeded its predecessor the Dual Analog and would go on to become the longest running series on controllers for the PlayStation brand. In addition to the inputs of the original, digital, controller (PlayStationTriangle.svg, PlayStationCircle.svg, PlayStationX.svg, PlayStationSquare.svg, L1, L2, R1, R2, Start, Select and a D-pad) the DualShock featured two analog sticks in a similar fashion to the previous Dual Analog controller, which can also be depressed to activate the L3 and R3 buttons.[104]

The DualShock series consists of three controllers: the DualShock which was the fourth controller released for the PlayStation; the DualShock 2, the only standard controller released of the PlayStation 2 and the DualShock 3, the second and current controller released for the PlayStation 3.[104]

Like the Dual Analog, the DualShock and DualShock 2 feature an "Analog" button between the analog sticks that toggles the analog sticks on and off (for use with games which only support the digital input of the original controller). On the PlayStation 3 Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers, the analog sticks are always enabled. Beginning with the Sixaxis, a 'PlayStation button' (which featured the incorporated PS logo and is similar in function to the Xbox 360 "Guide" button) was included on controllers. The PlayStation button replaces the "Analog" button of the DualShock and DualShock 2 controllers. Pressing the PS button on the PS3 brings up the XMB, while holding it down brings up system options (such as quit the game, change controller settings, turn off the system, and turn off the controller).[105]

PlayStation Move

A PlayStation Move controller.

PlayStation Move is an upcoming motion-sensing game controller platform for the PlayStation 3 video game console by Sony Computer Entertainment(SCE). Based on handheld motion controller wand, PlayStation Move uses the PlayStation Eye webcam to track the wand's position, and inertial sensors in the wand to detect its motion. First revealed on June 2, 2009, PlayStation Move is slated for worldwide launch in Q3/Q4 2010. Hardware available at launch includes the main PlayStation Move motion controller, and an optional PlayStation Move sub-controller.[106] Although PlayStation Move is implemented on the existing PlayStation 3 console, Sony states that it is treating Move's debut as its own major "platform launch," planning an aggressive marketing campaign to support it. In addition to selling the controllers individually,[107] Sony also plans to provide several different bundle options for PlayStation Move hardware; including a starter kit with a PS Eye, a Move motion controller, and a demo/sampler disc, priced under US$100;[108] a full console pack with a PS3 console, DualShock 3 gamepad, PS Eye, and Move motion controller; and bundles of a Move motion controller with select games.[107] Specific pricing has not been decided.[106]

Media

Magazines

The PlayStation brand has a wide series of magazines covering PlayStation related articles and stories across different continents, many of these magazine worked closely with Sony and thus often come with demo discs for PlayStation games for example the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine gave out demo discs for Final Fantasy VIII.[109] Currently there are three magazines still in circulation namely PlayStation: The Official Magazine[110], PlayStation Official Magazine[111], Official PlayStation Magazine (Australia).[112] However, over the years, many PlayStation magazines have spawned while a few have also become defunct, these include the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine[113], Official UK PlayStation Magazine[114], Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine.[115]

CD ROM Magazine

PlayStation Underground was a non traditional magazine that Sony Computer Entertainment America produced, published between Spring 1997 to Spring 2001 subscribers received 2 PlayStation CDs, along with a booklet and colorful packaging every quarter.[116] The CDs contained interviews, cheats, programmers moves, game demos and one of a kind Memory Card saves. Several issues showed how a game was created from basic design to final product. Since the CDs could only be run on a PlayStation it proved a useful marketing tool which spawned a line of PlayStation Underground JamPacks Demo CDs, which contained highlights from recent issues of PlayStation Underground along with seemingly as many game demos that could be packed on a single CD. Unlike PlayStation Underground these were available in most stores for $4.95 and were published twice a year in Summer and Winter, and usually spotlighted newly released or coming soon games. By 2001 Sony had decided to phase out Underground to focus on the JamPacks with the release of the PlayStation 2. PlayStation Underground CDs are mainly in the hands of collectors these days.[117]

Marketing

The PlayStation has been known for several advertising campaigns.

Slogans

Advertising slogans used for each PlayStation console iteration:

PlayStation

PSOne

PlayStation 2

PlayStation Portable

PlayStation 3

PlayStation Move

Notable advertising campaigns

It Only Does Everything

The most notable of recent PlayStation commercials would be the series of "It Only Does Everything" commercials featuring a fictional character called Kevin Butler who is a Vice President at PlayStation. These commercials usually advertise the PlayStation 3 and its games through a series of comedic answers to "Dear PlayStation" queries.[128] These commercials garnered popularity among gamers though its debut commercial received criticism from the Nigerian government due to a reference to the common 419 scams originating in Nigeria. Sony issued an apology and a new version of the advert with the offending line changed.[132]

A spin-off of the campaign has been created for the PlayStation Portable which features similar campaign commercials called the "Step Your Game Up" campaign featuring a fictional teenage character named Marcus Rivers acting in a similar fashion to Kevin Butler but answering the "Dear PlayStation" queries about the PSP.[125]

Netherlands Ceramic White PSP Commercials

In July 2006, Sony released an advertising campaign in the Netherlands featuring a Caucasian model dressed entirely in white and a black model dressed entirely in black used to advertise the launch of Sony's new Ceramic White PSP comparing it with the original Piano Black PSP. This series of ads featured a white model as well as a black model, depicting the two fighting among each other.[133] This series of ads drew criticism of the media for being racist though Sony maintains that the ad did not feature any racist message.[134]

All I want for Xmas is a PSP

In November 2006, a marketing company employed by Sony's American division created a website entitled "All I want for Xmas is a PSP", designed to promote the PSP virally. The site contained a blog, which was purportedly written by "Charlie", a teenager attempting to get his friend Jeremy's parents to buy him a PSP, providing a "music video" of either Charlie or Jeremy "rapping" about the PSP. Visitors to the website quickly recognized that the website was registered to a marketing company, exposing the campaign on sites such as YouTube and digg, and Sony was forced to admit that the site was in fact a marketing campaign. In an interview with next-gen.biz, Sony admitted that the idea was "poorly executed".[135]

Reception

In 2005, Australian newspaper The Age wrote an article about the PlayStation brand conducting numerous interviews with various people in the industry. In an interview with Dr Jeffrey Brand, associate professor in communication and media at Bond University who said "PlayStation re-ignited our imagination with video games". Game designers Yoshiki Okamoto called the brand "revolutionary — PlayStation has changed gaming, distribution, sales, image and more". while Evan Wells of Naughty Dog said "PlayStation is responsible for making playing games cool."[136]

In 2009, ViTrue, Inc. listed the PlayStation brand as number 13 on their "The Vitrue 100: Top Social Brands of 2009". The ranking was based on various aspects mainly dealing with popular social media sites in aspects such as Social Networking, Video Sharing, Photo Sharing and Blogs. [137]

In 2010, Gizmodo stated that the PlayStation brand was one of the last Sony products to completely stand apart from its competitors stating that "If you ask the average person on the street what their favorite Sony product is, more often than not you'll hear PlayStation".[138] As of April 2010 the PlayStation brand is the "most followed" brand on social networking site, Facebook, with over 1.4 million fans and followers in total which is more than any other brand in the entertainment industry. A study by Greenlight's Entertainment Retail has also shown that the PlayStation brand is the most interactive making 634 posts and tweets on social networking sites, Twitter as well as Facebook.[139]

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