PlayStation: From joysticks to Saddam Hussein, five quirky facts about Sony’s legendary console as it turns 30

TOKYO, Nov 29 — Since 1994, PlayStation’s five consoles have changed video game history. From the development of the controller to scuffles at stores to Saddam Hussein’s military, here are five interesting things to know:

An original PlayStation is pictured at a display of various memorabilia in the lobby of the Sony headquarters building in central Tokyo on November 27, 2024. December 3, 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the first release of Japan's Sony PlayStation, transforming the world of video games. — AFP pic

Grey or bust

The original PlayStation, launched in Japan on December 3, 1994 was grey — inspired by the “workstation” computers of the era, according to gaming history expert Hiroyuki Maeda.

“The heads of Sony’s US division would have preferred black, which they felt was more elegant, but the Japanese side categorically refused,” Maeda told AFP.

They eventually relented, however. Apart from colourful limited-edition versions, the PlayStation 2, 3 and 4 were black. The PlayStation 5, released in 2020, is white.

This photograph taken on November 20, 2024 shows a a PlayStation console controller, in Vraiville. — AFP pic

Joystick juggling

When Sony built the first PlayStation, it was inexperienced in making consoles, so “the creation of the controller was one of the biggest challenges”, Maeda said.

“It’s said they made more than 200 prototypes,” he said.

Sony’s CEO at the time, Norio Ohga — an experienced pilot — pushed for a more sculpted design for the controller, which with its signature triangle, circle, cross and square buttons, has changed little over the years.

In Japan, a circle is a sign of approval, and so for years, it was the controller button for “OK”, with the cross button meaning cancel. The feature was inverted on PlayStation models sold in the West.

But Sony, conscious of the US market’s importance, abandoned this Japanese peculiarity in its most recent console, the PlayStation 5.

This photograph shows PlayStation 1 games on a shelf, in Vraiville, northern France, on November 20, 2024. A global success, particularly with a more adult audience, which has propelled the Japanese manufacturer to the rank of major player in the sector. — AFP pic

Game library

PlayStation owes much of its success to its roster of games.

Sony’s choice to use CDs instead of cartridges reduced manufacturing costs and production times, encouraging more game makers to create titles for its consoles.

French PlayStation' collector Cyril, plays to PlayStaion 3, at his home in Vraiville, on November 20, 2024. — AFP pic

Ridge Racer brought the 3D racing genre out of arcades and showed off the console’s technical abilities, while early stealth game Metal Gear Solid bridged the gap between games and cinema.

This photograph taken on November 20, 2024, shows the Ridge Racer's PlayStation I game, in Vraiville. — AFP pic

Final Fantasy VII — the first 3D instalment in the cult series, and the first not made for Nintendo consoles — also introduced Japanese role-playing games to many Western players.

Other titles with a place in video game history are survival-horror classic Resident Evil and the global media franchise Tomb Raider.

A PlayStation employee demonstrates how to put a disk into the PlayStation 5, at the Sony headquarters building in central Tokyo on November 27, 2024. — AFP pic

Store success

The PlayStation 2 is the top-selling console in the history of video games, with more than 160 million units sold.

One reason for its success is that it can also play DVDs — allowing customers to kill two birds with one stone.

The limited supply of the PS2 and its huge demand led to fights when it was launched, including at the Virgin Megastore on the Champs-Elysées in Paris.

War machine?

In late 2000, US media network NBC reported that Saddam Hussein’s Iraq had acquired 1,400 PlayStation 2 consoles to use their powerful microprocessors in missile guidance systems.

The same year, the machine was reportedly placed on a list of sensitive items by the Japanese government because of its advanced graphics processing capabilities, raising fears of potential military use. — AFP