The first PlayStation was released in Japan in 1994 and made its way over to the United States the following year in 1995. Nine years after it was released, the PlayStation became the first video game console to ship 100 million units to consumers around the world who used it to play such classic video games as Final Fantasy VII, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot, among other unforgettable games that were released through the 90s and early 2000s. Since the release of the first ever PlayStation, Sony has expanded the line of consoles and has come out with more home video game consoles, portable gaming consoles, and video game accessories in the line.
Even though the first PlayStation was a super popular console, there are a lot of secrets about the console that only huge PlayStation fans know about. It's easy to be familiar with iconic games from the PlayStation like the Silent Hill series, Crash Bandicoot, and some RPGs like the Final Fantasy games even without being a serious PlayStation fan. But only a PlayStation superfan will know about things like special controllers, an early version of PlayStation VR that was available way back in the 90s, and the real reason that the PlayStation discs were black instead of the holographic silver that other CDs are. These things are definitely not for the most casual PlayStation fans who only bought a PS4 recently so they'll be ready for the highly anticipated The Last of Us 2.
Keep reading to see 30 things that only the biggest PlayStation fans know about the original PlayStation console.
30 Who Needs Controllers?
Any gamer will know that video game consoles come with a controller, right? The controllers can come in all kinds of different colors and forms, depending on the console. But, the first PlayStation had a different option for controllers that was super unique. How many old school gamers remember the fact that the first ever PlayStation had the option to use a PlayStation Mouse?
Move over, PC gamers!
Certain compatible games that included games like Monopoly, SimCity 2000, and Clock Tower: The First Fear let gamers use a mouse to play them.
29 External Storage
Who remembers the days of memory cards to save games on? These days, handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch use MicroSD cards in order to save games on them but old school gamers will remember the struggle of having to buy expensive memory cards that would only work on a specific system that hardly held any games.
Who remembers having to decide what to delete to make room for a new Silent Hill save?
In order to remedy this, the company Datel released an external floppy disk drive that held more saves than a typical memory card and helped gamers to really save their progress without the hassle of expensive memory cards.
28 A Friend To Play With
The original PlayStation had so many cool accessories that went along with it that were compatible with different games. Unfortunately, this accessory was only available in Japan but it has become a collector's item for gamers who were super into their PlayStation in the early 2000s.
This is called the PocketStation and was basically a little friend who would play games with you! It had a lot of different features like a built-in memory card and a clock. For 90s kids who remember taking care of their Tamagotchi, this accessory was super similar in that it was basically a little digital pet.
27 Super Early VR With The Sony Glasstron!
The VR system that many PlayStation games use now is really cool and immersive. It's a super awesome way to add another element into the game and make it really seem like you're in the game that you're playing instead of just being on the other side of the screen.
VR capabilities actually date all the way back to the first PlayStation.
The Sony Glasstron was a head-mounted system that was released in 1996 and was an early version of the PlayStation VR that we know now. One of the games that it supported was MechWarrior 2.
26 A Glove Controller
Throughout the years, video game consoles have put some super interesting twists on the typical controller that we're all familiar with. From the rectangular Wii Remote to the detachable Joy-Cons that the Nintendo Switch uses, we've seen some cool controllers in recent years. But, Nintendo isn't the only company releasing interesting controllers.
The first PlayStation had an optional controller that could be purchased separately that attached to the hand like a glove and was really comfortable and cool to use while still having all the regular buttons.
25 Its Own Screen
Who else remembers wanting to play a video game while a parent or sibling wanted to watch TV? It was always annoying to seriously want to play a game when you couldn't because the TV that the PlayStation was hooked up to was being used by someone else.
Luckily, Sony had our back and had thought of a solution for that!
With the addition of this LCD screen, gaming didn't mean having to wait for the TV to be free! This screen made gaming somewhat portable because you could play your PlayStation in any room.
24 Game Boy Games... On The PlayStation?!
Isn't it sad when a game you really like comes out on a console that you don't actually have? Nothing hurts more than seeing all the good reviews and screenshots of a game that you unfortunately can't play because it's on a console that, unfortunately, you just don't own.
For owners of the original PlayStation, this pain was eased slightly because it didn't just play PlayStation games! With the GB Booster device, it could also play Game Boy games! Pokémon on the big screen? Yes, please!
23 Or Design Your Own
We all know that the PlayStation could play games, right? But what if you wanted to program your own? Designing your own app or game these days is easier than it's ever been but back in the late 90s and early 2000s, it was a pretty big deal.
One special edition PlayStation allowed gamers to become game developers with the console.
This feature was only on the black PlayStation, called the Net Yaroze, but gamers could develop their games on it and then send the files to Sony who would share the demo version with other gamers.
22 Build Your Own Robot
These days, real-life toys being used in video games is becoming more and more common. From Skylanders to Amiibo, there are a lot of games that allow players to take a real-life toy and add a whole new level of gameplay to their game.
This game is called ZXE-D: Legend of Plasmalite and was a Japan exclusive, but it's become pretty popular among people who like to collect retro video game consoles and products. It allowed the player to build a robot and then scan it into their game to use in the game!
21 A Different Type Of Disc
Media companies are always trying to come up with new ways to stop piracy. It costs them a lot of money to have people who download and burn their movies, music, and games. In order to try to stop people from being able to copy their games, Sony decided to make their discs super unique.
These black discs didn't just look cool, they served a really useful purpose too.
Sony believed that the black coating on the back of the disc would stop people from being able to pirate them. We have to admit that they looked pretty cool.
20 And Generally A Different Format
When the PlayStation came out, most video game systems were using cartridges for their games. Sony took a pretty big risk by going with a completely different format. But it was a good decision since the CDs they used were able to hold so much more data.
Some games even took up multiple discs because of the fact that they were so large.
Thanks to technological developments like the Internet and internal storage, we're able to download games that are even bigger than what those discs were able to hold. But for the time? This was a huge deal!
19 Awesome New Controllers
These days, controllers come in all kinds of cool colors and designs. Who else remembers having the super cool ones that came in colorful, semi-transparent plastic that showed the inside workings of the controller?
The original PlayStation's controllers were more than just a pretty face.
The controller added an extra set of shoulder buttons that added even more functionality to the game and were used for different features in different games. Although it was similar to other controllers of the time with the joysticks, d-pad, and buttons, it was also really different.
18 The Home Of All The Coolest RPGs
Video games come in all kinds of different genres these days. From survival games to racing games, there's a game out there for just about any gamer's taste.
The PlayStation is credited by many gamers for helping to drive one genre into the mainstream.
Many game developers that developed RPGs, games like Final Fantasy VII and Suikoden II that focus on developing a character throughout the story by doing jobs and making different choices, entered exclusive contracts with Sony in order to develop games for the PlayStation.
17 This Easy Fix
Let's be honest, memory cards and external storage devices were expensive. Who could afford to buy enough of them to save all the games they were playing?
Too many of us can remember the days of leaving a PlayStation on overnight in order to avoid losing our progress.
Anyone who did that probably remembers the feeling of noticing that your PlayStation had taken some serious damage and wasn't working right anymore. But how many people remember that flipping the console upside down to help it read the disc better was the simplest fix?
16 The Original Mascot New Gamers Don't Remember
When many gamers think of early video game mascots from the era of the PlayStation 1, who do they think of? Probably figures like Crash Bandicoot, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Earthworm Jim, right?
There's one mascot that didn't get a chance to live on long enough to make it into the memories of many gamers.
In 1995, then-CEO Ken Kutaragi was introduced to a spiky-haired purple head named Polygon Man. He was set to be the mascot of the PlayStation but was canceled for not being appealing enough.
15 Early Internet Gaming
Thanks to the technology of the current age, playing video games with your friends has never been easier! Whether you want to play Fortnite against your best friend from across town or team up with fellow Overwatch heroes from around the world, a team of fellow gamers to play with is only a few clicks away.
On the first PlayStation, Sony had an early version of using the Internet on a game console.
It was definitely not the PSN we're familiar with now, but hooking a cell phone up to the PlayStation 1 made it possible to browse the web and even download games.
14 More Than Just Games
We all know that the PlayStation was a great system for gaming, right? But audiophiles were not left out of being able to enjoy the console!
When it was time to take a break from enjoying games, it could also play all your favorite music.
The fact that the console used CDs instead of cartridges for the games that it played meant that the slot was already perfect to insert a CD into and play your favorite 90s and early 2000s albums.
13 The Best Sound System
The PlayStation didn't just play music through your TV's sound system. Well, one model didn't. Since Sony was already so well-known for their entertainment electronics prior to releasing the PlayStation, who's shocked that they released a PlayStation that could play such incredible quality audio?
The SCPH-1001 PlayStation model is a valuable collectible now since it had some special audio features that were removed from other editions of the PlayStation. It had high-end audio playback features and RCA stereo audio outputs that made it perfect for playing music when you weren't gaming.
12 How Many PlayStations Equal A Vita?!
These days, video game consoles have pretty strong processing power. It's pretty amazing how strong such a small piece of technology can be but it's a good thing for us since it means that we can play higher quality games!
In order to equal the processing power of one PlayStation Vita, it would take 236 of the original PlayStation!
Even though this seems like a lot, the fact that the PlayStation had the power that it did have back when it was released was pretty amazing. Imagine what game consoles will be like in 20 more years!
11 This Game Room Makeover
Who else has old video game systems laying around in a box in the attic or in the garage? Whether they're broken or just not being played anymore, there's probably at least one in there somewhere that is just collecting dust. Although some special editions go for a lot of money now, many of them don't have much use anymore.
So many original PlayStations have found their way to Etsy where people have been upcycling them into really cool pieces of decor like this lamp! Before you throw away an old PlayStation, consider giving it new life like this!