PlayStation (brand)

The PlayStation brand is a line of video game consoles created and developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, occupying the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations.

Distinguishing features

Unlike its competitors, which largely use face buttons on their controllers denoted by letters (generally A, B, C, X and Y), PlayStation controllers uses shapes; namely ('Square'). The Select button is a raised rectangular button while Start is a raised right-pointing triangle. It also has 4 buttons on the top [L1, L2, R1, R2] (named by the side [L=Left, R=Right] and 1 or 2 [top or bottom] ) Starting with the PlayStation 3, a 'PlayStation button' was incorporated into the controller, in place of the 'Analog' button. The Analog button chose setting such as directional buttons or analogue stick. Now they are either both in use or have different purposes. The PS button on the PS3 brings up the XMB, while holding it down brings up the option to quit the game, change controller settings, turn off the system, and turn off the controller.

Consoles

PlayStation

The original PlayStation, released in December vgy|1994, was the first of the ubiquitous PlayStation series of console and hand-held game devices, which 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). By March 31 2005, the PlayStation and PSone had shipped a combined total of 102.49 million units, becoming the first video game console to reach the 100 million mark.cite press release |url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/051130e.pdf|title=PlayStation 2 Breaks Record as the Fastest Computer Entertainment Platform to Reach Cumulative Shipment of 100 Million Units |date=2005-11-30 |publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment |accessdate=2008-06-08|format=PDF]

PlayStation 2

Released in vgy|2000, barely a year after the Sega Dreamcast and a year before its other competitors, the Microsoft Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube, the PlayStation 2 is part of the sixth generation of video game consoles, and is backwards-compatible with most, if not all, original PlayStation games. It has also been released as a media center configuration and also, like its predecessor, a slimmer redesign. It is the best-selling console to date, [ [http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/02/15/date-xbox-marry-wii-kill-playstation.aspx PS2 on fool.com] ] [ [http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20061223.Q10 The Jakarta Post - The Journal of Indonesia Today ] ] having reached over 140 million units in sales as of July 20 2008. 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.

PlayStation 3

Announced at E3 2005, the PlayStation 3 is the third and current iteration in the series. It was released on November 11, 2006. It competes with the Xbox 360 and the Wii in the seventh generation of video game consoles. It introduces the use of the Sixaxis wireless controller along with other features. As of June 30 2008, the PlayStation 3 has sold 14.41 million units worldwide.cite web |url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/data/bizdataps3_sale_e.html |title=PlayStation 3 Worldwide Hardware Unit Sales |publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment Inc |accessdate=2008-07-29] cite web |url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/08q1_eleki.pdf |title=Supplemental Information for Q1 FY2008 Earnings |accessdate=2008-07-29 |date=2008-07-29 |publisher=Sony Corporation |format=PDF]

Comparison

Handheld systems

PocketStation

Created as a peripheral for the PlayStation entertainment system, the PocketStation can also function as a clock and PlayStation format Memory Card. Multiplayer gaming is achieved through infrared data link.

PlayStation Portable

First unveiled by SCEI in 2004, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) was released in March 2005. It utilizes an all-new proprietary optical storage medium known as UMD (universal media disc). The first major hardware revision, Slim and Lite, was released in September 2007. As of June 26 2008, 37 million PSP units have been sold. [cite web |url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/info/Strategy/pdf/presen_03.pdf#page=3 |title=Kazuo Hirai – President and Group CEO |date=2008-06-26 |publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment Inc |accessdate=2008-07-21 |pages=3]

Media Centers

The PSX was all-in-one digital video recorder with PlayStation and PlayStation 2 integrated. Was released in Japan only.

References