Playstation buying guide

Sony PlayStation

In addition to a whole lot of retro fun, the PlayStation is possibly the most historically significant console of the last 20 years. The system, the first to mainstream the use of CDs into a successful console, dominated past market leader Nintendo's Nintendo 64 and reinvigorated the gaming market by appealing to teens and adults rather than the traditional children audience. Originally planned as an add-on for the Super Nintendo, the PlayStation hit the U.S. market in 1995 - it was relaunched as the PSOne in 2000 - and sold more than 100 million units in the console’s first 11 years, before Sony discontinued the product in early 2006. If you are looking for information on the newly released Playstation 3, check out this guide .

Getting Technical

32-bit 33.9 MHz RISC processor.
2 MB of main RAM, 1 MB of video RAM and 512 KB of sound RAM.
44.1 kHz sound sampling rate.
Capable of one half-million textured and shaded polygons on-screen per second.
CD screen.

Why the PlayStation is So Popular

The PlayStation is the granddaddy that bounces all sorts of landmark franchises on its knee. Resident Evil, Twisted Metal, Gran Turismo, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider and Silent Hill all got there start on this machine. A total of 7,743 titles were released for the console. The console also signaled the 32-bit era rebirth of older, classic franchises, such as Final Fantasy and Metal Gear. Because it housed games on CDs instead of cartridges, the PlayStation had ample storage space to introduce high-quality video and audio to the gaming masses. As a testament to the success of the original system, its successors, the PlayStations 2 and 3, are both backward compatible with most classic titles from Sony’s original system. As a result, gamers can still dust off classic games and re-play them, or newcomers who never owned a PlayStation can try out the games for their first time. In addition, Sony has announced that classic PlayStation titles will be available for download on its handheld system, the PSP (PlayStation Portable).

Why You Still Need a PlayStation

The system is a bargain-hunter's dream. Used systems can be had for $30 or less, and games rarely cost more than a few bucks. The graphics, smooth and lifelike for its late-1990s heyday, pack a charming realism. Though the system lacks the punch of its sequel, the PS2 , you'll be surprised how well many of the games stack up to those being made today.

Accessories:

The Greatest PlayStation Games:

Related Products

Sony PSone	Multitap	PS1 Memory Card	Metal Gear Solid	Final Fantasy VII

External Links

PlayStation -- Sony's official site.
PSOne Forum -- Discussion of all things PSOne.
PSOne hacks -- Mess with your PSOne with guidance from this site.