**The Birth of PlayStation: A Story of Innovation and Rivalry**

In today's gaming landscape, the word "PlayStation" is synonymous with console gaming. Its impact stretches across decades, with generations of players growing up with iconic titles like Uncharted, Gran Turismo, and The Last of Us. However, the story behind the PlayStation brand begins years before its debut.

**Ken Kutaragi: A Pioneer in Gaming**

In the 1980s, Sony's focus was on consumer electronics and entertainment, not toys. However, Ken Kutaragi, a hardware engineer inside Sony, believed deeply in the untapped potential of gaming. Undeterred by the industry's perception of video games as a niche market, Kutaragi took a bold gamble that would change everything.

**The Secret Project**

Kutaragi developed an advanced audio chip for Nintendo's upcoming Super Nintendo console. This was a significant move within the rigid corporate structure of Sony, and it paid off spectacularly. The success of Kutaragi's sound chip made Sony executives realize that gaming could be a lucrative venture.

**A Booming Japanese Economy**

By 1990, the Japanese economy was booming, and there was a real sense of optimism among electronics manufacturers. These companies began looking beyond traditional electronics for the next big thing, and the growing video game industry suddenly looked like the perfect prospect.

**The First Console War**

The landscape was largely dominated by two companies: Sega and Nintendo. Their rivalry marked the beginning of the first console war that has shaped so much of gaming since. After the success of the original NES, Sega fired the first shot with the Mega Drive (Genesis in North America), which featured edgy marketing and faster-paced titles like Sonic.

**The Advent of 3D Gaming**

Well not brand new, games like Starfox on the Super Nintendo had proved that 3D was possible on consoles. However, the technology very much remained in its infancy. In the arcades, Sega was at the forefront with their Model one and Model two arcade boards, showcasing titles like Virtual Fighter and Daytona USA.

**The CD Format**

Sony co-developed the CD format with Philips in the early eighties, which was huge for the music industry. By the 1990s, CD manufacturing costs were dropping, making the tech attractive for gaming. Compared to cartridges, CDs offered way more storage for high-quality audio and even full-motion video.

**The Sega CD**

Sega took the first major step with the Sega CD, an add-on for the Mega Drive released in 1992. While it showcased the potential of CD-based gaming, titles were often seen as expensive and gimmicky, not really showing off the format's capabilities. It also didn't help that it was very expensive.

**The PlayStation Project**

Despite this less-than-amazing start, there was a reason why people expected CD tech to be the next generation, and Sony was arguably positioned better than anyone else to bring that shiny optical disc to gamers everywhere. Fueled with the success of Kutaragi's gamble with the Super Nintendo sound chip, Sony was finally convinced to dip their toes deeper into the world of gaming.

**The Initial Collaboration**

A small dedicated team led by Kutaragi within Sony began exploring the concept of a standalone console designed to push the boundaries of 3D rendering. This was the beginning of what would eventually become the PlayStation project. The initial collaboration focused on creating a CD-ROM add-on for the wildly popular Super Nintendo.

**The Partnership with Philips**

And so it was, all this was announced by Sony at CES in 1991. And the very next day, Nintendo announced that instead they were partnering with Philips. Can we just take a minute? Can you just imagine something like this happening today? It's as if Sony announced that the Switch was getting support for PS5 games, and then the next day Nintendo goes...

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Today, the word PlayStationis basically synonymous with gaming.Its impact stretches across decadesand generations of players have grown upwith titles like Uncharted, Gran Turismoand The Last of Us.I mean, just hearing theintro chime of the PS1gives me goosebumps every single time.(mimicking PS1 chime)(clears throat)I'll work on my impression.The beginning of thestory is kind of wild,Sony announced the Nintendo PlayStationonly for Nintendo out of nowhereto announce a partnership with Philipsand completely burn Sony.Fueled by revenge, Sonystruck out on their ownand developed the only consoleto ever truly challengeand win against Nintendoand the rest is history.But it is most definitely not that simple.The story actually beginsyears before the PlayStationever saw the light of day.Ken Kutaragi, a hardwareengineer inside Sony,believed deeply in theuntapped potential of gaming.However in the 1980s,Sony's focus was firmlyon consumer electronicsand entertainment, not toys.It seems wild in hindsight,but video games were stillseen by many as a niche market.Undeterred, Kutaragi took a gamblethat would change everything,he embarked on his secret projectwithout letting most ofsenior Sony management know,which is always a really smart ideafor furthering your career.He developed an advanced audio chipfor Nintendo's upcomingSuper Nintendo console.Now the original NES (SuperMario music playing) was capableof making some iconic sounds and music,but there was clearlyroom for huge improvement.(Super Mario music playing)It's hard to understatejust how much of a bold move this waswithin the rigid corporatestructure of Sony.However, Kutaragi's gamblepaid off spectacularly.Not only did his sound chipbecome a core componentof the Super Nintendo,but it also served as a proof of concept.The success made Sony executives realizethat gaming could actuallybe a lucrative venture.It's important to set the stage here,by 1990, the Japanese economy was boomingand there was a real sense of optimism,especially among Japaneseelectronics manufacturerswho were newly flushwith cash and confidence.These companies began lookingbeyond traditional electronicsfor what would be the next big thing.The growing video game industrysuddenly looked like the perfect prospect.Fueled by the success of Nintendo's NESand the rising popularityof home computers,video games were growing quicklyand captivating a wideraudience than just kids.It was an easy pitch,tech giants like Sony saw an opportunityto leverage their expertisein both hardware andsoftware, not to mentiondoing something with thosenewfound piles of cashto carve out their ownslice of this gaming pie.This wasn't just about profit either,there was a real incentiveto show the worldthat you were the toptech company in the worldand video games really did representthe cutting edge of technology.At the time,the landscape was largelydominated by two companies,Sega and Nintendo.Their rivalry was the beginningof the first console warthat has shaped so much of gaming since.After the success of the original NES,Sega fired the firstshot with the Mega Drive,also known as the Genesisinside of North America.It's edgy marketing andfaster paced titles like Sonicwere quote unquote cool,and titles like Mortal Kombatbrought all the blood and violencethat you would not findon a Nintendo console.In comparison, the Super Nintendo,with its bright and vibrant graphicsand classic titles like Super Mario Worldwas a huge leap forward over the NES,but we were living ina world of Nintendon't.There was one clearwinner in the cool factorand it was Sega.And yet a major disruptorloomed on the horizon,the advent of 3D.Well not brand new,I mean games like Starfoxon the Super Nintendohad proved that 3D waspossible on consoles,but the technology very muchremained in its infancy.In the arcades, Sega reallywas at the forefront.Their Model one andModel two arcade boardsshowcase the potential of 3D gaming.We're talking titles like Virtual Fighter,which wow with its polygonal fightersand Daytona USA in 1993,which absolutely blew mindswith its smooth visuals andrealistic racing experience.Well mostly realistic at least.These arcade experiencesgave gamers a tasteof the next generation of gaming,fueling the appetite fortrue 3D gaming in the home.The race was on to bring immersivepolygon based worlds to the living room,and Sony had one more majorweapon in its arsenal, the CD.Co-developed withPhilips in the early eighties,the CD format was hugefor the music industry.And by the 1990s, CDmanufacturing costs were dropping,making the tech attractive for gaming.Compared to cartridges,CDs offered way more storagefor high quality audioand even full motion video,although maybe the lesssaid about that, the betterback in the early days. Yikes.The potential was clear,but it took a while to get started.Sega took the first majorstep with the Sega CD,an add-on for the MegaDrive released in 1992.While it showcased thepotential of CD based gaming,titles were often seen asexpensive and gimmicky,not really showing offthe formats capabilities.It also didn't help thatit was very expensive,at $299 or $657 adjusted for inflation.Yeah, no wonder it didn't take offas an add-on for a consoleyou already had to own anyway.Despite this less than amazing start,there was a reason whypeople expected CD techto be the next generation,and Sony were arguably positioned betterthan pretty much anyone elseto bring that shiny opticaldisc to gamers everywhere.Fueled with the successof Kutaragi's gamblewith the Super Nintendo sound chip,Sony were finallyconvinced to dip their toesdeeper into the world of gaming.A small dedicated team ledby Kutaragi within Sonybegan exploring the conceptof a standalone consoledesigned to push theboundaries of 3D rendering.This was the beginningof what would eventuallybecome the PlayStation project.With the opportunity of the CD format,Sony wanted a partnershipto give them a footholdin the gaming space.The history with Nintendomade them a natural fit.The initial collaboration focusedon creating a CD-ROM add-onfor the wildly popular Super Nintendo.This seemed like a win-win scenario,Nintendo would gain extendedcapabilities for their consolewhile Sony would secure their entryinto the console market.And so it was.All this was announcedby Sony at CES of 1991.And the very next day,Nintendo announced that insteadthey were partnering with Philips.Now can we just take a minute?Can you just imagine somethinglike this happening today?It's as if Sony announced that theSwitch was getting support for PS5 games,and then the next day Nintendo goes,"Nah, nevermind. We're justgonna run Android games".Look, it's absolutely wild.So what went wrong?Well it seems that behind thescenes tensions were brewing.The exact terms of this dealare still a little hazy even today,but supposedly, Nintendoexecutives grew uncomfortablewith the terms of the deal,which would've givenSony considerable controlover not only licensing,but also development for CD based games.Additionally, there were concernsthat the proposed Nintendo PlayStationleaned too heavily on Sony's branding,relegating the Nintendo part as a footnotefor what was probably beenperceived as Sony's new console.Now to show you just how closethis got to the finish line,there were rumorsthat there was as far as acontract already being signed,which would make sense ifyou're going to announce it,but supposedly it was mysteriously voidedby Nintendo's president at the 11th hour.Or I don't know, whatever hour you call itafter you announced the(quaking) thing already.Because remember,Sony has gone on stage saying,"Hey, the Sony PlayStation,it's a thing that workswith Nintendo stuff".And then Nintendo said,"What's up, Philips?".Back in 1991 though,the fallout was swift and it was brutal.I mean think about it,Sony, the company with areputation for innovationand being on the top of the tech worldfelt humiliated and betrayed.Ironically, this publicembarrassment sparkeda real sense of determinationwithin the company,which before this,kind of just treated gaminglike a little side project.Senior executives at Sonyrecognizing the potentialof the gaming marketreally got behind theidea of going it alone,developing their own consoleto directly challengeNintendo's dominance.And boy oh boy did it.With the benefit of hindsight,you can make the argumentthat this was one ofthe biggest decisions in gaming historythat directly led to thePlayStation that we know today.Meanwhile, Nintendo's newchosen partner in Philipsbrought out the heavily flawed CD-I,an expensive mess of a consolethat spawned some of theworst games of all time.- Gee, it sure is boring around here.- It all set back Nintendo years.Even the successor to theSuper Nintendo, the N64,only shipped a disc add-onway after the SonyPlayStation hit the market,and it was such a flopthat not only did it not seea release outside of Japan,but many of the gamesthat were planned for itended up just being held backfor the next next generation GameCube.Whoops. So with all thebackstory for context,what happened when Sony actuallyreleased the PlayStation?With a blank slate to start from,one of the first decisions was on specs.From their initial work focusedaround a 3D home console,Sony rejected the traditional16-bit architecture of the era,instead opting for acutting edge for its day32-bit RISC processor.This potent CPU gave thePlayStation the raw powerto render complex 3D worlds in real time,maybe not quite on parwith Sega's arcade boards,but at a price point thatpeople could actually afford.Alongside the powerful CPU,they equipped the PlayStationwith a dedicated geometrytransformation engine or GTE.This was a specialized part of the CPU,responsible for the complexmathematical calculationsthat underpin 3D rendering.This was important becausethe concept of a GPUwasn't really well definedin the early 1990s,but the GTE hardware workedin tandem with the GPUto enable smooth polygonrendering, texture mappingand advanced lighting effects.It was a fairly powerful pieceof hardware for the time,especially as a first generation effort.So much so in fact, that Sony hidsome of the more advancedfeatures of the PlayStationuntil much later,including high resolutionmodes for 2D content,texture filtering and more.Surprise, surprise,it was also terrific forplaying CDs with audio qualitythat rivaled some of the very bestaudiophile grade CD players of the day.As you might imagine,as a brand new platformfrom a company with noreal history in gaming,initially a lot ofdevelopers were skeptical.The PlayStation's focus on 3D graphicswas such a huge departurefrom the 2D sprite based games at the timethat an all new approachreally was required.I mean, just imagine how big of a completerethinking of game design wasto go from Mario Kart to Gran Turismo.However, developersquickly saw the potential.The PlayStation's emphasis on 3Dopened up enormous possibilitiesfor creating immersive worlds,cinematic storytellingand gameplay experiencesthat were just simply not possibleon previous generations of consoles.Sony was also smartin making things fairlyeasy for developers.The PlayStation's development toolswere considered relativelyaccessible for the timeand Sony actively tried toattract third party developers,knowing that no console could survivewithout good games to stand on.This stood in stark contrastwith the main competitor at the time,which was the Sega Saturn.Now the Saturn was a verytechnically impressive consolethat ended up borrowing alot from the arcade boards.But it was enormouslycomplicated to develop forwith a dual CPU architectureand a high $399 price tag in the US.In comparison, when it came time for Sonyto announce the price of the PlayStation,they summed it up pretty quickly.- $299.(cheering)- I feel like I've seen this clip before.None of this mattered though,both critics and gamersalike bought in early.Reviewers praised the console's 3D graphicsand that $300 price pointreally helped propelPlayStation to instant success.They sold 2 million unitsin the first six months in Japanand had lines out thedoor in the United States.Meanwhile, Sega triedto get the drop on Sonyby surprise announcingthat the Saturn was goingon sale immediately,except they forgot to inform retailers,some of whom were so madthat they didn't even stock the Saturn.You know, as much as hard workplays a big role in things,it really, really helpswhen your competitorsare too busy shootingthemselves in the footto even compete with you.And with that,the PlayStation was welland truly off to the races.Throughout 1995 and 1996,gamers really began to see whatthe console was capable of.Games such as ResidentEvil, Tekken and Wipe Outall pushed gaming farbeyond what was capableon the older 16 bit sprite based consolesand made the PlayStationlook like a killer upgrade.(PS1 startup music playing)If you could distill my childhooddown to a couple of noises,those are the sounds.Gran Turismo was not onlythe number one sellinggame for the PlayStation,Gran Turismo 2 was likethe third bestselling game.But it's hard to understatejust how much of a leap this was.Before this, we had titlessuch as Daytona USA,which was a great game,but it was very arcadey.This was one of the firsttimes that video gameshad actually seen a morerealistic racing simulator.And the thing is,Sony did a lot of reallysmart moves with this console.You had like properactual soundtracks, right?Like you're listeningto CD audio right now.It wasn't just one of those thingswhere it was just some 8-bitchiptune kind of thing.Like it was like an actuallylike really, really good soundtrack.I think a big reason why thePlayStation was successfulwas because Sony were ableto go into this generationwithout a sort of playbookfor how they needed to do things, right?I mean, you know, for the 3D generation,I mean we're talking aboutthe N64 for Nintendo,and at that point the gamewas very well established,you know, you had to have Mario,you had to have, you know,obviously some incrediblycutting edge titleslike Donkey Kong, but like ultimatelyit was a console that hadto be a Nintendo console,that was the mold that had been set.But for Sony, they could kindof do whatever they wanted.And not only did they start to developa lot of first party titlesin this sort of generation,but also the third party support was hugebecause they could actually developproper cinematic games like Final Fantasy,you could take advantage of the CD formatand have proper audio,you'd have so much more to work with.And Sony did a lot of smart decisions,as far as like makingit easy to develop for.Oh no, no! Ghost come back!No past Austin!All right. Look, I could sit hereand talk to you aboutGran Turismo all day long.You see the smile on the face right now,that is what this game gives me.But let's also talk abouta couple of other games, including,Tomb Raider.Look at this.Look at this, it's a cutscene in a video game.Imagine that. We're FaceTiming right now.This seems so old, but this is likeactually cinematicstorytelling in a video game.We take it for granted today.This is something that the PlayStationwas hugely influentialin actually bringing out.Are we gonna go save them?(gun firing)(animal whining)Ah, is that blood?Oh my God, did you see blood?Oh no. She accidentally shoot her friend.No, we shot him. No!Well we're on our own.So if you look closely,actually this is a good example,look like on the wall here,you see this kind of likeweird like artifacting?That was one of the downsidesof the original PlayStation.I'm not entirely sure whythe PlayStation handledgraphics in this way.It was something to do withthe way it handled triangles, I think.It certainly was not ideal,but it definitely gavePlayStation 1 gamesa very sort of distinctive look.By the time Nintendo finallyreleased the N64 in late 1996,the PlayStation had beenon sale for two yearsand was the dominant gaming console.While technically more powerful,the N64 was held back by its expensive,low capacity cartridges.While the PlayStation enjoyed its cheap,easy to manufacture CDsand the controller situation.Someone at Nintendolooked at the N64 controller and said,"(quaking) it, let's ship it".Or at leastI assume so, I don't knowwhat they actually said but,I'm not sure why.You look at this and say,"Sign me up, captain".Meanwhile, Sony iteratedon the already excellentPlayStation controllerwith the DualShock,incorporating not only themuch needed analog sticks,but also including a rumble feature,which yes, this mightbe my bias showing here,but it ran absolute rings aroundthe stupid N64 controller.In 2000, Sony released the PS One,a slim redesigned versionof the original PlayStation.This smaller, more affordable modelreally revitalized the consoles salesand extended its lifespandeep into the next generation.While the PS One continuedto draw in new players,the competition had evolved significantly.In 2001, Nintendo released the GameCube.Well around the same time,Microsoft entered the fraywith the powerful Xbox.Despite facing rivals with far more power,the PlayStation's late lifecyclewas a period of incrediblygood games for the platform.We're talking about classicslike Crash Bandicoot,Spyro the Dragon andTony Hawk's Pro Skater,that did a lot to keepthe PlayStation relevant.It's kind of crazyto think about thePlayStation's longevity.Its official productiondidn't end until 2006,a full six years after thePlayStation 2's launch.It's no wonder that the PlayStation wasthe best selling console ever in its time,only to be passed by noneother than the PlayStation 2.But that is a story for another time.If you enjoyed this video,make sure to subscribe to the channel.As I'm sure you can tell,the original PlayStationhas a very special place in my heart.(mimicking PS1 startup music)- That did not sound likewhatever you just did.- Yeah.- Would you like to try to do the(mimicking PS1 startup music)?