The internet was a buzz with excitement when news was released that a Nintendo/Sony PlayStation was uncovered in someones attic. I’m sure after the news many a person was phoning their parents and grandparents to let them go digging through their attics in search of lost treasures. Soon after the discovery the people involved went dark, with little to no information coming out about the unit itself.
After a few months of wondering if this Nintendo PlayStation was real or not, the father and son pair that discovered it have gone public with the unit, showing it off at a major gaming expo in Hong Kong. Not only that, but the pair allowed a team from Engadget to play the unit, as well as take a peak inside. While the CD-ROM drive isn’t functional as of now (it could have been intentionally broken as the unit was meant for recycling) it may yet be saved in time. You can even see a video below:
The storied history of the Nintendo PlayStation is one of gaming legend, and one that both Sony and Nintendo refuse to discuss, even today. In short, for those that don’t know, Nintendo was interested in creating a CD-ROM add-on to its popular Super Nintendo (Super Famicom) console. Both Sega and TurboGrafx had their own CD based add-ons and it would seem that Nintendo wanted in on the new technology.
Sony was tapped to create the unit as the two companies had already worked closely before –the SNES used a Sony audio chip– and work was underway to create a Play Station (two words still) that would combine a SNES and add CD-ROM capabilities. At the same time Nintendo went to Phillips and tasked them with also creating a CD-ROM device, essentially pitting the two companies against each other in secret.
The Nintendo Play Station was in prototype phase and demoing software when Nintendo pulled the plug on the console and partnership. Word has it that Nintendo wasn’t comfortable with how much pull Sony wanted with the unit, branding their name all over it and demanding a huge part of the revenue and control over all CD based software.
In the end Nintendo ditched the CD idea for two entire console generations until the launch of the GameCube, with many stating that Nintendo kept the cartridge format so as not to have to pay royalties. Sony, having out so much work into the project, decided to just use what they had learned and turn the unit into the Sony PlayStation, a console that continues to compete directly with Nintendo systems.
Nintendo also pulled the plug on the Phillips CD-ROM add-on, but did allow Phillips the license to use both Mario and Zelda franchises when they too went and created their own CD-ROM console, the Phillips CD-i. But that my friends is a sad story for another time.
You can check out the full story, as well and in-depth interviews with the people who found the machine over at Engadget.
Via: (Engadget.com)
Image Credits: (Engadget.com)
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