[Tom4784]

Sony has announced a miniature version of the first PlayStation console, which originally launched in 1994.

The mini version will come with 20 retro titles, including Final Fantasy VII and Tekken 3.

The PlayStation Classic is around half the size of the original and is due to launch on 3 December.

One expert said nostalgia was driving interest in retro consoles, which offer a means of making historical video games more accessible.

The console is the first of Sony's video game machines to be given this kind of compact makeover. Nintendo has previously made mini versions of its NES and SNES consoles, which also included a set of pre-loaded classic games.

Among other titles to be featured on Sony's new system are Ridge Racer Type 4, the role-playing game Wild Arms and first-person platformer Jumping Flash.

The device will retail for £89.99. As well as the mini console, an HDMI cable for connecting to a TV and two wired controllers will be included.

The design of the console is faithful to the original - even featuring a disk eject button, despite the lack of an actual disk reader. Instead, pressing the button will swap the game being played for another.

The release date will mark exactly 24 years since the launch of the first PlayStation, which went on sale in Japan on 3 December 1994. It was launched in the UK the following September.

"It changed everything," said games journalist Chella Ramanan about the original PlayStation. "It became part of 'lad culture', for better or worse. It became part of youth culture.

"It was the first console I owned. Sony did an incredible marketing campaign, tapping into club culture to make games cool. It became a lifestyle thing for people in their 20s."

Ms Ramanan argued the retro consoles created by Nintendo and Sony appeal to the nostalgia that people have for the 1980s and 1990s, from pop music to TV shows like Stranger Things: "They have the aesthetic people want from older technology. There's something charming in the huge, clunky buttons."

Also, retro systems offer a way for a new generation to play a 'canon' of iconic games, said Ms Ramanan: "The industry is getting older so we do need to find a way to keep an archive of our history."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45574301

BICT....H

Ugh, I'm perched for this.

[Ant.]

Slay but also mess

[Oliver_W]

It's been a while since I heard that iconic phrase "don't worry, you can do it next time!"

Well Ridge Racer, I'm coming for you.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

It's been a while since I heard that iconic phrase "don't worry, you can do it next time!"

"It happens to every guy once in a while! Don't be embarrassed. We can try again. You're probably just tired, it's been a long day."

[Crimson Dynamo]

Good news for children at Christmas

As long as its not a fortune

[user104658]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Good news for children at Christmas

As long as its not a fortune

It says right there that it's £89.99

[Vicky.]

Just mentioned this to Gav, regretted it immediately as hes going to go on and on and on. I actually mentioned it as a possible xmas gift for my stepson

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It says right there that it's £89.99

Oh that isn't toobad

Bloody Fifa is 50 odd quid

[Ramsay]

Nostalgia cash grab. Gimme PS1 games on PS4 dammit

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

https://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2018/1...classic-review

[Mystic Mock]

I want one for the PS2.

But I'll definitely grab this one.

[user104658]

I'm sorry but the fact that it comes with classic skinny PSX controllers instead of the 1997 original DualShock makes this trash . I mean yeah it's fine for a lot of games on there but one of the bundled games is MGS, and playing MGS without an analogue stick is surely something out of one of the lower circles of hell? Same goes for Syphon Filter. And Rainbow 6. And basically any other PSX game released after 1997.

And gameplay aside, the DualShock is an iconic piece of gaming history and changed console gaming forever. Why would it not be here??

This needs a DualShock upgrade or put in the bin.

[Scoot]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

And gameplay aside, the DualShock is an iconic piece of gaming history and changed console gaming forever. Why would it not be here??

So they can grab more nostalgia money later when they inevitably sell dual shock controllers separately.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Scoot

So they can grab more nostalgia money later when they inevitably sell dual shock controllers separately.

Probably true, and they'll sell them for like £25 for a pair or something.

Meh.

The PSX is well emulated and you could build an HDMI one out of a broken old laptop (you can get one with a smashed screen for dirt cheap... probably free...) with any games you want on it, plus a couple of USB dual shock controllers for under £60. It wouldn't even be hard to use an old PS1 (the small one) as a case with nothing more than a screwdriver and a hot glue gun .

And it would upscale.

And you could play NES/SNES/MasterSystem/MegaDrive/N64 games on it.

Honestly I can't see these "mini" systems as anything other than over-priced emulation .

[Scoot]

Exactly. Like obviously nostalgia must be that high that these things sell well, but I’m not a huge fan of the idea of us getting things like these instead of ps1 games sold on the ps4/a proper virtual console on the Switch.

[Strictly Jake]

I'm going to buy an actual old playstation 1 off ebay purely so I can play crash bandicoot on it

[user104658]

Originally Posted by ShakeyJake10

I'm going to buy an actual old playstation 1 off ebay purely so I can play crash bandicoot on it

Just be aware that you might need a SCART-HDMI convertor, modern TV's don't play well with some PSX / PS2 games natively.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by ShakeyJake10

I'm going to buy an actual old playstation 1 off ebay purely so I can play crash bandicoot on it

Or just get it in PS4

[Mystic Mock]

The only complaint that I have is I would've liked more than 20 titles on the Console.