15 Years of Playstation

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Japanese launch of the Sony Playstation.

Although the Sony console didn't make its way state-side until 1995, the CD-ROM based video game system quickly left an impression on the industry resulting in to subsequent console releases as well as a handheld.

Tackling the Sega Saturn and eventually winning-out against the Nintendo 64, the Sony Playstation introduced a new alternative in the gaming market and provided game developers a cheaper format for which to design games.

The release of the Playstation 2 in 2000 precluded a record-breaking sales figure of over 130 million units sold and was the first console to embark on Sony's 10-year life cycle which is barely holding on into 2010.

The console giant later released its first bout into the handheld gaming market with the Playstation Portable in Japan in 2004 and later the US in 2005. It was Sony's attempt to release Nintendo's stranglehold on the market although it has proven unsuccessful thus far playing second banana to the Nintendo DS.

Finally the 2006 release of the Playstation 3 was Sony's first misstep as the former console leader dropped to third falling behind the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the widely popular Nintendo Wii. Combating criticism of difficult development from game makers despite the consoles powerful "cell processor," Sony also priced itself out of reach from many gamers with an initial $599 price tag. Only until Sony's recent price drop has sales finally swung back in Sony's favor.

Nevertheless, with nearly every milestone video game title making its way to a Sony console in the last 15 years it is hard to ignore the importance of Playstation's impact on the industry.

To illustrate the point, below is a list of just a few popular franchises that were first launched on a Sony console:

• Resident Evil
• Tomb Raider
• Metal Gear Solid
• Gran Turismo
• Silent Hill
• Devil May Cry
• Kingdom Hearts
• Tekken
• Medal of Honor
• Ratchet and Clank
• Twisted Metal