A copy of the PlayStation Anthology book, the Classic Edition was provided by publisher Geeks-Line for the purpose of review.
The original PlayStation is my favourite console of all time.
From its storied inception involving spates with both Sega and Nintendo to its marketed inclusion into the 1990s U.K. club scene, Sony’s maiden console flipped the script on what it meant to play video games in the wider public discourse and thus cemented itself as the progenitor of how the medium is viewed today.
Like a lot of gaming from the mid-1990s and before, however, the history of PlayStation beyond what’s been nailed down is woven in rumours, secondary accounts, and downright hearsay. Just how did a widely popular Japanese electronics corporation with no prior full-on video game development experience get thrust into – and then ascend to the top of – a wayward industry that had been traditionally dominated by dedicated companies such as Nintendo and Atari before it?
And beyond that, how did it capitalize on its competitors’ shortcomings, foster vibrant young talent, and take risks to extend its portfolio to reach further than the established boundaries of the industry it inhabited? For the first time, thankfully, we have the answers – painstakingly collated in the new: PlayStation Anthology book. Beginning as a pitch on website Kickstarter earlier this year, publisher Geeks-Line’s mission statement was clear from the outset: create a work of reference that would be the go-to source for PlayStation aficionados the world over; a collection of first-hand interviews, insights, and the definitive word on collecting for the 102 million-selling behemoth from a bygone era.
PlayStation Anthology Book began life on Kickstarter
It’s safe to say that this undertaking resonated with a lot of people as the pledge total exceeded €44,000 in the space of 30 days. And naturally with that sort of investment comes an air of expectation; but just how well does the now-released PlayStation Anthology deliver on its promises? Excellently, for the most part. The 385-page standard hardback edition certainly has a bit of heft to it, and comes jam-packed with 26 exclusive interviews from industry veterans, an in-depth history of Sony’s first console, exposés on cancelled games for the system, and the word on all of the weird and wonderful peripherals that were released in tow. There’s also exclusive information and a number of pages dedicated to some of the rarer titles for those hell bent on bulking up their gaming collections.
The content itself is presented on high-quality paper with a lovely sheen to proceedings, though a relatively minor drawback is the fact that the resolution of many of the screenshots present is noticeably low. Of course, one would assume that it would be difficult to source perfect captures from over twenty years ago, and the inclusion of more esoteric pieces like posters and such were always going to stick out poorly since they haven’t been archived properly. To be frank, it’s not much of an issue because let’s face it; people who played the original PlayStation were accustomed to seeing low-poly 320×240 images on screen – unless you were one of the few that played iS: Internal Section which somehow ran at a then-remarkable (for console) 640×480.
Bar the ‘history of’ (which provides ample insight into rapid rise of the PlayStation brand) the Anthology’s most interesting facet revolves around the interviews that have been conducted exclusively for the book. While there is a massive Ken Kutaragi-shaped hole here – you’d have to think they tried to get him given the fact he’s literally the father of PlayStation – many of the console’s most famous visionaries have agreed to answer questions about their involvement with the system. You’ve got the likes of Jason Rubin, co-founder of Naughty Dog and subsequently everybody’s favourite manic marsupial Crash Bandicoot; Lorne Lanning – the mind behind Abe’s Oddysee and Exoddus – and even Yoshinori Kitase, one of the most prominent figures during Squaresoft’s remarkable run back in the mid-to-late ‘90s. Moreover, industry legends such as Ian Livingstone, Suda 51, and Masaya Matsuura weigh in and lend a hand in painting the development picture of the original PlayStation. No sign of Mark Cerny, mind, which is a shame given his prominence within Sony over the years.
PlayStation Anthology Book Interviews
The actual questioning of the interviews is well delivered, too, but some of the answers are quite surface level whereas it would’ve proved interesting if some of the contributors really delved into times of turbulence or gave more specific insight into what it was like being in the trenches of developing for Sony’s original system. That said, there is 26 interviews which covers a large array of disciplines – from designers and directors to composers – so there’s certainly value and a whole host of different perspectives which help paint an intriguing picture into what it was like during the fresh-faced boom of 3D gaming.
Off the beaten track when compared to books of similar ilk, the PlayStation Anthology also features a year-by-year breakdown (1994-2002) of the various collectables and special editions of games that featured on the system: you’ve got the list of the tall black boxes of early releases as well as individual collector’s editions of games that range from the measured to the downright bizarre. And that’s only on the actual game side of things as there’s over 30 pages dedicated to the system’s design, its various models, bundles, and accessories. Ever wanted to learn more about the ergonomic value of the PSOne? Or how the Japan-only PocketStation had the first instance of the mascot ‘Toro’? Now is your chance.
Simply put, if you’re in any way curious or interested in how PlayStation as a brand came to be – be it through its convoluted history or simply from the plethora of incredible games that featured on it – the PlayStation Anthology is a must buy. Sure there are some small irritants such as the resolution of certain images, but it doesn’t detract from what’s been collated to be the definitive word on PlayStation’s multifaceted upbringing. Here’s hoping we get a follow-up that deals in Ken Kutaragi exclusively – there are certainly enough stories about the man to warrant it.
You can buy the PlayStation Anthology book from Geeks Line Publishing.