Understanding How PlayStation Works

The Sony PlayStation (PSX) was a leader in the gaming industry. While it faced fierce competition from the advanced features of the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Dreamcast, its immense popularity led Sony to claim that one in four U.S. households owned one.

In this edition of Mytour, dive into the evolution of the PSX, discover the components inside, and understand how everything operates. You'll also get to explore the iconic controller, including the widely loved Dual Shock version.

The Journey of PlayStation's History

In 1988, Sony made an agreement with Nintendo to develop a CD-ROM attachment called the Super Disc for the upcoming Super Nintendo. However, due to various contractual and licensing issues, the Super Disc never saw the light of day. Instead, a modified version of the idea was launched by Sony in 1991, known as the Play Station.

The original Play Station was capable of reading Super Discs, a type of interactive CD based on Sony and Philips' CD-ROM/XA technology. This format extension allowed for simultaneous access to audio, video, and computer data by the processor. The Play Station could also play audio CDs and had a port for Super Nintendo game cartridges. It was envisioned as the heart of a home multimedia system. Sony only produced about 200 units before deciding to redesign the system.

The redesigned version, called the PlayStation X or PSX, removed the Super Nintendo cartridge port and focused entirely on CD-ROM-based games. The internal components were upgraded to ensure a more immersive and responsive gaming experience. Launched in Japan in December 1994, and later in the United States and Europe in September 1995, the PlayStation rapidly became the leading gaming system on the market.

PlayStation Console

Let's explore the internal components of a PlayStation and their features. [Make sure to check out How Video Game Consoles Work first for a general overview of gaming systems.]

Processor: 32-bit R3000A

Graphics:

Audio:

Memory: 2 MB RAM

Operating system: Custom 512K ROM

Game medium: CD-ROM

The PSX uses a RISC processor. RISC stands for reduced instruction set computer, meaning the processor performs simpler and fewer instructions and computations. Additionally, RISC chips are superscalar, capable of executing multiple instructions at once. This combination of features—handling several instructions simultaneously while performing each task more efficiently—enables the CPU to outperform many processors with faster clock speeds.

To reduce manufacturing costs, the CPU, graphics, and audio processors are integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In simpler terms, the ASIC is a custom-designed chip that manages all the tasks typically handled by three separate chips.

Games are stored on proprietary CD-ROM/XA discs, which are read by a laser, similar to regular CDs. When a game is inserted into the console, the following steps occur:

When you turn off the system, all data in RAM is erased, including any personal game progress. However, you can save your data using a Flash memory card, which fits into one of the two slots on the front of the PSX, above the controller port.

PlayStation Controller

Serving as the primary interface for the PlayStation, the controller redefined expectations just as the Nintendo Entertainment System's gamepad had done. With its ergonomic winged design and strategically placed buttons, the PSX controller is both intuitive and powerful.

The typical PSX controller features a total of 14 buttons, including:

Although each button can be customized for specific actions, they all operate on the same basic principle. Essentially, each button acts as a switch that completes a circuit when pressed. A metal disk under each button is pushed to touch two conductive strips on the circuit board. When the disk makes contact, electricity flows between the strips, signaling the controller to send that data to the PSX. The CPU then compares this data with the game's instructions for that button and executes the corresponding action. Additionally, each arm of the directional pad contains a metal disk, creating a similar connection for actions like crouching when the pad is pressed down.

The newer Dual Shock controllers for the PSX come with analog joysticks in addition to the standard buttons. These joysticks function quite differently from the buttons described earlier. They contain two potentiometers (variable resistors) positioned at right angles beneath the joystick. A continuous flow of current runs through each potentiometer, with the amount of current depending on the level of resistance, which changes with the joystick's position. By tracking the output from both potentiometers, the PSX can determine the exact angle at which the joystick is held and activate the appropriate in-game response. In games that support them, these analog features offer a remarkable level of control over gameplay.

Another standout feature of the Dual Shock controller, which gave it its name, is force feedback. This technology provides tactile sensations in response to certain in-game actions. For instance, in a racing game, you might experience a jolting vibration when your car crashes into a wall.

The force feedback effect is produced using a basic yet widely used device: an electric motor. The Dual Shock controller contains two motors, one placed in each handgrip. Each motor's shaft holds an off-center weight. When the motor receives power, it spins the weight. Due to the weight's imbalance, the motor wobbles. However, since the motor is securely mounted inside the controller, this wobble results in a vibrating sensation felt by the player. Now, let’s examine how the controller communicates with the PSX.

This is the function of each pin:

PlayStation Games

PSX games are stored on CD-ROMs, which have a maximum capacity of 650 Mb. While this may seem limited, it's actually quite a lot of space. In reality, most games only use a small fraction of this capacity for the actual gameplay. What takes up much of the space are the impressive full-motion video intros and intermissions that PlayStation games are famous for.

When loading from the CD, there's a noticeable delay, unlike what you get with cartridge-based games. Of course, the trade-off for faster loading times in cartridges is their significantly smaller storage capacity.

PSX game discs are distinctively black, unlike the usual silver discs. However, don’t be deceived. These black CDs are just as vulnerable to scratches and extreme heat as standard audio CDs – and even more so, as a single scratch on a game CD can render it completely unusable.

The PlayStation offers games across all genres, boasting the largest library of any console available today. Game prices vary widely, from under $10 for some used titles, to over $50 for the latest blockbusters.