Twenty-four years ago today, on September 9, 1995, the United States' video gaming public was granted one of the greatest gifts they would ever receive. That gift was none other than the OG Sony PlayStation. I was one of the lucky ones that pre-ordered a PlayStation from a Walden Software store for $299 (a full $100 less than the rushed-to-market Sega Saturn), which allowed me the honor of picking up my PS three days before the official release date. Unfortunately, after paying for the console pre-sale, I couldn't afford any games at the lanch. But, I was still thrilled at the free hardware demo disc that showcased the new console's 3D graphics capabilities and the PlayStation Demo 1 preview disc that included playable demos of Jumping Flash!, Destruction Derby, Wipeout, Battle Arena Toshinden, and ESPN Extreme Games among others, which were packaged with the console.
Regardless of a gamer's personal preference in hardware, the PlayStation's legacy is unquestioned as its current incarnation, the PS4, has more than doubled the sales of Microsoft's Xbox One console and has a 57% market share. In honor of this significant anniversary in gaming history, posted below are images of an original Sony PlayStation console with a custom Deathstroke-inspired paint scheme by UK hobby artist Stu Blue. Be sure to check out Stu Blue's DeviantArt gallery here. Happy gaming!
