Early PlayStation from Japan

[GodMedia]

I am probably what is called in computer circles an "early adopter." That is, I was one until I got married. Now I am probably more of a "when my wife says it's ok adopter."

Either way, back in January of 1995, I bought a PlayStation from Japan. The thing was not released in the US until September of that year as you recall.

I still have the thing in my parents garage in LA and it is in good shape despite the many years of play and travel with it.

The machine cost me US$700 in 1995 complete with Ridge Racer and TohShinDen. The serial number clearly shows it as one of the famous first 100,000 units ever sold worldwide. It still has it's box and manuals along with all it's cables and original controllers.

Some folks might laugh at what I paid for the thing, and I'll probably never get the money back that I invested in it, but I'm pretty proud of it.

I'll share some photos of it after I take some on my next trip home.

So, does anyone care about this? Care to venture a guess as to it's worth? Is it just garbage in my collection of dusting and aging consoles? Would I be better off just dusting off my PC-Engine and playing another round of Space Harrier?

[Kejoriv]

Does it look any different than the later US version playstations? I would be interested in seeing a picture of it.

[GodMedia]

It looks identical to the US versions, except for the ports in the rear which have all writing in Japanese and the unit has a built-in S-VHS port (I believe US units did not have these).

As the original PlayStation in the US was to be purple, this would have made this PlayStation very different as it is gray. Strangely, Sony dropped it's idea of a purple PlayStation as well as it's original mascot shortly after the CES and E3 that year and opted instead to release the machine with the original Japanese color scheme.

[PapaStu]

As far as ive ever seen the Japanese PlayStation looks no different from the early model US units. As to its value, its probably not very high. US units go for maybe 20-30 depending on condidtion. Id expect that much and maybe a little more, but not by much.

[Bratwurst]

Strangely, Sony dropped it's idea of a purple PlayStation as well as it's original mascot ...

Was it a non-descript white cat-thing? I am interested in finding out more about this.

[PapaStu]

Strangely, Sony dropped it's idea of a purple PlayStation as well as it's original mascot ...

Was it a non-descript white cat-thing? I am interested in finding out more about this.

Actually it was this weird purple face. Ive not seen it many places and only first found out about it myself a month or so ago, when I saw an early PS shirt with the face on it.

www.psextreme.net Im not a huge fan of this guy, BUT his main page has the face on it, so there ya go.

[Retsudo]

That Japanese PS isnt worth didly.

[kevincure]

The purple face is the infamous "polygonman". I'm sure you can see why they would decide to drop the name.

[Daria]

www.psextreme.net Im not a huge fan of this guy, BUT his main page has the face on it, so there ya go.

God damn that's one (pointy) butt ugly mascot.

[Gamereviewgod]

Did the early Japanese consoles have overheating issues as well?

[AMG]

I think that's a pretty cool PSX model to have. Being one of the first 100,000 to hit the market makes it a part of Playstation history so to speak.

[doomedpeasant]

I might be interested in it sfter i see pics, even though im broke right now but if i win at poker this weekend ill definatly have some money if you looking to sell it.

[GodMedia]

The Polygon Man was everywhere at the first E3 and I have a number of promotional items that feature him. The display units of the US PlayStation at that E3 were all purple and the slogan for Sony was "UR Not E".

The unit does exhibit the exact same overheating issues as the first US units as they are identical to this.

While Japanese PlayStations may not be worth much to most people, this is an original unit from the first 100,000 ever made and sold. I am not looking to sell it, was really just curious about what it may be worth and of what interest it might be to collectors of the PlayStation. I know that I am very protective of it as it is an early model.

[link1110]

That model MIGHT be worth something., Early playstations had no copy protection, making that the equivilant of a modded psx.

[GodMedia]

That model MIGHT be worth something., Early playstations had no copy protection, making that the equivilant of a modded psx.

Where is that information from? This model has the copy protection.

Certain models were unable to use early tricks like disk-swapping at load time to force the machine to play out-of-region or copied games, but this is not one of those.

Copies and American games required you to either mod the unit or to use some other trick to make them run. This is from my own experience with the unit over a number of years now.

[PapaStu]

That model MIGHT be worth something., Early playstations had no copy protection, making that the equivilant of a modded psx.

Where is that information from? This model has the copy protection.

Certain models were unable to use early tricks like disk-swapping at load time to force the machine to play out-of-region or copied games, but this is not one of those.

Copies and American games required you to either mod the unit or to use some other trick to make them run. This is from my own experience with the unit over a number of years now.

I know that the early Debug Japanese PlayStations CAN'T play other regions games, but later Japanese Debugs can. Ive not heard that the early Japanese PlayStations would be able to play games regardless to region when the debug units at the same time wouldnt.

[doomedpeasant]

While Japanese PlayStations may not be worth much to most people, this is an original unit from the first 100,000 ever made and sold. I am not looking to sell it, was really just curious about what it may be worth and of what interest it might be to collectors of the PlayStation. I know that I am very protective of it as it is an early model.

Damn!! Im starting to focus on playstation right now since i have a good number of games for my other systems and i love the playstation. i widh i could have that. ...o well

[Captain Wrong]

I think I cut my cornea looking at that mascot.