Rumor varification

[Zadoc]

Why is the Playstation commonly referred to as the "PSX?"

Rumor: Everyone knows that Nintendo hooked up with Sony to create a CD add-on to the SNES, whuch was to be the big N's answer to the Sega CD. Nintendo ended up giving Sony the cold shoulder thus creating their own worst enemy and the rest is history.

The rumor is that the "X" is PSX stand for "extreme." The rumor states that since the Playstation was originally in development for Nintendo, that Nintendo held the copyright in the name "Playstation," so the official name for the Playstation was "Playstation Extreme," hence the term PSX.

I've heard this for years, but it sounds kind of strange.

Who knows the real answer?

[Gemini-Phoenix]

PSX was the original concept name given to the console, a little like how Dolphin was what the Cube was formerly known as during development.

PSX probably stands for PlayStation X or something, but they must have dropped the "X"

I have no idea why Sony decided to call the newer console PSX though, after the original console is more commonly referred to as the PSX

[DeputyMoniker]

PSX was the original concept name given to the console, a little like how Dolphin was what the Cube was formerly known as during development.

PSX probably stands for PlayStation X or something, but they must have dropped the "X"

I have no idea why Sony decided to call the newer console PSX though, after the original console is more commonly referred to as the PSX

The Nintendo/Sony name for the Playstation was "Play Station". (2 words)
Perhaps PSX came before Play Station but I don't remember anything about that. Besides, TLA's didn't become popular until the mid 90's when the internet made people sick of spelling words out.

[digitalpress]

"PS" is too short and too vague, and at the time there was no reason to think there would be a PS2.

Same reason we don't call GameCube "GC". It's GCN. Easier to identify and separate from other common abbreviations this way.

This, incidentally, it theory.

[robotriot]

I call it GC all the time ... Gamecube Nintendo just sounds weird :P

[Damaramu]

Agreed. Shouldn't it be NGC? As in Nintendo Gamecube?

GCN always puzzled me. Oh well.

[DeputyMoniker]

Agreed. Shouldn't it be NGC? As in Nintendo Gamecube?

GCN always puzzled me. Oh well.

Yeah, Joe. WTF? Make some phone calls, dude.

[jajaja]

I call it GC all the time ... Gamecube Nintendo just sounds weird :P

GC can also be Gameboy Color

[robotriot]

That's GBC, just like GBA :P

[Ed Oscuro]

"PS" is too short and too vague, and at the time there was no reason to think there would be a PS2.

Or a PSX! I still try to hold out and call it the PSX; I'm a fan of the original "pizza box on cinder blocks" design of the original and hate, hate, hate the PSOne design and moniker.

[purelunatic]

the x does seem to stand for extreme, why they changed it, i don't know. but i do agree with the fact that gamecube nintendo is pretty dumb, why not just call it nintendo gamecube, it just makes sense.

[digitalpress]

why not just call it nintendo gamecube, it just makes sense.

Because then it doesn't "sort" properly.

[RetroYoungen]

the x does seem to stand for extreme, why they changed it, i don't know. but i do agree with the fact that gamecube nintendo is pretty dumb, why not just call it nintendo gamecube, it just makes sense.

It does make more sense, though I always got confused calling it that because I've typed in NGPC so many times (Neo Geo Pocket Color).

But PSX, maybe someone also had the idea that it was some sort of a project X, and added the X at the end because PS seemed to vague...? Just a thought.

[davidbrit2]

why not just call it nintendo gamecube, it just makes sense.

Because then it doesn't "sort" properly.

This just in! The NES has officially been renamed the ESN! ;-) I'mma go play my MSS now...

[drwily008]

Up until like a month before Playstation came out the called it PSX in the magazines.

Hell, the Giant Eagle (grocery store w/rentals) by my Mom's house in Ohio still has signs for the "PSX RENTALS" and the "Ultra 64 Rentals".

I'd love to get ahold of those even though they are not "Official".

[DeputyMoniker]

Up until like a month before Playstation came out the called it PSX in the magazines.

Hell, the Giant Eagle (grocery store w/rentals) by my Mom's house in Ohio still has signs for the "PSX RENTALS" and the "Ultra 64 Rentals".

I'd love to get ahold of those even though they are not "Official".

Ultra 64??
Can we see some pictures of that?

[drwily008]

Ultra 64??
Can we see some pictures of that?

I don't even live there now, I really wish I could. Alas I'm in sunny Florida and those signs are in frigid Ohio.

They were pretty bland looking though as far as I can remember.

[jajaja]

To get the right answer (hopefully), send an e-mail to Sony

[Richter]

about GCN (and also AGB)
isnt it because the JP sentence structure is different than English? something about adjectives coming after the noun
?_?

[davidbrit2]

about GCN (and also AGB)
isnt it because the JP sentence structure is different than English? something about adjectives coming after the noun
?_?

Nope, adjectives come before the noun in Japanese, just like English. Though there could possibly be some other language subtlety that might account for it.