
It's hard to think of a more perfect brand name for a video game console than PlayStation.
Not only has it become an iconic part of the video game lexicon, it summarises the core function of Sony's line of systems brilliantly: a device which enables and promotes play.
However, the console was very nearly called something else. While the "Play Station" brand pre-dates the 32-bit system (it was the name given to the ill-fated SNES CD add-on), it would appear that at one point, Sony was considering a slightly different moniker for its game-changing home console.
Speaking to Simon Parkin on the always-brilliant My Perfect Console podcast, former Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president Chris Deering revealed that the original name for the machine was actually "Power Station".
Deering explains that there were trademark issues in "some parts of the world" which meant that the name "was not available", and so Ken Kutaragi made an "autocratic decision that it was going to be PlayStation."
Interestingly, Deering says that there was "a bit of pushback from some of the marketing people", but he liked the name. Ultimately, though, it sounds like a trademark issue was the only reason we got the Sony PlayStation and not the Sony Power Station.
[source shows.acast.com]
Comments 30
"Man, I really hope the Powerstation 5 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade."
Certainly would have made it a less iconic name
How supremely grateful are we all to Kenās quick thinking! šø
They almost named a videogame system something that sounds like an electricity supplier.
Lol.
I'm so glad they didn't go with "Power Station."
There is so many reasons we live in the stupidest timeline but it being called Playstation and not a Duracell wannabe ass name like that is not one of them.
In an alternate timeline, it would have been called PolyStation
97.5 FM, your power
Power,
POWer
STAtion
(Cue Eurithmics Sweet Dreams (are made of this) )
I'll always remember yonks ago when I was on an apprenticeship straight from school and there was this bloke there who was proper excited for a new game console called a PlayStation. I thought he was having me on with that name. Anyway, he got me into Sensible Soccer so props to him.
It's a great name and interestingly was originally registered by Yamaha and Sony had to buy it from them.
Power Station sounds like an electrical transformer or something.
Startup sound would've been quite different with Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor, John Taylor and Tony Thompson doing the intro...
Don't always trust Your marketing folks I guess ....
Nintendo Power ... Station
Power station .... for EVs ? imagine nowadays how balnd this name would have been.
Made the right choice here. Powerstation would have opened them up to criticism when more powerful consoles get released
Playstation is a great name for a console.
However SEGA had it all done with naming.
3. Master System
2. Dreamcast
1. MEGADRIVE!!!!
Thatās wildāSony āPowerStationā is NOT a good name!
PlayStation is the best video games ever next to the sega genesis.2 iconic video games names.word up son
@Czar_Khastik now youāre playing with powerā¦ again
To be honest, it always struck me as strange that they marketed this to young adults back in the 90s (trying to move away from a market that was seen as mainly children, who relied on parents for occasional gifts, to grown ups with their own income), yet they called it something associated mainly with children - āplayā. It seemed a bit disjointed to me at the time, and I guess this shows that it was.
Of course Powerstation is a stupid and confusing name and we are all glad this didnāt happen.
All I can think about is: šµ āGet it on, Bang-a-Gong, Get it onā¦ā š¶
I had always just assumed it was a play on words. You work all day in the office on your computer workstation, then go home and play on your PlayStation.
I remember Sega trying to counter the PlayStation name by taking out ads for the Saturn that said āStations are for trainspottersā š¤£š¤£š¤£
Didnāt really work that one. š
@sanderson72 And the overheating message says "some like it hot".
Wasn't there a PowerStation magazine back in the day?
TBH, when the PS1 arrived, I thought 'Playstation' sounded like something from Fisher-Price toys.
Eh. I still think PlayStation is an odd name , but it is part of the consumer mindshare now. So it becomes normalized.
@Futureshark
I still think we lack the Ultra 64.
Fair name, from many names to many logos, always interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes and changes.
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