I’m guessing everybody else has already posted about it, but the PlayStation came out 15 years ago today, and I didn’t want to let it pass without saying something, because…we share a special milestone.
I was working in New York City at the time — engaged to be married, pouring my heart and soul into my day job at Guitar World magazine, my night job as a gaming freelancer, and what little remaining time I could manage at Flux magazine, where I was one of three editors. I had gone to E3 for the first time that May, and sat in the audience as Sega shocked the industry by announcing the Saturn was available immediately — months before Sony was expected to launch its rival machine. 
It was a bold move by Sega, but the PlayStation — from Sony, the company with no gaming experience — still showed very well. In addition to impressive games like Battle Arena Toshinden, Jumping Flash, Twisted Metal, and a fantastic port of Ridge Racer, the Playstation also had Mortal Kombat 3 exclusively. It was kind of a huge deal.
When the console arrived, it lived up to its hype — but I did not run out and get one on launch day. That’s because I was busy getting married on 9/9/95 instead. Despite my hints, nobody got us one as a wedding present, but on our honeymoon at Walt Disney World, Kat wore a PlayStation baseball cap Sony had sent out as promotional swag — I remember she liked the tan & slate blue color scheme. At Disney, it’s forbidden for employees — “cast members” — to break character in certain roles; some job holders simply aren’t allowed to speak directly to guests. But as we were walking around the park, one brave soul broke the rules. Without making eye contact or even slowing his pace, I heard a cast member whisper two words as he darted by: “PlayStation rocks!”
Still does. It really ushered in the modern era of CD-based gaming as well as practical 3D graphics. Everything we play today owes a lot to the original PlayStation and the market shift it ushered in. If you’ve got an original PlayStation (or its “slim” descendant, the PSone) in your closet, dust it off, fire it up, and take a little time this weekend to rediscover it. There’s still some darned good gaming in that little gray box.
