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PocketStation

{{Short description|PlayStation Memory Card and PDA by Sony}}{{Infobox information appliance

| image = Sony-PocketStation.png

| image_upright = 0.8

| developer = Sony Computer Entertainment

| manufacturer = Sony Corporation

| type = Peripheral, handheld game console

| lifespan = 1999–2002

| generation = Fifth

| releasedate = {{vgrelease|JP|January 23, 1999{{cite web |quote=Sony has delayed the Japanese release of its PocketStation PDA from December 23 to January 23, 1999. |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=9069 |title=PocketStation delayed in Japan |access-date=2008-08-28 |date=1998-12-09 |work=Computer and Video Games |publisher=Future Publishing }}{{cite web |url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/981209.pdf |title=超小型ＰＤＡ「PocketStation」１月２３日に発売延期 |access-date=2007-10-30 |date=December 9, 1998 |publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment |pages=3 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060913192656/http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/981209.pdf |archive-date=2006-09-13 }}}}

| discontinued = {{vgrelease|JP|{{End date|2002|07}}}}

| dimensions = {{convert|64|x|42|x|13.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|30|g|oz|2}}

| CPU = ARM7T (32 bit RISC processor)

| RAM = 2 KB

| Power = 1 CR-2032 lithium battery

| input = * 5× Digital buttons

| successor = PlayStation Portable

| media = {{ubl|PlayStation 1|PlayStation 2|CD-ROM (used for content transfer){{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}}}

| logo = PocketStation logo.svg

| logo_upright = 0.8

| family = PlayStation

}}

The PocketStation is a memory card peripheral by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation home video game console.{{cite web |url=http://scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/981008_1.pdf |script-title=ja:プレイステーションの楽しみをさらに広げる |access-date=2008-08-28 |date=1998-10-08 |publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010105257/http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/981008_1.pdf |archive-date=2009-10-10 |url-status=dead }} It was released in Japan in 1999. The device acted not only as a memory card but was interactive itself via a small monochrome LCD display and buttons on its case. Many PlayStation games included software that could be downloaded and played on the PocketStation. A release in Europe and North America was planned but was ultimately canceled. The PocketStation shares similarities with Sega's VMU for the Dreamcast.

History

The PocketStation was released exclusively in Japan on January 23, 1999. The original Japanese ship date for the PocketStation was set for December 23, 1998, but it was delayed a full month. Sony only shipped an initial 60,000 units of the peripheral when it was released.{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=January 28, 1999 |title=PocketStation Shortages Rock Japan |url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/066/066623p1.html |access-date=2009-12-02 |publisher=IGN}} It was initially available in two case colors: white and clear.{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=October 8, 1998 |title=TGS: Sony's Next Stop: Pocket Station |url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/065/065203p1.html |access-date=2009-12-05 |publisher=IGN}}

It proved extremely popular, selling out all over the region. Sony planned to release the PocketStation outside Japan, engaging in promotional activity in Europe and North America, but the release did not occur.{{cite book |author=Mark J. P. Wolf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XiM0ntMybNwC&pg=PA148 |title=The video game explosion: a history from PONG to Playstation and beyond |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-313-33868-7 |page=148 |access-date=16 August 2011}} SCEA cited an inability to meet Japanese demand as the reason for the PocketStation's absence.{{cite web |author=Commodore Wheeler |date=May 13, 1999 |title=Pocketstation Cancelled in the US |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/news/1999/310.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124074713/http://www.rpgfan.com/news/1999/310.html |archive-date=2011-11-24 |access-date=2009-12-02 |publisher=RPGFan}}{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=May 13, 1999 |title=PocketStation Slips Indefinitely |url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/068/068059p1.html |access-date=2009-12-02 |publisher=IGN}} Despite this, a few games, such as Final Fantasy VIII and SaGa Frontier 2, retained PocketStation functionality in their localized versions.{{cite book |title=Final Fantasy VIII North American instruction manual |publisher=Square Electronic Arts |year=1999 |editor=Square Electronic Arts |pages=38–40 |id=SLUS-00892}}{{cite book |title=SaGa Frontier 2 North American instruction manual |publisher=Square Electronic Arts |year=2000 |editor=Square Electronic Arts |pages=26 |id=SLUS-00933}}

On November 5, 2013, it was announced that the PocketStation would be revived as an application for the PlayStation Vita, allowing users to play PocketStation format minigames for any classic PlayStation games that they own.2013-11-04, [http://www.siliconera.com/2013/11/04/play-chocobo-world-vita-pocketstation-downloadable-app-japan/ Play Chocobo World On Vita, PocketStation Is A Downloadable App In Japan], Siliconera Originally only available to PlayStation Plus members, it was later released to the general public. It remains an exclusive to the Japanese PlayStation Vita.

Hardware

Categorized by Sony as a combination of a Memory Card and a miniature personal digital assistant, the device features a monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD), infrared communication capability, a real-time clock, built-in flash memory, and sound capability. To use the device's memory card functionality, it must be connected to a PlayStation through a memory card slot.

= Technical specifications =

  • CPU: ARM7T (32-bit RISC chip variable clock, max 7.995 MHz){{cite news |last1=Cullen |first1=Drew |date=26 January 1999 |title=Sony Calls to ARM for PocketStation |url=https://www.theregister.com/1999/01/26/sony_calls_to_arm/ |access-date=15 May 2022 |work=The Register |language=en}}{{cite web| title=Pocketstation - PlayStation Specifications - psx-spx | url=https://psx-spx.consoledev.net/pocketstation/#pocketstation-overview | access-date=2 December 2023}}
  • Memory: 2 KB SRAM, 128 KB Flash RAM (via the PlayStation memory card){{cite magazine |date=May 1998 |title=Virtual Pet in My PDA! |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=106 |page=26}}
  • Screen: 32×32 dot monochrome LCD{{cite magazine |date=April 1999 |title=International Previews: PocketStation |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=80–82 }}
  • Sound: 1 miniature speaker (10-bit PCM)
  • Switches: 5 input buttons, 1 reset button
  • Infrared communication: bi-directional (supports IrDA based and conventional remote control systems)
  • LED indicator: 1 (red)
  • Battery: 1 CR-2032 lithium battery
  • Other functions: calendar function, memory card and identification number.
  • Dimensions: 64 × 42 × 13.5 mm (height × width × depth)
  • Weight: approximately 30 g (including battery)
  • Available colors: White, Crystal/Clear, Black (Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories Limited Edition), Crystal/Clear Yellow, Crystal/Clear Violet, Crystal/Clear Pink (Tokimeki Memorial 2 Limited Edition), Crystal/Clear Black, Crystal/Clear Blue, Light Blue

Software

Software for the PocketStation was typically distributed as extras for PlayStation games, included in the CD-ROM, enhancing the games with added features. Standalone software could also be downloaded through the PlayStation console onto a memory card, then transferred to the PocketStation for use. A built-in infrared data interface allows direct transfer of data such as game saves between PocketStation units, as well as multiplayer gaming. The PocketStation's most popular game was Doko Demo Issyo, which sold over 1.5 million copies in Japan and is the first game to star Sony's mascot Toro.{{cite web |author=Fennec Fox |date=July 19, 2002 |title=Sony Discontinues PocketStation |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/25141/sony-discontinues-pocketstation/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607151200/http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/25141/sony-discontinues-pocketstation/ |archive-date=2011-06-07 |access-date=2009-12-02 |publisher=GamePro}} The PocketStation was discontinued in July 2002 after having shipped nearly five million units.{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |date=July 19, 2002 |title=Sony ceases PocketStation production |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2875038.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908010813/http://www.gamespot.com/news/2875038.html |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |access-date=2009-12-02 |publisher=GameSpot}}

= Compatible PlayStation games =

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See also

  • VMU, a similar accessory for the Sega Dreamcast console (which was released 6 months earlier, on July 30, 1998 in Japan).

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.jp.playstation.com/peripheral/psone/pocket.html PlayStation.jp entry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321203336/http://www.jp.playstation.com/peripheral/psone/pocket.html |date=2008-03-21 }} {{in lang|ja}}

{{PlayStation (console)}}

{{PlayStation}}

{{Sony Corp}}

{{Second screen}}

{{commons category|PocketStation}}

Category:PlayStation (console) accessories

Category:Computer-related introductions in 1999

Category:Products and services discontinued in 2002

Category:Discontinued handheld game consoles

Category:Japan-exclusive video game hardware

Category:Video game storage media

Category:Fifth-generation video game consoles

Category:Monochrome video game consoles

Category:ARM-based video game consoles