The original PlayStation used CDs as its storage medium, which introduced the problem of potential piracy. To combat this, Sony implemented a copy protection system that added a unique wobble to the data track on PlayStation discs. This wobble was detected by the PlayStation's laser, which would not play the disc if it didn't detect the correct wobble. However, this system was easily circumvented by mod chips and disc swapping, which allowed users to play copied games.
The video creator suggests that Sony could have made the PlayStation discs almost impossible to copy by using a slightly larger disc size, such as 15cm instead of the standard 12cm. This would have made it difficult for users to create copies using standard CD burners, and would have required new disc pressing machinery and case designs. However, this approach was likely not pursued due to the added costs and complexity.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The original Sony PlayStation was the first commercially successful game console to use a compact disc (CD) as its storage medium.
2. The PlayStation started as an accessory for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) before Sony decided to make their own game console.
3. Nintendo hired Sony as a hardware accessory partner, but later abandoned the partnership in favor of Philips.
4. The PlayStation used optical storage for game data, which had several advantages over traditional ROM cartridges, including lower costs, higher data capacity, and smaller size.
5. The CD-ROM's biggest disadvantage was its slow load time, as the data being read from the disc wasn't coming in quickly.
6. A ROM cartridge could be read at any point randomly and with higher data throughput, allowing many games to load nearly instantly.
7. The original PlayStation only had 2 megabytes of RAM, and a normal CD only outputs 1.2 megabits per second.
8. The CD-ROM drive in the PlayStation could operate at 2X speed, but even then it would take 6.5 seconds to fill the RAM completely.
9. Sony introduced a copy protection system for the PlayStation, which involved adding a wobble to the laser lens to detect counterfeit discs.
10. The wobble was used to encode the region code of the disc, and if the code on the disc didn't match the console's BIOS, it would not play.
11. The copy protection system was not foolproof, and users could defeat it by swapping discs or using mod chips.
12. Sony could have made the PlayStation discs more secure by making them larger than standard CDs, which would have made them incompatible with standard CD burners.
13. The design of the early PlayStation consoles suggests that Sony may have considered making the discs larger, but ultimately decided against it.
14. The standard CD jewel case already had widespread support, making it easier for Sony to stick with the standard CD format.
15. The PlayStation's copy protection system was not as secure as it could have been, and users were able to find ways to circumvent it.