PlayStation celebrates birthday with Emmy award

A decade after the original PlayStation went on sale in North America, the console has been awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Technology and Advanced New Media.

The Emmy was presented at the 57th annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards in New Jersey, hosted by the National Academy of Television Arts and Scientists, and SCEA president Kaz Hirai was on hand to collect.

"When the concept for PlayStation was in its infancy in the early 1990s, we had a dream to elevate the quality of computer graphics from a 2D-based environment to a rich, realistic 3D experience," said SCE president Ken Kutaragi.

"At the same time, we intended to bring in a new form of entertainment through the living room in a manner that would allow people all over the world to enjoy the pleasures of interactive entertainment."

"Even with this lofty goal in mind, the achievement and market acceptance for PlayStation have exceeded my wildest expectations. We are honoured to be awarded a prestigious Emmy to commemorate the significant role PlayStation played in creating a new computer entertainment world."

More than 100 million PlayStations have been sold over the past ten years, making it the best-selling in-home games console worldwide. Its launch is widely regarded as a landmark in videogaming history, as it was the moment at which games began to make the transition to mass-market.

"Emerging technologies in digital media play an important role in the way in which people consume in-home entertainment, and gaming in particular has been a consistent source of innovation in recent years," said Seth Haberman, chair of videogaming and technology awards panel for NATAS.

"We felt that the advent of PlayStation exemplified a significant shift in the direction of the gaming and are pleased to recognise Sony Computer Entertainment for its contribution."