![Super-Rare SNES PlayStation Controller Is Going Up For Auction 1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.timeextension.com/79613730e8baf/super-rare-snes-playstation-controller-is-going-up-for-auction-1.900x.jpg)
As we all know, the PlayStation was originally supposed to be a SNES console with a CD-ROM drive built-in. Despite prototype systems being produced, the deal fell through when Nintendo dumped Sony and shacked up with Philips instead. Sony would then retreat to lick its wounds and eventually release the PlayStation as a stand-alone 32-bit rival.
It was believed that all of the prototype consoles had been destroyed until one turned up in 2015. This was then sold at auction in 2020 for $300,000 (£230,700). Now, the same auction house has a related item in its possession: a controller for the system.
"This is an exceptionally rare Nintendo PlayStation controller, a relic from the infamous failed collaboration between Sony and Nintendo," says Heritage Auctions. "This prototype, believed to be one of the last remaining from the original 200 units (most of which were reportedly destroyed), is designed with the familiar casing of a Super Nintendo controller but branded with "Sony PlayStation" in dark gray on the front and featuring smaller "Sony PlayStation Controller" text on the back that is the same color as the controller."
Here's a video of the SNES PlayStation console from 2015:
According to the listing, this will be only the second time one of these controllers has been up for sale; the first pad was the one sold with the console back in 2020. "This incredible piece has not been tested, since we have no hardware to test it with, so it's being sold as is, with no returns," says Heritage Auctions, which seems to suggest it has overlooked the fact that this pad should function perfectly fine with a standard SNES system as the controller port is the same.
"It appears to be in very nice condition, with a few little dings on the back," continues the listing. "The buttons are like it's a controller that has seen little to no use. We have no idea if we'll get the chance to offer anything related to the Nintendo PlayStation ever again."
[source comics.ha.com]
Comments 11
That's usually seller code for "we have tried it but it doesnt work so we are covering our arses"
Or "we cant be bothered to test it buy at your own risk"
@KitsuneNight it seems the auction place didn't have it in hand, so I'd say "the owner has no means of testing it and can't be bothered to do anything about that" if it was tested it would surely fetch a higher price?
@gingerbeardman
Most likely yes.
Though lets be honest here, its just appears to be a bog standard Snes controller, with a slightly different shell.
The Sony Playstation tampographs are what makes it valuable.
If you're interested in buying this as a cool SNES controller, you should take caution regarding compatibility. Whereas I'm used to buying game controllers from any region, I had to mod my PAL SNES to support Japanese Super Famicom controllers. I wouldn't be surprised if one-off prototypes required entirely unique hardware. Of course, something like this would be better placed in a museum than a personal gaming set-up.
Oh look, another games journo misreporting 30 year old happenings. Please research the SNES Nintendo Disk/Philips CD-ROM XA, a joint venture between Nintendo, Philips and Sony that started coming together AFTER Sony and Nintendo's famous falling out post-CES '92. The eventual split was actually more amicable than just about anyone reports.
3D printing is amazing XD
Ooh! It's kinda crazy seeing the Sony/PlayStation brading on a SNES controller.
@garbageprincess Kind of interesting reading about that Nintendo/Philips/Sony CD device, as it's a lot more powerful than the narrative that some bad actors would like to spread these days, saying the SNES CD device wasn't even going to be as powerful or as capable as the Sega CD in an apparent effort to once again undermine anything to do with SNES for whatever reason. But, clearly, Nintendo was working on or at least planning something quite a bit more powerful and capable than the Sega CD at one point (21.477 MHz vs 12.5 MHz, 32-bit vs 16-bit), combined with the SNES' standard much higher colour count, proper transparency effects, up to twice as many background layers, higher max resolution, Mode 7 scaling and rotation, etc. And there's even reports it was going to basically include the equivalent capability of the FX[2] chip directly built in as well at one point, which came from the lips of Dylan Cuthbert himself as I recall:
https://www.nsidr.com/archive/snes-cd-profile/#:~:text=One%20Standard%20to%20Rule%20Them%20All
I've noticed there's been a lot of attempts to try to rewrite history and the narrative around these two consoles by certain people in recent times. Maybe some others have noticed that too. But the more you know, right.
@KitsuneNight It might almost be better if it doesn't work so nobody gunks it up using it. The SNES CD might have been what we've seen, which is fairly unremarkable, or it could have been something else, we'll likely never know. One thing I can live without knowing, though, is how much Cheeto dust the controller can handle. Assuming it's legit, it belongs in a museum, and failing that, I hope it's a shelf queen.
@CocktailCabinet Well, it ended up not being a thing at all. But we already know there were plans to make something far more powerful than the basic first prototype PlayStation model seen here. I've linked to an article in my comment above that shows some of the things Nintendo was planning for the final version of the SNES CD, and it's clear it would have been pretty capable for its time. Like I said though, it never happened ultimately, but we do know something at least. And we didn't get any new Nintendo hardware outside of in-cart coprocessors for the SNES until the N64 basically. Let's just pretend the Virtual Boy never existed.
@RetroGames I don't want to pretend the Virtual Boy didn't exist! It's really interesting hardware, both in the display and the chipset. It's pretty badass for 2D graphics, despite being in monochrome. They just kicked it out the door too early.
@CocktailCabinet Fair enough. I mean, I actually have a bunch of its games emulated on my Quest 3, and some of them are pretty cool. And it is a piece of Nintendo's history.
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