The PocketStation is a

memory card A memory card is an electronic data storage device used for storing digital information, typically using flash memory. These are commonly used in digital portable electronic devices. They allow adding memory to such devices using a card in a so ...

peripheral A peripheral or peripheral device is an auxiliary device used to put information into and get information out of a computer. The term ''peripheral device'' refers to all hardware components that are attached to a computer and are controlled by the ...

Sony Computer Entertainment Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), formerly known as Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), is a multinational video game and digital entertainment company wholly owned by multinational conglomerate Sony. The SIE Group is made up of two legal co ...

for the

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...

home video game console. Categorized by Sony as a combination of a Memory Card and a miniature

personal digital assistant A personal digital assistant (PDA), also known as a handheld PC, is a variety mobile device which functions as a personal information manager. PDAs have been mostly displaced by the widespread adoption of highly capable smartphones, in partic ...

, the device features a monochrome

liquid crystal display A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat panel display, flat-panel display or other Electro-optic modulator, electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers. Liqui ...

(LCD),

infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...

communication capability, a

real-time clock A real-time clock (RTC) is an electronic device (most often in the form of an integrated circuit) that measures the passage of time. Although the term often refers to the devices in personal computers, servers and embedded systems, RTCs are pr ...

, built-in

flash memory Flash memory is an electronic non-volatile computer memory storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. The two main types of flash memory, NOR flash and NAND flash, are named for the NOR and NAND logic gates. Both us ...

, and

sound In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...

capability. To use the device's

functionality, it must be connected to a PlayStation through a memory card slot. It was released exclusively in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

on January 23, 1999. Software for the PocketStation was typically distributed as extras for PlayStation games, included in the

CD-ROM A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains data. Computers can read—but not write or erase—CD-ROMs. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold both comput ...

, enhancing the games with added features. Stand-alone software could also be downloaded through the PlayStation console. The software is 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 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 on January 23, 1999. It was initially available in two case colors: white and clear. 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. SCEA cited an inability meeting Japanese demand as the reason for the PocketStation's absence. Despite this, a few games, such as ''

Final Fantasy VIII is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation console. Released in 1999, it is the eighth main installment in the ''Final Fantasy'' series. Set on an unnamed fantasy world with science fiction elements, t ...

'' and ''

SaGa Frontier 2 is a role-playing video game developed by Square for the PlayStation. It is the eighth original game in their ''SaGa'' series. Initially released in Japan in April 1999, an English version was made available in North America in January 2000 by ...

'', retained PocketStation functionality in their localized versions. The PocketStation's most popular game was ''Dokodemo Issho'', which sold over 1.5 million copies in Japan and is the first game to star Sony's mascot Toro. The PocketStation was discontinued in July 2002 after having shipped nearly five million units. On November 5, 2013, it was announced that the PocketStation would be revived as an application for the

PlayStation Vita The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita, or Vita) is a handheld video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America, Europe, and other international territo ...

, allowing users to play PocketStation format minigames for any classic PlayStation games that they own. Originally only available to PlayStation Plus members, it was later released to the general public. It remains an exclusive to the Japanese PlayStation Vitas. The PocketStation also shares similarities with Sega's VMU for the

Dreamcast The is a home video game console released by Sega on November 27, 1998, in Japan; September 9, 1999, in North America; and October 14, 1999, in Europe. It was the first sixth-generation video game console, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, N ...

Technical specifications

* CPU: ARM7T (32-bit RISC chip) *

Memory Memory is the faculty of the mind by which data or information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future action. If past events could not be remembered, ...

: 2K bytes SRAM, 128K bytes

Flash RAM Flash memory is an electronic non-volatile computer memory storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. The two main types of flash memory, NOR flash and NAND flash, are named for the NOR and NAND logic gates. Both us ...

Screen Screen or Screens may refer to: Arts * Screen printing (also called ''silkscreening''), a method of printing * Big screen, a nickname associated with the motion picture industry * Split screen (filmmaking), a film composition paradigm in which mul ...

: 32×32 dot monochrome LCD *

Sound In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...

: 1 miniature speaker (10-bit PCM) *

Switch In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most common type of ...

es: 5 input buttons, 1 reset button *

Infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...

communication: Bi-directional (supports

IrDA The Infrared Data Association (IrDA) is an industry-driven interest group that was founded in 1994 by around 50 companies. IrDA provides specifications for a complete set of protocols for wireless infrared communications, and the name "IrDA" also ...

based and conventional remote control systems) *

LED A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor Electronics, device that Light#Light sources, emits light when Electric current, current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy i ...

indicator: 1 (red) *

Battery Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

: 1

CR-2032 A button cell, watch battery, or coin battery is a small single-cell battery shaped as a squat cylinder typically in diameter and high — resembling a button. Stainless steel usually forms the bottom body and positive terminal of the cell; insu ...

lithium battery Lithium battery may refer to: * Lithium metal battery, a non-rechargeable battery with lithium as an anode ** Rechargeable lithium metal battery, a rechargeable counterpart to the lithium metal battery * Lithium-ion battery, a rechargeable batte ...

*Other functions:

calendar A calendar is a system of organizing days. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months and years. A date is the designation of a single and specific day within such a system. A calendar is also a physi ...

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 Pink/Clear Violet/Clear Red (

Tokimeki Memorial 2 is a dating sim developed and published by Konami and the second game in the ''Tokimeki Memorial'' series. ''Tokimeki Memorial 2'' was released for the PlayStation in 1999. It came on 5 CDs, featuring unmatched graphics and voice acting and a ...

Limited Edition)

Compatible games

*''

All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW/AJP) or simply All Japan is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established on October 21, 1972 when Giant Baba split away from the Japanese Wrestling Association and created his own promotion. Many wrestlers had left with Baba, ...

'' *''

Arc the Lad III ''Arc the Lad III'' is a tactical role-playing video game developed by ARC Entertainment and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation. Gameplay The gameplay moves away from the more tactical aspects present in ...

'' *'' Armored Core: Master of Arena'' *''Battle Bug Story'' *''Be Pirates!'' *''Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan'' *''Brightis'' *''Burger Burger 2'' *'' Chaos Break'' *'' Chocobo Stallion'' *'' Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped'' *''

Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMix (''DDR''), is a music video game, developed by Konami, released in arcades on September 26, 1998 in Japan. ''Dance Dance Revolution'' is a unique game involving dance and rhythm that defined the genre. It involves timing and balance by having p ...

'' *''

Dance Dance Revolution 4thMix ''Dance Dance Revolution 4thMix'' is the fourth game in the main ''Dance Dance Revolution'' series of music video games. It was released as an arcade game by Konami on August 24, 2000 in Japan. ''4thMix'' features 136 songs, of which 37 are new so ...

'' *''

Dance Dance Revolution 5thMix ''Dance Dance Revolution 4thMix'' is the fourth game in the main ''Dance Dance Revolution'' series of music video games. It was released as an arcade game by Konami on August 24, 2000 in Japan. ''4thMix'' features 136 songs, of which 37 are new so ...

'' *'' Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers'' *''Digimon Tamers: Pocket Culumon'' *''Dokodemo Hamster 2'' *''Dokodemo Issho'' *''

'' *'' Fire Pro G'' *''Fish Hunter'' *''fun! fun! Pingu'' *'' Gallop Racer 3'' *''

Grandia is a series of role-playing video games developed by Game Arts and published over the years by Entertainment Software Publishing, Sony Computer Entertainment, Ubisoft, Hudson Soft, Enix, Square Enix and GungHo Online Entertainment. Games in th ...

'' *'' Harvest Moon: Back to Nature'' *''Hello Kitty: White Present'' *'' Hot Shots Golf 2'' *'' I.Q. Final'' *'' Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu'' *''

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. It was originally serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1987 to 2004, and was transferred to the monthly ''seinen'' manga ...

'' *''Koneko mo Issho'' *''Kyro-chan's Print Club'' *''

The Legend of Dragoon ''The Legend of Dragoon'' is a role-playing video game developed by Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation in 1999 in Japan, 2000 in North America, and 2001 in Europe. Set in a high fantasy fictional w ...

'' (Japanese version) *''

Legend of Mana ''Legend of Mana'' is a 1999 action role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the PlayStation. It is the fourth game in the '' Mana'' series, following 1995's ''Trials of Mana''. Set in a high fantasy universe, t ...

'' *'' Love Hina 2'' *''Lunatic Dawn 3'' *''

LMA Manager ''LMA Manager'' is a football management video game series developed and published by Codemasters. Developed primarily for consoles, the franchise differs from the PC-based ''Football Manager'' and ''Championship Manager series'' by focusing on ...

'' *''

Medarot ''Medabots'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese role-playing Role-playing or roleplaying is the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role. While the '' ...

R Parts Collection'' *'' Metal Gear Solid: Integral'' *''Mister Prospector'' *''

The Misadventures of Tron Bonne ''The Misadventures of Tron Bonne'' is an action-adventure game that was developed and published by Capcom for the PlayStation. Released in Japan in 1999 and in North America and Europe in 2000, the game is part of the '' Mega Man Legends'' (''Rock ...

'' *''Monster Race'' *'' Monster Farm 2'' *'' Monster World'' *''Paqa'' *''Pi to Mail'' *''Pocket Digimon World'' **''Pocket Digimon World: Cool & Nature Battle Disc'' **''Pocket Digimon World: Wind Battle Disc'' *''Pocket Dungeon'' *''Pocke-Kano Yumi'' *''Pocket Family: Happy Family Plan ポケットファミリーしあわせ家族計画'' *''Pocket Tuner'' *''Pocketan'' *''Pokeler'' *''Pokeler DX Black'' *''Pokeler DX Pink'' *'' Pop'n Music 2'' *''Pop'n Music 3 Append Disc'' *''Pop'n Music 4 Append Disc'' *''PoPoRogue'' *''Prologue'' *''

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'' *''

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'' (Japanese version) *''Remote Control Dandy'' *'' R4: Ridge Racer Type 4'' *'' Rival Schools 2 (Shiritsu Justice Gakuen Nekketsu Seisyun Nikki 2)'' *''

Rockman Complete Works There are over 130 titles in the ''Mega Man'' series. In all cases, the English title is given first, as well as the initial release date. ''Mega Man'' series *''Mega Man'' (''Rockman'') – Famicom/NES, 1987 (JP, US) *'' Mega Man 2'' (''Rockman ...

'' *''

'' *''Samurai Shodown : Warriors Rage 2'' *'' Saru Get You!'' *''Shop Keeper'' *''Sno Pokeler'' *''

Spyro the Dragon ''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the ''Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple dr ...

'' (Japanese version) *'' Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!'' (Japanese version) *''

Street Fighter Alpha 3 ''Street Fighter Alpha 3'', released as in Japan, Asia, South America, and Oceania, is a 2D fighting game originally released by Capcom for the arcade in 1998. It is the third and final installment in the '' Street Fighter Alpha'' sub-series, ...

'' (Through Gameshark code) *''

Street Fighter Zero 3 ''Street Fighter Alpha 3'', released as in Japan, Asia, South America, and Oceania, is a 2D fighting game originally released by Capcom for the arcade in 1998 in video gaming, 1998. It is the third and final installment in the ''Street Fighter# ...

'' (Japanese version) *'' Super Robot Wars Alpha'' *''

Tales of Eternia , known as ''Tales of Destiny II'' in its original North America release, is an action role-playing game published by Namco as the third main title in their '' Tales'' series. Initially released for the PlayStation in November 2000 in Japan, an ...

'' (Japanese version) *''

Theme Aquarium is a simulation video game published by Electronic Arts Square, in which the player creates and controls a sea life aquarium. It was originally released on 17 December 1998 for PlayStation only in Japan. The game was later ported to Microso ...

'' *''

'' *''World Neverland 2'' *'' World Stadium 3'' *'' Yu-Gi-Oh! True Duel Monsters: Sealed Memories''

References

External links

PlayStation.jp entry
{{commons category, PocketStation PlayStation (console) accessories Computer-related introductions in 1999 Products and services discontinued in 2002 Discontinued handheld game consoles Japan-only video game hardware Video game storage media Fifth-generation video game consoles Monochrome video game consoles ARM-based video game consoles

Technical specifications

Compatible games

See also

References

External links