Why did the PS1 use black discs?

[bcoupland]

The only reasons I could think of were for style or maybe copy protection.

 

[AStar617]

style. copy protection had nothing to do with it (hence the blank black cdrs that popped up very soon after). if quick bootleg spotting had anything to do with it, it didnt last long as a benefit.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I've wondered the same thing. I guess it only makes sense that it was for style but.. I wonder if there was another reason.

 

[randomlinh]

it looked as if it were actually a means of scratch resistance from what I remember, it had a much glossier look to it. but then again, that could have simply just been the fact that black cdrs didn't exist. I've seen some early black cdrs adn remember them being lighter.

but i think it was mostly for the initial cool factor.

 

[pontifex]

sure as hell wasn't scratch reistance.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: pontifex
sure as hell wasn't scratch reistance.

Well it definitely wasn't for copy protection because my friend had a huge envelope of copied games he made from the ones he rented at Blockbuster. It was not that difficult to copy PS1 games with a little knowledge.

 

[Shawn]

So you would know it was a Playstation cd and not a music cd or computer cd.

 

[AStar617]

^^ yep "brand recognition" is probably a better way of putting it than "style".

 

[lobbyone]

You know how Sony is with their stuff...

 

[mobobuff]

They weren't black, they were very very dark purple.

 

[zerocool84]

i remember in the beginning it was for copy protection but as we all know that never lasts long for anything.

 

[BeauJangles]

Early Playstation 1s had trouble reading non-black discs.