Central Station (service)
Central Station(also known as Network Gaming Service) was an online service bySony Computer Entertainment EuropeforPAL regionsin thePlayStation 2era.
The service allowed users to have friend lists, view new game releases, read the latest PlayStation-related news, enter events, and play Central Station-integrated online games for thePlayStation 2andPlayStation Portableconsoles. The service acted as aSonyofficial alternative tomiddlewarelikeGameSpybut with extra features similar toXbox LiveorPlayStation Network.[1]
The Central Station portal could be accessed via a Network Access Disc which would be used to set up an internet connection.
Central Station was superseded by the worldwidePlayStation Networkupon release of thePlayStation 3.It is unclear when it was discontinued.
History
[edit]The overall history of Central Station is unclear due to very limited documentation. However, multiple Network Access Discs have been dumped and preserved online.[2]These discs show that Central Station went through at least two major UI/Branding changes outside of beta testing.
Around November 2004, Sony gave out new discs to registered users. These discs included a new settings UI, a new Central Station portal, andHardware: Online Arena.[3]
The Central Stationmiddlewareseems to have been used on somePlayStation Portablegames as-well, although no evidence exists showing that users could access the Central Station portal onPlayStation Portableconsoles.[4][5]
A beta disc known as "Mirage"[6]was dumped online that has a very rough concept of the Central Station UI,[7]alongside was a scanned document that was released on aTumblrblog indicating thatBritish Telecomworked withSony Computer Entertainment Europeto integrateH.264streaming into the Network Access Discs.[7]
Usage
[edit]Central Station required users to register their console with two to three different codes depending on the console's model. These would mainly consist of a Network Access Code (included in the disc or console packaging), the Console Model Number, and the Network Adapter Serial Number.[1][5]After going through the registration process, users would receive a PIN code in the mail that could be entered on the console or on theNetwork Gaming Servicewebsite.
Supported Games
[edit]All of the games that support Central Station are published bySony Computer Entertainmentor a similar subsidiary:[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ab(PS2) Central Station - Ready To Connect Video,retrieved2022-05-25
- ^"redump.org • Discs".redump.org.Retrieved2022-05-25.
- ^"New NAD for PS2 online users in Europe".Beyond3D Forum.Retrieved2022-05-25.
- ^"www.yourgamingname.com - portablegaming.de".www-portablegaming-de.translate.goog.Retrieved2022-05-26.
- ^ab"Network Gaming Service".2007-07-04. Archived fromthe originalon 4 July 2007.Retrieved2022-05-25.
- ^"redump.org • Mirage".redump.org.Retrieved2022-05-25.
- ^abretrogamecollection."Retro Game Collection".Retro Game Collection.Retrieved2022-05-25.
- ^"PlayStation Help & Support: Grief Reporting".2007-10-09. Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2007.Retrieved2022-06-13.