September 1 has worn many hats in Oz gaming history. It’s a date that reminds me how boldly games can pivot between artsy invention, hardware swagger, and pure pick-up play. So grab your walking cane, fellow die-hard, and let’s you and I stroll way, way back down memory lane.
VIB RIBBON (PS) 2000
At A Glance
Vib Ribbon arrived like a mixtape from a parallel dimension. A wireframe rabbit named Vibri sprints along a single line while your chosen tunes morph into pits, pivots and peril. It looked like a scribble in a maths book, yet it moved with designer Masaya Matsuura’s rhythmic precision. The party trick was everything. Swap the disc, feed it your CDs and Vib Ribbon turns them into bespoke gauntlets.
Gameplay Gist
Vib Ribbon translates audio features into four obstacle types and asks you to press the matching inputs with musician timing. It starts with single hazards, then composes devilish chords of two, three or four at once. The joy sits in how clean the feedback loop is. You hear a flourish, you see the waveform bite into the track and Vibri reacts. Mess up and Vibri devolves into lower life forms until you recover the groove. Nail it and that stick-figure hop becomes ballet.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
- Vib Ribbon was built to load fully into PS1 memory, which allowed the disc to be swapped for an audio CD without crashing.
- NanaOn-Sha and Matsuura had already reshaped rhythm gaming with PaRappa the Rapper, but Vib Ribbon pushed interactivity further by making the player’s music the level data.
- PAL territories, including Australia, were lucky. North America did not receive a physical PS1 release at the time.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Vib Ribbon reads audio amplitude and frequency to spawn hazards on the fly
- Full-memory boot lets you remove the game disc and insert a music CD
- Devolution mechanic visualises performance and recovery in real time
- Minimalist art style keeps input readability crystal clear
Any Controversies?
No major dust-ups. If anything, Vib Ribbon sparked debate about availability. Limited shelf space in Australia meant it became a cult hunt for collectors.
Kinda Similar
PaRappa the Rapper, Amplitude, Rez
Where To Play It Today
Search for Vib Ribbon on eBay Australia
PLAYSTATION PORTABLE (2005)
At A Glance
The PlayStation Portable touched down in Australia on this day in 2005 with a recommended price of A$429.95. Sony pitched it as a premium handheld for grown-up tastes. Widescreen, crisp, and glossy, it promised console-style 3D in your backpack, movies on UMD, music playback and a smidge of internet. It felt like a gadget from the future and it looked the part.
Gameplay Gist
Day one software showed range. Ridge Racer delivered drift hedonism, Lumines fused puzzles with synaesthetic sound, and WipEout Pure gave you gravity-defying speed with surprising depth. Ad hoc multiplayer enabled quick local sessions, while the system’s sleep mode let you suspend nearly anywhere. Memory Stick Duo cards handled saves and media, and the slick XMB interface kept everything tidy.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
- Early firmware capped CPU speed for battery reasons, with later updates allowing higher clocks for select games.
- WipEout Pure pioneered handheld DLC in Australia with track packs delivered via the in-game browser.
- UMD movie discs briefly carved a niche, turning the PlayStation Portable into a pocket cinema.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Widescreen LCD and sleep mode made quick sessions genuinely practical
- Ad hoc multiplayer and early DLC pointed toward a connected handheld future
- XMB interface unified games, music, movies and photos
- Strong day one lineup helped the system feel complete at launch
Any Controversies?
Dead pixel policies caused frustration for some early buyers. Battery life and UMD load times also drew heat. None of it dulled the excitement of finally having portable PlayStation power.
Kinda Similar
Nintendo DS, PlayStation Vita, Game Boy Advance SP
Where To Play It Today
Search for PlayStation Portable on eBay Australia
RIDGE RACER (PSP) 2005
At A Glance
Riiiiidge Racer roared out of the PlayStation Portable gates as the definitive launch showpiece. It cherry-picked fan-favourite tracks and cars from across the series and polished them for handheld play. The message was clear. Put a PSP in your hands and go sideways with a smile.
Gameplay Gist
The drift is the gospel in Ridge Racer. Feather the throttle, pitch into a corner and ride that perfect arc until the nitrous fills. It is approachable, then devilishly exacting when you chase golds. World Tour strings challenges into a sticky progression ladder. Time Attack keeps purest laps honest. Local multiplayer is the cherry on top for mates hungry to trade paint in person.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
- Ridge Racer on PSP assembles circuits and machines from multiple entries, framed as a greatest hits package.
- The soundtrack mixes new tracks with remixes of classic Ridge Racer themes for proper nostalgia.
- The nitrous system rewards clean, stylish drifting and became a modern series staple.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Drift to build nitrous, blast to maintain momentum on exit
- World Tour structure eases newcomers into tougher classes
- Time Attack ghosts sharpen racing lines and braking points
- Local multiplayer carries that arcade spirit into backpacks
Kinda Similar
OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, Initial D Street Stage, Need for Speed Underground Rivals
Where To Play It Today
Search for Ridge Racer on eBay Australia
LUMINES (PSP) 2005
At A Glance
Lumines turned the PlayStation Portable into a pocket trance machine. Two-colour blocks fall into a grid while a sweeping timeline clears completed squares in rhythm. Each skin shifts the music and visuals, so the puzzle becomes a DJ set you play with your thumbs.
Gameplay Gist
Rotate 2×2 blocks to form colour-matched squares. The timeline sweeps across at the track’s tempo, scoring and clearing in waves. Build combos by setting up multiple clears on each pass, then ride the pressure as the stack climbs. Challenge Mode unlocks skins. Puzzle and Mission modes twist the rules. VS CPU tests nerves. It is easy to learn and quietly bottomless.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
- Directed by Tetsuya Mizuguchi at Q Entertainment, whose work often fuses music and mechanics.
- Skins function like playable tracks, altering tempo, difficulty and feel from moment to moment.
- Lumines quickly gained a reputation as the PSP’s stealth system seller.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Timeline sweep ties score flow directly to rhythm
- Skin unlock path paces difficulty like an album setlist
- Auxiliary modes add spicy constraints for mastery
- Visual clarity keeps the board readable at speed
Kinda Similar
Tetris Effect, Meteos, Rez
Where To Play It Today
Search for Lumines on eBay Australia
WIPEOUT PURE (PSP) 2005
At A Glance
WipEout Pure brought the series’ cool to the PlayStation Portable in style. Clean lines, razor-sharp art direction and that unmistakable sense of speed turned the handheld into a futurist runway. It was a love letter to anti-gravity racing that doubled as a tech demo for the system.
Gameplay Gist
Airbrake timing and racing line discipline are the heart of WipEout Pure. Glide into corners, tap to pivot, then open the throttle when the nose settles. Weapons add risk and rhythm. Zone mode peels everything back to velocity and survival. The track list balances beginner flow with expert terror. Ad hoc races and time trials kept lunch breaks loud.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
- Developed by Studio Liverpool, WipEout Pure pushed early PSP hardware and art direction to a new standard.
- Free regional DLC packs arrived soon after launch, adding ships, skins and tracks.
- Brand tie-ins and special skins gave each region a distinct flavour.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Airbrake finesse is the difference between scraping and flying
- Zone mode is the purest expression of series speed discipline
- Regional DLC expanded the game well beyond day one
- Soundtrack and UI design set the tone for PSP aesthetics
Kinda Similar
F-Zero GX, Extreme-G 3, BallisticNG
Where To Play It Today
Search for WipEout Pure on eBay Australia
