PlayStation/Error Screen

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Screen (1994-2006)

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Visuals: After the Sony Interactive Entertainment logo, it will abruptly cut to this screen. On a blue spotlight gradient background, various smaller blue balls and a multi-colored paint splatter are seen scattered across the right side of the screen. Across the background is text that reads "Please insert PlayStation™ CD-ROM." in white, with the "PlayStation" text in the usual font.

Variants:

• A Japanese variant exists, with the only difference being the localised text "PlayStation® 規格のディスケではありません".
• For both Japanese and American BIOS revisions, the color of the paint splatter on the right may differ depending on version.
• For early European consoles, the error screen reflects the same visual design as the European system's BIOS. The background is a gray checkered pattern which fades from dark to light gray in the center, and the text is replaced with a diagram. On the left is a black square containing the PlayStation logo with a black disc protruding from it, on the right side is a simple graphic of the top of a PlayStation console with a glowing red reset button, and in the middle is a red arrow pointing towards the right with the text "INSERT DISC." inside of it.
• The smaller PSone console revision has a unique error screen, with a red checkered pattern background similar to that of the early European variant. The text reads "Please insert PlayStation® format disc."
• Occasionally, if a PlayStation disc is badly scratched, this error screen will fail to appear. Instead, the console will cut to a black screen from the Sony Interactive Entertainment logo. This was given the popular nickname 'Personified Fear' due to its unexpected nature.

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: None, for the intended variants. For the 'Personified Fear' variant, a sharp reversed glass shattering sound can be heard, followed by quiet chimes. This is caused by the BIOS audio sequence being interrupted during playback, causing it to ignore all further MIDI inputs and play the audio samples fully.

Availability: This error can be seen on any PlayStation console by either inserting a non-PlayStation or CD audio disc, by inserting a badly scratched or damaged PlayStation disc, or by having a badly damaged disc laser. Which error screen is seen will depend on the console's region and revision.