PlayStation Link Cable
The PlayStation Link Cable (SCPH-1040) is a peripheral cable for the PlayStation console. Utilizing the serial I/O port found on the back of most PlayStation models, it allows for two consoles to be connected in order to play compatible multiplayer games on separate consoles.
The cable is a 12-pin inline serial cable[1] that plugs directly into the back of the PlayStation console and was a fully supported Sony accessory for the market life of the console. Because it was only designed for original PlayStation models, it's not compatible with the redesigned PSone or PlayStation's successors.
The main advantage to using the cable was that a split-screen wouldn't be necessary for multiplayer, increasing each player's screen size and potentially increasing game performance (as only one view has to be rendered per console). However, the use of this cable requires two televisions, two PlayStations (with appropriate cables), and two copies of the game being played (with the exception of Armored Core: Master of Arena, C&C: Red Alert and C&C: Retaliation, which required only one copy as the games come with two discs).
List of games compatible with the PlayStation Link Cable
- Andretti Racing (2 to 4 players)
- Armored Core
- Armored Core: Project Phantasma
- Armored Core: Master of Arena
- Assault Rigs
- Ayrton Senna Kart Duel (EU/JPN)
- Blast Radius
- Bogey Dead 6
- Burning Road
- Bushido Blade
- Bushido Blade 2
- Car & Driver Presents: Grand Tour Racing '98(called "Total Drivin" in Europe)
- CART World Series (2 to 4 players)
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert
- Command & Conquer: Retaliation
- Cool Boarders 2
- Dead in the Water
- Descent
- Descent Maximum
- Destruction Derby
- Dodgem Arena (EU exclusive)
- Doom
- Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown
- Dune 2000
- Explosive Racing (Called X-Racing in Japan)
- Final Doom
- Formula 1
- Formula 1 98
- Independence Day
- Krazy Ivan
- Monaco Grand Prix
- Motor Toon Grand Prix
- Pro Pinball: Big Race USA
- R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (2 to 4 players)
- Red Asphalt (Rock N' Roll Racing 2)
- Ridge Racer Revolution
- Robo Pit 2
- Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed
- Rogue Trip: Vacation 2012
- San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing
- Shutokou Battle R (JPN exclusive)
- Streak - Hoverboard Racing
- Test Drive 4
- Test Drive Off-Road (NTSC only - removed from PAL version)
- TOCA 2 Touring Cars (Touring Car Challenge in North America)
- Trick'N Snowboarder
- Twisted Metal 3
- Wipeout[2]
- Wipeout 2097 (called Wipeout XL in North America)
- Wipeout 3 Special Edition (EU) (2 to 4 players)(Original release requires using default name LINK on both systems to enable establish link option)
- Wing Over
References
- ↑ Amazon.co.uk listing for the PlayStation Link Cable
- ↑ "ProReview: Wipeout". GamePro. IDG (86): 52. November 1995.