Blog
Updates, research notes, and news from the PlayStation PAL Database project:
La Sirenetta II - The Curious Case of an EAN Number
Not all copies of La Sirenetta II are the same. A different EAN barcode on Italian copies turns out to be a clue pointing to a late PS1-era reprint - one that accidentally reveals the Disney/Pixar merger.
Read more →Collection Database Update - February 2026
Monthly update - 4136 variants, 303 complete.
Read more →Epidemic: My Favourite PS1 Case Disaster
Epidemic is my favourite PS1 case, and not because it looks good. It's a glorious mess that tells the entire story of Sony's rushed Black Label rollout in a single jewel case.
Read more →PSP Holograms on PS1 Cases, A Late Platinum Misprint
Some late PAL Platinum prints of Final Fantasy VIII and IX appear to carry PSP holograms rather than the expected PlayStation ones. Here's how I tracked one down and what I found.
Read more →A Brief History of the PS1 Case Hologram
A look at why Sony introduced the case hologram, how the design evolved over the PS1's lifetime, and some unusual misprints that slipped through.
Read more →Collection Database Update - January 2026
Monthly update - 3877 variants, 278 complete.
Read more →Inside the Research: How We're Cataloguing Every PAL PlayStation Release
Research is the backbone of accurate game preservation. Here's how we're systematically documenting PAL PlayStation releases using eBay, EAN codes, and careful verification.
Read more →Building a Barcode Scanner for PAL PSX Database Lookups
When you're moving dozens of PS1 games through eBay, speed matters. I built a webcam barcode scanner that looks up PAL variants in seconds and shows exactly which images are missing from our archive.
Read more →Buying PS1 Games - What to Look for Checklist - Online Version
Essential checklist for buying PAL PS1 games online. From hologram verification to spotting mixed components, learn how to assess condition from seller photos.
Read more →Why Start Collecting PS1 Games?
Why would you want to collect PS1 games?
Read more →Collection Database Update - December 2025
Monthly update - 3488 variants, 161 complete.
Read more →Fake Holograms
I bought some fake ones so you won't have to.
Read more →The PAL Region
What does PAL really mean?!
Read more →Christmas '95'
The day my PlayStation world began.
Read more →Cleaning PS1 Cases
Some simple tips on how to clean PAL cases.
Read more →Mid December Progress
We've hit 100+ complete releases and documented 1500+ releases!
Read more →My PS1 Collection Journey
Why I started and how my collection and goals changed over the years.
Read more →The Problem with the term Black Label
The usefulness of this term falls apart quickly when you start collecting PlayStation One games.
Read more →How to Open a PlayStation One Standard Jewel Case
I want to help you disassembling a PlayStation One case
Read more →Collection Database Update - November 2025
Monthly update - 2895 variants, 16 complete.
Read more →Welcome to the PSX PAL Database!
Introducing the blog for PSX PAL collecting insights and discoveries.
Read more →