[2] Using the simple geometric shapes of a green triangle, a red circle, a blue cross, and a pink square (, , , ) to label its action buttons rather than traditionally used letters or numbers, the PlayStation controller established a trademark which would be incorporated heavily into the PlayStation brand.

In an interview with Teiyu Goto, designer of the original PlayStation controller, he explained what the symbols mean: the circle and cross represent "yes" and "no", respectively (as common in Japanese culture, which explains their common use as "confirm" and "cancel" in most Japanese PlayStation games and are placed similarly to the A and B buttons on the Super NES controller, which had similar functions); the triangle symbolizes a point of view and the square is equated to a sheet of paper there to be used to access menus.

We imagined what it would be like to have to continually put the pad down while mapping a game, or playing while lying on the floor, and many other cases.

[4]Both Goto and Kutaragi recalled that Sony president Norio Ohga showed a special interest in the development of the controller, and strongly supported the final version.

This model of the controller was bundled with all subsequent PlayStation consoles afterwards, and was later released in Japan on 2 April 1996.