History of a PlayStation mascot. 09/03/211 Crash Bandicoot is by far one of the most memorable video game franchises from the 90s – a system seller that gave Sony one of their first ever PlayStation mascots. But how did a genetically-modified Bandicoot in jeans become a household name? From Crash’s debut and fall from glory to one of gaming’s most successful resurrections, let’s take a closer look at this beloved series’ timeline. Creating Crash Bandicoot Naturally, Jason Rubin and Andy Gavin founding Naughty Dog in 1986 is the best place to start. Naughty Dog’s first game, a 3DO fighter titled ‘Way of the Warrior’ released in 1994 with Universal Interactive signing the fledgling studio up to a three game deal, noting the their future potential. Jason and Andy wanted to create a mascot for their next project. Inspired by the outback wildlife of Australia, they would settle on a bandicoot of all creatures. As this character would be spinning and smashing their way from level to level, he was soon given the moniker “Crash” and the rest is history. In an alternate universe, Naughty Dog may have stuck with their original protagonist, Willy the Wombat.