Sony confirms PSP controller button problem, offers free repairs :: TechJapan

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Gaming: Sony confirms PSP controller button problem, offers free repairs
Posted on Feb 21, 2005 - 09:01 PM by sar7501
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Topic: Sony
Category: Gaming
Technorati: Linking Blogs

Sony has confirmed that the controller buttons on some Playstation Portable (PSP) units may become stuck and not return to their default position. A free repair program has been announced.

Sony has confirmed that the controller buttons on some Playstation Portable (PSP) units may become stuck and not return to their default position. A free repair program has been announced.

The defect occurs in part of the initial shipment of PSP units and is caused by excess plastic not being completely removed during the molding and manufacturing process of the outer cabinet. As a result, when a button is pressed, it can become caught on the excess plastic and not return fully to its default position.

Also, this production defect has already been addressed. "This problem does not occur in the units produced in 2005," the company said. The units suffering from the problem, "are about 0.6% of the 510,000 units shipped in 2004," (Sony).

Sony is conducting a free repair program for users who have PSP units affected by this problem. The defect is not present in PSP units currently being sold.

Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050222/scei.htm

News Release:
http://www.playstation.jp/info/qa.php?pid=&cid=480&sid=1

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Comments (must be registered to post)
Nacente 22.02.05, 03:02	I have this problem, only half, but nearly with my PS2 pad: one button does not behave how it should.
Anonymous 22.02.05, 10:02	Does that mean that the PSP's released this year in March are not affected?
a34 22.02.05, 10:38	Yes, that is right. If you have ever worked in an injection moulding factory, you can imagine what the problem is - someone didn't completely trim the flash from the parts.
Anonymous 22.02.05, 11:33	Not someone, some machine. This is Sony, remember.
a34 22.02.05, 13:28	Yes, this is Sony. Someone didn't trim the flash properly.
Anonymous 22.02.05, 16:30	Thank god.
Anonymous 22.02.05, 16:36	yeah.. how much is this thing any wways?
Anonymous 22.02.05, 17:35	Go figure......
Anonymous 22.02.05, 19:25	The PSP will cost $249, not $189 as in Japan, in the US. They are sneakily not telling you the price when you preorder at GameCrazy, and probably other US locations. The GameCrazy rep told me they didn't think it was important as they would sell out anyway. I expect Sony told them not to mention the price. More and more, I don't like the way Sony does business. ...This problem was reported a few weeks ago in Japan, and they refused to replace the units at that time. This is at least some improvement. Compare Nintendo, who immediately volunteered to replace Nintendo DS units with dead pixels (touch screen) and the new Play Yan units, some of which have reversed stereo sound. They are definitely the customer focused company. Sony should pay for their poor service. ALl of the people with PS2's that broke in two weeks should really say something--if not with their voices, with their wallets..
Anonymous 22.02.05, 20:27	You're forgetting to mention that the US is getting the "Value Pack", which was released in Japan for ~245USD. The 189USD price in Japan is for the unit only.
Anonymous 22.02.05, 23:29	The Value Pack comes with some pretty good stuff too... 32mb Memory Stick Duo, Wrist Strap, Soft Case, Head Phones with Remote, Battery Pack, AC Adaptor, Cleaning Cloth, UMD Sampler, and the full feature film of Spider Man 2 on UMD.
Anonymous 23.02.05, 00:02	The Value Pack is anything but a _good_ value. 32 MB MS Duo is better than nothing (can't save without one), but will obviously prove small over time. How else could Sony expect to sell many more of them to you again later? I wouldn't voluntarily buy one given the better value of larger sizes, but with the Value Pack you are forced to buy it. Obviously, it's not free. The wrist strap is not worth using. You'd expect to use something so flimsy on a light cellphone, not something so expensive, heavy, and fragile as an optical disc-based game system. I only keep the DS wrist strap attached for the thumbpad that makes Metroid fun, otherwise I'd say it's just as useless as this thing is for the PSP. The soft case is functional but also cheap. Surprise, the headphones are fair. But the remote is flimsy crap. It feels like it belongs on a cheap walkman ripoff or something. The batteries are very expensive to buy on their own, but even the base model comes with one in Japan. It is nobody's advantage to buy a Value Pack just for a battery that comes standard anyways. Same thing for the AC adapter, so why bother mentioning these as if they're OMGWTF awesome? Cleaning cloth? My optometrist gave me several of the same thing for free the last time I was in the office. But it's a good thing to include, since the front of my buddy's PSP gets smudged just by looking at it and imagining a pesto salami sandwich from across the room. So, it boils down to whether the cost of these accessories, plus the UMD sampler and a movie you may or may not want to own (but are being forced to buy anyways) makes it worth your while. Coupled with Sony's notorious penchant for multiple drastic hardware revision cycles, there is no way in hell I am going to buy a PSP until the price comes way down, the base unit is unbundled, and several hardware revs have ironed out the inevitable Sony QA problems beyond the notorious ones that have already surfaced.
Anonymous 23.02.05, 07:18	i think that the Spider Man 2 UMD movie only will be available in limited quantities for the first few PSPs
Anonymous 23.02.05, 07:57	Yes first few... if few means 1 million.
Anonymous 23.02.05, 13:32	I hate it when people rant and rave about an object they don't own. There are stupid people out there who actually believe the things that they post.
Anonymous 23.02.05, 14:09	playing Spider-Man 2 on the PSP would actually waste half the battery life... :(
Anonymous 25.02.05, 09:30	The PSP is a great handheld device... do not be discouraged by the haters... I actually purchased my PSP from Japan and even though all the menus are in Japanese (Ridge Racer) I have not regetted the purchase. Battery life is actually very good (about 5 hours all in all). If you're playing for five hours straight.....get a life.... On a more serious note, my biggest concern about the PSP is the life of the moving parts inside. I believe this MAY be a set back. The controller issue has been addressed and is being handled well by sony. All in all Sony has brought the playstation into a handheld device. The graphics are excellent and the controls are confortable. The wrist strap is not made to carry the PSP around but to keep it from falling from your hands. The value pack may not be a genuine value but it gets you everything you need to get started. Sony has put their mark on the gaming world. And with wifi all i am missing is a web browser and i'm set. Remember, the target market for the PSP is 18-30. This gives Sony the opportunity to set the price and work their way down. This is the Ipod for the Gamer.
Anonymous 25.02.05, 12:17	PSP ROCKS!
Anonymous 25.02.05, 13:16	you people talk like your all so smart just buy the dam thing and play it till your eyes pop out of your head then go buy another title and rip it up cuz your not going to find another system as good for a long time till old bill g comes out with porta x then youll get it
Anonymous 25.02.05, 13:22	ds stands for dog shit where are the adult games besides racing games
Anonymous 25.02.05, 13:23	its 420
Anonymous 25.02.05, 13:29	i work at radio shack and im board i preordered my psp i cant wait 1 month
Anonymous 26.02.05, 12:59	you're a board? speak english
Anonymous 26.02.05, 13:00	everyone check out www.psp411.com it's got everything you need if you're interested in PSP.
Anonymous 26.02.05, 13:26	i already did
Xamia 12.03.05, 11:16	Can someone please tell me if tony hawk's underground 2 remix is going to be able to go online, playing w/ people across the country?