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[Nintendo Ate My Children]

I had a problem with a defective SP 2 whose d-pad wouldn't register button presses. Then I tried another one out, and it was better than the first, it still seemed a little less responsive than the regular SP or DS d-pad. It was particularly apparant in any game where you had to change directions really quickly, i.e. doing dragon punches in Street Fighter, or even games like Pac-Man. In other words, any game where more d-pad use is required than simply pressing right all the time. It's not a blatantly obvious problem, most people probably wouldn't notice it. However, once you notice it, you can't un-notice it.

I'd like to know if anyone else has noticed this, and if and why the SP2 d-pad is different than the d-pad on every other Nintendo system.

 

[radios shipping overview]

I haven't had any problems at all with mine. It feels a little springier and easier to use than I remember the SP's d-pad being, and it works perfectly well.

 

[Companion Cube]

I don't have that problem, but I noticed on my micro that the Dpad sometimes feels jams when moving the upper part of the dpad around. Not so much that it gets stuck, but it doesn't make a perfectly smooth motion.

 

[Nintendo Ate My Children]

Were yours Graphite or Pearl Blue? I don't know if it would matter, but both the ones I tried were Graphite.

 

[radios shipping overview]

Mine's pearl blue.

 

[japtor]

is this the same problem mentioned in the older sp2/micro threads? the center of the dpad doesnt have a spacer or something underneath it, so you can push it down in the middle and trigger opposite directions at the same time, which sucks.

 

[Days like these...]

Yeah the D-Pad kinda sucks on the new GBA SP II. For example I'm playing Zelda Minish Cap and I have a hard time walking in a straight line.. the D-pad needs to be clicky.

 

[radios shipping overview]

It's funny, because it seems like my SP+ does have a center post in the D-pad. I've tried to press both sides of it at once, but I can't. It's also clicky.

 

[Mejilan]

The SP2's dpad does indeed lack the spacer, or whatever, that normally prevents you from hitting opposing directions at once. I returned my first unit (Graphite) because SFA3 was virtually unplayable. I swapped it for a new unit (Graphite again) which is a little better, but I still can't play SFA3 on it. I tested every single GBA SP2 display unit at the Nintendo World store (all Pearl Blue), and every single one has this problem.

The GBA, GBA SP1, DS, and GB Micro do not have this problem, and unlike my original thought, it seems to be an intentional change made by Nintendo.

 

[Bigfonzie]

look out for GBA SP 2 (RE-RELEASE) units, coming soon!

 

[Nintendo Ate My Children]

I went back to try a new shipment of Graphites out today. They had the same problem the other ones had. I think it may be different than what Mejilan is talking about, because it wouldn't just be games like Street Fighter that would be impossible to play with the systems I tried. I couldn't even play Super Mario Bros. The buttons just don't always register when you change directions, even just going from left to right. I think Nintendo's got a problem on their hands.

 

[Chittagong]

D-pad problems? Nintendo copying Sony!

 

[japtor]

does the micro's dpad have any problems like this? (im mainly just concerned with the center post thingy)

 

[bobbyconover]

This really sucks. I was planning on picking up a Spongebob model tomorrow!

 

[Joeholley]

Not that I support voiding your warranty, but has anyone tried opening it up and putting in a replacement D-pad (either from an first-gen SP or a replacement from a parts retailer)? Would seem like a 5-min 5-dollar fix. Not to say that it was an OK decision on Nintendo's part in the first place.

 

[Johnas]

In the thread "New Model GBA SP?" I posted a few times about my d-pad problems. So last night I went to the EB where I bought mine and attempted a return, and the guy I bought it from the day before (not sure if he was a manager) refused to do it. He told me I could swap it for another GBA SP of any kind (SP or SP+) but he couldn't just refund my money.

The problem is, I don't want another regular SP, I've still got my old one, and it works fine. I also don't want an SP+ that has a malfunctioning d-pad. I honestly don't understand why he/they wouldn't take it back, can some EB employee here explain it to me? He basically told me that if he took it back he couldn't get his money back on the unit, which sounded like BS to me because if Nintendo sent him a defective unit, I highly doubt they would just tell him he was SOL. I have a feeling the reason he refused is because as a manager (if he is one) the return would be a -1 sale to him, and would negatively impact his performance measure (sales).

Do I have any recourse here, anybody? I suppose I could call Nintendo, I remember people saying they handled the DS dead pixels very well, but I've never personally dealt with them before.

 

[cybamerc]

Call Nintendo. It seems to be a common problem. They better do something about it.

 

[pkasho]

When did you buy it? Shouldn't you be able to return it even if it's not defective? I mean, it's not software or anything that you can just buy > copy > return...

 

[vesuvious]

I want an SP+ at some point, but until this problem is fixed by Nintendo I am leary of going out and buying one. Hopefully someone here on GAF who owns an SP+ contacts Nintendo. If enough people call or email and complain maybe Nintendo will have a recall on the units.

 

[Nintendo Ate My Children]

Do I have any recourse here, anybody? I suppose I could call Nintendo, I remember people saying they handled the DS dead pixels very well, but I've never personally dealt with them before.

I would recommend calling Nintendo. It's pretty much standard policy for retailers not to accept refunds on open hardware, so the EB guy is really just following company policy.

 

[bummyhead]

I don't have that problem, but I noticed on my micro that the Dpad sometimes feels jams when moving the upper part of the dpad around. Not so much that it gets stuck, but it doesn't make a perfectly smooth motion.

I think it was the NES pad that used to get stuck sometimes, i vaguely remeber. so very long ago.

Maybe it was the crummy PSX pad.

 

[Magnus]

Yeah man, total refunds on open hardware exist nowhere. If you can get away with it, consider yourself extremely fortunate, or consider that the Wal-Mart employee you're dealing with needs to go visit the Wizard for a brain.

 

[drohne]

i didn't even notice the lack of a "floating center" until it was mentioned on gaf, and i haven't had any new control problems. i don't play gba fighting games, but i did go through aria of sorrow and megaman zero 3, and they handled as well as they did on my ds or sp v1.

do people consider a floating center necessary to a good d-pad, or is the sp2's d-pad causing specific problems? cos the japanese saturn pad doesn't have a floating center, and it's always been my favorite.

edit: mine's graphite

 

[Nintendo Ate My Children]

do people consider a floating center necessary to a good d-pad, or is the sp2's d-pad causing specific problems?

It's causing specific problems, and I'm not sure if it's just the fact that there isn't a floating center, or if Nintendo changing d-pad designs allowed some defective ones to slip through. You would think they would have this d-pad thing down pat, what with inventing it 25 years ago and all.

 

[japtor]

do people consider a floating center necessary to a good d-pad, or is the sp2's d-pad causing specific problems? cos the japanese saturn pad doesn't have a floating center, and it's always been my favorite.

if im interpreting the problem correctly, i think its more of an issue of the complete lack of some center thing, letting you push it completely down and hit opposite directions. i just checked my saturn pad, and while you can push it down, theres still something stopping it from going completely down, letting you rock it around or do circle motions while pivoting on that point. checked gc, dc, and original gba and theyre all like that too. guess its the lack of a pivot point thats making it hard to do motions for some people?

 

[mosaic]

Well isn't this weird...

I bought two GBA SP v2 units yesterday. Both had the new d-pad, which I don't have a problem with because I don't push the center hardly ever during normal use.

BUT, one had a dead pixel, so I exchanged it... and...

The one I received in exchange has the old d-pad with the thingy in the middle that prevents the problems people have been complaining about!

I know because I popped in Final Fight One into the one I kept and the one I swapped. In the one I kept, the dude won't move if I push inward on the middle of the d-pad and lean right on the d-pad. But in the swapped out unit, I can't push the middle inward as far and my character moves just fine if I lean right.

Dunno if it matters, but the one with the mushy new d-pad is Graphite and the one with the springy old d-pad is Pearl Blue. The one I exchanged was Pearl Blue.

So, some SP2's have the old d-pad and some don't. Zoinks.

 

[drohne]

i can't push my sp2's d-pad completely down in opposite directions...it comes closer than the saturn pad, but there's something that stops it. i don't have my old sp to compare it to. weird, though...i wonder whether this is normal variance in manufacturing or two different designs.

 

[Tiktaalik]

I was curious about this problem so I sent nintendo an email about it. Here's the response.

==========================

Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,

We are aware that fans are talking on the Internet about a difference in the control pads of some of the new-design Game Boy Advance SPs. Please note that there has been no design change in the system. Of course, with the huge number of units being manufactured, some could have control pads (that are) slightly out of established specifications. As always, if you're having problems with your system, please contact us so we can help you.

Sincerely,

Nintendo of America Inc.
Mitch Crim

 

[Mejilan]

Time for me to email NoA then. I'm not going back to the Nintendo World Store. ALL of their units are faulty, demo units and retail.