• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

How problematic was PS2 launch hardware?

You'll never get an accurate idea, just "mine died" and "mine didn't die". But it seemed there were less posts of systems dying than we're getting with X360.
 
I worked at a EB when PS2 launched, and the only ones that ever came back in were the ones that were covered in dust and smelled like cigarettes (ie, the owners were white trash who spent their WC checks on PS2).

The instance of them coming back due to manufacturer error was not very common in my experience.

Hell, my launch PS2 is playing a DVD flawlessly as we speak. It has no problems with CDs either.

Once in a while I will get a DRE on a poorly maintained or burned disc.

C'est la vie.
 
Pedigree Chum said:
Oh, and I'd like to know how long people's launch systems lasted them.
Click to expand...


Mine is still up and running today. At the most it requires one on/off to load games.

EDIT: Oh shit. I thougth we were talking about PS1. My PS2 got traded in for a PStwo when they came out. No problems with it through that time though.
 
Pedigree Chum said:
Oh, and I'd like to know how long people's launch systems lasted them.
Click to expand...

Again you'll just get anecdotal evidence which doesn't mean anything in the long run. Also the way you've worded it makes it sound like you expect launch systems to have "lifetimes" and not last until the next generation of consoles, which is untrue for the majority of people.
 
I think the problem with the PS2 was that a few of them died more or less right after the warranty period? That is pretty damn annoying...
 
I bought a launch PS2 - was first in line on opening day - and my PS2 performed flawlessly until I traded it for a PStwo this past summer. But then, I take good care of my consoles. The EB guy was like, "Jesus! I want to take a picture of this. It's immaculate!"

Anyway, she was good to me, all right.
 
depends on location, i recall the UK Ps2 launch having a hell of a lot of problems - so much so that they ended up on Watchdog.

Don't recall any problems with the HW at launch in Japan, though there were bugs and issues with some games (Ridge memory card f*cker for instance)
 
My PS2 makes this weird clicking sound sometimes when it boots up a game. Once it irritated me so much that I smashed my Contra : SS into pieces... Fucking retarded I know.. And the PS2 is still working just as good as the first day.

D Charlie, I remember some people complaining about their JP PS2s scratching their discs... Dunno what the problem really was,
 
D Charlie, I remember some people complaining about their JP PS2s scratching their discs... Dunno what the problem really was,
Click to expand...

yeah, showed an itneresting double standard - when the Xbox had the same problem, it was pulled from retail! lols.

Common thoughtpath : "it's non-Japanese hardware, it's obviously faulty and won't work"

(looks at X360 track record... hmmm)
 
DCharlie said:
yeah, showed an itneresting double standard - when the Xbox had the same problem, it was pulled from retail! lols.

Common thoughtpath : "it's non-Japanese hardware, it's obviously faulty and won't work"

(looks at X360 track record... hmmm)
Click to expand...

Btw, have you heard anything on the streets about how the Japanese X360s are faring? I wonder if they fixed some of the problems US systems were having in those 2 weeks since I haven't really seen anything on Japanese boards about X360s giving red lights.
 
The main reason behind this Q is that I want want to get PS3 at launch, but I'm a bit weary. Especially with that new BR drive they're putting in there. Kinda got screwed with the PSP (Square button is messed). I know the build quality of PS2 doesn't have much to do with PS3, but I thought it might be interesting to see what early adopters had to say.
 
Pedigree Chum said:
The main reason behind this Q is that I want want to get PS3 at launch, but I'm a bit weary. Especially with that new BR drive they're putting in there. Kinda got screwed with the PSP (Square button is messed). I know the build quality of PS2 doesn't have much to do with PS3, but I thought it might be interesting to see what early adopters had to say.
Click to expand...

Basically if you get the launch system of ANYTHING that's not made by Nintendo there's always that 1/10, 1/20, 1/50 chance the system will break down on you. If you're not talking about importing and just talking about getting a US launch system then it's not really something you should worry about because of the warranty.

But if you do import a JPN system at launch, we'll you take your chances and hope for the best. ^^;
 
Knowing Sony's track record, they'll probably have a lot bad systems during launch. I make it a rule never to buy systems at launch. I bought an Xbox during launch, it died a month later. Luckily I had a friend at gamestop to do a switch one out for me :D
 
Bebpo said:
Basically if you get the launch system of ANYTHING that's not made by Nintendo there's also that 1/10, 1/20, 1/50 chance the system will break down on you. If you're not talking about importing and just talking about getting a US launch system then it's not really something you should worry about because of the warranty.

But if you do import a JPN system at launch, we'll you take your chances and hope for the best. ^^;
Click to expand...

Absolutely true. I've had terrible luck with Sony's systems, and I take very good care of my consoles and games. PS2 fared better than PS1, IMO, defect-wise.
 
DCharlie said:
depends on location, i recall the UK Ps2 launch having a hell of a lot of problems - so much so that they ended up on Watchdog.
Click to expand...

The UK launch did have problems and I remember it being on watchdog. I don't think the Xbox 360 made it onto watchdog yet but it was featured on GMTV with an unhappy mother, her son and an "expert" from the Evening Standard or something.
 
I have never bought a system at launch, with the exception of the DS
(shut up)
but I don't think I can resist PS3 if MGS4 is available, I'll just take my chances. Almost definitely getting a Rev at launch, but I don't have any hardware worries there.
 
I got mine in March '01 (fucking useless preorder..), and it runs fine. But if a game disc has even moderate damage, it won't work that well. And the console boots to the stupid main menu every single time, because it can't read the disc fast enough to give me a normal startup.
 
The nearest (at the time) EB had a 50% return rate on launch window PS2s, but I'm sure that wasn't typical. It was pretty bad, though.
 
I had a launch ps2 for 2 years and didn't have a prooblem. then I traded it in unforuntely. I'm confident it would still be around today if I hadn't though.
 
I have a launch PS2. I play it a lot. It still works today.


As for the PS2 launch, I just remember there was a memory card shortage at one point. That was a bit after launch though I think
 
Well if you want a sorta related figure, (not launch though) when I worked at EB we had system kiosks for PS2, XB and GC all running at the same time with demos on and off everyday. In a years time the kiosks went thru 7 PS2s, 3 Xboxs and 2 GC. And I think one of the Cubes only broke cause the rep mangled the eye from not inserting a disc right. GC was one tough little beast.
 
I think the PS2 gets a bad rep because of the PS1's history. I have had my (near)launch PS2 the whole time ... but I had 2 PS1's die on me, and knew a few friends that had the same problem.


But then again, I probably put 1000's more hours on my PS1. So, it's hard to judge.
 
I have a Japanese Launch unit and a North American unit. Both are alive and kicking still on their original laser.
 
I camped out with my roomate at target and got 2 NA launch units. One we played constantly and started giving DREs after about 6 months. The other one AFAIK is still working today after 1000s of hours of FFXI.

My GT3 pack PS2 disc tray started grinding after I tripped over the cord and it hit the floor. Eventualy something broke loose inside and jammed it shut. In a fit of generic rage I ripped the console to peices trying to pry out the GT3 disc. :lol

The one I got after that has been going strong for 3 years.

/shrug

If you really want a unit at launch you just have to deal with the higher chance of getting a defective unit. Its like buying a new model car. There are bound to be some kinks in manufacturing or design that don't get ironed out untill you have some 'beta' units out there. :)
 
Got mine on launch day and it still works fine, although sometimes you have reinsert a DVD movie a couple of times to get it to read properly.
 
My day one PS1 died after about 2 years. My day 1 PS2 died after about 2 years. My day 1 Xbox still works. My day 1 360 still works. With warrenty in hand of course:)
 
oh yeah, the launch units me and my other half have both had defective (read: Totally not working) expansion ports.

we discovered this after we ordered our external PS2 harddisks for the 10000-15000 units. So we had to go out and search for second hand older units and hope they worked. Both did, but one died after about 8 months.
 
Every person that I know that bought one at launch has had to replace the thing atleast once but it should be noted that they were heavily used all around. I got mine march of 2001 and it lasted the 4 years I had it, replaced it with a small one last year. There were definetly problems with the system in high numbers, DRE's seemed to happen to just about everyone I know with a PS2 that was built before 2003. Towards the end of my PS2's life it didn't play all dvds that well and occasionally had issues with CD based games.

So uh.. yeah. Anecdotal evidence I guess.
 
My PS2 crapped out twice (disc drive, fixed both times by Sony) before I wizened up and traded it in for credit. I got spurred to do it when a GAFer (possibly BuddyC, I can't remember) that worked at Gamestop let it be known that there was good chance for a price drop in the next while.

A month later the price drop happened ($149.99) and I got the new 50000 model that accompanied the drop. The 50000 model has worked flawlessly.
 
Pachinko said:
Every person that I know that bought one at launch has had to replace the thing atleast once but it should be noted that they were heavily used all around. I got mine march of 2001 and it lasted the 4 years I had it, replaced it with a small one last year. There were definetly problems with the system in high numbers, DRE's seemed to happen to just about everyone I know with a PS2 that was built before 2003. Towards the end of my PS2's life it didn't play all dvds that well and occasionally had issues with CD based games.

So uh.. yeah. Anecdotal evidence I guess.
Click to expand...

I've never actually seen what a DRE looks like on a PS2, now I'm curious. Are there pics anywhere?

Both my launch US and one year after launch JPN PS2s work fine though I've replaced them with a slimeline in Sept. Though I will admit that the US PS2 had longer load times than the JPN one with DVD9s. Both my US (non-Thompson drive) and JPN (Thompson drive) Xbox systems have worked flawlessly as well and I've never seen a DRE on those systems either.

Though back in the day my PS1 laser was funky and I had to keep the system sideways or else games would skip.
 
I have a JP launch PS2 and it DREs all the time so I got a new model for my birthday last year - thanks guys :) I keep the old machine as a HDD-only FFXI box.

ALL of the JP launch 8 meg memory cards had a problem - if you deleted anything, it would fuck up everything on the card. Some games caused this when saving because of the method they used for saving. Most games didn't cause this problem though and you would only find out, the hard way, when your card was full and you tried to move stuff to a new card. Ouch. 1000 hrs of gaming down the toilet.
 
Jonnyram said:
ALL of the JP launch 8 meg memory cards had a problem - if you deleted anything, it would fuck up everything on the card. Some games caused this when saving because of the method they used for saving. Most games didn't cause this problem though and you would only find out, the hard way, when your card was full and you tried to move stuff to a new card. Ouch. 1000 hrs of gaming down the toilet.
Click to expand...

Whoa. I thought I was the only one who had this problem with the card I bought at the Japanese launch. Didn't know it was a big issue. Those things were fucking expensive at launch, too.
 
I have the second year PS2 (the GT3 pack) and it still works almost perfectly.
When it's very humid it happens it takes me 2 times to boot Taiko or Gradius but that's all.

And this PS2 as been played ALOT. ;)




I remember the first PS2 having problem with disk error, overheating, and memory card corrupting but it wasn't as mediatised as it is for the 360 right now. It gives me the feeling it's even worse with the 360 right now -- or maybe the media are harder towards Microsoft.

Anyway Pedigree --- all console will have defect at launch and so will your PS3.
The best scenario for me is to resist for a year, get the second batch of console + a price drop or something. It ends up in paying less for console that is more stable and the choice of games is wider.
 
My dad and I both picked up our PS2s on launch... he used his every day (literally) for 2-5 hours, and it crapped out around August of 2003. I gave him my launch unit (and he got me an online bundle PS2 in Sept, go me), and it's just now giving him DREs. So 3 years and 5+ years, respectively.
 
I got my PS2 on the second shipment and it actually just died on me today. A few days ago it wouldn't play CDs but now it won't play anything I put in it. It lasted incredibly long though, I actually shipped it cross-country four times in its lifetime. I can't really complain, I got my money's worth.

Also Bebpo, this is what a DRE looks like, second or third result on GIS: http://www.geocities.com/djyayo/DRE.jpg
 
There was a widespread problem with drives reading CD-format games. There would be an outcry every time a company released a CD game (3DO-High Heat), because so many people could not play them.

At work, the drives have gone out on 2 of 3 retail boxes and 1 of 2 test kits.
 
kenta said:
Also Bebpo, this is what a DRE looks like, second or third result on GIS: http://www.geocities.com/djyayo/DRE.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks. After all these years of hearing about DREs I expected something a little more 'monumental' like some huge flashing red screen saying the disc is about to explode :P Are DREs on the Xbox systems handled the same way with just a little tiny notice?
 
Open Source said:
There was a widespread problem with drives reading CD-format games. There would be an outcry every time a company released a CD game (3DO-High Heat), because so many people could not play them.

At work, the drives have gone out on 2 of 3 retail boxes and 1 of 2 test kits.
Click to expand...

There was also a 2nd wave of this issue with DVD9s hence everyone switching to dual DVD5 releases instead of DVD9s.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

How revolutionary was PS2 BC?
13
306
Calverz replied
MechaCon: PS2 Unbreakable Gatekeeper ...Until it wasn't
Analysis Trailer Hardware 
1
201
Miyazaki’s Slave replied
  • Poll
Let's give PS6HH a new name cuz "PS6 Handheld" is too problematic
2 3 4 5
248
1K
photogaz replied
Hardware Unboxed - Forza Horizon 6 GPU benchmarks
Hardware 
1
66
realcool replied
  • Poll
How big of a sales boost do you expect GTAVI to provide on the hardware side?
43
193
ValiantInstance replied
Top Bottom