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

Sony fixes square button issues

bheemer

Member
Sony announced Tuesday that it has isolated a manufacturing problem in the molding and coating of the PSPs outer shell, where excess untrimmed resin may be responsible for the square button's catch and hold. The problem, which Sony claims affected only 0.6% of the initial 510,000 units shipped in 2004, has been resolved and none of the newer units made from the start of the new year on should be affected. In addition, Sony has instituted a return and replacement procedure for anyone with a defective unit.


http://www.playstation.jp/info/qa.php?pid=&cid=480&sid=1
 
<scratches another reason to hate on the PSP off the list>

Thank god that short battery time is still there though....
 
So the question is, when were the US launch units manufactured?

Probably last year, which means they will still have the flaw, according to this article.
 
You still have to push the square button on the right side for better response, the buttons just won't stick now. Half manufacturing flaw, half bizzare design decision.
 
DarienA said:
<scratches another reason to hate on the PSP off the list>

Thank god that short battery time is still there though....

Dont worry, they will surely find another reason to hate the PSP.
 
You think the US PSP units were manufactured last year? Why, there has been shortage for so long I hardly think Sony would have vasted resources building up stock so far in advance.
 
Ken Kutaragi said:
“I didn't want the PSP's LCD screen to become any smaller than this, nor did I want its machine body to become any larger. The button's location is on purpose. It is according to our specifications. This is something that we've created, and this is our specification. There was a clear purpose to it, and it wasn't a mistake.”
Oh...
 
Sony announced Tuesday that it has isolated a manufacturing problem in the molding and co...


"The button's location is [architectured] on purpose," Kutaragi added. "It's according to specifications. This is something that we've created, and this is our specification. There was a clear purpose to it, and it wasn't a mistake."

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01/24/news_6116985.html


again... SONY successfuly screws up the early adopters of their console.... typical SONY


I guess my choice to wait a year after the U.S. launch ATLEAST was right... thank god
 
SONY SUCKS

I'M GOING TO WATCH "LOOK AROUND YOU" EPISODE 4 ON MY CELL PHONE INSTEAD OF MY PSP TOMORROW TO GET EVEN WITH THOSE RIGHT BASTARDS
 
Is there a serious amount of stupid in the air today, or are people just pretending they can't tell the difference between a deliberate, not-a-mistake design decision (the positioning of the square button and the way it hits the contacts) and a manufacturing problem (the failure to neatly trim the excess resin, leading to sticking buttons)?
 
Yeah, I'd imagine those future units will have the square buttons that are just like regular working square buttons on units made during the PSP launch in Japan.
 
iapetus said:
Is there a serious amount of stupid in the air today, or are people just pretending they can't tell the difference between a deliberate, not-a-mistake design decision (the positioning of the square button and the way it hits the contacts) and a manufacturing problem (the failure to neatly trim the excess resin, leading to sticking buttons)?
Woah, woah, woah...slow down there, sir. Are you saying PSP has design problems? I knew it! Thos cocksuckers screwed us again!
 
I think Sony should have just tilted the square button to one side a little and made it a diamond. It would be fresh, innovative and unique.
 
The Faceless Master said:
the amount of defense in this thread is sickening...
The only "defense" being mounted in this thread is merely a clarification as a service to those who still can't seem to distinguish between a design decision and a manufacturing problem which are not related to each other in any way. Sony is fixing the manufacturing problem, so what exactly is it that you would like to attack them for?
 
As you can see in this picture the square button has an extra piece of plastic to extend over the rubber contact...

kanbotsugenin0083rt.jpg

looks by design to me

This lik-sang pic shows that the rubber contact nubs and circuit board contacts line up perfectly. (Note that its not a symetrical diamond while the buttons are.)
psp-release48.jpg


After looking at these to pick for a while you will see the reason for the design
 
This is hardly a scientific study, but so far I have personally played five (5) different PSPs, and the square button was shot to shit on two (2) of them. I'm no math major but that sounds like more than zero point six percent.
 
Kobun Heat said:
This is hardly a scientific study, but so far I have personally played five (5) different PSPs, and the square button was shot to shit on two (2) of them. I'm no math major but that sounds like more than zero point six percent.

I have heard of people playing on two PSP's and neither of them had issues: PSP's 100% defect free... see I jsut prooved it.

Come on Kobun... yes, the issue is not "who the fuck cares"... those untis are pissing off their owners and I hope that SCE replaces those units, but 5 is not that big of a sample.
 
Sho Nuff said:
I'M GOING TO WATCH "LOOK AROUND YOU" EPISODE 4 ON MY CELL PHONE INSTEAD OF MY PSP TOMORROW TO GET EVEN WITH THOSE RIGHT BASTARDS

Thanks, Sony.....................................





Thony.
 
Panajev2001a said:
I have heard of people playing on two PSP's and neither of them had issues: PSP's 100% defect free... see I jsut prooved it...5 is not that big of a sample.
Uh, and what part of "this is hardly a scientific study" did not process through your Emotion Engine?
 
you better believe that if the square button is the least bit sticky or there's even one dead pixel, i'm going to be returning my PSP to EB with the swiftness.
 
The End said:
you better believe that if the square button is the least bit sticky or there's even one dead pixel, i'm going to be returning my PSP to EB with the swiftness.
And I'm sure they'll just hand you over another one from their vast supply.
 
Kobun Heat said:
And I'm sure they'll just hand you over another one from their vast supply.


I'm taking the day off of work. I'll do the exchanging before anyone else even shows up to pick up their PSP.
 
It shouldn't be sticking in the first place..
whether we're talking about a design or manufacturing problem it doesn't matter.

Good news in this thread though is that they've eradicated the problem and will replace PSPs for people who bitch. And who knows, maybe it'll be common for 1 person = 2 sales, as in DRE tales of yore. Any idots who buy another because of this though rather than just demanding another model deserve the lack of cash it will cause.
 
The End said:
I'm taking the day off of work. I'll do the exchanging before anyone else even shows up to pick up their PSP.

And if they are sent no extras past the pre-order number?

I think you can live with one or two dead pixels, guy. It's not a big deal. My psp has several and you don't even notice unless you concentrate on seeing them.

Also, the square button makes a different noise when you press it. That's normal. I swear, if you try to return your PSP because of that, I'll personally hunt you down and strangle you with a rope of sausage.
 
Top Bottom