PSX2 Memory Card Recall Ordered

tlhIngan writes "Apparently, the PlayStation2 has shipped with several glaring bugs, that is prompting a recall of the 8 MB memory cards. News of the recall is here. It appears that there are problems with the DVD playback such as skipping video/sound, inability to recognize Japanese region DVDs, and dual layer/dual sided CDs take a while to recognize, if they recognize at all. For memory cards, playing Ridge Racer V will corrupt the 8 MB memory card, destroying the DVD driver (which will have to be reloaded from the utilities CD). Additional problems include overheating and freezing." Okay, it turns out that the cards aren't being recalled, but there's still come severe weird mojo going on here somewhere.

Comments

Re:This is REALLY bad.

[Lifewolf]

My wife is an avid console gamer, so we have several game systems and probably several hundred games. While I'm not familiar with recalls of any of the systems*, she's certainly run into stability problems.

• N64: The N64 works well for the most part. I can only think of two problems:
  1. Her Killer Instinct Gold cart won't load if a rumble pack is installed in the controller.
  2. The cheap, Electronic Boutique-brand expansion RAM pack we bought randomly freezes games when used.
• PlayStation: Early U.S. models of the PlayStation are known to overheat. While her's is a later, "fixed" model, it still suffers from overheating. It will only work when standing vertically on its side. We were quite amused when we saw that position is now normal for the PlayStation 2.
• Saturn: Suffers from overheats after several hours use. Works well when two objects--such as books--are placed so the edges of the Saturn rest just on them providing increased air space below the game system.
• Genesis, SegaCD, 32x: The Genesis by itself rarely suffers problems, but the SegaCD unit overheats very quickly. The same book trick used with the Saturn works on the SegaCD. Or, you can do what I did and purchase some large, adhesive rubber feet to attach to it. I'm sure this would work with the Saturn as well, but she doesn't use that system enough for me to bother.
• Super NES: No problems of which I am aware.
• NES, R.O.B: We actually have two Nintendo Entertainment Systems, one of which came in the deluxe pack with Duck Hunt, Gyromite, a light gun, and R.O.B. The other NES is newer, from the packaged-with-Super Mario Brothers era. It sometimes takes a few tries to get games to start up in the newer NES. The older NES, R.O.B., and the light gun still work beautifully.
• Atari 2600: No problems at all. It's getting harder to find the RF converter at Radio Shacks though.
• GameBoy Color: No problems of which I am aware.
• GameBoy: I've read lots of complaints online about failing displays, but I've never actually seen a GameBoy with that problem. For a time, her GameBoy would only work when held absolutely horizontal, but I disassembled it and fixed that.

From our experience, game systems seem to do okay unless compact discs are involved. Somehow basing a system around a CD drive leads to overheating problems. On the other hand, it allows for some visually stunning games.

* From what I understand the early U.S. Dreamcasts had some problems, but I don't know too much about that. My wife mainly plays RPGs, and there aren't enough for the Dreamcast yet for her to buy it.

Know your role and shut your mouth:

[Lord Omlette]

1. Dreamcast had a buttload of problems when it launched, both hardware & software. The US launch saw resolutions to problems on both sides. We got the goods good because we were patient.
2. Anyone who owned a Playstation before model #(I forget, but I'm sure someone will help me out here) will remember all the problems the PSX had with overheating, scratching cds, and the laser breaking, etc. And look at it now: the very model of what a gaming console should be?

Erf, I'll shut up now
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Peace,
Lord Omlette
AOL IM: jeanlucpikachu

Not suprising.

[Yaruar]

When the PSX first shipped in Japan and the States it was buggy until the delayed european release. THe CD didn't play half the time on the first release models and people discovered eventually they had to turn the box upside down or prop it at an angle to get it to work.

This was quickly glossed over by the Sony marketing spinners.

I was execting bugs with the PSX II for the same reason, they have rushed it out and will release an updated version for the European market as we are more likely to complain about the quality.

Also at the price, even with them losing approx. 150 dollars per machine they will have to have had very tight development and production costs which is an indication of probably quality issues, ie. you pretty much get what you pay for. Especially with the unit coming in below cost compared to a lot of DVD players.......

Freezing and Overheating?

[luckykaa]

Couldn't the tendency to overheat be used to thaw out the frozen games?

Anybody think it's funny

[Wah]

that the technology in DVDs used to keep people from watching them..is keeping people from watching them.

First, the DVDs can't be played because of a technically unnecessary region coding scheme (read the article if you haven't). Second, the decrypt key is getting memory fscked and needs to be reloaded from scratch. Both these problems are the PS2 not having the technical muscle to jump through the content control hoops the DVD CCA has created. This situation will only get worse as more and more "features" and complexity are added to control your access to media. Get used to it, now you can take it for granted that the version1 of *anything* will suck (if only because of the legal limitations created by content control lobbyists)


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