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Sony to PSP Owners: Just Adapt

Posted by Zonk on from the company-is-always-right dept.

Cymoro writes "In an article Gamespot posted recently Ken Kutaragi, Sony Computer Entertainment president, was quoted in a japanese business magazine about the PSP square button defect as saying "There may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to." Apparently, flaws are a feature."

142 comments

  1. Good quote... by keiferb · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "I believe we made the most beautiful thing in the world. Nobody would criticize a renowned architect's blueprint that the position of a gate is wrong. It's the same as that."

    Yeah... but what if the gate didn't work? Besides, isn't saying something is 'wrong' a criticism?

    1. Re:Good quote... by dmauro · · Score: 5, Funny

      When in L'Acadamie, I pointed out a small flaw in Michelangelo's David. The unimpressed guy next to me said "meh, what did you a expect, a mass produced consumer device made by Sony?"

    2. Re:Good quote... by ZephyrXero · · Score: 5, Informative

      This sounds like classic Sony to me. Do note, I say this as a fact and not an opinion... Look at the original PS1 design with the ventilation on the BOTTOM of the console...or the way 1 in 10 or the first edition of the PS2 accidentally bumpped the laser's lens and DVD/CD against each other, ruining both game and system..... They'll change it, it'll just take a few months. To call the PSP's design "perfect" is a fairly wrong use of that word too.

      --
      "A truly wise man realizes he knows nothing."
    3. Re:Good quote... by tibike77 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, if the building would get mass-produced, and in 0.6% cases (see article) the gate would stick open or close... and in some other cases would squeak and be a bit harder to open/close... then I'd say that overall, we have a small problem.

      Now, if you chose to not use that gate anymore (maybe use it more carefully, less often, etc) OR if you chose to bash the head of the architect with a 2x4 instead - now those are completely different choices.

      Analogies apart... for god's sake, it's a BUTTON. If you KNOW the switch is not directly in the middle, just damn push the outer part of it, where you know the button's pressure sensor (switch) is ! Or, if you're so unhappy, take it apart, move the "hole" in which the button is a few milimeters and be happy about it (and have a funny-looking handheld, but, hey, that's the trade).

      --
      By reading this signature you agree to not disagree with the post you just read.
    4. Re:Good quote... by Black+Pete · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I passed this quote around the office, and one guy mentioned that it reminded him of the Falling Waters building, which is apparently the most gorgeous building in the world but has so many issues that pretty much nobody wants it.

    5. Re:Good quote... by Black+Pete · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Analogies apart... for god's sake, it's a BUTTON.

      Exactly. How else do you propose to play the game?

      If you KNOW the switch is not directly in the middle, just damn push the outer part of it, where you know the button's pressure sensor (switch) is !

      Which is quite easy to keep in mind while playing those fast 'n' furious button-mashing action games, no doubt.

      Or, if you're so unhappy, take it apart, move the "hole" in which the button is a few milimeters and be happy about it (and have a funny-looking handheld, but, hey, that's the trade).

      OK... that's taking the fanboy thing a bit too far... Sony should've been the one who did that (after all, the top guy himself agrees it is a design flaw), so it certainly shouldn't have to be up to me to fix their flaw.

      What's next? "The UMD drive isn't an issue, just duct tape it shut between game sessions, and don't whine about the sticky residue"? Or: "Just get a freaking hamster if you really care about batteries that much!"

    6. Re:Good quote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      0.6% of the products were not broken, .6% of the people who bought one were annoyed enough (or had the button stick PERMANENTLY) to complain to Sony asking for a new one.

      You can see for yourself how the buttons line up here:

      http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/psp/square.jpg

      This hardly new information, it's just that the major media is finally starting to pick up on it. Not owning up to a mistake that could be fixed by extending the unit an eighth of an inch or removing around two vertical columns of pixels is not only stupid, it's asanine.

    7. Re:Good quote... by jthayden · · Score: 1

      You keep using that word, I do not think it means, what you think it means.

    8. Re:Good quote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      "it certainly shouldn't have to be up to me to fix their flaw."

      I suppose there may be money to be had doing so. There were folks who charge a large sum "porting" the Sharp Zaurus for American use. There's also a massive influx of Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Anti-MS products out there in order to fix THEIR flaw. (oooh, had to get an MS-Bash in there somewhere)

      Think about it -- someone with a clear flaw stands atop their ivory tower proclaiming perfection. You can accept their conclusion, refuse to purchase the product, or purchase it and fix it yourself.

    9. Re:Good quote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am convinced that you do not realize how apologistic you sound right now. Because if you had realized that, you would have lost whatever credibility you may have had here.

      No, I choose to believe that you aren't someone who values corporate loyalty above design correctness. You're just suffering from temporary insanity. And that's the highest compliment I can give you for your analysis of the situation.

      I have commented here before about my friend who received a PSP from her fiance. She presses on the right side of the square button just to make sure it registers properly. It's one thing to second-guess or overthink about how to use a device, but it's another thing altogether to have to second-guess the function of pressing a damn button. Sony made a mistake and they refuse to acknowledge it. Story of their lives, nothing new. Now realize it, get over it, and stop trying to defuse a problem you have no authority over, tibike77. Sony fucked up.

    10. Re:Good quote... by tibike77 · · Score: 1

      You are correct, Sony did fuck up here, I wasn't contesting that.

      However, I personally don't have issues with such things. I grew up in "communist Romania", and I got used to working with what I have (even if things changed lately) : right now, my keyboard is 9 years old (space bar is now the caps lock, instead of caps lock I have a hole, wasn't using that anyway ; also, the "big" Enter key sticks if not pushed in the lower right corner), my mouse is 4+ years old (have to clean it 2 times a day to keep it moving, have to push exactly where the pressure switches are under the buttons, the mouse wheel is sometimes spinning without spinning the inside mechanism, etc). I have several other KBs and mice in the house, I just never use them - I got to enjoy the fact that I am the only one that ever uses that KB and mouse.

      So, ok, Sony did a mistake. A design mistake nevertheless - the fact that they chose not to have the damn handheld a few milimeters wider.
      I'm quite sure that after the NEXT few thousand units, a new "PSP 1.1" will be announced, that will be wider and have an "ok-working" button, no matter what the speaker said about gamers having to conform.
      However, I personally would like to have the first, un-modified version - and be the only one comfortable enough to play it.

      Yes, this is only MY oppinion here. I'll bet 99% will disagree. Just wanted to make it clear why.

      --
      By reading this signature you agree to not disagree with the post you just read.
    11. Re:Good quote... by tibike77 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And another (small but vital) piece of information: you completely neglected the fact that the speaker is Japanese.
      I'm not aware of your personal experience with Japanese manufacturers, but I can tell you this (which is afaik "public knowledge"): a Japanese will always do whatever it takes to "save face".

      This means that yes, on some small degree they will admit that something is wrong, but will also try to explain to you that this is the best possible solution that he could come up with, and announce nothing will be done to change it. Soon after, a solution will appear, and be presented with as small "attention attracting" as possible. That's just the way it works - you will get a better product soon, just don't rub it in too much, it's offensive.

      Again, personally, I believe this to be (overall) a superior system to the "western" one, where sometimes blame is admitted but nothing gets done.

      --
      By reading this signature you agree to not disagree with the post you just read.
    12. Re:Good quote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That stood out to me too. His responses sounded very distinctly Japanese. Now I've got nothing against the culture, I find many aspects of it quite admirable, I'm just saying it's interesting and was quite apparent.

    13. Re:Good quote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You keep using commas, I do not think they mean, what you think they mean.

    14. Re:Good quote... by Zangief · · Score: 1

      Well, if the building would get mass-produced, and in 0.6% cases (see article) the gate would stick open or close... and in some other cases would squeak and be a bit harder to open/close... then I'd say that overall, we have a small problem.

      While buildings aren't mass produced in the classic sense (although their construction is a good known process, which is a science in itself), doors ARE.

      And doors do fail sometimes, one in a hundred, thousands, etc.

      Analogies apart... for god's sake, it's a BUTTON. If you KNOW the switch is not directly in the middle, just damn push the outer part of it, where you know the button's pressure sensor (switch) is ! Or, if you're so unhappy, take it apart, move the "hole" in which the button is a few milimeters and be happy about it (and have a funny-looking handheld, but, hey, that's the trade).

      Unlike a home console, you cannot change the controller in a handheld. So it should be perfect.

    15. Re:Good quote... by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      I believe that the true test of someone is not the mistakes that he or she makes, but the way he or she reacts to them once they are made.

      Everyone is going to make mistakes, and this would be no big deal if Sony said, "We are sorry. We'll fix the ones that break because of this."

      Instead they said that it was "perfect" and the "most beautiful thing ever." The PSP does not beat Yosemite National Park on either count. They made it clear that they should not be questioned, and that we would just have to deal with it. This is much like what they told developers with the battery life.

    16. Re:Good quote... by Meagermanx · · Score: 1

      I like how he admits it has a flaw, and then goes on to say he has the perfect product. Am I the only one who sees a contradiction here? Yeah, I want to buy a handheld this guy designed.

    17. Re:Good quote... by SySOvErRiDe · · Score: 1

      "I believe we made the most beautiful thing in the world. Nobody would criticize a renowned architect's blueprint that the position of a gate is wrong. It's the same as that."

      That is of course, unless said architect had the gate's locks installed on the outside.

    18. Re:Good quote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guess the fact that the gate is slightly offset into the wall such that you can easily kill yourself going through it.

      I wasn't going to buy a PSP and now I have less reason to do so.

    19. Re:Good quote... by Synbiosis · · Score: 1

      The problem is that the flaws are a hardware issue.

      If all of a company's laptops had 'e' keys that only worked 60% of the time, and shot CD's out of their drives if the wrong key combination was hit, they'd be in deep shit. If Logitech shipped mice with only partially functional buttons, they'd get in deep shit. I don't see how the PSP should be any different.

    20. Re:Good quote... by mink · · Score: 1

      The American response would be to pay a paltry fine and admit no wrong doing.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
    21. Re:Good quote... by goatan · · Score: 1
      Think about it -- someone with a clear flaw stands atop their ivory tower proclaiming perfection. You can accept their conclusion, refuse to purchase the product, or purchase it and fix it yourself.

      Or take them to court for selling a product that doesn't work as advertised or satisfactorily. If I had brought a PSP and it had this problem I would take it back and any reputable store would take it back without a problem especially if it is a known problem.

      --
      Saying Apple is better than MS is like saying Botulism is better than rabies.

  2. Quote... by mooniejohnson · · Score: 5, Insightful
    From the article: "I believe we made the most beautiful thing in the world. Nobody would criticize a renowned architect's blueprint that the position of a gate is wrong. It's the same as that."

    If the gate refused to open sometimes, killed a couple people, or was in an area where someone couldn't enter the gate, they sure would. And they'd have the gate fixed. Why shouldn't they fix a gaming handheld, for crying out loud?

    --

    Elmo knows where you live!

  3. RIP PSP by Mmm+coffee · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Reasons the PSP died:

    1) Shorter battery life to the DS
    2) Load times on a portable don't work
    3) Crappy design...
    4) ...And a company behind it that tells the users to put up with the crappy design.

    1. Re:RIP PSP by akwash79 · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      please dont post anything about DS here. PSP has flaws and DS is a kids toy. Neither are spectacular.

    2. Re:RIP PSP by ZephyrXero · · Score: 1

      Actually... if you read any of the Nintendo press releases, the DS is aimed at an older audience...

      --
      "A truly wise man realizes he knows nothing."
    3. Re:RIP PSP by Ayaress · · Score: 1

      It's also got H rated games for it in Japan. Doubt any of them are comming to the US, though, the genre doesn't even register over here. A friend of mine who rarely talks about anything except the DS said that one of the dating sims for it will be released in the US this spring, but it's been censored down to a T rating, whereas the Japanese version was hardcore, behind-the-beaded-curtain-in-the-brown-wrapper-on- the-top-shelf material.

    4. Re:RIP PSP by akwash79 · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      they have piss poor aim

    5. Re:RIP PSP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Only on Slashdot is Nintendo fanboyism rampant enough for crap like this to be considered anything but a troll, much less insightful.

    6. Re:RIP PSP by akwash79 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I get modded flamebait for trying to keep topic on PSP and this get insightful???? WTF

    7. Re:RIP PSP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's also got H rated games for it in Japan.

      How very strange. Like Sony, Nintendo has never allowed any pornographic content at all to appear on any of their systems, so I wonder why they're making an exception for the DS? And I wonder why nobody on the entire internet, apart from the anonymous friend of an American posting on Slashdot, has heard of this remarkable change of heart?

    8. Re:RIP PSP by Riddlefox · · Score: 1

      Except in Japan (at least when I was there in 2003), all of the really adult stuff is located in the same place as the rest of the video games. It's kind of disconcerting to walk from Flight Sims to First Person Shooters to Racing Games to Tentacle pr0n.

    9. Re:RIP PSP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My guesses:

      1) As you said, it's someone making stuff up.

      2) There are those games out there but, they are not approved, or possibly even known about, by Nintendo. Someone got ahold of a dev-kit, or figured out how to make one, and has started making illegal cartridges.

      The latter, of course, would be dependent on someone having figured out the format in which the DS games are stored. Not being a person who's terribly interested in handhelds anymore (the last handheld I bought was the original Game Boy well over a decade ago, and it still serves me well for when I feel like killing time on a long trip), I have no idea whether or not anyone has.

      (Side note: there were fairly explicit games available for the SNES, but these were never approved by Nintendo. It's quite likely that the publishers of them tried to make sure that Nintendo never actually got wind of them, as doing so would have resulted in the same fate as those unofficial n-in-1 cartridges from the days of the NES.)

    10. Re:RIP PSP by Ayaress · · Score: 1

      They allowed it on th FDS, and it did appear on two SNES games that I know of (One was Japan-only release, the other was European-only), though I don't know if it was approved or not. There's one H game on the GBA as far as I know, and it was approved, and it was also a graphical update of an H game from the GBC.

      Lastly, Sony has allowed pornographic content on their system. The PS1 and PS2 have both had several H releases, with pornographic content in non-pornographic games aside from that.

    11. Re:RIP PSP by Wyrmw00d · · Score: 1

      Don't remember Pussy City Pimps on the NES do you? Just google it. There were plenty of Mature titles on Nintendo systems. So you sir, are a fucking jackass.

  4. "Flaws are a feature" by kingsmedley · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I rarely find myself defending Sony in any matter. But this time, at least Mr. Kutaragi is willing to admit the PSP has a problem, and can offer a logical explanation for the engineering compromises that led to this design.

    Now I'm looking forward to his explanation about the UMD launching mechanism "feature".

    --
    Must... think up... something... clever!
    1. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by Ayaress · · Score: 2, Insightful

      He's not admitting the system has a problem the way I see it. He's basically saying the system is fine, but there's a problem with the users.

    2. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by Black+Pete · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'll sacrifice my mod points because I just had to respond to this...

      It's one thing to admit that there's a problem. It's another thing to refuse to fix the problem.

    3. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      " But this time, at least Mr. Kutaragi is willing to admit the PSP has a problem, and can offer a logical explanation for the engineering compromises that led to this design...." ... then call it the most beautiful thing in the world and imply that eccentricity in a design is okay.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    4. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by Raverrn · · Score: 2, Informative

      Quote from the article:
      "There was a clear purpose to it, and it wasn't a mistake."

      That's not how most people admit to a mistake, at least not where I live. Sounds more like he's being a pompus ass.

    5. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by coaxial · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But this time, at least Mr. Kutaragi is willing to admit the PSP has a problem, and can offer a logical explanation for the engineering compromises that led to this design.

      He is offering an explanation, but it is not admission of a problem at all, because in his mind, there is no problem. The article directly quotes him as saying, "The button's location is on purpose. 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."

      Even his explanation is weak, since it's not so much of a limitation of the technology, but one of stubborness on his part. ("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.") He had to choose between something slightly larger (we're probably talking about probably less than centimeter here) that works, or something the exact size he wanted that doesn't. He chose the later.

      I will not buy a PSP because I'm not going to shell out that much money for a knowingly defective product.

    6. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did no one RTFA?

      He refuses to acknowledge the PSP's problems, much less offer to fix them or even investigate.

      But no no no, PSP users are clearly doing something wrong. Do a search for the word "adapt," guys! Who's supposed to do the "adapting" again? Is it Sony? Because that's not what I read.

    7. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by aweraw · · Score: 1

      I will not buy a PSP because I'm not going to shell out that much money for a knowingly defective product.

      <parrot>
      My thoughs exactly
      </parrot>

      --
      5468652047616D65
    8. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by Black+Pete · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Did no one RTFA?

      How about this part? Quoth the article:

      Kutaragi acknowledged that the button is less responsive than the others, in part because it's so close to the PSP's 480x272 screen.

      Now, that's about as close as he's allowed to admitting that there's a problem with the PSP. After all, he can't come out and directly say, "The PSP has a design flaw", especially since it hasn't been released anywhere else other than Japan yet.

      He's not stupid. He knows there's an issue with that button, but the best he can do at the moment is put such a spin on it so that it's not "really" a problem. He waves it off by saying we shouldn't focus on any flaws because it's so "beautiful". It's just something we'll have to "adapt" to. Spin, spin, spin.

    9. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      He's saying that the users will have to get used to it because there's no way to fix it. There's no assigning of blame there.

      Rob

    10. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by macshit · · Score: 1

      I would describe it more as a typical Kutaragi ego-spew: "I am a super-genius, how dare you question the shoddy products resulting from my complete disregard for anything except hype! Quality? I spit on quality!"

      BTW, I've heard from people at Sony that everybody there hates Kutaragi too, but they just can't resist the money he makes them...

      --
      We live, as we dream -- alone....
    11. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      It seems they could have tweaked the design a little by rotating the buttons by about 20 degrees (and called the bizarre angle "ergonomics"). We're looking at about a half button width. much less than a centimetre.

      But this is corporate butt covering. You can not claim there's a design flaw. That would be a public admission, and they might have to refund anyone who wanted a refund. So they have to claim that it was inteded to work that way, no matter how implausible the claim.

    12. Re:"Flaws are a feature" by bynary · · Score: 1

      English translation of Japanese press release:
      "F*ck you. F*ck you all. Any other questions?"

      --
      http://www.bynarystudio.com
  5. Lift Up Ye Mighty Gates by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny
    "If the gate refused to open sometimes, killed a couple people"

    I only approach these kind of gates with a tranq gun in hand. You never know when they might chomp you.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
    1. Re:Lift Up Ye Mighty Gates by flonker · · Score: 2, Funny

      Obligatory Link for the few who haven't heard of Eric and the Dread Gazebo.

    2. Re:Lift Up Ye Mighty Gates by mooniejohnson · · Score: 1

      Oh, you're just paranoid. The Adams family is open and welcoming, and their house is far from dangerous!

      --

      Elmo knows where you live!

  6. Weaslease to English translation: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Weaslease to English translation:

    "We screwed up the design, but we can't figure out how to fix it, so live with it, you ungrateful fuckers."

    1. Re:Weaslease to English translation: by black+mariah · · Score: -1

      Your statement is incredibly fucking stupid, seeing as they ARE fixing the units with the problem. Dipshit.

      --
      'Standards' in computing only impress those who are impressed by things like 'standards'.
  7. Who appointed you Netcraft? by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny
    Mmmm coffee confirms...

    I know BSD rhymes with PSP, but who died (heh) and appointed you Netcraft?

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  8. adapt this Sony by fearanddread · · Score: 5, Insightful

    People not buying Sony's flawed product is something Sony will just have to adapt to.

  9. Sony by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah I can see Sony's point. I mean, why would I want a console that had working buttons? Sony is right here. They're always right. I mean come on, the mp3 format didn't catch on at all. They were right about that too.

  10. Nintendo and dead pixels... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    If you even have ONE dead pixel on either of the 2 screens, Nintendo will replace your whole system, free of charge.

    1. Re:Nintendo and dead pixels... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I didn't write the parent, but it clearly isn't flamebait. It is neither inciteful nor incorrect. In fact, it is completely true and serves as good counterpoint relative to the topic at hand.

      It may be considered off-topic by strict definitions, but it is more on-topic than other things that have been said here, and is certainly not flamebait.

      Now MY post (this one you're reading right now) is a meta-post, and, taboo that it is to talk about Slashdot contents and practices on Slashdot, may be considered off-topic. So when some sane moderators spend a mod point bringing the parent back up from -1, someone please take THIS post down to -1. Thanks.

    2. Re:Nintendo and dead pixels... by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      I didn't write the parent, but it clearly isn't flamebait. It is neither inciteful nor incorrect. In fact, it is completely true and serves as good counterpoint relative to the topic at hand.

      Except, of course, for the fact that the DS wasn't designed to have dead pixels, thus making mentioning it completely irrelevant.

      Rob

    3. Re:Nintendo and dead pixels... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      what about the faulty touch screen a while back that was designed to have the lower refresh rate?

    4. Re:Nintendo and dead pixels... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good point, I guess. If Sony wants to engineer products with inherent design flaws on purpose, you can't expect them to cite these decisions as mistakes in public and expect them to change them.

    5. Re:Nintendo and dead pixels... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What faulty screen are you talking about? Source?

  11. Off to the right? by Dr.+Mortimer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If the button mechanism had to be placed further to the right than the button itself, why didn't they just make the PSP more wide by that small amount of distance? It probably wouldn't have increased the width by a noticable amount.

    If it was produced to specifications, then I have some questions for whomever forced those specifications all the way past the play-testing phase.

    1. Re:Off to the right? by Cthefuture · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

      That's why. It sounds like one of those things that someone just gets "stuck" on. Like a broken record. "I will not compromise on that." To the exclusion of everything else, even usability. Pffft, that's how crappy products get made. We're probably talking about making the PSP 2mm wider or something.

      Sometimes we get so far down inside a project that we can't see what is going on. It's good to sometimes to step back and evaluate your position to make sure you don't have blinders on.

      --
      The ratio of people to cake is too big
    2. Re:Off to the right? by Dr.+Mortimer · · Score: 1

      And what's interesting about this case is that the people in leadership positions - those whose jobs require them to have a clear (crystal) view of the big picture - did not fix this when they had the chance.

    3. Re:Off to the right? by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      The development hardware was released in early September. The first fully playable prototypes were introduced to the public at TGS in late september. A little more than 2 months later the PSP was launched.

      I'd be willing to bet that the final launch version was not play-tested any farther than, "It works," "Good." They did not have a whole lot of time to go from fully-functional prototype to launch it seems.

      I think it was over-confidence and pressure to launch alongside the DS.

    4. Re:Off to the right? by computertheque · · Score: 1

      This is one of the first things that they teach us as a graphic designer. You design for the consumer, not the client's obscene wishes. That's all fine and dandy that he doesn't want it any bigger, but your target demographic is going to have a shit.

      If the engineers cannot stand up to push a design change due to the iron fist ruling at Sony, they are failing at their job. Being ignorant to outside input is just as troublesome.

    5. Re:Off to the right? by FuzzyDustBall · · Score: 1

      Because the PSP isnt designed as the ultimate game device. It is designed as the ultimate in tecno fassion. So a small loss in function for greater over all visable apeal is worth it. This article explains how Japans tech is basicly marketed to the teenage school girls.

    6. Re:Off to the right? by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      I think it was over-confidence and pressure to launch alongside the DS.

      Funny, I remember thinking when the DS was announced later then the PSP how it was being rushed. Even leading up to the DS's release people were talking about how it was being rushed to compete with Sony, and yet now that we see thing the DS had more production and less problems (no flying cartridges at least).

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    7. Re:Off to the right? by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      You still find people saying the DS was rushed. I'm sure that Nintendo hit the gas a little when they heard about the PSP, but they were much better prepared at E3 than Sony was.

      Sony started developing the PSP at the time of the E3 2003 announcement. They announced the specs before the thing was off the drawing board. When you do crap like that, it is hard to take back what you said without a negative impact.

      I don't know if the DS development started before that or not, but their PR department didn't make grand promises before they could get the thing working. Sony's engineers were probably held hostage by the announced specs and release date.

  12. Just adapt by Datamonstar · · Score: 1

    Some things you do have to just adapt to. And while it does sound unreasonable for the company not to "fix" it it's just as unreasonable to complain about it now that you've got it. You can either take your PSP back to the store in an attempt at a refund, or decide if you want to purchase one or not if you haven't already got one. So yeah.... just adapt.

    --
    The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
  13. They're planning on an update. by hal2814 · · Score: 2, Funny

    They're going to get rid of that whole side-talking thing. Oh nevermind, we're talking about a different system.

    1. Re:They're planning on an update. by Ayaress · · Score: 1

      Back when the battery life issue was bouncing around, somebody posted a link to an article (the same one where they basically said battery life was the developers' problem and not theirs) that said they were planning a second iteration of the PSP that would address battery and screen issues. Probably won't be a fully new system like the Ngage QD, just an internal change like they did with the set-top playstations.

  14. .6% are flawed by supersuckers · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Nikkei Business reported that, to date, .6 percent of the 800,000 shipped units have been returned to Sony for repair.

    So, less than 5000 of the units have been returned for repair. Does anyone have any numbers of how this compares to other consoles, especially the Nintendo DS? I honestly have no idea. I will, however tip my cap to nintendo for promising to fix any dead pixels
    1. Re:.6% are flawed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      0.6% of the products were not broken, .6% of the people who bought one were annoyed enough (or had the button stick PERMANENTLY) to complain to Sony asking for a new one.

      You can see for yourself how the buttons line up here:

      http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/psp/square.jpg

      Having talked to people who own the console, when pressing right on the pad you can hear grinding on the side, the square button is less responsive than the other buttons and meets resistance about 2/3rds of the way down with an audible click. If you try to push over the pad, eventually the button gets stuck, and apparently can get stuck beneath the screen just by pushing straight down.

      This hardly new information, it's just that the major media is finally starting to pick up on it. Not owning up to a mistake that could be fixed by extending the unit an eighth of an inch or removing around two vertical columns of pixels is not only stupid, it's asanine.

    2. Re:.6% are flawed by _KiTA_ · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This is because Sony is just refusing to TAKE anything but the most extreme cases. For instance, you have to have more than 7 dead pixels in a 1 cm square area for them to accept it as a problem and allow you to return it. With stupid, self-serving policies like that, I can see why only 0.6% of them have been returned.

      Fact of the matter is, if you read any Japanese gamer BBS, the PSP's defects are *extremely* widespread and rather bad. Analog sticks fall off. The drive launches discs like a ninja star if you hold the console incorrectly. That's presuming the drive will even close properly -- some of them are warped and will not snap shut all the way. The screens have bubbles, dead pixels, and dust in them. Buttons, not just the Square button, but all of them, stick on a regular basis. And there appears to be an OS bug with the device -- it looks like it doesn't clean out it's streaming buffers when discs are changed, which leads to music, at the very least, becomming rather messed up if you switch games.

      So yeah. Sony can claim only 5000 machines were defective and needed repair, but these are jerks that are saying that an obvious design flaw is a feature (and since they're geniuses and we're just peons, we should shut up and accept it) and jerks who said that the battery life of the darn thing was "6-8 hours" (more like 2-3)... so I wouldn't trust anything out of their mouth that's not backed up with a lot of supporting data.

    3. Re:.6% are flawed by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 1

      Fact of the matter is, if you read any Japanese gamer BBS, the PSP's defects are *extremely* widespread and rather bad.

      Fact of the matter is, if you read any gamer BBS, you will be exposed to a disproportionate amount of complaining.

      People rarely bother to post about their experiences when they are positive. "Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that my PSP is still working perfectly, just like yesterday."

    4. Re:.6% are flawed by SirLeNerd · · Score: 1

      That is a great link! Mod parent up!

      I can't believe Sony actually approved that design.

  15. Oh, I'll adapt alright... by the_skywise · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'll buy something else. (Oh wait... I already have... It's called the DS)

  16. Just because it was spec'd that way... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Doesn't mean it's still right.

    There are the occasional engineering blunders and oversights. Just because it was written to be so on the design specifications, doesn't mean it's an ideal solution.

  17. Form Follows Function by illuminatedwax · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Nobody would criticize a renowned architect's blueprint
    I beg to differ.

    --Stephen

    --
    Did you ever notice that *nix doesn't even cover Linux?
  18. Mistranslated by Mitaphane · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "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."

    I see. I'm sure the translator made a mistake what Kutaragi really said:
    "Production was already done by the time we knew of the design flaw. We are too lazy to go back and do something about it."

    Just like Lucas has ALWAYS knew that Star Wars was going to be a 9 part series and Wachowskis ALWAYS knew The Matrix was going to be a trilogy.
    Brilliant!

    --
    -Shawn "If the Name Don't Rhyme It Ain't Mine" Conn
    1. Re:Mistranslated by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      Production was already done by the time we knew of the design flaw.

      Not sure how they couldn't have noticed it just by looking at a schematic. It's really obvious. No, I believe that Kusaragi is telling the truth regarding his stubborn insistence on having a control flaw instead of making the PSP a bit bigger.

      Rob

  19. So by Yufice · · Score: 1

    i totally want to go out and buy one now. i mean, my level of intruige sky rocketed when i heard the news that they're selling broken handhelds.

  20. Just another overinflated ego by Treeluvinhippy · · Score: 2, Funny

    You just can't talk to artists

    --
    >
  21. Bring out your dead! by Dr.+Mortimer · · Score: 1

    Off in the distance, I hear a PSP crying out:

    "I'm not dead yet!"

    You can't take the PSP for dead like that (not yet released in the US) - it's against regulations!

    1. Re:Bring out your dead! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can we pronounce it stillborn in March?

    2. Re:Bring out your dead! by antifoidulus · · Score: 1

      It hasn't been released in the US, but the parts for it(if not the final assembly of some of the units) are already made. Changing designs and manufacturing processes is not cheap and it's not exactly speedy either.

      --
      Monstar L
  22. Now why does that sound familiar? by Nice2Cats · · Score: 1, Insightful
    Apparently, flaws are a feature.

    That sounds just like Apple and their single-mouse button...

    (Ducks)

    1. Re:Now why does that sound familiar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While I'll admit that I don't understand why Apple still sticks with a 1-button mouse (everyone I know who owns a Mac has bought a 2-button mouse, and no, I don't own a Mac), I do understand why they originally went with one. It had to do with building a computer with a graphical interface for the masses when there weren't many already out there. The idea behind it was that, to someone who had never used a computer before, much less a mouse, a 1 button mouse was far less intimidating than a mouse with 2 or more.

      It's understandable too. I've seen people who've never used a computer before who have enough trouble mastering clicking, let alone the difference between left- and right-clicking. The problem is that there are now more people have had at least some experience with computers. Sure, there are still those who are intimidated by the thought of turning on a computer, much less figuring out a mouse, but they're becoming rarer. What's more, it could be argued that Apple isn't really marketing to them anymore. Sure, they're marketing cheaper computers than they've done in decades, but they seem to be aiming them towards a younger, hipper crowd. A crowd that has already had experience with computers, just not with Macs.

      In summary: I understand their decision to initially go with a 1-button mouse. I'm not sure there's a reason for them sticking with it other than "we've always done it this way".

      Anyways, getting back to the article at hand: anyone else find this amusing that this refusal to admit a mistake comes just a few days after the same man admitted that Sony had made mistakes in the past? How long do you think before we see an article on "Father of the PSP admits Sony made mistakes"?

    2. Re:Now why does that sound familiar? by The+Evil+Couch · · Score: 2, Insightful
      How long do you think before we see an article on "Father of the PSP admits Sony made mistakes"?

      Well, being that he's a high-ranking corporate figure in Japan, he's not going to, unless it's in conjunction with him retiring. His response is classic corporate Japanese. He's not going to admit to screwing up, publically. He'll just tell his engineers to fix it as quietly as possible and then when people stop returning units say, "Well, that flaw wasn't that bad after all, was it?"

      --
      The World's Worst Webcomic!
  23. Hey, wait a minute by MarkGriz · · Score: 2

    Isn't this the same Ken Kutaragi of Father of PlayStation Admits Sony Mistakes fame?

    Looks like the Sony board of directors bitch-slapped him good after giving that interview. Glad to see he's back to his good old self again.

    --
    Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
  24. Actually... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's "adapt or we'll replace it", did the editor even read Ken's statement? IT SAYS THE AFFECTED PSPS WERE REPLACED

    1. Re:Actually... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure. They were replaced with PSPs that are identically afflicted with the SAME tendency to exhibit the problem.

      Sony hasn't recalled or fixed anything. Read about that.

  25. Thats SHIPPED... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    That doesn't tell us exactly how many units actually made it to the hands of users. Until financial reports from retailers start coming back, its too early to tell just how many units were sold, how many were returned/refunded/exchanged and about how many people were turned away due to bad return policies. (I don't know about hardware, but I know the general rule of thumb is to NEVER accept returns on video game software now, only exchange or buy back.)

    On top of that you have to account for importers, people who just want the damned thing for bragging rights and for video game reviewing/developing companies who simply can't afford to risk not having a PSP on hand 24/7.

  26. I want one now by RegalBegal · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Eff the Nintendo DS, I want my Sony PSP, broken buttons and all. Zod knows, Sony is teh best at everything they do and because the playstation did so well and the PS2 is doing well, the PSP MUST be awesome. Break all the buttons, I want one completely sony-fied.

    --
    "It'll destroy you if you try to make it mean anything to anyone but yourself." - Henry Rollins
  27. I predict... by Txiasaeia · · Score: 1

    Okay, so knowing Sony's past record on consoles (Playstation & PSOne, etc.), and since we're sure that they're aware of their competitor's (Nintendo) past record, within two years there's going to be a PSP SP with the problem "fixed." No question about it.

    --
    Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
    1. Re:I predict... by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      While I will admit that the GBA SP is a vast improvement over the original design, the original GBA didn't have any problems functioning. I paid for an original GBA, and it was a good system. I traded it in for an SP, because I was tired of buying batteries for the "Flood Light," and I figured I would save money in the long run.

  28. Weird priorities by jgoemat · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Kutaragi acknowledged that the button is less responsive than the others, ... Because there isn't enough room to put the square button's detection switch directly underneath, it's off to the right, making it less responsive--and sometimes causing it to stick.

    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.

    So how the system looks is more important than how it plays games? The PSP couldn't be 1/8 inch wider to make it work flawlessly? That's just too big? This is crazy. Why would you purposfully design a flaw into your product?
    1. Re:Weird priorities by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is a classic example of why people like me hate Sony. It's all about style, trying to appeal to the cool kids... While spitting on the real gamers, who find the gameplay to be most important. But hey, it sure does look pretty.

    2. Re:Weird priorities by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Worse than that, they could have just put the buttons in an oval instead of a perfect circle.

    3. Re:Weird priorities by fwitness · · Score: 1

      You mean like this? No. Please god no. I think it's widely acknowledged that this is much better.

      And of course they can't make it an 1/8" bigger, then it might look like this!

      FWIW, I have an XBox and it's good at what it does, but that initial controller design was hideous. Despite what test audiences may say.

      --
      -- I have fans? Wow.
  29. Nintendo Fanboys by Enigmatic+Tesla · · Score: -1, Troll

    So many Nintendo Fanboys in here it's sad...oh wait, this is Slashdot...I forget sometimes. I bet they're all the same ones who will buy the new Game Boy Evolution when it probably comes out next year sometime (which will be the same time Nintendo stops making games for the DS). Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, DS, and the code named Evolution. You think at least once in the volley of new portables Nintendo shoves out the door they'd make one with some current day hardware instead of generations old technology. Not to mention create more than the small percentage of "new" games instead of repackaging old ones that were you paid for once already. The lineup for the PSP looks pretty darn good (Ridge Racers, Mercury, Metal Gear Acid, Untold Legends, GTA to name a few) and not one of them is direct repackage(with a slight graphics boost) of a PS1 or PS2 game (although the idea of some repackaged Dreamcast games sounds good because I never had one of those). I am yet to get my hands on a live PSP so I can't really comment on the button issue (and I'm sure most of you are in the same boat.) I'd also like to see you twist your DS and see what happens. More than likely it'll break in two instead of just pop the disk out. Ever stop to think that was included in the design? I don't know for sure, but I bet that if the hardware was able to bend a little maybe the UMD disc is less forgiving, so the failsafe was to pop it out instead of break it in two inside the handheld. I'm not saying the DS is bad, but I'd prefer something with a little more staying power and more promising games instead of mostly just rereleases. (And why they heck out of all of them did Square not release the best game ever...Final Fantasy III / VI). I know they have a remake in the works for the DS, but that is the one game I'd love a direct port of. No connectivity to the next Nintendo Console (the Revolution) because the new Gameboy will do so. The DS is a nice system, but it seems like it will be quickly brushed aside when the next Gameboy is released. Flame away.

    1. Re:Nintendo Fanboys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your energies are misdirected.

    2. Re:Nintendo Fanboys by Raverrn · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Not to mention create more than the small percentage of "new" games instead of repackaging old ones that were you paid for once already

      The only game like this on DS was Marri 64, and I do believe it has quite a large number of extra features. I hadn't beaten the game when it first came out, however, so it's all new to me. As for old games on the Advance system, I sure there are a few, but none come to mind, the system was so full of new ones.

      I'd also like to see you twist your DS and see what happens. More than likely it'll break in two instead of just pop the disk out

      Tried it. Nothing happened.

      I am yet to get my hands on a live PSP so I can't really comment on the button issue (and I'm sure most of you are in the same boat.)

      I do not own one, no. However, a good friend of mine (despite my warnings to the contrary) was one of the people who bought one off Ebay for 500+ dollars. It's got 17 dead pixels and the disc shoots out with a slight twist, although he dosen't like me to do it. The square button, while not a problem yet, is a design error they should have caught early and fixed early. There is NO excuse for putting somthing that blatantly wrong into the system.

    3. Re:Nintendo Fanboys by Enigmatic+Tesla · · Score: 0

      As for the rehash of old games, I was talking about Nintendo Handheld systems as a whole. The GBA has been a LOT of SNES games. Just take a look at all the Marios for that one. I still can't get over the literal translations of NES games. While they're all good games, I can't see paying 20-30 bucks again for something I paid for years ago. I miss the days of Final Fantasy Adventure (which is one of the best original Gameboy games ever along with the Legend series) and the probably less well known Radar Mission (a very well done Battleship type clone). The Zeldas for GB have been awesome, but far and few between. I was so glad to get my hands on Minish Cap.

      MarioDS IS a great remake. I won't argue with you there. I haven't played much of it myself. My brother has played most of it and I've seen the explosion of extra games that he's unlocked as a result (not to mention all the different areas in the regular levels he keeps talking about). The incorporation of other characters was also a great addition.

      When you buying/importing something like that off Ebay, you should expect to get into trouble. I wouldn't drop that much money to have the system three months early when there aren't as many games to play (especially ones that aren't translated yet...). Nintendo should have waited till March to release as well. There aren't many games as of yet, and some of the good ones aren't out till around that time. I'd settle for GBA games on my GBA SP until a decent amount of DS games were out( even though the backwards compatability was botched on the DS).

      Seventeen pixels is hard to believe but I'm sure replacable should he have purchased it legitly in the correct region. I'm yet to truly get an grasp on this square button issue since I don't have a PSP in my hands yet, but it sounds more like a blown out of proportion thing to me. If you want a design flaw for the DS, take a look at all the wasted space next to the screens, they should have made them a little larger....

      All in all I'm not really putting down the DS console because it has some good potential for fresh new games (and there are some that are making me think about getting it). I'm just saying I'm mostly dissapointed in the number of "new" games for the handheld market in that past few years and I can't wait for some of the PSP ones they have slated. I'm sure you're as excited as I am about some of the games for DS like Warioware, Zelda, and Animal Crossing, right?

    4. Re:Nintendo Fanboys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      First you say, "The idea of some repackaged Dreamcast games sounds good because I never had one of those." Then, speaking of NES games repackaged for the GBA, you say, "I can't see paying 20-30 bucks again for something I paid for years ago."

      Do I really need to point out the obvious? Rereleases are purchased by two kinds of people (to oversimplify): huge fans of the originals, and people who missed out on the games last time. Apparently, you fit into the latter group when it comes to Dreamcast games and into neither when it comes to the original Zelda or Metroid. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm pretty much the same in that regard, but I don't find fault with any publisher that tries to make easy money by targeting those two groups.

  30. could it be culture thing? by gorlop · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Could this be a Japanese thing? It makes me think of Nintendo's comments about online gaming not being important regardless of the evidence. The Japanese will make an problematic or unsuccessful product and put all the blame on the consumer. "We didn't make a mistake but you are very stupid." I think an American company would approach this issue much differently. Not sure I would like that either.

    1. Re:could it be culture thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Congratulations! You've succeeded in proving to me in a very short time that you know nothing about Japanese culture.

    2. Re:could it be culture thing? by BigJStudd · · Score: 1

      Yeah, because the Japanese have a culture where criticism by social inferiors is considered a good thing, and where corporations and the press always report the truth. ... Gomen sempai. Slashdot wo yomanai hazu desu ne. moushi wake arimasen.

    3. Re:could it be culture thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reading Slashdot is one thing. Staying on-topic when commenting is another. In your months on Slashdot (I'm guessing from your huge UID that you are new here), have you not learned this yet?

      Nobody is saying that social inferiors have leverage over their superiors, or that the Japanese press is infallible. You are the only one mentioning these concepts.

      What we are talking about is the OP's clear misunderstanding of the corporate-customer relationship in Japan compared to in the West. The OP openly pleads ignorance on the matter, but that doesn't stop him from commenting on it based on his gross misunderstanding of the issue. Customer service is taken far more seriously in Japan, for example. It's simple fact. But the OP claims that Japanese companies tend to blame customers for lack of success, citing Nintendo's reluctance to waste money on online gaming. It's foolish, and the other AC called him out on it.

      First off, Nintendo doesn't want to waste money on creating an online infrastructure like Microsoft is doing. And you know what? Nintendo isn't losing money on online gaming, like Microsoft is. Oh, wonder of wonders. Another Nintendo has never done is call any of their customers stupid. If anything, their claims that online gaming is not ready for prime time are justified, what with XBL doing absolutely nothing for Microsoft's bottom line or console sales. When less than 5% of Microsoft's Xbox customers are online, there is no reason to believe that Nintendo is wrong here. But again, Nintendo never said that those 5% of Microsoft's customers were stupid, just that Nintendo could not make money on such a venture.

      So if, in your extensive experiences with Japanese business, you can recall even just two other authentic situations where a Japanese company other than Sony blamed customers for their failures or problems, go ahead. I'm calling you out, BigJStudd. Put up or shut up.

    4. Re:could it be culture thing? by gorlop · · Score: 1

      My comments were based on a general impression I've gotten from reading interviews with Japanese developers/business folk. I'm not going to dig up links to the exact articles which I'm sure will please you folks to no end. However, I've noticed a definite difference in how the Japanese respond to criticisms regarding their business dealings. I don't claim to be an expert on Japan but I'm not convinced that any of you are either.

    5. Re:could it be culture thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK, that's even more stupid. And you were almost doing OK up until that last sentence. You claim that despite knowing very little about the subject at hand, you're as capable of making judgments about it as anyone else is. What, are you just smarter than the rest of us?

      Yes, there is a difference. No, it has nothing to do with Japanese companies piling blame on the consumer. It's very rare to see anyone in Japan overtly place blame on anyone--it's considered extremely taboo. Kutaragi's statement probably had much more to do with saving face for his engineering department than it did with placing blame on consumers.

      You may not be willing to post sources, but until you do, instead of having little credibility, you have absolutely none.

    6. Re:could it be culture thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should be sorry, because you're an idiot. Cute use of "senpai," too. Are you 14, or did you just learn all of your Japanese from cartoons?

    7. Re:could it be culture thing? by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      An AC bashing someone for being a newbie? Wonders never cease.

      I agree with most of the rest of the post though.

    8. Re:could it be culture thing? by gorlop · · Score: 1

      You aren't playing the role of the angry know-it-all very well. I'm not impressed with your opinions but I'm sure you can do better. Let's see it.

    9. Re:could it be culture thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, I'm not claiming to know everything. I'm only claiming to know more about this narrow subject than you do. To that end, the body of evidence speaks for itself.

      Dude, in a situation where people are better informed than you and you happen to say something slightly foolish (and it was an honest mistake; we've all done it at one time or another), it's usually better to just acknowledge that you were wrong, chalk it up to experience, and make sure you learn something new about the topic at hand. Attacking others only makes you look worse.

      Hey, look at it this way: At least you didn't try to insult me in broken schoolgirl Japanese.

    10. Re:could it be culture thing? by gorlop · · Score: 1

      But you haven't demonstrated that you know anything. I'm still not impressed but it's time to drop it. I can see that you have nothing to contribute.

    11. Re:could it be culture thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What am I supposed to say? I gave you my opinion two posts ago. Do you want me to, like, scan in diplomas that prove I have a Ph.D. in Japanese culture or something? All I can say is that I believe that I know what I'm talking about. Like most things in life, it's ultimately up to you to decide whether you believe me or not.

      But you're right. This is pointless, and either way, it's time to drop it.

      Cheers.

    12. Re:could it be culture thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, it's true. Logged-in posters who have been reading /. for less than five years are just plain better people than I am. They prove it every day with their karma scores ranging in the high hundreds. Oops, I forgot that we don't do that any more.

      Oh well, back to stirring the social engineering pot from beyond the AC grave. It's my specialty!

  31. Mod parent up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The flaw affects all units, .6% have actually RETURNED theirs. Just like the original xbox controllers largesse made me and many others hold off buying it, this issue will do the same.

  32. Uhhh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It makes me think of Nintendo's comments about online gaming not being important regardless of the evidence.

    The evidence?

    You mean Nintendo's Japan-only online offerings in their consoles previous to the Gamecube going nowhere; and in this generation Xbox Live, the best online gaming platform ever created, having a vanishingly small uptake of under 10% of the XBox userbase?

  33. Its not the design but the responce to it by wolfmanXUG · · Score: 1

    What gets me and its not the design being flawed or not, or even they are going to fix it or not. The thing that gets me is the response that this is just something the users and the game developers will have to deal with. Though part of that might be the translation of what he said, though with the track record of Sony I don't think it was the translation.

  34. Hmmm by Jezzerr · · Score: 1

    hmmmm...

    well i have to see their point of view....on one hand they have to fit alot of hardware into a "portable" space.

    However mis-aligning the square button...that definatly going to annoy alot of gamers...

    Damned if you do, damned if you don't

    However saying to the PS1/2 generation to just "adapt" thats not going to go down well

    --
    The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and Stupidity.
    1. Re:Hmmm by mink · · Score: 1

      Sure they will.
      PSX/PS1 owners had to adapt to shitty cd-rom units (either weak lasers, bad lenses, or wear on plastic rails) or buy new machines every so often.
      Currently my original PSX still works but only at a 70 DEG. angle will it read media without skipping. I know other whose units dont work unless upside down. Still more had no choice but to replace them.

      PS2/PStwo owners had to put up with shitty CD-ROM unlits that either damaged the lens/media, dragged dust through the laser assembly or lasers got weak and could no longer read some formats.

      I know a number of people who have had to have several PS2 units and they take this crap willingly as if sony never did wrong. For christ sakes there have been now 11 versions of the PS2 so far. Admitedly some versions came about due to tech changes and cost savings but I bet there were plenty of "bug fixes" mixed in.

      SONY users will lap it up and take as many loads as SONY choses to nail em in the face with and like it like the bitches they are. I also want to point out before anyone starts flaming that I own a PS2 and several other current SONY products as well as older hardware.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
  35. I have written a calculator software by Kanasta · · Score: 1

    but it gives the wrong answer when even numbers are input.
    however, this was a design decision to make the calculations 300% faster. I didn't want to make the exe any larger, or the calculations any slower.
    There may be people that complain about its usefulness when it gives wrong answers, but that's something which users will have to adapt to.

  36. Wow... by TJ_Phazerhacki · · Score: 1
    As a self admitted PSP fanboy, I gotta say...

    MORONS! Sony IS A GROUP OF MORONS!!!

    Whew - glad I got that off. "You have to adapt"???? Pbbbbttt... How about I go buy a functional DS? Not only is it out already, But It seems to work most of the time.

    Wow, who were they trying to win with this response... Ergonomic Functionality Nazis - No Button For You!!!

    --
    Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
  37. Pitiful... by suyashs · · Score: 1

    If a "premier" electronics company releasing a flagship product such as the PSP, it should at least get simple button placement right. It is even more ridiculous because the main function of the PSP is to play games, which requires pressing buttons. This is akin to having 1/8 of the display of monitor not working and the company saying "get used to it!". Would Nintendo/Sony/Sega/Atari ever think of relesing a product with 1 out of 4 main buttons severly disabled?

    --
    http://chrono.posterous.com/
  38. Pentium by Taulin · · Score: 1

    This reminds me of when the first Pentium chips rolled out, and that guy found the math problem that I don't think any common consumer would find, but yet people like me got a replacement (with a chip that probably had the same problems). I just wonder if the people returning it fall in the same category.

  39. Sony Quality by Stormcrow309 · · Score: 1

    Is it me, or is there a sever issue with Sony Quality Control the last few years? You would think that they would learn what an effective test plan is after the PlayStation 2 mode switch issue.

    --

    In God we trust, all others require data.

  40. Unbiased post plase? by AzraelKans · · Score: 1

    First of all, the Article clearly mentions "Flaw found in sony psp". your article seems to be about sony's petulent reaction to a wide known, huge problem. Tip: IT was not a huge known problem! its a tiny problem people just realized it has! how much time has the PSP been out, and how many times have you heard of this problem?

    A poster already mentioned it, if you read all Japanese responses on problems found in any device, they answer is always the same: "its such a tiny problem, its perfect even with it!". Yes, it sounds stupid, but they are all the same. Hoping for another answer is like expecting an honest american preview saying "its just a piece of crap!" go ahead try to find ONE (even on extremely crappy games).

    You also apparently believe Sony will never fix the problem. IT will be fixed. theres a coming American release of the PSP and I bet money all these glitches will be gone with it. (I mean, they are not even difficult to fix!) probably later and update will probably be released in Japan. Sony does this.

    I mean seriously you have no idea how many playstation(1 and 2) versions are there? you think they release the same version for 5 years? (that I know of they are at least 5 ps1 versions each with different fixes and features).

    The psp reasons for failure:*Price, battery, glitches. DS WILL RULE!

    Guys I hate to break your bubble BUT where I live my friends (and customers) are buying the PSP at $500 (almost 4 times the estimated final price) no one has complaint about the battery (they charge it once a day, and we actually advice them that), no one has found or noticed not even one single glitch (this button glitch will be news to them). They are as happy as can be with it and surpringsily the psp's are outsold here.

    I have only seen 2 DS being sold (by known n fanboys btw), most customers ask for it then return it after seing the graphics/games and checking the price.($200)
    (gba's sp are getting sold very well though $50)
    Actually the only reason why I havent got a PSP yet is that im waiting for the American Release (for the price mostly)

    --
    Go ahead MOD my day!
    More opinions here
    1. Re:Unbiased post plase? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I work in retail. I have seen the DS sell constantly and consistenly. Where you around at all during the holidays. Paying $500 for a PSP is absurd unless you have money to burn. I play handhelds so I can play games that I DON'T ALREADY OWN. There are soooo many N64 ports for the DS. 1. There are very few and 2. They actually have other features besides looking weaker than their console counterparts. 3. $50 for games I already own? It's possible that Sony is going to force people to purchase the PSP in $400 bundles!!! And Sony, to break YOUR bubble, has an awful history with console flaws. A customer just today told me he returned his 5 times! That is ridiculous. This is a common story. I see an average of 4 or 5 systems brought to us broken daily. And people keep buying new systems!!! The original design of the PS2 had around 13 different revisions. You think they can handle a handheld? It's sleek? It's sexy? Talk to me when you are supporting a gaming system created by a gaming company.

    2. Re:Unbiased post plase? by unclethursday · · Score: 1
      First of all, the Article clearly mentions "Flaw found in sony psp". your article seems to be about sony's petulent reaction to a wide known, huge problem. Tip: IT was not a huge known problem! its a tiny problem people just realized it has! how much time has the PSP been out, and how many times have you heard of this problem?

      Quite a bit, since the launch of the PSP, actually. This article from 12-13-04, just a few days after the release of the PSP in Japan shows a gamut of reported defects, including the square button problem and a pic that shows the problem.

      You also apparently believe Sony will never fix the problem. IT will be fixed. theres a coming American release of the PSP and I bet money all these glitches will be gone with it. (I mean, they are not even difficult to fix!) probably later and update will probably be released in Japan. Sony does this.

      Funny, according to Sony, there is nothing to fix. This is how they designed the unit.

      Guys I hate to break your bubble BUT where I live my friends (and customers) are buying the PSP at $500 (almost 4 times the estimated final price)

      Oh, so the PSP is only going to be $125? Is that why it's more expensive than the DS in Japan as well? Most places are setting up pre-orders with an estimated base price of $200 for the PSP. So, tell us; how do you know that it's coming out at such a lowered price, oh great seer into the future?

      no one has complaint about the battery (they charge it once a day, and we actually advice them that)

      People can go a few days without charging their GBA SP or DS...

      no one has found or noticed not even one single glitch (this button glitch will be news to them).

      So no one has noticed the buttons not being responsive, or any dead pixels or anythig, eh? Maybe they got good units designed AWAY from Sony's specifications.

      They are as happy as can be with it and surpringsily the psp's are outsold here.

      And where, pray tell, is "here?"

      I have only seen 2 DS being sold (by known n fanboys btw), most customers ask for it then return it after seing the graphics/games and checking the price.($200)

      Which is why the DS has sold over 1 million units in North America and over 1 million units in Japan, right? Because only 2 people have bought them. They just have lots and lots of money to run around between North America and Japan buying up the DSes out there.

      Do try to troll better next time. You're ludicrous assumption that the PSP will be only $125 and that the DS is actually more expensive than it is at retail, alone, show you're a brain dead fucktard who thinks he can sound intelligent.

  41. Nintendo has much better responses. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Nintendo is SUCH a better company and SO much more trustworthy than sony. I mean just look at the DS coming announcement:

    "Well guys! thank you for buying the DS and all the bunch of uninspired nintendo 64 ports we half baked for it ( I cant believe you bought Mario64 again and with that control ugh!) , you kept us from almost getting bad sales in Xmas for the first time in 10 years! we were so happy about it we laughed all the way to the bank! Anyway BIG SURPRISE! Game boy evolution is coming later this year, so you can toss that piece of garbage to the bin and buy the REAL gameboy now! and the new gamecube 2 (not DS compatible of course) FULL PRICE! bring your wallets! as Americans say! WHAM! BAM! THANK-YOU MAM!"

    Thats some sweet, sweet loving right there!

    Their motto has a whole new meaning now.

    Who are you?
    And Who's your daddy, bitch?

    1. Re:Nintendo has much better responses. by AzraelKans · · Score: 1

      Nintendo is SUCH a better company and SO much more trustworthy than sony. I mean just look at the DS coming announcement:
      "Well guys! thank you for buying the DS and all the bunch of uninspired nintendo 64 ports we half baked for it ( I cant believe you bought Mario64 again and with that control ugh!) , you kept us from almost getting bad sales in Xmas for the first time in 10 years! we were so happy about it we laughed all the way to the bank! Anyway BIG SURPRISE! Game boy evolution is coming later this year, so you can toss that piece of garbage to the bin and buy the REAL gameboy now! and the new gamecube 2 (not DS compatible of course) FULL PRICE! bring your wallets! as Americans say! WHAM! BAM! THANK-YOU MAM!"

      Thats some sweet, sweet loving right there!

      Their motto has a whole new meaning now.

      Who are you?
      And Who's your daddy, bitch?

      That was sick and kind of funny in a twisted way BUT very inacurate, the Gba 2 is rumored to be released all the way 'til 2006, so DS owners have nothing to worry about (for a good year or two) however I have to agree if nintendo even tried to pull the DS too soon just to increase GBA 2 sales , it would be much worse than all the PSP glitches rolled together and probably will lose a good part of their fanbase in the process.

      Btw the parent maybe a troll or flamebait but unfortunately not offtopic. Slashdot has simply ignored that probable situation in favor of reporting every tiny glitch in the psp.

      --
      Go ahead MOD my day!
      More opinions here
  42. It's Sony by CBob · · Score: 1

    And as any EQ player can say "Working as intended".

    Sony/Verant/SOE - no surprise

  43. Nintendo to DS owners: Fuck you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL lets see what N fanboys have to say now!

  44. Adapt to a flaw? by Money+for+Nothin' · · Score: 1

    WTF? I don't own a PSP yet, and with SCE's President telling me that if I buy one, I'll have to "adapt" to their failure, I don't think I will *ever* buy one.

    You want me to adapt? Damn right I'll adapt -- I'll adapt the $200 I would've spent on your PSP (plus games) to some other purpose I'll enjoy more, like a new video card or some lapdances... Eat my cock, Mr. Kutaragi, you're not getting my money for a defective piece of shit.

    Rule #1 of business: never, ever tell the customer to deal with your mistake. If you want to remain in the game, then fix your mistake, or get run into the ground by the competition.

    --

    Is Capitalism Good for the Poor?
    1. Re:Adapt to a flaw? by PSP234 · · Score: 1

      "WTF? I don't own a PSP yet, and with SCE's President telling me that if I buy one, I'll have to "adapt" to their failure, I don't think I will *ever* buy one." LOL. You're funny man. Guess what, dont buy one then. Who cares. It's still going to crush the DS and sell a zillion.

  45. More slanted coverage by Slashdot by PSP234 · · Score: 1

    The PSP is nothing but ripped by Slashdot. They hate it.

    1. Re:More slanted coverage by Slashdot by PSP234 · · Score: 1

      Oh and I got news for you guys, the DS is already defeated. Although it was obvious it would be from over a year ago. It has now been outsold in Japan for the last three straight weeks (Japan posts weekly sales figures). The last time, Jan. 24-30, by about 30k units, 71k vfor PSP vs 42k for DS. And this despite it is still nearly impossible to find PSP's for sale. The fact that PSP is outselling DS within 4 weeks of it launching in Japan just shows what stunningly awful hardware the DS is.

    2. Re:More slanted coverage by Slashdot by PSP234 · · Score: 1

      As to the parent issue (faulty hardware), it's part of a slam campaign by Nintendo fanboys. Most of the online media, including slashdot, has participated in it. I wonder how many PSP headlines could be classed as negative towards PSP on slashdot? Pretty much most that I have seen so far. I saw all the same things regarding the Xbox. Same type of stories around it. It succeeded anyway, just like PSP will. I'm sure that frankly, the DS is far less reliable. It has a touch screen for one thing. It also has many more dead pixels. If you cant point to a real study that PSP has more defects than DS, go ahead. Otherwise, return to your speculation. Also, there are reviews on PSP games. In Japan, and probably a few on import software in America. PSX extreme has some. All have been in the 8+ range pretty much. If you think reviews are going to dampen the PSP crushing the DS, wrong.