Support NeoGAF

Wario64 · Jan 24, 2005

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

TOKYO--About 4,800 Japanese PSPs have been returned to Sony due to problems with the handheld's square button, according to a recent interview with Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi in Nikkei Business magazine.

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

Nikkei Business reported that, to date, .6 percent of the 800,000 shipped units have been returned to Sony for repair. Kutaragi was unapologetic about the issue: "This is the design that we came up with. There may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to. 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 [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."

Offering additional testimony praising the handheld, Kutaragi said, "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."

DMczaf · Jan 24, 2005

"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."

wobedraggled · Jan 24, 2005

Arrogance

Gotta love SONY

Cloudy · Jan 24, 2005

Why should he care? We're all gonna buy every last one of 'em anyways -_-

GaimeGuy · Jan 24, 2005

Give me a break. At least apologize for faults that you knowingly put into the design. :|

Hellraizah · Jan 24, 2005

Suddenly, all interest I could have in PSP disappeared.....

Baron · Jan 24, 2005

"I believe we made the most beautiful thing in the world..."?

Lordy, this guy has issues with his egomania. Nay - his ego has an ego. Let go of my ego, it says.

thefit · Jan 24, 2005

Well if the Japanese don't want them I'll take em.

Drinky Crow · Jan 24, 2005

Kutaragi said, "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."

They sure as hell would if the gate opened on a bear trap, Ken.

Gorey · Jan 24, 2005

I don't get it. Would the unit have to be that much bigger to accomodate a centered detection switch? I smell bullshit. Perhaps someone with some degree of engineering know-how could comment...?

GaimeGuy · Jan 24, 2005

It's one thing to remain unapologetic, it's another to say "We created a beautiful product. You wouldn't criticize something that looks good, would you?" :/

xsarien · Jan 24, 2005

here may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to.

My God. Kutaragi and Steve Jobs need to get married or something.

Speevy · Jan 24, 2005

We should send Itagaki on a mission to retrieve this man's enormous head.

CrimsonSkies · Jan 24, 2005

I knew they would struggle for the first year with quality. Though once they let all the early adopters find all the problems they will have a great handheld in a year.

btrboyev · Jan 24, 2005

i don't believe that the only way to fix the issue would be to reduce the screen size or make the unit bigger..thats a load of crap.

Agent Icebeezy · Jan 24, 2005

No recall will ever come from this, Japanese companies don't issue recalls, regardless of what happens

Hellraizah · Jan 24, 2005

Drinky Crow said:
They sure as hell would if the gate opened on a bear trap, Ken.

Or if the gate magically transformed into a human projection method whenever you twist the handle a little too hard.....

Mashing · Jan 24, 2005

Wow, talk about an arrogant ass. The PSP is a sexy beast no doubt, but atleast acknowledge engineering flaws and show to the consumer that you will work with them in getting the issue resolved.

All this send is "Fuck you, we have your money and that is all that matters!"

mrklaw · Jan 24, 2005

Good. Hopefully now developers will take this into consideration and make the Square button not a main action button.

explodet · Jan 24, 2005

Hellraizah said:
Or if the gate magically transformed into a human projection method whenever you twist the handle a little too hard.....

Famous Last Words:
"Hey, what's this button do?"
*CATAPULT*

GaimeGuy · Jan 24, 2005

or if the gate didn't always open or close, like the button doesn't always respond...

ghostface · Jan 24, 2005

DMczaf said:

:lol I guess modesty is not one of his qualities.

Amir0x · Jan 24, 2005

Hahaa, boy that's a funny read. Comedy Silver.

kaching · Jan 24, 2005

And the IGN account:

There's been a whole lot of talk about problematic PSP units, but Sony Computer Entertainment has yet to make solid comment. At last, the silence has come to an end, as this past week Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi shared some insights onto PSP problems with Japanese publication Nikkei Business.

The weekly magazine questioned Kutaragi about one problem in particular, the case of buttons not returning to their original position when pressed. This is a problem that the magazine itself encountered during an interview with an a high school student who was disappointed with his malfunctioning PSP unit. Kutaragi revealed that Sony Computer Entertainment does consider these button problems to be a manufacturing problem and will repair the systems. Of the current shipped PSP units, SCE has so far repaired 0.6% due to button problems.

However, Kutaragi stresses that many complaints about the system are due to areas that aren't flaws with the system, but are by design. In particular, Kutaragi points to another button issue where for some buttons, the system seems to not respond to button presses. Kutaragi argues that in many cases, users are pushing the buttons left and right and the system isn't registering a response. This is not, according to SCE, a flaw with the system.

Kutaragi explained further, taking a bit of time to let us in on how much he loves his new system. "We didn't want to make the screen any smaller than it is, nor did we want to make the PSP system any larger. The position of the buttons were exactly what we aimed for. These are the specifications. This is a product that I made, and these are its specifications. It's not the case that error was a made -- it was all my desire. I think we made the most beautiful thing in the world."

We think Kutaragi is referring to the complaints that question the design of the system rather than the complaints about dead pixels, dust in strange places, ejecting UMDs, occasional crashes and the various other flaws that have been found by a few PSP users so far.

Timbuktu · Jan 24, 2005

Kutaragi said, "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."

No, the architect would get sued if anyone happens to injure themselves because of it.

My God. Kutaragi and Steve Jobs need to get married or something.

You know, they just might, given that the Sony CEO appeared on stage at Macworld.

Apple stuff don't usually have the problems Sony productss do though, and when they do they just quietly replace them.

belgurdo · Jan 24, 2005

.6% OF ALL PSPS ARE MALFUNCTIONING UNITS SONY MAKES NOTHING BUT DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS BOYCOTT BOYCOTT

Lyte Edge · Jan 24, 2005

My PSP had the square button sticking at first, but after a few days' worth of play time, it was fine. I wonder if all the systems with this problem can just be "broken in" with time?

Fuzzy · Jan 24, 2005

Wario64 said:
Nikkei Business reported that, to date, .6 percent of the 800,000 shipped units have been returned to Sony for repair.

Does that mean that the problem was actually fixed for those people?

Amir0x · Jan 24, 2005

belgurdo said:
.6% OF ALL PSPS ARE MALFUNCTIONING UNITS SONY MAKES NOTHING BUT DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS BOYCOTT BOYCOTT

Please, all non-Sony products have only a .2-.4% malfunctioning rate!

Speevy · Jan 24, 2005

belgurdo said:
.6% OF ALL PSPS ARE MALFUNCTIONING UNITS SONY MAKES NOTHING BUT DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS BOYCOTT BOYCOTT

Do a % of PS2's.

GaimeGuy · Jan 24, 2005

So 1 out of every 160 PSPS have defective square buttons....

wonder what the numbers would be for dust in screen, dead pixels, faulty analog nubs, etc...

At least admit you did something wrong when you did something wrong, kutaragi. You may have made a powerful piece of hardware that looks good, but at LEAST apologize for defects in the product. As president of SCE, you have that responsibility.

truesayian · Jan 24, 2005

Agent Icebeezy said:
No recall will ever come from this, Japanese companies don't issue recalls, regardless of what happens

Nintendo does do recals....

GaimeGuy · Jan 24, 2005

correction: one out of every 160 PSPS has been RETURNED for a defective square button. Apparently, sony made this design in ALL of the psps.

captainbiotch · Jan 24, 2005

GaimeGuy said:
So 1 out of every 160 PSPS have defective square buttons....

That is just the number that has been sent back to Sony. I'd think there is a decent percentage of people that are just living with it, or are overseas with no way of getting it repaired/exchanged/whatever.

Bla bla bla, you beat me

Deg · Jan 24, 2005

Do Sony use PR? :lol

Lindsay · Jan 24, 2005

Wario64 said:
There may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to.

I call unnecessary harshness. That's a -10 sale penalty. -_-;

Culex · Jan 24, 2005

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.

How can deliberately going ahead with a design flaw that leads to a defect not be called a defect?

3phemeral · Jan 24, 2005

belgurdo said:
.6% OF ALL PSPS ARE MALFUNCTIONING UNITS SONY MAKES NOTHING BUT DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS BOYCOTT BOYCOTT

Wouldn't the admittance that all the units were designed the same way pretty much mean that all of them are "defective"? It's either a matter of more people returning their PSP's or they've adapted to the awkward architectural setback.

Dr. Zoidberg · Jan 24, 2005

Anybody else notice how Sony of the 2000s is sounding more and more like the arrogant Nintendo of the late '80s?

I'm all for competition but God help us if Sony dominates the consoles AND the handhelds in two years.

thefit · Jan 24, 2005

Its not a defect if it was engineered like that from the get go some would even call it a hidden bonus.

Amir0x · Jan 24, 2005

Would God say such a thing if he created Catherine Zeta Jones without a vagina?

HUH KUTARAGI? WOULD HE?

drohne · Jan 24, 2005

an off-center button switch isn't a "design defect" unless it actually causes the button to stick. on my psp, and presumably on most psps, it does not. on close inspection, the square button on my psp feels slightly "softer" than the other buttons, but it's not something i'd noticed while playing it, and in no way does it impair function.

if they'd used a centered button switch, either the psp would have to be even wider than it already is, or the buttons would have to be smaller. if the defect rate is really as low as .06 percent, then it is a good design decision.

if there's an element of the psp kutaragi needs to apologize for, it's the scratch-prone faceplate and integrated screen cover. :/

Mejilan · Jan 24, 2005

I never liked the shmuck and this hasn't changed my mind about him.

Can't wait for the PSP to hit the US, however.

thefit · Jan 24, 2005

Yeah in the end this aint stoping me from getting one, two maybe even three.

Spike · Jan 24, 2005

Sony launch hardware problems? Nah, can't be 'cause we all know their spotless record for launch hardware...*cough*cough

Say what you will about Nintendo, but those buggers stand behind the quality of their products. They're exchanging them if you have even one dead pixel.

Sho Nuff · Jan 24, 2005

Hey Kutaragi

"Fuck you and die"

You'd better hope the square button on MY unit doesn't stick, bitch!

BreakyBoy · Jan 25, 2005

Amir0x said:
Would God say such a thing if he created Catherine Zeta Jones without a vagina?

HUH KUTARAGI? WOULD HE?

Michael Douglas would certainly be mighty pissed at him.

And say what you will about Nintendo and their business practices (and I'll probably agree with most of it), but hell at least we know this crap wouldn't fly with a Nintendo system.

Still... +1 PSP adopter somewhere down the line. Hell I'm getting a Wonderswan, I have to get a PSP eventually... :S

Mrbob · Jan 25, 2005

With quotes like these it sounds like Kutaragi wants to become the true heir apparent to Yamauchi! :lol

Juice · Jan 25, 2005

Well that's complete bullshit. Kutaragi sounds like he's already playing trumpet boy as market leader of the handheld gaming industry. While there's no doubt the PSP will sell really well once it hits the US, this makes me even more confident in my decision to buy a DS on day one and plan on it lasting me for 18 months, at which point I'll pick up a PSP if they've fixed enough of its "intentionally designed" flaws through: better battery life, either clamshell design or better-coated screen protection, analog nubs that are more responsive and don't just fall off, and now a square button that registers when I hit it.

There's just no other way to classify the PSP but "bleeding edge," if you're an early adopter you should just assume that you're not going to be getting good build quality or support down the road.

I'm really disappointed with the PSP's beauty-over-functionality design. Can't wait for a PSPSP, though.

Gorgie · Jan 25, 2005

Agent Icebeezy said:
No recall will ever come from this, Japanese companies don't issue recalls, regardless of what happens

Nintendo did with its first batch of Famicom's. It was expensive, but it was worth it as it built consumer trust.

Support NeoGAF

~5k PSPs returned for malfunctions, Kutaragi unapologetic about PSP design

works for Gamestop (lol)

Member

Banned

Banned

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16

Member

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16

daedsiluap

Banned

Member

Member

Welcome beautful toddler, Madison Elizabeth, to the horde!

Member

Member

MrArseFace

Member

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16

Member

Banned

"GAF's biggest wanker"

Member

Banned

All I got for the Vernal Equinox was this stupid tag

I would bang a hot farmer!

Banned

Banned

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16

Banned

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16

Banned

Banned

Dot Hacked

Banned

Member

Member

Member

Banned

hyperbolically metafictive

Running off of Custom Firmware

Member

Member

Banned

o_O @_@ O_o

Member

Member

WTF

Similar threads