Incredible arrogance from Sony concerning the PSP... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

KnifeMissile · 01-25-2005, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Nearly 5,000 units are returned to Sony for buggy button; Kutaragi unapologetic about the handheld's design.
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."

Now, I can't believe anyone serious about games would sacrifice gameplay and playability for mild physical aesthetics. I can only imagine that they think it would be terribly bad press to admit a fundamental mistake in design slipped through their quality assurance so, instead, they make themselves look like arrogant bastards.

The result of all this will be that game developers will simply design their games to use the square button as little as possible, while some of us will resent the incredible hubris of Sony...

the_marq · 01-25-2005, 01:19 PM

I'm no expert, but I think a 0.6 percent return issue is pretty damn minor.

omega2K4 · 01-25-2005, 01:26 PM

Quote:

"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."

Ahahahaha. What pompous asses.

Spritebox · 01-25-2005, 02:06 PM

Statistically speaking, 0.6% is too far too common.
Personally speaking, I hope sony burns.

<3

filtherton · 01-25-2005, 02:09 PM

Isn't sony infamous for their first run hardware being prone to defects? I'm sure they'll release an improved model as soon as they milk the current one for all its worth.

Justsomeguy · 01-25-2005, 02:34 PM

This problem is all to common with Sony. How many times have the put out half ass products that really should have been delayed several months? Cell phones, video games, game systems, and even televisions are all things I can think of. I always thought that if a company delayed a product, it was to make some changes and get rid of some bugs. This obviously is not the case with Sony. There customer service is always like this as well.

If you want some firsthand experience with a sony customer service,try dealing with Sony Online Entertainment.

asaris · 01-25-2005, 02:46 PM

Admittedly, I've only called them once, but I found Sony customer service to be quite helpful and friendly.

tspikes51 · 01-25-2005, 04:05 PM

From a technical standpoint, the mechanism that needs to be moved, is about a cubic centimeter. So they probably wouldn't have to change the unit at all hardly.

sadistikdreams · 01-25-2005, 05:49 PM

And from JoyStiq:

Quote:

Ken Kutaragi laments lack of vision

*

Posted Jan 25, 2005, 8:05 AM ET by Steve Parsons
Related entries: Culture, Portable

No, he hasn’t gone blind. Rather the Sony executive has lamented Sony’s lack of vision when it comes to portable media. He speaks about how the PSP we’re all lusting over is, essentially, a test device to show that rampant piracy won’t bury the divisions within Sony that fear we’re all ready to hoist the Jolly Roger. So when you’re busy playing your legally owned movies and music in your brief breaks from gaming, you’ll be proving to certain people at Sony that we’re not all filthy pirates.

This news comes shortly after the president of Sony admitted they made a mistake, missing out on the MP3 player boom by making overly proprietary devices.

There's a link to spong, but it's being a bitch.

guthmund · 01-25-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

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."

I guess they would if the gate was less responsive than all the other gates and was prone to sticking and the architect didn't bother to tell anyone.

If you'll excuse me, I have to go bathe now to rid myself of the 'smug' coming off that article.

Date the Banana · 01-25-2005, 11:06 PM

Hmmm....
Well, thankfully I haven't noticed anything like that on mine.
Then again, most of the games I've been playing don't use that button. I'll post again if I encounter something wrong.
(they are right though, it is a BEAUTIFUL piece of hardware...smug, talented bastards...)

Ace_O_Spades · 01-27-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_marq

I'm no expert, but I think a 0.6 percent return issue is pretty damn minor.

I would assume that anything over 0.0% error on something that is so obviously engineered to fail would be pretty major

irateplatypus · 01-27-2005, 02:20 PM

well, 0.6 percent of the units have been returned for repair. that's 0.6 percent of customers who bought the unit recognized the problem, heard about the recall, and then took the time and initiative to return the unit and wait for its repair. i'm betting the actual number of affected users is quite a bit more substantial.

this reminds me of the ps2 i bought at launch that died shortly in short order. still miffed about that one...

01-25-2005, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
the_marq All hail the Mountain King Location: Black Mesa	I'm no expert, but I think a 0.6 percent return issue is pretty damn minor. __________________ The Truth: Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to. #3 in a series

01-25-2005, 02:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Spritebox Insane Location: Charlotte, N.C.	Statistically speaking, 0.6% is too far too common. Personally speaking, I hope sony burns. <3 __________________ it's all nice on ice alright and it's not day and it's not night but it's all nice on ice alright

01-25-2005, 02:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
asaris Mad Philosopher Location: Washington, DC	Admittedly, I've only called them once, but I found Sony customer service to be quite helpful and friendly. __________________ "Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht." "The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

01-25-2005, 04:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
tspikes51 Fuckin' A Location: Lex Vegas	From a technical standpoint, the mechanism that needs to be moved, is about a cubic centimeter. So they probably wouldn't have to change the unit at all hardly. __________________ "I'm telling you, we need to get rid of a few people or a million." -Maddox

01-25-2005, 11:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
Date the Banana Insane Location: Japan	Hmmm.... Well, thankfully I haven't noticed anything like that on mine. Then again, most of the games I've been playing don't use that button. I'll post again if I encounter something wrong. (they are right though, it is a BEAUTIFUL piece of hardware...smug, talented bastards...) __________________ all work and no play make Date something something

01-25-2005, 02:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	Isn't sony infamous for their first run hardware being prone to defects? I'm sure they'll release an improved model as soon as they milk the current one for all its worth.

01-25-2005, 02:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Justsomeguy Insane	This problem is all to common with Sony. How many times have the put out half ass products that really should have been delayed several months? Cell phones, video games, game systems, and even televisions are all things I can think of. I always thought that if a company delayed a product, it was to make some changes and get rid of some bugs. This obviously is not the case with Sony. There customer service is always like this as well. If you want some firsthand experience with a sony customer service,try dealing with Sony Online Entertainment.

01-27-2005, 02:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	well, 0.6 percent of the units have been returned for repair. that's 0.6 percent of customers who bought the unit recognized the problem, heard about the recall, and then took the time and initiative to return the unit and wait for its repair. i'm betting the actual number of affected users is quite a bit more substantial. this reminds me of the ps2 i bought at launch that died shortly in short order. still miffed about that one... __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill