I FUCKING HATE SONY! >_<

[Kitsunexus]

OK, so I'm playing Ape Escape 3 in my slim-style PS2, trying to beat it again for a second time, and when I die, it doesn't go to the Game Over screen, it just goes black, so I'm like "WTF!?" and I look at the disc and IT LOOKS LIKE A FUCKING SANDER WAS TAKEN TO IT!!! The disc is lost, it has multiple surface abrasions oddly in a straight line up and down the disc (looks sort of like the laser assembly >_<).

I am so fucking pissed right now, that was honestly my favorite game for PS2 and I was SO CLOSE to getting a 100% completion ratio! I don't even know If I want to play my other games in the system, I don't want to wreck my other games.

Am I the only one who has experienced this, or by buying a slim PS2 have I made a horrible mistake?


This always comes back to the mantra that I always ignore: "Don't trust Sony". I think I'm going to listen this time.

[Kitsunexus]

I just Googled "PS2 slim scratching discs".


FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK! 


I am NEVER buying a Sony product again, ESPECIALLY if it uses optical media.

I am SO fucking pissed right now, you WOULDN'T BELIEVE how pissed... 

[NecroPhile]

Don't trust Sony!

That really sucks for you, yet I've never known anyone to have a similar problem.  Did you have your PS2 vertical or horizontal?

[Joe Redifer]

You could probably get the disc fixed for a buck or two at any game store or Blockbuster that has a disc resurfacer.

[Kitsunexus]

Don't trust Sony!

That really sucks for you, yet I've never known anyone to have a similar problem.  Did you have your PS2 vertical or horizontal?

Horizontal. >_<

[ParanoiaDragon]

Hmm, if I ever have to buy a 2nd PS2, I may have to get one of the older models.

[Ceti Alpha]

Ugh...I hate hearing stuff like this because I know exactly what the helpless frustration feels like.    But as Joe said, you may be able to get the disc resurfaced.  But that seems like only a temporary solution as the same thing could happen to the resurfaced disc. And do you really want to risk putting your other games in the machine as well? 

What about your warranty? Any time left on that?

As for Sony, I've never owned a Playstation, but all my stereo equipment is Sony - my speakers are from 89/90 (same year I got my first Turbografx I believe) and they work fine. Not so sure about their Playstation stuff though. I've heard about and witnessed some nightmare PS stories though.

[Kitsunexus]

Their audio stuff is great, but I'm VERY wary of their gaming stuff now. I have no clue about my warranty, I lost the paper.

[Ceti Alpha]

I have no clue about my warranty, I lost the paper. Sad

Shit.

[guyjin]

I recently got my brother a slim ps2 for xmas.

I'll warn him about it, but his taste in games is so horrible, I wouldn't mind any of them being destroyed.

[Joe Redifer]

I wonder how this occurs.  Sounds like something is scraping against the disc as it is inserted or ejected.  That should never happen.  The only other thing I can think of is if the system is moved with a disc in it (even if the system is off).  You should never do that on a tray-based or slidey-based system.  Something with a clamshell like the DC should be OK, but I still wouldn't recommend it.

[guyjin]

the slim ps2 uses a clamshell, IIRC.

[NecroPhile]

You have it horizontal, so that's not the problem.  Since the scratches go across the disc rather than circumferential, it must be part of the transport that's hitting the disc (nothing else moves).  Is this a DVD or CD based game?  I'm thinking that the faster rotational speed of a CD might make the disc wobble just enough to hit the transport, but what does a slim PS2 use to keep a disc properly positioned?

[Kitsunexus]

You have it horizontal, so that's not the problem.  Since the scratches go across the disc rather than circumferential, it must be part of the transport that's hitting the disc (nothing else moves).  Is this a DVD or CD based game?  I'm thinking that the faster rotational speed of a CD might make the disc wobble just enough to hit the transport, but what does a slim PS2 use to keep a disc properly positioned?

It's a silver disc, and it's a big game made in 2005, so I'm thinking DVD. The discs click into place.

[_Paul]

Surely everyone knows by now that Sony hardware is constructed by blind goblins in Satan's own bottom?

I've not trusted Sony goods since the awful build quality of the original PS1. In fact the only company I trust now to make a sturdy machine is Nintendo.

[SignOfZeta]

Surely everyone knows by now that Sony hardware is constructed by blind goblins in Satan's own bottom?

I've not trusted Sony goods since the awful build quality of the original PS1. In fact the only company I trust now to make a sturdy machine is Nintendo.

Heh, the PS2 makes the PS1 look like the SNES. PS2s are insanely shitty. Then you have the 360 which is probably twice as bad as a PS2.

Reliable hardware doesn't exist anymore, not even from Nintendo. The Wii seems OK, but the DS, and DS Lite...I'm not sure I know of anyone that hasn't sent their DS to Nintendo. Mine has been there twice. To its credit, it didn't destroy any software.

[MissaFX]

Reliable hardware doesn't exist anymore, not even from Nintendo. The Wii seems OK, but the DS, and DS Lite...I'm not sure I know of anyone that hasn't sent their DS to Nintendo. Mine has been there twice. To its credit, it didn't destroy any software.

I've never had a single problem with my DS-lite.  Everyone else I know has a cracked hinge or some other problem (ok, I have 1 deal pixel in the top screen, bottom right corner, but it came that way)

I'd call the PSP the most reliable current generation machine.  The only real defect in the PSP is the 3 position power switch which gets "soft" over years of use.  It only costs 2 dollars and change (including shipping!) though to get a replacement switch including the whole board it is attached to for no soddering mess.

For full sized consoles though, they all seem to be expensive as hell and equally as cheaply built these days.

The PS2 and its disc reading errors reign supreme as the king of the mountain in this respect.

[nat]

That's a bum deal, Kitsunexus.

[Joe Redifer]

The PS3 seems pretty rock solid.  I haven't heard of any widespread problems with it like the Xbox360 has or the PS1 and 2 enjoyed.  Maybe Sony learned their lesson... a lesson that Microsoft has yet to learn.  I've had to have my Wii replaced due to overheating.  The cause is the 24 hour wii connect internet thing.  Basically when you turn your Wii off, the graphics card stays on (the Wii will show an orange light when it is off instead of red) because that is where the internet crap is.  It slowly fries the graphics card since the fan is off.  My Wii started displaying weird little black blotches on the screen that were ever-present.  Nintendo knew exactly what I was talking about and immediately sent me a new console.  I learned my lesson and do not enable Wiiconnect24.  No reason to anyway.  I rarely power up my Wii as it is.

[Keranu]

Yeah I absolutely hate Sony hardware, and it's not just limited to their game systems. The only good Sony product I've ever used is this Sony TV my brother has.

Joe, my WiiConnect24 is pretty much on all of the time and I never had that problem. I'm more concerned about it scratching discs since I have it up vertically, but so far so good for that too.

[nat]

If you use the POWER button on the console itself rather than the controllers to turn it off, it will power down completely (red light and all) even if you have Wiiconnect24 turned on. You have to hold the button in for a couple seconds. That's what I do.

I'm more concerned about it scratching discs since I have it up vertically, but so far so good for that too.

My Wii won't read discs if it is in the vertical position. It's been like that since the day I got it. Actually, it will read them 50% of the time. But if you actually get it to boot a game vertically, it always crashes with an error within a minute or so. It doesn't matter what game, it always happens.

There is no purpose to having it vertically anyway other than the fact it looks much cooler. It works 100% fine horizontally and doesn't have to fight the laws of physics while doing it. It just doesn't look as cool.

[Keranu]

I have it vertically because I'm too lazy to put the stand back in it's box . Plus it makes easier for plugging GC controllers and memory cards.

[nat]

I haven't had to use a memory card yet.

To be honest, I haven't even used the GameCube functionality either since I have an actual GameCube anyway.

[Ceti Alpha]

The PS1 and the PS2 are really quite crappy, but as Joe said, the PS3 "seems" to be OK. The 360 seems like it's just waiting to break down - the thing is loud as hell too - so you basically need to go out and buy that peripheral cooling unit to keep the machine from blowing up. However, the original XBOX is like a concrete block. It may not be the prettiest thing, but it is tough. The only major problem with the XBOX, that I know of anyway, is that Microsoft - in their infinite wisdom - decided to contract out 3 different manufacturers for their disc drives. The worst is the Thompson drive, which is the one I have and was the first drive manufactured for the XBOX. The Thompson drives tend to konk out and can't read most CDR media and they also will give you the dreaded "DISK ERROR" screen. Then Microsoft started putting in Phillips drives and that was a minor improvement. However, the Samsung drive is considered the best of all. It won't give you the "Disk Error" screen and it can read pretty much all media.

I don't really have too many problems with my Thompson drive though. I think it was Burnout Revenge or Gotham Racing 2 that gave me the error screen from time to time. The XBOX would start to read it fine though once it warmed up.

As for XBOX vs PS2 the XBOX wins hands down for graphics, controllers, XBOX Live and - most importantly - for the fact that you can mod your XBOX with XBOX Media Centre. XBMC is amazing and I don't know how I lived without it. I just have to get my wireless setup working again so I don't have the LAN cable running across the floor from my computer to the XBOX. It's so nice to not have to burn media on to DVDs.

[Turbo D]

I have a ps3 and its pretty solid. Haven't had any problems so far. Its seen many hours of gameplay. Since I've got it I've beaten resistance around 3 times, ratchet and clank around 4 times, beaten simpsons, and put a lot of hours into other games. I've also spent a lot of time online looking at porn, haha.

Although I haven't had any problems with my psx or ps2, I've heard a lot of people have. I even modded my ps2 myself 

[guyjin]

it had better be as solid as a rock, for as much as people pay for it. 

[Joe Redifer]

I don't really have too many problems with my Thompson drive though. I think it was Burnout Revenge or Gotham Racing 2 that gave me the error screen from time to time. The XBOX would start to read it fine though once it warmed up.

I think mine has the Thompson drive, but I don't remember.  What I do know is that it plays Burnout Revenge perfectly from a DVD-R and skips/crashes on the real thing.

[MissaFX]

I think mine has the Thompson drive, but I don't remember.  What I do know is that it plays Burnout Revenge perfectly from a DVD-R and skips/crashes on the real thing.

I have an issue with 2 PC-FX games like this where they will end FMVs early and sometimes crash on the origional, nearly defect free CDs.  But I made backups of them and the backups on Diamond Silver media play without any problem at all.  My only guess the presses are a bit weak and the backup has strengthened sectors which it can read more easly?  My Sega Rally disc on the origional XBOX also is like this where my origional disc often hangs and crashes during loading, but off a DVD-R it never crashes.  Again I am just going to fault the people that made the media since I cannot think of any other explanation.  The PC-FX sure seems a lot more sensitive about it though.

[rolins]

I've used my Slim PS2 v12 everyday for 3 years now. Never seen scratch on any of my discs, and mine is the model known for a weak laser.

[Kitsunexus]

I was actually just thinking about the XBOX drive situation the other day, for no apparent reason. There used to be a picture of all the drives lined up, as each of the drive trays looked different.

EDIT: Found it!



Here's one for 360, but I don't know what the best drive is:

[Joe Redifer]

My Sega Rally disc on the origional XBOX also is like this where my origional disc often hangs and crashes during loading, but off a DVD-R it never crashes.

I have never seen the word "original" so badly mangled multiple times.  Anyway, Sega Rally was never released on the Xbox.

[MissaFX]

My Sega Rally disc on the origional XBOX also is like this where my origional disc often hangs and crashes during loading, but off a DVD-R it never crashes.

I have never seen the word "original" so badly mangled multiple times.  Anyway, Sega Rally was never released on the Xbox.

Sega GT something then?  It is on a disc with Jet Set Radio something or other.

Oh and I cannot spell to save my life, it is one thing I claim I absolutely cannot do.

[Kitsunexus]

You know what? I really loved my PSP version of Sega Classics Collection, and for some reason, it just stopped working a couple of months back, no visible scratches or anything, the UMD is where it's supposed to be, every other game I own works fine. 

I am getting a MAJORLY bad vibe from Sony. 

[Joe Redifer]

Hmmmm... maybe it has something to do with you or your living environment.  I've never heard of PSP games ceasing to work.

[NecroPhile]

As for XBOX vs PS2 the XBOX wins hands down for graphics, controllers, XBOX Live and - most importantly - for the fact that you can mod your XBOX with XBOX Media Centre. XBMC is amazing and I don't know how I lived without it.

Agreed.  It's too bad that MS quit making the original XBOX and games, as they'd sell nicely as cheap alternatives to the 360 (much like the PS2 is to the PS3).  Hell, even I'd buy one if I could get it brand new as cheap as a PS2.

My only guess the presses are a bit weak and the backup has strengthened sectors which it can read more easly?

They're likely poorly mastered rather than improperly stamped; ripping the iso and reburning probably fixed a few errors.

[Sinistron]

LOL anyone remember that 1990 movie "Crazy People"?  Sony...  Bony.

[MissaFX]

My only guess the presses are a bit weak and the backup has strengthened sectors which it can read more easly?

They're likely poorly mastered rather than improperly stamped; ripping the iso and reburning probably fixed a few errors.

Are you sure?  I know for a fact that nickle heads are often required to stamp more discs than the head is rated for, often in a later pressing because they do not want to go through the process of making new nickle heads.  I have multiple CDs I have acquired over the years which I am pretty sure are all badly pressed.  If they were badly mastered they the company who produced them should be drug out into the street and shot.  The mastering is such a by hand process done by professionals I expect quality.

[Kitsunexus]

The mastering is such a by hand process done by professionals I expect quality.

I thought it was more of a factory "crazy stamping machines with Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse" playing in the background" assembly line kind of thing...

[NecroPhile]

Are you sure?

Not really, but I doubt that any PC-FX games were made in large enough quantities to actually wear out a nickel father.

[MissaFX]

Are you sure?

Not really, but I doubt that any PC-FX games were made in large enough quantities to actually wear out a nickel father.

As a joke I'll agree with you.  I know for example one Sony makes is only rated to stamp 5000 discs, but they often use it for 10,000.  Some of the PC-FX games already seem to be on cheap media with uneaven foil on the top, I wouldn't put it past the people who made them if they were using the heads for far more than 10,000 presses due to the companies wanted to release the games on the cheap.

[TR0N]

Hmm that sucks kit either the laser isn't postion right or it's some thing.

I just have the old fatty ps2 and it works fine still.

Then again...i never did played it to death though since for the last gen i play my,gc more.

"Kind of sad realy though" it took two consoles befor sony got it right with the PS3.

Still the consumer is screwed on that as well with to many damn models.