Sony makes faulty PS2s on purpose?

[Michael Bluth]

More than 50 million people worldwide find consolation, in a Sony PlayStation 2 console.

But despite being one of the most complex pieces of technology in the world, some Watchdog viewers are finding that their PlayStation 2s just won't play.

Lawrence Lomax and his friend Lewis Moore both bought PlayStation 2 when they first came out. However, about a year after they bought them, Lawrence started to notice disc read error messages being displayed when they tried to load some games.

Lawrence told Watchdog:
"I've had a PlayStation 1 and the next logical step was a PlayStation 2, about two months after the warranty ended I started getting disc read error. You turn the console on and you hear a click sound which you know contributes to a disc read error."

Lewis got his PlayStation 2 for a Christmas present, it started showing disc read errors. He says:
"Sony support centre said they could either fix my machine or send me a refurbished one. I got the refurbished one and 10 months later the same thing happened again."

Out-of-warranty these repair or replacement options can cost you between £65 and £80.

So all of a sudden some of the very first PlayStation 2 consoles in the UK go wrong. Sony do accept that some units may fail, but refuse to acknowledge it's a design fault. Our cousins from across the pond don't agree.

That's why in July 2001, lawyers filed a class action lawsuit against Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

In the document they allege that Sony has manufactured thousands or perhaps millions of PS2s which are unable to read some CD games. They also say that Sony have known about this problem, but have refused to issue a recall of the product.

But in this country at least, for some PS2 owners like Keith Lawrence and Lewis, it's Game Over between them and Sony.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/entertainment/index.shtml?subcat=play

[Virtual]

xbox does the same fucking thing.

[smellslikenintendospirit]

"You requested an explanation of the term 'disk read error'. Very simply, a 'disk read error' means that a disk (and the date contained thereon) cannot be read by the Playstation 2. In the case of a DVD movie, that same disk would very likely also not read on a standard DVD player. A ‘disk read error’ is not a fault — but merely the symptom of a fault.

"In our experience, disk read errors occur for three principal reasons — 80% of disk read errors are actually the disk. Proper disk handling and good condition of the disk is of paramount importance to the correct functionality of any disk based product. A further 10% of disk read errors are caused by dust on the lens of the laser, which can happen after extensive use of the product over a long period of time, particularly in smoky or dusty environments (combining a dusty lens with damaged disks is a sure-fire way to produce a ‘disk read error’, though there is no actual fault with the hardware unit).

"Finally, a disk read error can be due to a problem with the consoles after a long period of time and substantial use. This usually happens at a time when the unit’s one year manufacturer’s warranty has expired. In all cases these faults can be rectified (damaged disks will need to be replaced, but lens’ can be cleaned and faults can be rectified).

"We entirely refute that there is a ‘serious inherent defect’ in Playstation 2. We have sold about 4.2 million Playstation 2 consoles in the UK in the last 2.5 years, and we stand by the quality of our product. In common with most other consumer electronics suppliers, we supply the Playstation 2 with a one year manufacturer’s warranty.

"Inevitably, no product is perfect and despite our rigorous quality testing, a small number of machines may slip through the net. This number for Playstation 2 falls significantly below the industry average associated with consumer electronics of the power and complexity, but we acknowledge that this is little solace to the person who purchases such a machine. For this reason, we operate a system of replacement or repair (replacement with a refurbished unit within 48 hours done at the consumer’s convenience, by courier and at our expense under warranty).

"Whilst it is unfortunate, if a console ‘fails’ after its warranty has expired, we offer a service of replacement or repair for out of warranty machines at a charge of £65 for replacement, or £80 for a repair (which entails two extra courier charges, collection and return) — we do not make any profit in this. We aim to replace machines in 48 hours or repair within six weeks (in practice, most repairs are completed in four weeks)."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/entertainment/index.shtml?subcat=play2

------------

cheesy reply from Sony...

[Michael Bluth]

Originally posted by Virtual
xbox does the same fucking thing.

Yep. Same thing.


:sleep:

[Hip-Hopper]

As long as mines still works I'm cool. :)

[JackieChanIsGOD]

Fuckin PS2...
Doesn't even play DVDs fuckin properly...
Fuck them and their shitty products...
I had to wait fucking 2 weeks for them to replace my fucking burner too......


FUCK.

[Virtual]

Originally posted by JackieChanIsGOD
Fuckin PS2...
Doesn't even play DVDs fuckin properly...
Fuck them and their shitty products...
I had to wait fucking 2 weeks for them to replace my fucking burner too......


FUCK.
still not as bad as how many times Windows crashes..:o

[JackieChanIsGOD]

Win98, yes... that sucks...

WinXP Pro = Nice...
Still has problems, but better than fucking sony products...
Overpriced peices of shit.

[smellslikenintendospirit]

WinErr 007: System price error - Inadequate money spent on hardware

[Jushiko]

*has had no Sony problems to date*

whoo

[Haris]

Originally posted by Phantagram
Yep. Same thing.


:sleep:

Uh...not for me. :uhh:

[Dwhitten]

Yeah my ps2 sometimes doesn't play dvd's.

[nigelfloe]

^my xbox does

[JackieChanIsGOD]

Yeah after paying 30 bucks to activate it...


LOL

[Michael Bluth]

I paid $24, thanks to my employee discount. And honestly, I'd much rather use the remote than my controller, even though the controller is very comfortable :)

[nigelfloe]

i got a good deal on the xbox: the box, 2 extra controllers, a disc holder, 3 games, and the dvd kit 4 $270

[MistakenID]

i have that problem with my ps2. i gotta turn it on its side and then itll start playin the disc. it pissed me off in the beginning but now im used to it

[Gunpei]

I knew I was fucking right!

Sony also does this with their TV's, VCR's, and DVD players.

[Hobo Moe]

I didn't think I was the only one with these problems.


My brothers PS2 has almost altogether stopped playing any Playstation CD that has the blue back. It'll play the ones with the normal silver colored backs, but when you put in a blue one, it starts whirring and chunking and it actually engraves mini-circles onto the image part of the CD (the part without the information).


I'm still surprised my PSX still works.


And I know if I get a new cord, my Sega Genesis would work more often than almost any other system I have.

[Sendok]

I have yet to have a prob. with either my xbox or ps2.

[cheetahmanhood]

I haven't had this problem yet, but I don't know why Microsoft and Sony don't fucking(sorry for language) care if there systems are faulty and I have friends who have had this problem, and who couldn't afford a new one, and they were left without any next-gen console.

[Viper]

Capcom blasted sony for this very reason just over a year and a half ago. It played a small role, initially, in Nintendo getting the RE exclusivity deal. Any one whith the ability to check NFire archives back that far (if they do), will find at least 2 reports from Capcom regarding the "mechanical obsoletism" as it was called about Sonys machines failling and using brand loyalty, lack of same generation hardware from rivals (before GC and Xbox launched) to over exaggerate the userbase to the public and developers to get them to make games for Sony systems.

My NES, SNES and N64 still work fine. All my friends PS1s no longer work and half of them have had to get new or refurbished PS2s. My best friends has failed and needed replacement 3 times.

I think a lawsuit here is needed.

[PhixedDice]

The only problem with my PS2 I've had, is that it has froze once while playing VF 4.. but so did my GCN while playing Monkey Ball...

[dn03]

i always have a problem when i put my gamecube games in a ps2 i just cant fihure out why

[sonicVSmario]

Microsoft and SONY should merge and create=Crappysoft, with the Playstation 2 using Windows as its OS, its 100% to not read discs! *sony fanboys rush to preorder while I laugh because i have Gcube.
Actually, i have all 3 systems. The ONLY system i have EVER had trouble with is..Playstation 2! Even CAPCOM knows Sony makes defective PS2's! "Remember kids, if you want a REAL system, get a Nintendo or Sega system! 100% SUPA fun, amzing!" *peace sign* lol