Defective PlayStation FAQ 1.0
What EXACTLY is the problem with the PSX?
Unfortunately, the SYMPTOMS are the only thing we have to work with right now. To say what the PROBLEM is, would be to form a conclusion. In fact, I believe I know what the problem is, but first, let's discuss the symptoms, and see whether or not they lead you toward the same conclusion.
Okay, what is the nature of the SYMPTOMS of the PSX problem?
First and foremost, is the quality of FULL MOTION VIDEO (FMV), at least, this is the symptom which most often manifests itself. The exact nature of the FMV glitch varies from system to system, from game to game, and from one occasion to another. In other words, this, as all other symptoms are intermittent, random, but not arbitrary. The symptoms vary from choppy video and sound (this is characterized by pauses and in sound and video) to screwed up audio (in varying degrees and ways), to complete inability to read CD's (the most extreme case I've yet encountered).
Do these symptoms occur in all PSX games?
No. In fact, you might encounter a game that works perfectly. Toshinden (or BAT, as people are referring to it) has no FMV, neither does Ridge Racer, so you can play these 24 hours a day for a week, and probably not encounter any problems. However, the intermittent nature of the symptoms means that even some FMV will work NO PROBLEM. Example: Philosoma worked 100% on my system, but Rayman crapped out... Arc the Lad crapped out, but Air Combat worked 100%. All three have FMV (well, Air Combat is letterboxed, perhaps the amount of information required was less, but this is certainly NOT the case with Philosoma which has incredible FMV). Well, I have nothing to worry about, because I have played Rayman, Arc the Lad, Solar Eclipse, etc., etc.,
I have encountered NO PROBLEMS, therefore my PSX must be good, right?
NOT NECESSARILY. Just because your PSX isn't cacking right now, doesn't mean it's good. It may be working fine NOW, but you can expect it to begin cacking (a little at first) eventually. For example, my buddy's PSX was by far the cleanest, 100% perfect unit among those I've experienced first-hand. After only a few days, Arc the Lad is now starting to cack. If HIS unit can cack, ANY unit can cack, since he is the most careful person when it comes to equipment, etc.
Well, it's probably just a bad batch... I mean, they shipped 100,000 units, how many could possibly have this problem?
Out of eight (8) units, SEVEN (7) have demonstrated symptoms described above.
Does the colour of joystick packaging (i.e. blue or pink) make a difference?
No. Plain and simple. Both blue and pink-package owners are reporting problems.
Has anyone contacted Sony about this?
Yes. My friend made a personal phone call and spoke to more than one person at Sony. Both individuals (a tech-support person and a white-shirt sitting behind a desk somewhere) both denied hearing of any problem (yeah right, doesn't Sony read the net?), then denied there being a problem, brushed the problem aside, and the white-shirt even GOT ANGRY with my friend, like it must be the way he's handling discs or something.
What can we deduce by this conversation with Sony officials?
Sony must know that there IS a problem, but they definitely don't have a fix for it, and they certainly won't admit to releasing a screwed up product... c'mon, this is SONY CORPORATION we're talking about, if you know anything about the Chrysler Mini-Van rear-hatch latch fiasco, you know what corporations are like when it comes to admitting that they screwed up. Luckily, PSX defects haven't cost any lives yet.
What do you think the PROBLEM is that is causing these systems to cack?
If you open up your system and run a CD that has FMV that normally cacks out on your system (do this by holding the little button down with your finger so the PSX thinks the door's closed), listen to the player as it tries to read the disk. You can hear it sampling, and re-sampling as it tries frantically to read the CD... it's like it can't find information, or something. This discounts most theories as to the problem being heat, bios, etc. The CD-ROM has trouble reading FMV information from the discs, plain and simple.
Are there any units that consistently perform well, without encountering these symptoms?
As far as I know, the only batch of units that consistently performs, and that have demonstrated no problems with FMV, are the Japanese units. Mind you, people are reporting difficulties in using American games in these units, but this has to do with boot disks, swapping, international lock-outs, and audio track configuration, and has NOTHING TO DO with the PSX problem causing FMV glitches in US units. In other words, the Japanese units DO NOT have the FMV problems (at least, not that I have encountered of/heard of).
CONCLUSION:
So what does all this mean?
In its travel from Japan to North America, the Play Station obviously underwent considerably more than just a country-lockout modification. They took out the S-video cable plug, for one, and it is my conclusion that they put in a cheaper, inferior CD-ROM drive unit. This is the logical explaination for the problems with the PSX, explains why discs sometimes work/sometimes not, and explains also why the Japanese units do not demonstrate the symptoms of FMV choppiness, etc. In its attempt to keep PSX prices low in N.A., Sony has skimped, and it shows.
So where do we go from here?
Write, call, Email (if you can... does anyone know the address?) Sony and demand an explaination. Everyone with a problem should do this IMMEDIATELY. They should also not take it out on the stores where they bought their units, but instead go to the store, ask for the manager, and explain to him/her the problem, explain that other units still in stock may or may not be deffective (although following my logic, they're all bad), and ask for a refund or exchange in the spirit of hey, you should be as pissed off at Sony as me instead of just I'm pissed off at you for selling me a bad unit and now not wanting to take it back. Believe me, a bunch of whining kids may not irk Sony at all, but when the buyers from Wal-Mart, K-mart, E.B., etc., start calling Sony, you can bet that the white-shirts are going to start adjusting their collars. Finally, I think this problem is big enough that the media deserves a shot at it. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, the technology reporters at CNN can. Besides, they're always hungry for the opportunity to take jabs at big corporations (look at the Windows 95 thing, how many comparison tests between OS/2 and Win95 did we see?... how many negative reviews?).
Are you out to GET SONY???
NO. I am not out to GET anyone. I simply believe that the problem is in the product, and that Sony should do something about it. As for those whos units are still 100%, I honestly hope that I'm wrong, but I still believe that you will eventually run into problems, and if those problems occurr 90 days from now, Sony can hide behind its 90-day limited warranty, so look into it now while you can still take advantage of over-the-counter exchange. Let's face it, after only 3 days release, this cannot be an abuse problem, it's hardware. Sony, if you're out there, please believe me that there is no shame in admitting fault, that their is honour in wanting to address the problem and fixing it for your over 100,000 customers, many of whom are wondering each time they load a disc whether or not it will work, and many of whom have no idea that a problem even exists, as they play their Ridge Racer or Toshinden. Recall them if you have to, but at the very least, look into the problem NOW.
PLEASE E-MAIL ME: ALENDVAI@UOGUELPH.CA
IF YOU HAVE NEW INFORMATION REGARDING ANYTHING DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT.
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THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS FAQ HAVE DONE SO UNOFFICIALLY, AND THEREFORE I CANNOT THANK ANY ONE IN PERSON. LET ME SAY THAT I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ANSWER PEOPLE'S QUERIES, USING THE INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED OVER THE PASSED FEW DAYS. EVERYTHING IN THIS DOCUMENT STILL OCCUPIES A POSITION OF BEING HEARSAY, AND THE AUTHOR MAKES NO CLAIM THAT THE CONTENTS ARE PURE FACT. THE AUTHOR ALSO DOES NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF USING THE ENCLOSED INFORMATION AS BASIS FOR ACTION, THE MAKING OF DECISIONS, ETC. THE CONCLUSION IS A CALCULATED GUESS, NOTHING MORE, AND PLEASE TREAT IT AS SUCH. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT AS DESIRED. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF THIS DOCUMENT, NOR CLAIMS ANY AUTHORITY OVER ITS CONTENTS.
