Random Gaming Thoughts

[MrPopo]

Did the batteries run out? Those discharge even when you aren't using the controller.

[TSTR]

Nah, fresh batts and everything. Just won't come on at all. I always take the packs off anyhow. This thing literally sat in a basket for months and now it just decides to poop out.

[KalessinDB]

Went out for chicken wings last night with a couple work buddies. One of them had to work, but it was a massive commute back home for him, so instead he came to my place to play arcade games for a while between dinner and work.

I set up the Virtual Boy for him. Mario Clash. He liked it.

[Exhuminator]

I've never had controllers just stop working, like this.

It does sound extraordinarily suspect that all three would exhibit random misbehavior. What I would do, is get a PS2 gamepad to PC USB adapter, and try them out on your computer. If you go into the gamepad properties for each, it will show all inputs on screen, and light up each component when activated. This will be an inexpensive and easy way to test these controllers for true functionality.

[Snatch1414]

Nah, fresh batts and everything. Just won't come on at all. I always take the packs off anyhow. This thing literally sat in a basket for months and now it just decides to poop out.

I've been considering just buying a new in box 360 controller. I've seen them on eBay for like $19-26 from reputable sellers. I've gone through at least a few and the one I have now is kind of beat up so figure maybe I'll start fresh one last time.

[Sarge]

Stupid question: Did you check if the contacts are clean on the controller and system ports? Could be something gunking things up. Dunno. It is weird that all three would go belly-up like that.

[pierrot]

I typically store controllers in zip-lock bags, in a bin to keep them away from the elements, but yes, I did look at the connectors, and there doesn't appear to be anything that would cause an issue. I also tested all of them on both my US fat console, and JP slim console; Each one acted the same regardless of which console it was connected to. I have a DVD player remote control for the console, as well, and that has no issues with any of its buttons.

I put a couple minutes into researching the problem, and came across a thread on some other boards where a European user had pretty much the exact same scenario occur: left the console unused for an extended period of time, found all three of his dualshock 2 controllers were having issues with different configurations of unusable buttons. That user tested the inputs on a PC, as well.

Some in that thread were pointing to degradation in the cable shorting the data lines, which seems possible, but I don't find it all that likely. I have the tools to get a pretty good idea of what might be going on, if I were to open them up, but I'm just not sure if I should invest the time.

[Exhuminator]

Sounds like a faulty circuit component then, if it's across all controllers like that. Like a common capacitor or diode gone bad. Not making me feel great about all those still sealed brand new PS2 controllers I've had in storage for years (and years).

[pierrot]

Yeah, there were some other posts in that thread that indicated certain mechanical components that could be at fault, but either way, I'm not crazy about the idea of buying another PS2 controller only to have it do the same thing. My search pulled up enough hits that this issue doesn't seem to be an entirely rare occurrence, but there also doesn't seem to be any concrete information about what the cause is.


EDIT:
I went under the hood, so to speak, and am ~95% confident in my findings, but I'm not really happy about it. No apparent issues with any of the wiring in the cables, so that's kind of nice, I guess. Anyway, unlike most controllers, where the button contacts are etched into the PCB, a few PSX controllers, and (as far as I can tell) all PS2 and PS3 controllers have the button contacts and traces in a cellophane sheet that interfaces with the PCB through a ribbon cable. I was looking at this sheet on my black pack-in controller (almost 15 years old at this point) and found that the traces looked to be oxidized in places. I found that those particular traces did not have continuity (d-pad, select, and shape buttons). I tested the controller a little more rigorously in-game, and found that the start button, in fact, was still working, but couldn't find a way to test the shoulder buttons. Also, the analog sticks were perfectly functional, and even the R3 and L3 buttons worked.

I then opened up my silver controller (the newest of the three) and while I didn't see anything that appeared to be oxidized, the trace to the one button that wasn't working on it (right d-pad) was indeed the only one that didn't have continuity.

If there's a way to get proper replacements for them, then I guess it's not too big a deal, except that certain revisions of the controller apparently have the ribbon cable 'permanently' affixed to the PCB.

[Exhuminator]

The oxidation is believable, especially sealed up in ziploc bags. When you trap electronics in a ziploc bag like that, the humidity also trapped inside the bag has nowhere to go, so it begins to corrode. That's why in the other thread* when I was talking about putting electronics in sealed tupperware or ziploc bags, I recommended putting a silica pack in there also. Well man that stinks, I hope you find a fix for it.

* http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 28&t=50555