Is it me or do official PS2 controllers break a lot?

[THXII38]

is it me or do PS2 controllers have weak L2 & R2 buttons?

I've gone through 3 controllers in as many years, as the R2 button particulalry seems to get "stuck" sometimes after it's been used for a while, about 12 weeks or so, and I can hear a rattling sound in there, on some games it's not a problem, such as Colin Macrae 3 as the button isnt used, but on other games, it can be a total pain in the neck, playing something like Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and then your controller just jams up in the middle of a fire fight.

[RJ]

Only problem I've had w/ 'em occurs when I chuck 'em against the wall, & even then I'm able to get them back to working condition. The one I use now is held together w/ electrical tape.

They're pretty resilient IMO.

[Mr. Smashy]

I've never had a problem and I've been using mine for a few years now.

[allsport11]

Got a version 7 PS2 and it's hardly ever used and still the R2 button either sticks or won't go in at all on the controller. Never had a problem with the V4 controllers I had before that.

[Starcade]

I am happy to report, my PS2 controller has easily gone through over 800-900 hours of gameplay, and still works like a charm.

[Retsudo]

I think they are made a lot cheaper then the PS1 controllers. Mine works fine, but I can hear something rattling inside. It also use to stick while throwing grenades with the R2 button in Socom US Navy Seals. You have to press the button hard to throw the grenades far.

But it still works.

[katchoo]

is it me or do PS2 controllers have weak L2 & R2 buttons?


i would have to agree...i broke the one of the R buttons playing SSX tricky :)

[tholly]

i have never had a problem, but my roommate at school had a controller that the directional pad and shoulder button wouldnt work correctly on. i took it apart and did a little cleaning and it worked fine, but it wasnt used improperly, so you would think it would not need to be repaired

[Jibbajaba]

I have never had a playstation controller break or in any way stop functioning. I did have to replace my first PS2 controller, but thats because I accidentally burned through the cord with a candle.

Chris

[Flack]

One of my two PS2 controllers R2 buttons sticks, and it was that way when I got it.

[kai123]

Maybe you guys need to wash your hands before playing. :P Sticky controllers. :puke:

[Mr.FoodMonster]

My triangle button on both my controllers suck terribly. I dont know why either, its not an all that common used button. I think the X button would be worse off, but it isnt.

[Aussie2B]

I haven't had any problems with mine, and I've never had a poorly working controller I couldn't improve greatly with a good cleaning (except for crap I can't clean like a N64 stick). Just a couple days ago I opened up a PSX controller only to discover that the D-pad had been broken into four chunks (one of them being a tiny piece that I just threw away). I have no clue how someone could manage that, but hey, it still works fine, so I'm okay with it. :P

[Trellisaze]

No button problems yet, but I've still got a quick story to relate. The PS2 controller is the ONLY one I've slammed to the floor in frustration (thanks to .hack's terrible interface) since the SNES days. Sure enough, the controller still works just great. The handle did come apart a bit, but that hasn't even caused a comfort problem.

[-hellvin-]

So far none of mine have failed but my blue one that I use it feels like the left side of it is about to snap. It always makes a crunching sound like it's about to split along the seam.

[THXII38]

Well, I am convinced that the analohue controllers for the PS1 are of better quality than the PS2 controllers, a lot of the time the PS1 controller will work on my PS2, but on some games it will not.

both controllers are essentially the same, but the PS1 oontroller is a lot older, and still going strong.

[Pedro Lambrini]

I have to say while working in my game shop I have found over the years that PS2 controllers are returned far more often (in a percentage sense) than any other controller! And I do mean any other controller, even the N64 ones don't come back as often! Most of the time it is sticky buttons and, yes, they are usually the shoulder buttons. Second weakest controllers seem to be DC ones for some reason.

[Cantaloup]

I've gone through 3 controllers in as many years, as the R2 button particulalry seems to get "stuck" sometimes after it's been used for a while, about 12 weeks or so, and I can hear a rattling sound in there, on some games it's not a problem, such as Colin Macrae 3 as the button isnt used, but on other games, it can be a total pain in the neck, playing something like Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and then your controller just jams up in the middle of a fire fight.

I had the same thing happen with my first PS2 controller. Just out of its 90 day warranty period, something broke off from under the R2 button (and I am not rough on my controllers). You could hear it rattling around inside, probably either a spring or a piece of plastic. Sometimes it would get jammed underneath either the L2 or R2 buttons, making them inoperative. Shaking the controller a bit would dislodge it temporarily. If I was lucky, it would stay out of the way someplace for awhile and work normally, although sometimes the vibration mechanism would kick it hard and launch it.

I eventually bought a new controller, which so far is OK but has only been used a little. I tried to open the old controller, but I could only get half the screws out. If anyone has any tips for getting the screws out of the controller, please share.

[Tritoch]

I've never had what you guys are talking about happen to my PS2 controllers, yet I've still had TWO break on me. Both times it was due to a jolt of static electricity jumping from the palm of my hand (shocking the crap out of me in the process) to the plastic casing when I touched the TV set while holding the controller. In both situations the controller became useless because the directional pad would think I was constantly pressing it downward. Taking the plug out and plugging it back in didn't fix the problem either, so obviously it fried the circuit board or something. For example, when I went to a menu screen in a RPG afterward the cursor would quickly cycle through all of the available options by itself. Controlling anything with the analog stick or d-pad became impossible.

Fortunately I finally learned my lesson, and ALWAYS drop the controller before doing anything with the TV. Let that be a lesson to you all, lest you suffer the same fate! :)

[Oobgarm]

Never had a Sony-branded controller crap out on me, PS2 or otherwise. And I was an avid FreQuency/Amplitude player at one point, plus I'm usually rough with my controllers. I've even slammed one into a concrete floor out of frustration. Still works perfect despite a slight crack on the side.

[robotriot]

My PS2 came with two 3rd party controllers - I broke the first one in about two or three days of playing Rez after I got the system. The plastic cross that sits under the dpad had one of its sides broken off, no chance on glueing it back on. I hope the second one holds out a little longer. Are there any 3rd party controllers you'd recommend? As in being very sturdy and cheaper than the Sony ones at the same time :)

[Pedro Lambrini]

Are there any 3rd party controllers you'd recommend? As in being very sturdy and cheaper than the Sony ones at the same time :)

I quite like Madcatz controllers - the seem to be quite solid. I have soft spot for the retro style one, the one that looks like a sardine tin(Hmmmm, sardines on toast! :-P ). However, they do make me pakish after I've been playing for a bit!

[rpepper9]

The only problem I have had with my R1, R2 or any button for that matter would be anger issues. I have carpeting in my family room and the controller has taken quite a few trips to the floor...........hard. I think the carpet is the only thing that has kept the contrlers from shattering all together. I have thrown it down so hard that the controller has split and the Rand L 1&2 buttons have started to come out. I just pushed them back in and snapped the controller back together and everything worked just like new.

[Ninja Blacksox]

Yeah.

They don't do well when slammed against a tile floor at about 60 mph.

Stupid "Hot Shots Golf 3."

That being said, I was eventually able to find the R2 button that popped out upon impact.

I popped it back in without any problems at all. I've been using the same controller for two years now.

So they're pretty okay.

-A Boy

[Mitch_Naz]

Never really hade a problem with mine and one's pretty banged up but I sometimes have problems with the controller not connection correctly with the game which isnt a big problem and can be fixed be taking out and putting back in.

[Ninja Blacksox]

Never really hade a problem with mine and one's pretty banged up but I sometimes have problems with the controller not connection correctly with the game which isnt a big problem and can be fixed be taking out and putting back in.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2002/20021011l.gif

-A Boy

[rpepper9]

Is it fact or just PS2 myth that if you unplug a controler out of the PS2 while a game is running or while the PS2 is on can cause you to lose you saves on the memory card?

I have a friend who said he lost a GTA III save because he pulled out a controller while the game was starting up. I don't know if it was at the exact moment the PS2 was accesing his save or what but he said it happened.

True or Myth?

[Joelius]

I still have my original one i got when i first bought my PS2, which was awhile ago. I went cheap and bought a MadCatz one, and as soon as i opened the sucker the D pad stopped responding, unless you jammed it really hard. Then I went out and bought a real Sony controller, and the joystick went a little off after awhile, so i opened her up and put her back together, and she works beautifully. So if she can survive me opening her up and taking everything apart of her and putting her back together, it's gotta be a good controller.

[ubersaurus]

Mine doesn't work at all, and I can't figure out why. Just...stopped.

[Azazel]

From reading this thread it look like the controllers can break as easily as the systems can.

[Boboduo]

I have problems with the Rumble feature, sometimes it will cause
unwanted button presses, like when it is vibrating L1 or L2 will activate.
I usually shut off the feature in the game.

[DigitalSpace]

I have two first-party controllers, and they work fine.

[Cantaloup]

Updating my previous post...

My new controller is now broken in exactly the same way as the old one. :angry: I wish I could open it up and fix it, but none of the screwdrivers I have seem to be able to do the job. Does anyone know the name/size of the screwdriver I need?

Edit: I finally got a decent screwdriver and opened up my old controller. Out tumbled four small pieces of nearly identical plastic. I put it back together (after some initial problems getting the L2/R2 buttons fitted correctly) and it seems to be working OK. No more rattling or buttons that can't be used. I guess I'll have to see how it does over time.

[Sylentwulf]

Amusing side note. That Honda Robot (I forget the name of it, the one that walks up stairs, etc..etc... I'm sure everyone knows which one I'm talking about) uses a playstation controller. When asked about it, they essentially replied "these are the most indestructable controls in the world, why make our own?"

I've never had any first party controllers on ANY system break on me. Although I DID lose rumble on one of the first playstation 1 controllers I had that came out with the rumble feature.

[tritium]

I've had a psone 3rd party controller die on me, and two ps2 controlelrs 1st party.

-Tritium

[NESaholic]

I have a problem with my psone joystick, the buttons are totally screwed, i can't use it properly, i have to buy a new one.It seems that the button keeps itself pushed in so it sellects immediatly after putting the game in, i can still play but can't use some weapons or tactics in games because of that.
If you look at the joystick nothing seems outta the ordinairy but still it's screwed, i guess it had it best times.

[DaBargainHunta]

It's not just you.

I've gone through 3 official Sony Brand PS2 controllers as well.

In fact, I just posted a thread asking for controller recommendations:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=474221

I went with the Logitech wireless after several people recommended that (I'm currently awaiting it in the mail).

[Psycho Mantis]

on 2 of my PS2 controllers the X button doesn't work unless you press it hard.
I'm Suprised the O button hasn't broken yet from all the Gitaroo man I've played