How to make your PSP d-pad not suck

[davidbrit2]

Anybody else with a PSP will probably agree that the d-pad as it comes from the factory is crap. You have to be the Incredible Hulk to hit diagonals. It turns out it's rather easy to fix, as long as you don't make any bone-headed mistakes.

http://ufighterx.com/guides/videogame/pspdpadfix/pspdpadfix.htm

I adapted this a bit from what they describe, but the difference is like night and day.

THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE YOU START:
You will completely void the warranty. So if you slip with the scissors and stab the screen, you're out of luck.
You absolutely must have compressed air before you open the PSP. I'm serious. It's insane how much dust this screen attracts. Unless you're working in a clean room suitable for microchip manufacturing, it's going to look like hell within 5 minutes of opening the casing. No amount of lens tissue will wipe it all out, either.

I did the procedure slightly differently. Rather than cut out a big plastic cross shape, I just cut 4 little tiny circles about the size of the carbon dot actuators. And rather than permanently gluing them in place, I used (INFINITESIMALLY SMALL) pieces of poster putty. One weird side effect of this mod is that I can now push the d-pad straight down and hit all 4 directions at once. Heh. The difference is amazing, though. I could probably actually play a decent game of Gradius on this thing now.

[segarocks30]

Anybody else with a PSP will probably agree that the d-pad as it comes from the factory is crap. You have to be the Incredible Hulk to hit diagonals. It turns out it's rather easy to fix, as long as you don't make any bone-headed mistakes.

http://ufighterx.com/guides/videogame/pspdpadfix/pspdpadfix.htm

I adapted this a bit from what they describe, but the difference is like night and day.

THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE YOU START:
You will completely void the warranty. So if you slip with the scissors and stab the screen, you're out of luck.
You absolutely must have compressed air before you open the PSP. I'm serious. It's insane how much dust this screen attracts. Unless you're working in a clean room suitable for microchip manufacturing, it's going to look like hell within 5 minutes of opening the casing. No amount of lens tissue will wipe it all out, either.

I did the procedure slightly differently. Rather than cut out a big plastic cross shape, I just cut 4 little tiny circles about the size of the carbon dot actuators. And rather than permanently gluing them in place, I used (INFINITESIMALLY SMALL) pieces of poster putty. One weird side effect of this mod is that I can now push the d-pad straight down and hit all 4 directions at once. Heh. The difference is amazing, though. I could probably actually play a decent game of Gradius on this thing now.

I like the PSP D pad, it feels good and comfortable.

[MarkMan]

But VERY non responsive.

:(

The self-mod works wonders for games that need that extra movability.

[Slate]

I may do this mod to my PSP (If i don't sell it by then), although i will not do it until my warranty is up, wich will take awhile since i bought an extended warranty.

[meancode]

The D-Pad from CAPCOM is also a good choice. It voids you warranty too BTW.

Poster putty is a great idea. If you use the CAPCOM D-Pad I recommend taking the permanent-sticky stuff off and use poster putty or the link to attach to your PSP. This way if you ever want toe CAPCOM D-Pad off, you can actually take it off.

[Anthony1]

Wow, that's sweet. Unfortunately, I could never try that myself. I would be too worried that I would F something up. Maybe when you can get a PSP for $99 I'll try it. That way if I F it up, I'm just losing a c note. Of course that still sucks, but much better than losing 2 1/2 c notes.

[Jibbajaba]

Bumping this one back up. Anyone else try this? I am thinking about giving it a go, but would like to hear some other opinions. Does it make that big a diference?

Chris

[downfall]

Bumping this one back up. Anyone else try this? I am thinking about giving it a go, but would like to hear some other opinions. Does it make that big a diference?

Chris

Same boat as Chris here. I hate both the PSP Analog Nub and the D-Pad, but I currently feel the Analog Nub is the lesser of two evils, and will use it when I can. I want to like the D-Pad though, so I'm all up for this if a few more people respond.

[Jibbajaba]

Well, if no one else responds, I'll just go for it! But first I am going to go trade in my PSP for a brand new one.

Chris

[keiblerfan69]

I also have heard that putting a quarter over the d-pad works great too. I think using some poster putty would hold it on well.

[davidbrit2]

I don't think the quarter would do much. The problem is that the rubber switches have to be pushed farther than the d-pad is physically designed to do easily, and the diagonals become really stiff because of this. It's not really an issue with the d-pad not sticking up far enough out of the face plate, because even if you take two fingers and push on two directions, you can tell it's still extremely unresponsive. Putting the cut up bits underneath the d-pad fixes this by making the travel depth shorter.

But anyway, I've been using my d-pad like this for probably a good month or so now, and it's absolutely fantastic compared to what it used to be. If you don't want to cut up an NES sleeve, or don't have any handy, the metal shutter of a 3.5" floppy disk works wonders too.

[Anthony1]

I don't think the quarter would do much. The problem is that the rubber switches have to be pushed farther than the d-pad is physically designed to do easily, and the diagonals become really stiff because of this. It's not really an issue with the d-pad not sticking up far enough out of the face plate, because even if you take two fingers and push on two directions, you can tell it's still extremely unresponsive. Putting the cut up bits underneath the d-pad fixes this by making the travel depth shorter.

But anyway, I've been using my d-pad like this for probably a good month or so now, and it's absolutely fantastic compared to what it used to be. If you don't want to cut up an NES sleeve, or don't have any handy, the metal shutter of a 3.5" floppy disk works wonders too.



Hey bro, you need to start a service where you will do this mod for peoples PSP systems. Only thing is, it's going to be hard for me to ship my PSP off to somebody. That's like sending off your 360 to be modded. You gotta wonder if you'll ever see it again LOL

[Anthony1]

Well, if no one else responds, I'll just go for it! But first I am going to go trade in my PSP for a brand new one.

Chris


Hey Jibba, if you try this mod and it's successful, I'm going to have to get you to do mine. Considering your local and all :D

[halbert]

I did this mod on my PSP yesterday, seems to have worked pretty well. If anybody has any questions, I'd be happy to try to help you.

[Jibbajaba]

I just exchanged my PSP using the "Gameplay guarantee" deal, and while I was doing it, I asked what the terms of the agreement were. Basically, you can do anything to your PSP and they will replace it. If you try this mod and mess it up, they will replace it. You can remove the warranty sticker inside the battery compartment, and it voids the factory warranty but not the Gameplay Guarantee that EBGames and GameStop have. (I specifically asked about modding the PSP or changing the faceplate, etc.)

I am mentioning this because I am going to mod my PSP tommorow as well as change the faceplate, and if I break something, all it will cost me is $29.99 for another PSP and a new gameplay guarantee.

I'll post what I think about the mod once it's done!

Chris

[keiblerfan69]

Looking forward to seeing the finished product Jibbajaba.

[halbert]

My mod worked quite well - Until it all came apart and I had to take it out again. Glue true. Glue well.

[Slate]

I just exchanged my PSP using the "Gameplay guarantee" deal, and while I was doing it, I asked what the terms of the agreement were. Basically, you can do anything to your PSP and they will replace it. If you try this mod and mess it up, they will replace it. You can remove the warranty sticker inside the battery compartment, and it voids the factory warranty but not the Gameplay Guarantee that EBGames and GameStop have. (I specifically asked about modding the PSP or changing the faceplate, etc.)

I am mentioning this because I am going to mod my PSP tommorow as well as change the faceplate, and if I break something, all it will cost me is $29.99 for another PSP and a new gameplay guarantee.

I'll post what I think about the mod once it's done!

Chris

That gurantee is awesome. Looks like i'll do this mod to my PSP too, Although i am NOT using a NES sleeve, I'll try the metal shutter off of a floppy.

And, where can i get faceplates for my PSP? I want that blue fusion one that looks like the old Blue Pepsi.

[Jibbajaba]

OK, mod performed. I can't believe what a difference it makes. I'm whooping ass on Darkstalkers. IT's a shame, all Sony needed to do was mae the rubber on the gasket thicker in a few spots and the d-pad would have been tits out of the box.

I modified the procedure slightly, taking Davidbrit's advice into consideration. Using poster putty instead of a hot glue gun is a MUST. I had to adjust things a few times to get everything the way it should be, and a hot glue gun would have been a problem.

I found that I had to try it out and then make adjustments a few times. So I recommend cutting the little deal out, sticking it on, closing your PSP but not replacing any of the screws, and then firing it up for a test run with a game that uses all four directions of the d-pad. I used Darkstalkers. This way if something isn't working right, you can just shut the machine off and open it right back up. In my case, pressing right always caused the machine to register both right and up. I had to trim the plastic cross a few times to get it right.

Also, the can of air is non-negotiable. You will regret it if you don't have it handy when you crack your machine open.

Anyway, this mod is totally worth it, and unless you are a total goof, there is really nothing you are going to do to mess up your system. You aren't dealing with any delicate parts or anything. If you have been on the fence about doing it, I highly encourage you to give it a go.

Chris

[nik]

plus that eb replacement thing keeps your balls off the walls!

[davidbrit2]

There's one thing I should mention about the poster putty approach. It's perfectly safe to do, and will let you get a feel for the sensitivity of the mod and decide if you like it or not, but over time, it's very likely that one of the installed risers will slide out of place, making you have to open the thing again. If you eventually decide to glue them to keep them from coming loose, I'd recommend you look for a bottle of Krazy Glue that has the brush applicator inside the cap. It's super easy to use that stuff without making a mess. Just swipe the back of your little cutout, and drop it in place. Adjust it with the tip of a small flathead screwdriver before the glue sets, and then press it down nice and flat.

[meancode]

EGM this month suggests using a quarter. Try it. It works great!

[Jibbajaba]

EGM this month suggests using a quarter. Try it. It works great!

Open up my PSP and glue a quarter inside? Or lay it across the d-pad under my thumb? Wouldn't it slip all over the place and scratch my machine?

Dude, the NES sleeve trick works great. It's worth the trouble.

Chris

EDIT: It would seem to be easy enough though for a company to design a hard rubber overlay that you could put on top of the d-pad to improve it's performance. If it were shaped in such a way as to fit over the buttons, and shaped on top to be ergonomic, that would be a great product. And unlike the Capcom product that voids your warranty, this would not be something that would be permanently attached.

[meancode]

tape a quarter to the top of the d-pad. I like to use poster putty, but hell a small piece of duct tape seems to work too.

[keiblerfan69]

tape a quarter to the top of the d-pad. I like to use poster putty, but hell a small piece of duct tape seems to work too.

Yeah I got that idea from the 1up Show.