Console controller troubles - bad luck or ?

JonInMiddleGA · 01-09-2005, 09:58 AM

A little background here:

"Santa Claus" and "Mrs. Claus" waited just a little too long before acquiring PS2 & xBox consoles for a certain little boy in Georgia, finally finding reconditioned units of both at EB Games a few days before Christmas. Now, I've had decent luck & no major problems with "reconditioned" electronics on 2-3 occasions in the past, figured it was worth rolling the dice on. Included with both consoles were 1 "factory brand" controller and then 1 "after market" controller, MadCatz brand, factory-sealed for both systems.

Now, a couple of weeks later, we have:

1 brandname PS2 controller that doesn't work at all - no sign of trouble, it just stopped working entirely, the little red indicator light won't come on, nothing.

1 MadCatz PS2 controller that works ... except the L1 & R1 buttons don't work at all.

1 MadCatz xBox controller that has a similar problem with the "top buttons" not working.

Only the xBox branded controller appears to be fully functional (and it hasn't gotten much use so far).

My question is: Does it sound, to more experienced console gamers, like it's just a run of bad luck with controllers? Or is this a "MadCatz sucks" problem? Or a "EB stuff seems to give more trouble" thing? Or "not surprised because of reconditioned" thing? Or "you should try Brand XYZ controllers" thing?

I know next to nothing about this stuff, I recognize MadCatz as the sort of ubitiquitous aftermarket product because he's had a GBA for a year, basically
everywhere I look I see their stuff. Never really had any problems with a couple of accessories I've bought in their brand but maybe that was just good luck? I'm not looking for the mondo-hyper-coolest-uberfeatured controllers, he's 6 years old for cryin' out loud, I just want to get controllers that work consistently & are capable of withstanding a 20 hour a week punishment.

Advice & suggestions are appreciated.

terpkristin · 01-09-2005, 10:08 AM

I've had the worst luck with PS2 controllers.
The stock one died about 2 months after I bought the PS2.
The MadCatz one I had died after 5ish months.

Finally I went to Best Buy and bought 2 more PS2 brand controllers, and this time bought the warranty. So far, the newer ones I've bought have had no problems (knock on wood).

~tk

spleen1015 · 01-09-2005, 10:20 AM

The controller that came with my PS2 went out after about 3 years of use. I haven't had any problems with any others. The Dualshock I had with my PS1 still works.

My XBOX controllers have been working since I got them 16 months ago.

General Mike · 01-09-2005, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen1015

The controller that came with my PS2 went out after about 3 years of use. I haven't had any problems with any others. The Dualshock I had with my PS1 still works.

My XBOX controllers have been working since I got them 16 months ago.

Same problem here. The controller that came with my 1st PS2 is shot. My 2nd PS2 is dead and Best Buy has no MFing consoles so I can exchange it under my warranty plan.

wade moore · 01-09-2005, 10:32 AM

My experience overall throughout my gaming life has been that off-brand controllers are TERRIBLE... I have never had a name brand controller go out on me (PS2 or any of the nintendo incarnations)... Almost every off-brand controller I have bought has died on my relatively quickly...

CraigSca · 01-09-2005, 10:34 AM

I can't speak reconditioned PS2's, but my most recent reconditioned purchase - a Canon printer - has been an abject failure. It hasn't worked right from day one (I get all kinds of failure lights and the print stops halfway through the first page) and the recommendation to get it fixed is to take it to one of their warranty centers. Ok - that's a 1.5 hour drive, plus sitting around all day to get it fixed. Anyone else here feel like taking a day off from work to get their printer fixed?! Me neither...

cthomer5000 · 01-09-2005, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wade moore

My experience overall throughout my gaming life has been that off-brand controllers are TERRIBLE... I have never had a name brand controller go out on me (PS2 or any of the nintendo incarnations)... Almost every off-brand controller I have bought has died on my relatively quickly...

I just wanted to second this. I don't own any of the new generation consoles, but with every past console i did own, all 3rd party controllers were pure shit.

spleen1015 · 01-09-2005, 10:47 AM

Besides my first car, the only thing I have ever bought used were CDs. I can't wrap my brain around buying something that someone else has used before.

My best friend likes to buy used and reconditioned and he always has mountains of trouble. He had to return his referbished XBOX 3 times in the first week. I'm willing to pay the extra money to avoid all of these types of hassles.

JonInMiddleGA · 01-09-2005, 10:50 AM

I would have been more than willing to avoid reconditioned (since it was basically same price as new) but when there's not a new console to be found anywhere in a 75 mile radius, and Christmas is less than a week away ...

Airhog · 01-09-2005, 10:51 AM

I have a 3rd party controller that I have used during NCAA2k5 on the PS2. the controller just does not work right 100% of the time. I usually have to unplug it at least once to get it working again.

spleen1015 · 01-09-2005, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I would have been more than willing to avoid reconditioned (since it was basically same price as new) but when there's not a new console to be found anywhere in a 75 mile radius, and Christmas is less than a week away ...

Shop a little earlier Dad.

Logan · 01-09-2005, 11:07 AM

I also stay away from 3rd party controllers.

And yes, the Sony PS2 controllers SUCK too.

Eaglesfan27 · 01-09-2005, 11:19 AM

I've had very bad luck with PS2 controllers. I've found them to break very easily if dropped, and I've had plenty of clumsy young cousins come into my home and break one of my controllers. If your son is young and accidently dropping the controllers, I wouldn't be surprised to hear of them breaking quite quickly.

Craptacular · 01-09-2005, 06:40 PM

My NES controllers still work fine.

SackAttack · 01-09-2005, 06:48 PM

I've not had any problems with my Sony brand PS2 controllers. My Logitech PS2 controller also still works quite nicely after a little more than 2 years.

Other off-brand stuff, though...good night. I wouldn't touch most non-Logitech (or possibly Mad Catz) 3rd party controllers with a 10 foot pole and a hazmat suit. Every now and then I get a pleasant surprise, but usually I find that spending the extra 5 bucks saves me a headache in the long run.

SackAttack · 01-09-2005, 06:49 PM

Dola, Logitech makes non-wireless stuff too, so if you're having problems with MadCatz, I strongly recommend trying Logitech's corded controllers.

JonInMiddleGA · 01-09-2005, 06:52 PM

Thanks everybody ... and I didn't realize Logitech made controllers, so extra thanks to S.A. for that info.

Crapshoot · 01-09-2005, 06:57 PM

Are you able to return the one's you have JOn ?

JonInMiddleGA · 01-09-2005, 07:03 PM

How's "maybe" for a definitive answer?

At this point, it'd probably be up to whether my wife can find the receipts amidst all the Christmas debris that clutters her purse (and quite a bit of the rest of the house as well).

Plus, it's about an hour's drive just to try to make a swap on the controllers, so I'm thinking it'll probably just be a buy some & hope for better luck with the next batch sort of thing.

Incidentally, the factory PS 2 controller worked for a brief moment today, after messing with it a bit, clearly the problem is a short somewhere in the cord.

SackAttack · 01-09-2005, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Thanks everybody ... and I didn't realize Logitech made controllers, so extra thanks to S.A. for that info.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/productlist/US/EN,crid=2276

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/productlist/US/EN,crid=2310

There ya go, Jon. Straight from the horse's mouth, as it were.

Raiders Army · 01-10-2005, 04:41 AM

I just bought a wireless Logitech controller for my Xbox and I love it. It works great and has no delay in control.

01-09-2005, 10:08 AM	#2
terpkristin Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ashburn, VA	I've had the worst luck with PS2 controllers. The stock one died about 2 months after I bought the PS2. The MadCatz one I had died after 5ish months. Finally I went to Best Buy and bought 2 more PS2 brand controllers, and this time bought the warranty. So far, the newer ones I've bought have had no problems (knock on wood). ~tk __________________ GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin

01-09-2005, 10:34 AM	#6
CraigSca Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Not Delaware - hurray!	I can't speak reconditioned PS2's, but my most recent reconditioned purchase - a Canon printer - has been an abject failure. It hasn't worked right from day one (I get all kinds of failure lights and the print stops halfway through the first page) and the recommendation to get it fixed is to take it to one of their warranty centers. Ok - that's a 1.5 hour drive, plus sitting around all day to get it fixed. Anyone else here feel like taking a day off from work to get their printer fixed?! Me neither... __________________ She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! She loves you, yeah! how do you know? how do you know?

01-09-2005, 10:50 AM	#9
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	I would have been more than willing to avoid reconditioned (since it was basically same price as new) but when there's not a new console to be found anywhere in a 75 mile radius, and Christmas is less than a week away ... __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

01-09-2005, 10:51 AM	#10
Airhog Captain Obvious Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Norman, Oklahoma	I have a 3rd party controller that I have used during NCAA2k5 on the PS2. the controller just does not work right 100% of the time. I usually have to unplug it at least once to get it working again. __________________ Thread Killer extraordinaire Yay! its football season once again!

01-09-2005, 11:19 AM	#13
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	I've had very bad luck with PS2 controllers. I've found them to break very easily if dropped, and I've had plenty of clumsy young cousins come into my home and break one of my controllers. If your son is young and accidently dropping the controllers, I wouldn't be surprised to hear of them breaking quite quickly. __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

01-09-2005, 10:20 AM	#3
spleen1015 Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2003	The controller that came with my PS2 went out after about 3 years of use. I haven't had any problems with any others. The Dualshock I had with my PS1 still works. My XBOX controllers have been working since I got them 16 months ago.

01-09-2005, 10:47 AM	#8
spleen1015 Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2003	Besides my first car, the only thing I have ever bought used were CDs. I can't wrap my brain around buying something that someone else has used before. My best friend likes to buy used and reconditioned and he always has mountains of trouble. He had to return his referbished XBOX 3 times in the first week. I'm willing to pay the extra money to avoid all of these types of hassles.

01-09-2005, 11:07 AM	#12
Logan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NYC	I also stay away from 3rd party controllers. And yes, the Sony PS2 controllers SUCK too.

01-09-2005, 06:40 PM	#14
Craptacular College Starter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Mad City, WI	My NES controllers still work fine.

01-09-2005, 06:48 PM	#15
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	I've not had any problems with my Sony brand PS2 controllers. My Logitech PS2 controller also still works quite nicely after a little more than 2 years. Other off-brand stuff, though...good night. I wouldn't touch most non-Logitech (or possibly Mad Catz) 3rd party controllers with a 10 foot pole and a hazmat suit. Every now and then I get a pleasant surprise, but usually I find that spending the extra 5 bucks saves me a headache in the long run.

01-09-2005, 06:49 PM	#16
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Dola, Logitech makes non-wireless stuff too, so if you're having problems with MadCatz, I strongly recommend trying Logitech's corded controllers.

01-09-2005, 06:52 PM	#17
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	Thanks everybody ... and I didn't realize Logitech made controllers, so extra thanks to S.A. for that info. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

01-09-2005, 06:57 PM	#18
Crapshoot Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003	Are you able to return the one's you have JOn ?

01-09-2005, 07:03 PM	#19
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	How's "maybe" for a definitive answer? At this point, it'd probably be up to whether my wife can find the receipts amidst all the Christmas debris that clutters her purse (and quite a bit of the rest of the house as well). Plus, it's about an hour's drive just to try to make a swap on the controllers, so I'm thinking it'll probably just be a buy some & hope for better luck with the next batch sort of thing. Incidentally, the factory PS 2 controller worked for a brief moment today, after messing with it a bit, clearly the problem is a short somewhere in the cord. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

01-10-2005, 04:41 AM	#21
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	I just bought a wireless Logitech controller for my Xbox and I love it. It works great and has no delay in control.

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