DS2 controller problems.

[ereet]

I ran into my old friend, the worn-out-accelerator & shifter problem last night on my DS2, and wound up scrapping it earlier this morning when a Mission #34 run didn't go so well because of it.

Do I just have a lead thumb? Or have other people had issues like this as well. I know you can use the analog sticks for acceleration/braking, but I haven't done that well with it, as the throws from full accel to full brake seem longer than just switching a button. I wore out the X button on one of my GT3 controllers as well, but was rather surprised to see this happen this quickly. I guess GT4 just put a heafty load on an already worn controller.

Anyone who has had issues with DS2's like this, is there a fix for it? I've gone through DS2's before, and I know the inner workings of one. The only thing I can think of responsible for this would be the rubber between the circuit board & button losing it's original shape, from being pressed down too long. If that's the case, is there a cheap way you can get more without buying a brand new DS2? Seems like a waste for $30-40 bucks just cause a flimsy piece of rubber wore out.

 

[zoxxy]

I've never had the same problem. You might check if the cord is corectly inserted.

 

[ereet]

I've never had the same problem. You might check if the cord is corectly inserted.

This isn't a cord problem, it's the x button wearing out.

I spoke with a friend yesterday and he says he's gone through 2-3 controllers like that. That was my 3rd one. I figured a forum with so many people holding down buttons all the time would be filled with people like us

 

[Famine]

I did wear out one X button. It was within the 3 years warranty period so I got it replaced under warranty. So no help there then.

 

[jkrobby]

I had some problems with the X button and a shoulder button on two seperate controllers. In both cases the problem was either a build-up on the circuit board or a shifted contact pad under the button.

For the build-up, a little soap and water and a gentle scrubbing from a old toothbrush took care of the problem. For the shifted pad, just taking apart and re-assembling it reset the pad.

The whole assembly seems to be pretty sturdy. The only way I have ever permanently damaged one is to lose a close game of NCAA Football. My controller always takes those close loses very hard.

 

[Z32]

my ds2 from the gt3 racing pack (summer 2001) got better after about a year of wear and has been great ever since. when i got a new ps2 (may 04 online pack with network adaptor included, before the slim crap), the ds2 it came with was cheap crap. the pressure sensitvity is useable on only 3-4 levels and the casing wasnt the orignal black with gold metal flakes. i eventually wound up taking both apart to clean, and the new ds2 has been revised with crappier stuff. you can tell if you have the newer ds2 if the green rubber pads for the buttons have a black pad to contact the circuit board. only thing that looks better is the motors. if you can, try to pick up the first gen ds2 which is differentiated with the gold flakes in the black plastic. when me and my brother race, who evr gets the good ds2 is handicapped to a lesser car

 

[F310B]

I don't exactly treat my DS2 tenderly (I bash it on the floor when I fail to gold a license test, lose a race, lose at anything really), but I've never had any problems with it, it still works fine. I hold the controller real tight, so I often have to take a break because my hands hurt. It's usually me that struggles with the wear and tear of driving to the limit, not my controller!

I use the buttons, not the sticks. I couldn't cope with using the sticks. For steering it would be fine, but you just have to have two separate buttons for brakes and accelerator. You simply cannot operate brake *and* throttle through one input. It just doesn't work. Even if you don't press brake and throttle simultaneously, it has to limit your performance.

 

[Super Jamie]

I use the buttons, not the sticks. I couldn't cope with using the sticks. For steering it would be fine, but you just have to have two separate buttons for brakes and accelerator. You simply cannot operate brake *and* throttle through one input. It just doesn't work. Even if you don't press brake and throttle simultaneously, it has to limit your performance.

i beg to differ, i learnt to drive with the sticks during gran turismo 2, because digital throttle was a stupid unrealistic idea. now, i can't use anything but the sticks. i can move the car around with the buttons, but if i'm racing seriously i need the sticks

i find the concept of analog buttons ridiculous. a button should be either on or off, an analog stick is variable. i've also never found a use for trail braking (use of accelerator and brake at the same time) in gran turismo apart from doing a burnout

 

[amp88]

Trail braking actually means when you start off braking as normal for the corner but leave the brakes on at a lighter pressure as you turn in to the corner, not having brakes and throttle on at the same time.

I switch between the analogue stick for accel/brake and the buttons on the rally stages as I find it beneficial to use left "foot" braking in the rally stages to balance the car better

 

[ereet]

I find using the analog sticks for accel/brake bizarre, but my friend uses it quite well, and he beat mission #34 2 days before I did, so it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Famine -- Very nice informative piece there, I didn't realize the warranty on them was so big. I will be keeping the box/receipts for the next one I purchase so that I can pound away on it all day long.

 

[crazy]

I thought the warranty was only 1 year unless you purchased an extended warranty?

 

[the real 6c]

i had some similar problems with a ds2 awhile back.... I had been playing with the ds2 that came with my ps2, and since almost all the gaming o do is racing...I had worn grooves in both my ds2's x buttons from pushing on them while racing.

The arrival of the problem...I was running and would momentarily lose control of the car. Brakes/gas/or steering or any combination of them wouldn't respond. It was a mere annoyance until I lost a championship race because of it. SO i traded it in for a new one, then just decided to try out that wheel i had bought months before. I haven't went back to a ds2 for racing since.

 

[aerosaaber]

I'm on my third controller, but the others died because of Socom 2 and online play.
They got really inconsistent with the fire button and that doesn't work so well when your life is on the line.

 

[shorti]

I wore out 2 controllers like that too.. its normal.

 

[slowman]

I have several controllers that I use as parts controllers. I have friends that give me their worn out/smashed controllers, and I use them for parts. I have 2 controllers that are built out of at least 3 other controllers. If that made sense....

Doing this is necessary for somebody like me who has a short temper but at the same time has an addiction to getting all golds on Licence tests.

 

[Maturin]

I switch between the analogue stick for accel/brake and the buttons on the rally stages as I find it beneficial to use left "foot" braking in the rally stages to balance the car better

You can do this with the stick as well. Just map the brake to one of the shoulder buttons, which is more sensitive than the face buttons anyways.

 

[Crayola]

I had some problems with the X button and a shoulder button on two seperate controllers. In both cases the problem was either a build-up on the circuit board or a shifted contact pad under the button.

For the build-up, a little soap and water and a gentle scrubbing from a old toothbrush took care of the problem. For the shifted pad, just taking apart and re-assembling it reset the pad.

The whole assembly seems to be pretty sturdy. The only way I have ever permanently damaged one is to lose a close game of NCAA Football. My controller always takes those close loses very hard.

My DS2 "fell" off the TV according to my sister so now it doesnt rumble properlly, other than that it works fine. I suggest learning to use the stick for accel/brake though, once you get the hang you will drive a lot better.

 

[Crayola]

i beg to differ, i learnt to drive with the sticks during gran turismo 2, because digital throttle was a stupid unrealistic idea. now, i can't use anything but the sticks. i can move the car around with the buttons, but if i'm racing seriously i need the sticks

i find the concept of analog buttons ridiculous. a button should be either on or off, an analog stick is variable. i've also never found a use for trail braking (use of accelerator and brake at the same time) in gran turismo apart from doing a burnout

I left foot brake all the time in rally, especially on the snow, but I use the right stick to accelerate and normal brake and square with my index finger if need be (sounds crazy but Im used to it) Also, I thought trail braking was when you brake mid corner to correct either your line or weight balance.

 

[Super Jamie]

trail braking, left boot braking, whatever - i meant pushing both acceleration and brake buttons at the same time interesting about the rally/snow idea though, it's definately helpful to keep the car with its weight on the front wheels in snow, i'll have to give that a try, thanks for the tip 👍