Control problems with new SP?

G

govegan

CAGiversary!
Has anyone else had any control issues with the new backlit SPs? I was trying to play Metroid Zero Mission and many of the moves which I was easily able to do on my old SP were next-to-impossible on my new SP. Anything which required quick, precise movements of the D-pad was extremely hard to pull off. It seems like they made the diagonals way too sensitive, so if you're pushing right or left it's always registering as top-right, bottom-right, etc.

I'm just trying to determine if there's something wrong with my SP or if it's something wrong with all of them.
 
I noticed this while playing Zelda LTTP early on when I first got one. The issue seemed to iron itself out after using it for awhile.
 
The first SP I got (the old kind) was defective like that. I exchanged it for a new one (the old kind) and it works flawlessly!

Maybe you just got a lemon? Exchange and try again I say.
 
Sometimes you need to "break in" controllers. This happened with the 3rd party wireless controller I got for my Xbox - at first I thought it just sucked, but through a few hours of play, it works awesomely now.
 
I guess I'll play something like Advance Wars on it for a while. Something that doesn't require precise movements. Then I'll give MZM a try again. Hopefully it'll work better after a bit. I don't remember my first SP needing a break-in period, but it's worth a shot. Thanks.
 
Oh boy, I thought I was crazy. My SP2 controlled like ass on my favorite game, Kuru Kuru Kururin Jap import. My on screen character was all over the place. Whenever diagonals were used, it would make it jump around.

This was on a Graphite model SP2. Believe it not, the 2 Pearl Blue models I have do NOT do this, but my Graphite does, how weird.

A thread at Gamefaqs says the D-pad has a center click that allows more than one direction to be pressed at a time, the center actually pushed in. Maybe they changed the D-pad at some point in the production line.



Here is the thread at Gamefaqs
thread
 
OK, confirmed today on a Pearl Blue store unit. The D-pad on the Pearl Blue units I have do NOT push in at the center of the D-pad. The store Pearl Blue unit DID in fact push in at the center. So, there are two types of D-pad, one that pushes in at the center and causes control issues on certain games that require sweeping D-pad motions and one that does NOT push in at the center, but rather rocks to one of the directions.

This is weird, why would they change the D-pad. I can't imagine that their extensive testing revealed that the D-pad should push in, thus making the game register more than one direction at a time.

maybe the new pad is bettter on some games, and you have to learn to not push the center.
 
I got a reply from Nintendo today. They are not aware of two different D-pads on the GBA SP. I am going to try again, but I went to WalMart today and they still have a few of the old style D-pad Pearl Blue. I have yet to see a Graphite model with the old pad. So if you want an old style pad, try your luck with the Pearl Blue. I was able to confirm again with 2 Pearl Blue models with different D-pads.

Here is the response:

Message(#6851-000469-3091\4693091)

Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,

I am happy to respond to you. Setting aside the argument that there were two different directional pads made for the Game Boy Advance SP, which I checked on and we are not aware that two designs were made, there are no games that respond specifically to the center of the directional pad being pushed. From what you described, it sounds like one of your systems is not working the way we intended it to, and may need to be repaired.

I hope this is helpful.

Sincerely,

Nintendo of America Inc.
Sharon Matheny

Nintendo's home page: http://www.nintendo.com/
Power Line (Automated Product Info): (425) 885-7529

-----

Here is my email:

Hello, please do not send me a canned response. I am 40 Year old Nintendo fan and would like a researched answer.
The new Pearl Blue and Graphite Gameboy Advance SP models with the new screen are great. Thank You for making it.
However, I have noticed that there are 2 different D-pad designs on these units. One has a center click where you can push in the center of the pad, and the other does not, it will rock to one of the directions and you cannot push in the center.
I own both styles and difference is obvious, and not a defect as I tried numerous units in store and saw both kinds of D-pads on Pearl Blue and Graphite models.
I was having trouble pulling off sweeping D-pad motions in Metroid Fusion on the new Graphite model and then put the same game in my old Cobalt model and did not have the same issues with the control pad. I then noticed that my old Cobalt model had the D-pad that could not be pressed in at the center. Other users at various forums are reporting the exact same issue.
Here are a few links
http://cheapassgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1431012#post1431012
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=2000108&topic=24128435
Why did the D-pad get changed? Which D-pad will be produced from now on?
The model that has the center click causes control issues on games that require sweeping D-pad motions because if pushed in, more than one direction is registered by the game, very annoying. You can easily tell by simply pushing in the center of the D-pad, some will push down in the center, thus activating more than one direction, and screwing up your game.
Some have the old style D-pad where you cannot push the center in, thus forcing one of the directions to be activated.
I know about focus testing and production problems, defects, etc, but this is obviously a change in the basic design of the D-pad.
Nintendo created the D-pad on the NES, and I cannot imagine that they have somehow broken it by changing it.
I own over 120 GBA games, and this D-pad thing sucks because you have to go to the store, open the unit, see if it has the center click D-pad, then return it if it does, not good.
I know it has a warranty and I know it can be returned. What I want to know is:
Why the D-pad change?
Why do some models have one pad and some another?
Which D-pad style will be made from now on?
Please get this to the appropriate staff, and let me know what is going on here. Feel free to call me on the phone.
 
My graphite SP had the problem with the D-pad clicking in too, it was pretty annoying in games that required holding down the D-pad and moving it around. I tried my friend's pearl blue SP and it didn't have the problem, so I took my graphite SP back to CC and exchanged it for a pearl blue one that works great. I bet Nintendo might be getting a lot of returns on the graphite model. I'm kind of amazed that they could screw up on the D-pad.
 
haha, and a few morons from this forum were trying to make me feel bad for buying an older model, ouch, THE FLAME BURNS DOESN'T IT?
 
i haven't noticed it with mine, and i've been playing a lot of king of fighters 2, kuru kuru kururin, and tecmo super bowl...i guess i can see what you mean if i really try to mess it up, but i haven't had it happen by accident in any game...
 
Just wanted to say big up to Nephilim for doing a lot of leg work on this issue. Has anyone gotten any official confirmation from Nintendo on what's going on here?

I was half-way considering dumping old platinum SP for one of the new SP2's, but now I'm not so sure...
 
Yeah, the only model of sp I was interested in was the retro version, then when I got one I got dumped on all over in this forum because it wasn't "NEWER BRIGHTER BACKLIT SCREEN OMG!!!!".
 
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