The worst news is that there's no fix. "Since this is caused by hardware characteristics, there is no plan to fix it with system software update." Looks like it's here to stay. We're still waiting on a statement from SCEA but, from the looks of it, they won't have much new to add.
Update: SCEA response, after the break.
"On some occasions, scan lines may appear on scenes where brightness changes drastically, due to the hardware features of the new LCD device on PSP-3000. Installed with this new LCD device, PSP-3000 offers more natural and vibrant colors on its screen, but the scan lines have come out to be more visible as a result of improving response time to alleviate the afterimages on PSP-3000. Since this is due to hardware specification, there are no plans for a system software update concerning this issue."
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
10-21-2008 @ 3:36PM
conor said...
It is probably the games fault because of the refresh rash or what ever it is visible. new games wont have this older ones hopefully will get patches.
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 3:40PM
Phil S. said...
That's a shame. I was looking forward to the upgrade to the 3000. I was looking forward to being able to play on the Non-progressive scan TV, the matte finish and the 'better' screen.
I guess i'll have to go to Best Buy to see if they have the new 3ks on display to see for myself.
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 3:50PM
Warner Young said...
Phil, good call. For everyone who's griping about this without having seen it, I think your best bet is to try and find one on display so you can see for yourself. Some people will find it annyoing, while some will find that it's not very noticeable.
I normally find interlaced displays fairly noticeable and distracting, but the 3000's display really didn't jump out at me as all that noticeable. The better color gamut is noticeable, and it actually seems a little brighter overall than my old Phat's display. But until this issue came up in the news, the only thing I'd noticed was that I could see the scanlines when I moved the PSP around at various angles. Didn't notice them when playing games.
10-21-2008 @ 3:54PM
pixelator said...
So according to Japan and now SCEA, this is a FEATURE and we should be satisfied to have inferior visuals on our new PSP models... And those of us who don't like it can lump it. Bad move, folks.
Typical, classic, all-too-familiar SONY. Tell you what, I'm not going to buy a PS3 this year as I'd planned, and I'm certainly not buying another PSP model. I'll ebay my old games that were waiting for the upgrade 3000 after I sold my 2000 last month and that's all she wrote. Get back to me when you're a little more consumer-friendly, Sony.
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 4:09PM
Darlaten said...
Well, that response made up my mind as to whether or not I wanted to trade in my existing Slims for the newer model. Good on you Sony to release a device that has a "feature" like this. Keep em coming :)
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 4:31PM
aj said...
I was not planning to upgrade to the 3000 since I only JUST bought my 2000 a couple of months back. However, this issue with the screen will certainly prevent me from upgrading in the future after I wear out my poor little 2000.
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 5:05PM
Ed said...
This is good news. I was going to upgrade my PSP-1000 but now I can save the money.
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 5:29PM
bryansurvive said...
good thing i didnt go for this.
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 5:34PM
General Specific said...
I laugh. I still have a phat. It's probably still going to be the best PSP for a few more years!
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 6:11PM
themizarkshow said...
glad i held onto my 2000model instead of selling it to get the 3000 one.
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 7:40PM
Khaled said...
So what people have to be stuck with these scan lines?
What a joke Sony!
Way to rip off your consumers! Better make a fixed one and have all people with this problem under warranty return it & fix it!
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 8:39PM
Anthony said...
So here's a weird one. I had a 3000 black pre-ordered on Amazon, and they just canceled the order, and the black bundle is no where to be found on their site. Maybe all the backlash with the screen?
Reply
10-22-2008 @ 11:25AM
Christopher said...
That's kind of weird. Amazon doesn't usually cancel orders without a reason.
10-21-2008 @ 9:48PM
Jacksons said...
I had no plans to upgrade from my 2000 (why would you..?) but it's still unfortunate.
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 10:20PM
ryan said...
so, i bought mine launch day, can i return it? i have been playing echochrome, so i didn't notice the lines until i stuck in a different game... :(
Reply
10-21-2008 @ 11:09PM
Squirtbot said...
I sold me 2000 version 2 months ago on ebay, so that I could trade up on a 3000. I was waiting for the black pack, so I haven't bought one yet. I really hope they fix this screen, because I want a new one bad!
Reply
10-22-2008 @ 12:41AM
Jeremiah said...
I just returned mine the guy a Best Buy says people have already started returning them due to the screens. This is going to bite Sony in butt big time... On a positive note they did have 1 last GOW bundle and I picked that up instead, and I am very happy with that purchase :)
Reply
10-22-2008 @ 2:20AM
Grant said...
Have a PSP-1001. I'll forgo the 3000 until the scanlines are hopefully resolved. In the meantime, I think I'll go out and buy memory for my 1001 instead.
Reply
10-22-2008 @ 11:23AM
Christopher said...
IAWTC
10-22-2008 @ 7:51AM
Dr Haisook said...
I upgraded from phat to slim (2000), and I wasn't very impressed. The device (mine was made in China) feels cheap, creaks, and has screen alignment issues (I opened it up yesterday, voiding the warranty, just to align the screen a bit to the right using a piece of hard paper). The thing I like about it is that it's finally portable. I carried it my pants pocket the last plane trip. The phat had to be put in a handbag. Other minor advantages are USB charging (you don't need to carry the charger on vacations), better D-pad, better analog nub, and slightly better WiFi.
So my advice is simple. Upgrade to 2000 or 3000 only if your main interest is a smaller, lighter, pocketable version of the PSP. And try to get a Japanese one. Those Chinese ones are poorly manufactured. Otherwise, keep the phat, it's a quality product.
Reply