Nintendo finally got back to us about reports of cracked DS Lite hinges. Here's the official statement we were sent:"In the U.S., the reported number of small cosmetic cracks in the plastic hinge of DS Lite systems represents less than 0.02 percent of the total units sold. This cosmetic issue in no way impacts the gameplay or integrity of the DS Lite. Nintendo stands behind the quality of our products and encourages DS Lite owners to contact our Customer Service Department if they are not happy with the functionality of their systems."
The 0.02% figure is based solely on reported cracked hinges, and as such, does not reflect the actual percentage of defective DS Lites. While merely cosmetic -- know that some reports claim the damage can worsen -- the crack, in our opinion, should be considered under the DS Lite's warranty. But don't go crying to Customer Service just yet ... if the instance is as rare -- and harmless -- as Nintendo claims, these imperfections will no doubt end up as collector's items sold on eBay. Who wants to place the first bid on ours?
(Page 1) Reader Comments
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If Nintendo considers this an open and shut case, then I think some action on our part as consumers may need to be taken (e.g. class action suit).
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But really, that blows. Just wait till they get more reports. The more people that see this, it seems, the more people who actually bother to look at their hinges.
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http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/top/nintendo-capitulates-offers-free-repairs-for-cracked-ds-lites-188778.php
This has been echoed by one or two people recently in the Penny-Arcade forums, so it seems Nintendo's getting the message. Calm down, people.
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Hopefully Nintendo gets their stuff together on this one and stops being dodgy about it.
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If this was a Sony product Joystiq and all the intarweb Nintendo fanboys would be crying about how Sony hates the consumer.
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As long as they replace any units with the crack with a new unit, then what more can they do? If I'm unlucky enough for mine to develop a crack in the hinge cover, then I'll just go and get it exchanged from the retailer where I bought it from, failing that contact Nintendo and organise a replacement or repair.
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2) Don't open and close the thing violently.
Problem mitigated.
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Some people say things like "as long it does not affect my gameplay is ok", well as consumer you should demand a satisfactory responde from Nintendo.
No shits like "Less than 1 out of every 5,000". Because a lot of people just here has notices the crack on their DS Lites.
Nintendo should fix this for free.
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Why is the crack always on the left hinge?
There isn't a single report of the right hinge.
Coincidence?
I think not.
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Are people taking stupid pills over this? What more do people want then their unit replaced??!
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Fixing 5,000 or so to make everyone happy...? Pennies to Nintendo.... a customer service cost.
Now, I would see them trying to get out of a mass recall... but if they're so rare... just fix them
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1) Stop folding your DS lite back all the way ("flat"). That will put less strain on the hinge.
2) Don't open and close the thing violently.
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Optimus, neither of those things contribute to the problem. For one, opening all the way flat is perfectly acceptable - even the in-store demo models are opened like that.
And besides, I do neither of those things and still have a crack.
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What are you talking about? Am I the only one who has actually tried to get this fixed?
My wifes unit had a crack and when I called Nintendo customer care, they agreed to replace it for free. They are sending me a return label now.
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One more thing. Quit you’re freaking’ whining, seriously I don’t know if my DSLite is cracked or not because I don’t care. Tiny insignificant harmless flaws are not at the top of my list of things to worry about.
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Not because I care, just because I can.
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Big note here problems that arose with Sony and Microsoft systems have prevented people from playing the system (disc read error/overheating). Besides that, Nintendo has a good run of durable products. It's like if a good kid (Nintendo) does something bad vs if a little hellion(Sony) does something bad. The hellion's gonna get his ass grounded, the goody two is just gonna get a slap on the hands. Why? Because it's likely the good kid didn't know better, while the bad kid doesn't even give a crap no matter what the crime.
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I think the blogs and the websites jumped the gun on this issue as it's quite clear that this problem is quite new and recent, thus no real policy has been set in stone yet to handle the problem. If it affects the gameplay or anything, likely it would be free. Being that this crack aparently doesn't, folks don't quite know how to handle it.
Anyhow, wait until something solidifies before jumping the gun. I'm sure the folks at Nintendo are still looking into this issue. It's quite apparent that blogs can cause more harm than good, especially when a so-called "policy" is seen as final when it may be an error of judgement of a few individuals at said company. It happens all the time, and being that we're getting conflicting reports from blogs and now even gamespot and such, it looks like some clairity is due soon.
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At lease they aren't calling it a work of art that no one should criticize...
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#17 (Blah), people got pissed at X360 because the damn things were scratching CDs, freezing games, and just plain screwing up. This is not the case with Lites.
Frankly, I feel this is all hysteria. This is not the sticky square button of the PSP, or the overheating 360's. I bet something like %95 of everybody with the cracks would have never even noticed the damn things if they hadn't seen an article about them. It's a cosmetic problem, and a barely-noticeable one at that.
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...That's the only way to explain this blip on the radar...
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My Lite is actually in Nintendo's care right now. I sent it to them (using the UPS label they mailed to me) last week because I had ONE dead pixel in the top screen. Only reason I really sent it in is because I prefer playing GBA games on the top screen, since the touch screen tends to have finger prints and the pixel was irritating. When I reported it then had no problem mailing me the label. They also sent me an email saying I could wait several weeks to see if it really affects my game play before sending it in.
I'm currently climbing the wall awaiting my baby's return and it seems so petty to have sent it in. This is to say, if I notice a crack in my hinge a while after getting it back I don't think I'll be sending it back in. Just doesn't seem worth it.
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Fucking morons I say, but there seem to be plenty of them here in Sweden which buys the DS :(
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Has anyone here with a black DS Lite had any problem with the left hinge cracking? If not, it's all the more reason for me to pay a couple extra bucks to get the sexier color.
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That's why UPS is taking my baby back to Nintendo tomorrow.
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As for if Nintendo will fix it for free, I think they will most of the time (it may vary depending on the rep, but most seem nice enough to go ahead and do it). I believe this because I remember actually slamming my SP so hard it literally shattered the screen and damaged the battery pack (I was really pissed at the time, and since the SP was in my hands at the time, I irrationaly threw it). I called up Nintendo Customer Support, and even after telling them I threw it intentionally (even though under anger's influence, still something most companies wouldn't cover), they still said they would repair it for free and even cover shipping.
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So Nintendo replaces it with another one, and who says it won't crack again in a month or two??
For those that have cracked DS Lite... please visit
http://dslcracked.awardspace.com/
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Honestly people. If you have a problem with it, contact Nintendo. They are reasonable company and apparently are starting to take care of it. I cannot blame them for not doing it for free right away. If you had a company and only had a few complaints of people wanting new ones because of a crack in the plastic, you would have the same reaction (that the people probably dropped them or something). This is really the case when you have calls of people requesting the black ones because of the cracks.
And the cases of the hinge coming off are BS! Yeah if you have a crack and then start pulling at the screen I am sure it will come off. The Lite has to be abused for the top screen to come off!!! And the only way the crack can get worse after the eventual break through is if you get some huge amount of dirt in there to make the hinge bigger. Otherwise it is a clean break, and no spidering should occur (of course unless you abuse it!!!!!!!)
I can understand if the crack bothers people, so just call Nintendo and quit wasting people's time bitching and moaning and praising Sony and M$ to make you feel better, because all you are doing is wasting everyones time. The people have been warned... what more is needed. Complaints to a blog site aren't going to help, because all it looks like is a case of vocal minority. The only way to really gauge how many are cracked is to call Nintendo, they use the serial numbers to verify the correct number of units. Don't go giving your serial number to some stranger. (those numbers are good for getting free stuff from Nintendo, and it could just be a scam to get a ton of numbers and become the top Nintendo customer and win all the free prizes!!!)
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But seriously, I think this is a rare case, when these stories are posted, everyone who had a crack posted they had one, but not many readers (which I'm sure Joystiq has many many more that never post) have posted that theirs isn't cracked. Well between my two other friend's with DS Lites (one imported Blue) and my own, there were no cracks. So come on Joystiq, how about a poll?
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Today, however, the term is often used in reference to anybody seen as overly worried about "nit-picking", small details of form, style and etiquette, uptight or distressed over ordinarily minor problems, unable to adopt a philosophical attitude toward mistakes, and worried about non-functional cracks in their DS Lite hinges. This metaphorical usage has become so commonplace that the somewhat graphic literal meaning of the phrase is often overlooked by those using it.
Another term used in a similar context is "hair-splitting." The intended implication is that an "anally retentive" person needs to "loosen up" a little instead of "holding on to it."
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# of people with cracks + (Sony + MS fanboys who don't even have a DS Lite) = # of reports
Therefore,
# of people with cracks =/ # of reports
iff people is defined as anyone who reads this article at Joystiq.
Class dismissed
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