Just done PSP D-Pad mod..works amazingly!!

[Escape-To-88]

Not sure if this should be in 'ask the forum' but after struggling with the PSP's dreadful D-pad, decidced to do a pad mod.
Have never used the Capcom D-Pad cover as I have a white PSP and it would look crap, so decided to pick up a ready made solution from Fleabay.

All I can say is, it is frankly amazing! Spinning Piledrivers and Dragon Punches are no longer a sweaty 45 minute struggle!
I had read previous to the install, your PSP screen will get covered in dust if you do this mod, this is simply not true if you are careful.
While It does invalidate your warranty, as long as you use an anti-static surface (i used a record cleaning cloth) and have a can of compressed air to hand there are no probs! It's just a case of being careful!
I would recommend this D-Pad mod to anybody thinking of playing beat-em-ups on the PSP, I can no also use the D-pad for the likes of Sengoku Cannon and all the top emu gear, great stuff!

[Ajay1986]

Hey mate that sounds great was wondering if you could post any pics of it on the forums as id like to see it.

[Escape-To-88]

Hey mate, well have closed up the PSP and done the mod now as don't really want to open it up!
It is basically a sticky pad that goes on the back of the d-pad internally. Below is a pic of the instructions I was sent. They are translated from Italian so not 100% perfect english.You could actually make one yourself as not much to it, just thought I'd buy as slightly easier.

[roobarb]

great, now all we need is a nub-mod !

EDIT: well omg here we go! linky

[riku]

m8, i did the mod, and worked great, but due to carelessness, ive got some dust, and i can quite get rid of all of it with the psp dust cloth, err any tips on how to properly get rid of all of it?

[k0pp0]

Not related really, but this was pretty cool.. Can't believe I didn't think of it before http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/118/64/

[Daragon]

Not bad, that'll keep the fingermarks off the left portion of the psp, not sure I want to rip apart my only PS2 control pad tho...

[AlonzoUK]

I've just bought one of these from the same ebay seller and just fitted it. Like riku I was unable to avoid getting dust behind the screen although I've found that it isn't noticeable when you are using the unit so I'm not bothered. I did have an issue where if I pressed left or right on the digital pad it would move up-left or up-right but I found loosing the screw at the back slightly resolved this.

Have to say that apart from these little hiccups it works a charm - how sensitive are the buttons now

[Escape-To-88]

m8, i did the mod, and worked great, but due to carelessness, ive got some dust, and i can quite get rid of all of it with the psp dust cloth, err any tips on how to properly get rid of all of it?

I used a can of Compressed Air and was damn careful, I think I may have about 1 spec of dust in but if I do it's really not visible. I spent about 10 minutes cleaning and double checking for dust.

Star Soldier plays so much better with this mod! As does Exit, Virtua Tennis...well everything really! My analogue nub has become a bit redundant

[Square]

My graditude goes to Escape-To-88 for encouraging me to perform this mod. It is stunning. My PSP d-pad can now do diagonals, making games like Gradius Portable and SFZ3 playable. I can't believe what a difference a small piece of card can do, but that's really all it is

[bash]

Hi, just thought I'd give this old thread a bump to see if anyone knows where I can get my psp's d-pad modded? I'd rather dust wasnt under there after, but I know this can be a pain to avoid.

There must be somewhere that's providing this service?

[Anpanman]

Had a look at here at how to do the mod;

http://ufighterx.com/guides/videogame/pspdpadfix/pspdpadfix.htm

Have a question though, which glue did everyone use to stick the shim to the dpad

[Dogg Thang]

Can anyone say how this mod compares with the add-on thingies? I had a capcom add-on for my black PSP and got on really well with it. Once I learned of the existence of white add-ons, I tracked one down and switched to my white PSP.

But it's not working as well as I hoped. For some reason (even though my white PSP d-pad was originally better than my black on), even with the add-on, I have real problems with diagonal down-left. Down-right is fine, as are the other diagonals. It's weird. I've tried shifting the add-on a bit here and there but I can't seem to get my PSP to register down-left in any good time. So fireballs but no hurricane kicks, which is pretty useless - although, in fairness to SFZ3, I can pull off any move in that. They really must have done something wonderful in the programming. But CPS2 SFA1? Not a chance.

So now I'm wondering if this d-pad mod is the way to go. Has anyone had a similar problem in that one direction has been affected more than others? If so, did this d-pad mod make a difference? Has anyone tried both for a comparison?

[Escape-To-88]

I posted a comparison between the internal mod and external mod somewhere on these forums. As well as results of a dual external and internal mod. Do a search mate!
It is worht mentioning that some PSP's don't seem to take to the mod as well as others. My black PSP did not like the internal mod at all and had problems with up-left's, where as my white PSP was 100 times improved.

[bash]

Yeah, I applied this mod to my black psp and its an improvement but I havent been able to give it a proper once over with fighting games. I'd love to try it on a white psp given that its d-pad was better than the early blacks ones were. I might get rid of mine and track one down.

I didnt like the look of the add-ons so I avoided them. I havent heard good things about them, especially over time they start to wear loose etc. doing the mod is easy enough but getting rid of dust is a nightmare unless you're in an anti-static environment.