Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

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bacteria
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

Post by bacteria »

Both shoulder button holes done.

Cut hole in case back for the game cart; pic showing it being held in place. Thought the curves made it more interesting:

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Next job will be to make some larger buttons for the A, B, Start, "C" and make holes in the case front for them. These buttons will be larger than normal, to fit into the GBA style. Not sure if going to vacuum form them, probably will.

After that, time to paint.
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

Post by CRTGAMER »

Looking beautiful, the cart a nice flush fit!
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bacteria
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

Post by bacteria »

It looks like I can fit my large MakoPad 64 / SuperPad Plus 64 joystick in place after all.

Here is a rough guide on looks - thinking about using these coins for the vacuum formed buttons as they are about the right size. The button sides can be black (the black 1mm plasticard I use) and a button top made from card (coloured to represent the button colours of course) and stuck on would work fine.

Everything just put in approximately the right places, just for effect. End result will look far nicer of course; this was just to get an idea of placement.

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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

Post by MrPopo »

Which side are you planning on putting the Z button on? It seems like you might run in to some space concerns because it'll be conflicting with the mechanisms of the other parts on the front of the case.
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bacteria
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

Post by bacteria »

"Z" button goes at the back, best placement is on the right hand side as the right hand controls the buttons, the left hand the joystick/d-pad.


Ok, vacuum formed one of the A and B buttons and two of the "C" buttons so far. This at least means I can make the holes in the case now prior to painting it.

Here is one of the buttons cut-out, against two others made and still in their mould. The buttons will raise above the case by around 3-4mm

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Will probably just buy a small pot of paint for the green, red, blue and yellow buttons.
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

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bacteria wrote:"Z" button goes at the back, best placement is on the right hand side as the right hand controls the buttons, the left hand the joystick/d-pad.
Hmmm... I'm not sure I agree with that. On the full controller it's under your left hand and placing it on the right side will screw with a lot of muscle memory. Plus, many games relied on you hitting both R and Z at the same time, and it won't be comfortable to hit Z with your middle finger.
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

Post by bacteria »

This is one of the points about modding cases, some people are more left handed or more right handed than others, more used to holding items like a case in a different way and of course some people have large hands and some have thin hands; some long fingers, some short.

When making holes for a case, you have to hold the product and put the holes where your fingers and thumbs will work naturally. For me, my middle finger on my right hand is entirely the right choice for the "Z" button; i've played on my iNto64 portable (as mentioned before, this N64 portable is up for a raffle prize at the moment, so if you want to enter, please buy some tickets) and with games using "Z" like Super Mario, Conkers Bad Fur Day, etc and it really feels to be in the right place; positioned where my right middle finger rests, natural and works well.

If you make your own portable, there is no reason you shouldn't put the button placement anywhere you want it, of course.
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

Post by MrPopo »

Yeah, some games makes sense or are fine with having Z under your right finger, but a game like Goldeneye probably wouldn't work so well. If you're going to be selling these premade cases to people you probably want to take into account that some people will prefer Z under one side or the other.
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

Post by bacteria »

Indeed; in fact i'll be offering the cases at different stages of completion at different price points. If someone wants the buttons in certain locations and are going for the ready-case option ("delux version"), they can specify where they want the holes cut, no problem.
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Re: Bacteria's making a new casing that's "modder friendly"

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The A, B, C and Start buttons are made (the Start button will be painted red, at the moment it is white in the pic); placed roughly into position. Next job is to cut the holes out for them, and the d-pad.

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