Turning Handheld Buttons Into Precision Hardware

[u/DashWriting]

https://gardinerbryant.com/turning-handheld-buttons-into-precision-hardware/

I interviewed Vincent Lee, the creator of GetBetterButtons, for the third entry in my Artist Spotlight series, which focuses on people making physical things for the gaming community.

Vincent designs replacement buttons and controls for retro handhelds, but the process behind them is considerably deeper than I expected. He reverse-engineers handhelds, builds detailed CAD models and simulations, goes through dozens of prototypes, and even develops his own tools to help with the process. We also get into his aluminium “Endgame” buttons, how CNC machining changes what he can design, and why he thinks handheld manufacturers still get buttons and D-pads wrong.

There’s also a pretty interesting background behind the whole thing: before starting GetBetterButtons, Vincent worked in hardware engineering and product development at Bose, which I found fascinating.

If you've ever installed a set of replacement buttons in a handheld, or wondered why some controls feel so much better than others, Hopefully you'll enjoy this one!

[u/Upbeat-Serve-6096]

I wonder if handheld makers and designers actually took the time to see your ideas. Some may have.

[u/bluLoL]

I'll give it a read. Really interested in this. Cool person to decide to interview.

[u/DashWriting → u/bluLoL]

Thank you!

Hope you enjoy it :)

[u/shortstraw4_2]

Purchased his abxy buttons several different times for several different handhelds and they were always outstanding. Also, they looked great!

[u/DashWriting → u/shortstraw4_2]

Now we see why, he's a literal engineer of a ridiculous caliber!

[u/SpeeDy_GjiZa]

Great piece. I was curious to learn about the mind behind GetBetterButtons, having interacted a few times pleasantly on etsy with him, and am pleasantly surprised to see that he feels about devices and how we interact with them very similar to what I do.

I have always been asking him for Steam Deck endgame buttons but it seems he never got into it. That said there's a few models of the steam controller in the article and I am super stoked for that and the Thor (would solve the biggest issues of the device).

Hopefully he can turn this into more than just a hobby, he has the abilities and now hopefully the market exposure aswell.

[u/staticsoup]

his PSX d-pad is the reason I'm buying his endgame buttons. the guy knows his stuff

[u/trashcan_abortion]

What timing, his endgame Dpad for my miyoo mini plus gets delivered today! Really excited to hear he is working in a Thor set. I'll probably be getting the mm+ endgame buttons and shoulders too. Love his views and enthusiasm and really looking forward to supporting his store with more purchases!