Really great video, ED. Thanks. I wish I could see (and touch) the next printed prototype case in person. I appreciate that you are having it made so that the piece in front of the display can be removed without disassembling the rest. I doubt I will need to access the stuff in there much, but it looks like disassembly and reassembly will be much easier. I just hope I don't break off the piece for the screw, or part of the logo, or crack my screen when I am poking around in there.
The beginning of the video made me not feel so wrong about saying "Pyra" the way I do.
Has anyone worked out what to do with the space on the front edge, to the right of the SD slots yet?
Obviously you can't have much because of the antenna just behind it - but something to break up the cheap-looking split line around the case would be good. Maybe a bit ot textured plastic? or a sticker?
Would be pretty swank to have a nameplate there.
I was thinking this or a case badge. Maybe "DragonBox" or the full name like it is at the top of this page, but possibly in a different font if people still think it needs a different one (sorry everyone, including myself, that doesn't want branding on everything). We might be able to get something custom made, or a small order, however it might interfere with disassembly, as others mentioned. I think a sticker might look cheesy, but it would depend on the sticker and the quality of the materials used. You know those stickers that leave residue saying "VOID" or whatever over and over...I think I will get one of those and put it there then rip it off.
As for the concern over the shoulder button pin area, although I prefer not to make suggestions that add cost or complexity, maybe a screw can be added to reduce the chances of it just snapping off, but that seems like it might weaken the pin since it will no longer be a solid chunk of plastic. I don't know how much of an issue it will be (or if there is still a chance for a semi-official metal case down the road). As mentioned earlier, making a place for a metal pin is another idea, but again, this adds pointless complexity and seems like it would be weaker, not to mention 2 more parts to lose with these options. I am fine with whatever saves the buttons/pins/case from damage caused by dropping, smashing or overly excited gameplay.
The battery cover bugs me a bit. I don't like it on the Pandora and I still don't like it on the Pyra. Mine has not broken yet, so I suppose I have no reason to complain. I will let those who have had theirs break complain and just agree with them. I understand the case in the video is very brittle, but that it broke shows that it is likely to happen, as is common with that method of attachment (but don't get me wrong, I love that we have easy access to the battery, unlike a lot of mobile/portable devices being sold now).
I am quite interested to see how the plastic for the final case is, since this may remove all concerns over the shoulder buttons and battery cover.
It would be cool if the 4 big gaming buttons (ABXY or whatever) could be replaced with Game Boy/NES buttons.
I forgot to quote whoever it was that mentioned the slickness of the Pandora, and possibly the Pyra. There is this adhesive texture stuff I have seen for use in showers, and probably other places where people slip (can't stop thinking of Slippin' Jimmy now). That might help.
