Hi, as you may know (if you've read any of my other posts) I'm trying to start a business, and part of that business involves designing and producing accessories/parts for video game consoles.
I have decided to hold off on the design of the N64 power supply until I can come to a good solution to a few issues I am currently facing. At the current moment, I am getting ready to move onto the next stage of design for a NES controller I am creating. It is as close to the original as possible to maintain the original feel of the controllers. I am aware that there are plenty of other 3rd party manufacturers of these controllers, but the main difference between my design and the other competetors' designs, is staying true to the original. This includes quality, look, feel, design, and sturdiness. The only thing different between my design and Nintendo's original design is that my PCB is two-layered instead of single-layered.
One of the biggest parts of the controller are the buttons. These are the most important part, as the user controls the game with them. I've felt many controllers from third-parties before, and they don't feel right when compared to OEM controllers. The buttons are the hardest thing to get right. I've seen tactile pushbuttons be used before, and it only works sometimes. Most of the time, they feel far too clicky and rigid - and unpleasant. Some controllers I've felt have mushy, spongy, soft buttons that take a full second to return to their normal position. It feels gross, slow, and is very hard to use when controlling a fast-paced game. Anyone who has owned an NES or still does: Do you remember the feeling of the original controller's buttons? They were clicky, but in a good way. They were satisfying to push, and they felt natural. This is what I'm after. I am hoping to find a supplier for silicone conductive buttons that will work with me to find the right design that feels almost exactly like the original buttons.
The material for the conductive pads will be carbon.
If you can help me find the right supplier for this application, I would be very grateful.
And yes I have done research myself, but I want to ask the community what they feel is best because I know there are probably people here who have designed things that needed silicone buttons of a good quality.
In case you are curious how far I've gotten in the design, I've finished the schematic and PCB layout on EasyEDA and built a working experimental prototype. The next stage is designing and prototyping the buttons, shell, and labels.
Thanks!
