Why does everybody...

[ShockSlayer]

...put thier buttons on the top of thier portables? I just want an answer.

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Isn't it easier to hold on the bottom?

Fixed ASCII -vb

[gamer2]

Why do boobs smell good?

Why do the sun come up?

They just do

[vskid]

...put thier buttons on the top of thier portables? I just want an answer.

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Isn't it easyer to hold on the bottom?

It depends. Ben has made some with the buttons on the bottom. It kinda varies with the system and how the case is designed.

[Sir Games-A-Lot]

I think that most custom portables are rather heavy so the become unwieldy if you hold at the bottom like a Gameboy Color or something with the controls at the bottom. Just a guess, if mine ever gets finished it's controls are gonna be at the bottom cause it's smallish.


EDIT: Yeah very scientific gamer2.......

[wallydawg]

Honestly I can't think of any portables like that. The only ones I know of with "buttons on the top" are landscape portables that have them even with the top of the screen, and not above it.

[ShockSlayer]

Yeah. My ascii sucks.

I just don't get it. I'll have to try one myself.

SS

[sammy]

Because you use your thumbs to push them and as far as my hand goes. They are not located in such away that I would be able to press buttons located at the bottom. Your thumb is most used for pressing buttons as far as console/handheld gaming goes.

[bicostp]

...put thier buttons on the top of thier portables? I just want an answer.

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Isn't it easyer to hold on the bottom?

With the buttons near the top, the rest of the portable can be supported by the heels of your hands. (For example, a PS2 controller has those arms on it where they hid the rumble motors...) It reduces fatigue.

Take a hardcover book and hold it like a portable with the buttons near the top. Now reposition it so the buttons are on the bottom. The first arrangement, for most people, is a lot "easyer" to hold for a long time (<10 minutes).

Besides, for systems that need them, you can have shoulder buttons on top of the unit (the long, skinny side facing away from you), and the extra fingers can help hold the unit.

It's all ergonomics.

(oh I cleaned up the ASCII diagram a bit, too. copy and paste if you want, just leave it in the code tags and it will look fine.)

[Nicholai]

So the system won't be top heavy and cause tendonitis while holding it?

[gannon]

Simplist explanation: Center of gravity

[Kurt_]

I think usually the most obvious reason is the fact that SNES+ systems have shoulder buttons, and nobody's finger is this long:

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[ShockSlayer]

Umm. Kurt_ that explains a lot. But what about custom made buttons on the back?

I say the best way to put in a controller's buttons is in the middle with custom made L + R buttons on the back.

SS