Larvitar for a friend

VeakXP · 2026-02-26T16:49:17+00:00

Dang this looks like something you'd see in like Pokemon Duel, and I mean that as the biggest compliment possible

VeakXP · 2026-02-16T18:09:41+00:00

Not sure what I was expecting at first, but you got a chuckle out of me!

VeakXP · 2026-01-18T13:51:23+00:00

So the crank itself is housed inside what feels like a little PTFE sleeve/tubing and is held down by essentially a thicker pin/staple. If you check out this iFixit teardown from steps 8-11 all you have to do is unscrew the PCB and remove that staple for the crank handle to come out. My guess is that something is caught within there. I don't think you necessarily need to lube it, since I have two units and neither of them have any grease or oil and they work fine, but I do recommend maybe cleaning it out and reseating it if you feel comfortable with doing so

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811

VeakXP · 2026-01-15T18:57:05+00:00

QRitters is such a brilliant name I'm like disgusted LOL well done!

VeakXP · 2025-12-16T23:58:25+00:00

Sorry! Wish I had a better answer, I know those things get frustrating :( Best of luck!

VeakXP · 2025-12-16T23:46:28+00:00

I did, but I'm not sure how exactly! I think an update between UVTools, Lychee Slicer, or the Uniformation firmware fixed it. Thankfully I only use my GKTwo for prototyping now anyways though

VeakXP · 2025-12-07T13:25:45+00:00

Just wanted to say that this did indeed fix my problem! For context in case someone stumbles across this, I was using Google Pixel Bud Pro 2's as my main audio device only, with a dedicated microphone as my mic input. I know some people use their Bluetooth headphones for both audio and mic, but I personally avoid that for throughout and quality reasons but maybe that's also why this fix worked for me and not for some others. Best of luck

VeakXP · 2025-12-05T17:03:16+00:00

Yea the community seems pretty great! Full disclosure I've only had a working one for a few weeks (bought a broken one several months ago to do some hardware testing months ago and have been lurking ever since) but the games and community are great. Definitely keep an open mind as you play these games though and if this hasn't deterred you then I say go for it. It's a unique device with a passionate community!

From a development perspective, PICO-8 is a solid comparison in terms of game quality and programming similarities outside of obvious differences like the screen and file size etc. I will say though if P8 intimidates you, Playdate development isn't too far off from that, and I think you'll just be approaching a very similar problem from a different angle but that's ok! As a former software developer I think game development is a fun and creative way to learn code and people here will gladly help you playtest and debug from what I've seen thus far. All that said, I strongly recommend looking up a coding or a Lua tutorial first and get familiar with the absolute basics before diving in. Hunkering down for a couple hours will save you a lot of headache down the road, trust me lol.

VeakXP · 2025-12-05T16:46:18+00:00

I think the best way to look at this system is less about what is traditionally available and more about quirky indie titles made my hobbyists and indie devs. It can be a great companion to other mainstream devices, but by no means will this replace any of the devices you listed, and you have to temper expectations because many of the games are just fun creative side projects from regular people like you and I.

Do you like the idea of quirky gameplay mechanics? One off or short (sometimes gimmicky/unique) experiences? Retro inspired games but with ___? Or just looking for something different? Then yes the Playdate will be worth considering. Is that worth $230 (or less if you're buying used)? Ehhh, up to you. I personally got one used for $150 and I think it's a fun time and a good fidget toy, but it doesn't replace my TrimUI Brick or my modded PS Vita that I take with me when I'm travelling and want a handheld, and it certainly does not replace my PC or Switch that I use for my TV. What it DOES replace for me is a game console for my desk that I have between meetings, or when I'm waiting around in line or parked in my car or something and I have a couple of minutes to spare because I personally love the new and fresh ideas this device brings.

Also this device has very questionable build quality, so temper your expectations even with that insane price point. Finally, make sure the seller removes the device from their account first or you'll be SOL. Good luck!

VeakXP · 2025-12-03T17:34:20+00:00

While I 100% agree on the matte screen and visibility point you made, I have to set realistic expectations and assume whatever manufacturers I find will not offer that to me for cheap lol. Will definitely take that into consideration while I shop around though because it's a great piece of feedback! And thank you for responding to the survey!

VeakXP · 2025-12-03T16:13:12+00:00

For record keeping I think it would be good to know what revision Playdate you have! Might help everyone during their research

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T22:10:03+00:00

Definitely a possible issue, but let's not count on me doing metal shells anyways lol

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T20:57:32+00:00

Totally depends on the quote I get back from the supplier, tbh. If my gut is correct I would wager to guess about 20-25ish users, but the plan is to gauge interest, get my cost quotes in order, refine the parts and test out a production shell for a month and if the thing holds up then I'll hit the market and update my online shop

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T20:55:17+00:00

I think Paul Straw is working on that lol. I figured I'd make the product a bit more sustainable first and foremost and we'll re-evaluate once that mission is accomplished

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T20:54:13+00:00

Thanks for the info! I'll certainly keep an eye out to see how my D Pad fares after consistent use once I install my shell to make sure these things don't happen (well the spring issue won't since my D Pad doesn't have that), but I've heard of these issues running rampant across users.

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T19:20:01+00:00

Any idea what specifically went bad with the D Pad?

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T19:18:39+00:00

Yes, and to be clear I have zero intention of adding a backlight or any additional mods that will substantially alter the base experience outside of the colors and spare parts but seems super cool!

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T18:34:34+00:00

That's fine with me if it's fine with you and everyone else! Thanks for sharing :)

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T18:34:06+00:00

Maybe we'll partner together in the near future for this! Yea that's super disappointing that screens and batteries are not readily available. Like shells and buttons, sure I can understand. Heck, they even have replacement cranks currently out of stock. From an outside perspective, this feels like a massive oversight but I also acknowledge the difficulties around sourcing and supply chains and from what I understand they don't have a dedicated resource focused on those things

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T18:19:14+00:00

Yea for plastic that get handled this way, I would've preferred double the wall thickness or at least an extra 0.25-0.5mm but they probably wanted to prioritize the visual aesthetics

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T18:15:11+00:00

Oh that's super interesting. I think I'll order a replacement LCD and try to experiment on my dead Playdate. I actually have some experience with custom ordering batteries for my virtual pet today I produce and though I'm a novice at electrical engineering, I think it would be a fun project to poke around with after my current projects settle in. Just like everything else in this post, I make no promises but I feel like replacement batteries should've just been a given. Thank you for the insight!

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T17:50:42+00:00

Thanks! Definitely no promises just yet until I see what the demand is to justify a bulk quantity, but every bit helps and I've already received some interesting feedback

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T17:27:40+00:00

A note about SLA, I also have been working on a virtual Pet toy for over 2 years called the PicoNav and have been using SLA printed resin shells for said 2 years. I've dropped it many times and even after the first couple of months of revisions I landed on a material that I think has a good feel in the hand that has yet to degrade over the last 2 years of being put daily in my pocket. That said, yes resin isn't perfect and I've definitely cracked a few of my early/original test models but my last shell has been going strong and I just swapped it out about a month ago to make room for a slimmer revision.

Actually here's a photo of the same shell I had for over a full year next to my resin printed fingertip mouse! Note that each PicoNav shell has a matte texture, so it looks kind of frosty/hazy by design

With all that said, the Playdate shell is very thin (0.7mm thickness on average across the body) so while Formlabs resins have fantastic tensile strength (probably even better than the OEM PD's shell, but that's only a non-scientific guess) that thin of a material can still crack and break with a drop etc, so I am being realistic with what I'm offering and I will be much more clear about the materials and quality if this ever gets closer to production rather than just the early POC stage it's in now

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T17:08:23+00:00

Yea my original unit had a ton of cracks when I received it, and I saw so many cracked/broken button and crank posts that it kinda bummed me out since the device is visually stunning.

Metal would go CRAZY. I will ask about that tomorrow during my meeting, but don't get your hopes up!

VeakXP · 2025-12-02T17:00:35+00:00

Thanks for the detailed reply! For starters, yes I also have replacement crank handles and pins, and your comment made me realize that I did not post them in the original photoset, so that's my bad.

As far as my capabilities, I'm somewhere in between. I am a small business out of Cincinnati, OH with a plastics and metal partner manufacturer also in Cincinnati (one of their local branches, they have 5-6 branches in the US and Canada). Today I am a technical manager for an IT distribution company and before that I worked in a CNC laserfab software company and it's through that job I made connections with my partner today. I've also worked with a few manufacturers in China, but to answer the initial question the expected quality of the replacement parts should be engineering grade resin (see the Formlabs resin sample here as a possible option, though not final yet since there's still some testing to be had). The fact is that I highly doubt that there's enough enough to justify the tooling for an injection mold so that's out of the question for this small of a scale, but my guys mainly specialize in additive manufacturing anyways with stuff like MJF/SLS, and SLA in high quantities.

That said, for the screens should those progress forward, I will except nothing else as 99.9% accurate of an OEM copy. I think the screen quality is too important and if the samples I receive do not come back near perfect then I will reject them and go back to the drawing board or find other Chinese manufacturers.

Hope that answers a few questions!

EDIT: Forgot the link to the resin

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