Retrofitting Tamagotchi Original for 1990s Buttons
Yay! One of the most beautiful shells ever released has finally arrived at my doorstep! But, I'm not a fan of the button color. So...it's swap time.
1997 Tama, 2023 Tama...on the outside they look similar enough. But, as it turns out, THEY'RE NOT - at least where buttons are concerned.
On the left, the buttons from the new Tamagotchi Original. On the right, buttons from a Japanese P2. The new buttons are taller, thinner, and have a flatter base. This means that when you put 90s buttons in a Tamagotchi Original...
They're too short - you can't press them! It's only a few millimeters difference but it'd be nice to, oh, I dunno, use it?
So I cracked open my new toy to get a good look at the button mount.
Here's the backside of the front shell - take a good look at the bottom. You can see the raised circles that hold the buttons at the correct height against the device, as well as some bars to separate the three buttons. If you reduce the height of these pieces, you'll be able to utilize more of the button height. So, we break out the dremel to do some sanding!
Dremel is a name brand, mine is definitely not a real one. But this little pen does spin and grind whatever I put near it, so it's perfect for the job.
The parts I was referring to are much easier to see once they've been sanded...LIGHTLY. Again, we're talking about not even 2 millimeters of adjustment, so if you try this, be careful!
A quick polish to retain the shine and a rinse in the sink to remove the dust and it's ready to reassemble.
Looking good! I like a lower button, so I decided to stop here.
I will note that the thicker base causes the circuit board to lay on a very slight angle, but it doesn't affect the reconstruction or overall performance. Just don't push too hard, I guess.
So...the new buttons are in, but do they work? See for yourself!
I like it quite a bit more now!
Note: I take no responsibility for what happens to you or your Tamagotchi should you attempt this mod. Be careful with power tools and chemicals.