Getting the Controller
For Prime Day, Amazon was marking down the sale of their controller from $70 to $40. I know I'm not going to use it often, but figured for the price, worth checking out how they make the thing.
The Luna Game-Streaming Service
Luna is unplayable on PC w/ keyboard or phone w/ touch controls unless you're playing a strategy turn-based game. Awkward placement, nothing's configurable, and very noticeable input lag.
But when I got the controller, the whole experience changed. Inputs were more reliably received, and the controller itself feels well-built, practically fused together. I'll know why later. 😉
Still, there are consistent video frame drops and a very annoying audio clang that happens every now and then, as if the audio quality dropped into a chasm. Imagine a Sega Genesis sound chip on its dying breath. No desyncs or broken connections, so there's that stability there, but I can't count on the cloud streaming service...
That being said, it's cool that controllers can be their own Wi-Fi devices instead of always relying on Bluetooth. As long as the ad-hoc network is stable, it's a good alternative, worry less about disconnecting from being too far away or too much spectrum noise near the console/TV.
...but because I'd rather not have my inputs sent to Amazon or any other large corp... I started taking it apart, especially because I can't find a guide anywhere on how.
Controller Teardown
So for the purposes of fun:
Amazon Luna Teardown on ifixit Website
The top matte plate can be popped off with a flat screwdriver, some spudgers and patience. Once that's off, six Torque screws from the top, spread evenly and all the same size. K, but the thing doesn't budge open.
Until undoing after 10 big clips and God knows how many tiny ones all around the handle...
The guide's up on iFixit for others to follow, but for disclosure, I'm kinda scared because this controller's been around for a year yet no one has contributed. Only clue I had of the internals were a photo of the plate and bottom removed and a link to a teardown on a YouTube video that's been removed for months.
