Video: Retro gaming with the Magpi (Arduino Pro Mini)

A Maker by the name of Zippy314 has created a retro “Magpi” gaming platform using an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega328).

Aside from the Atmel based Arduino board, additional key project specs and features include:

• 3D-printed case and PCB
• Nokia 5110/3310 LCD
• 6 Square tactile button switches
• 1 tall tactile button switch
• LiPo Charger Basic (Micro-USB)
• 400mAh lipo battery
• SPDT mini power switch
• Breakaway male headers (Right Angle)
• Wire & solder
FTDI basic breakout

“This project was an experiment for me in making a 3D printed mounting board for the various parts instead of having to have a standard PC board with the etching done. It felt like there were few enough connections that it would be pretty easy to solder with just plain wire as long as there was a decent support layout,” Zippy314 explained in a recent Instructables post.

“The important thing was to get all the buttons in a fixed place so they wouldn’t move around as you use the Magpi. Because printing small bore holes is tricky, what I did was leave the very bottom layer of the print solid and then drill holes through it with a 1/16″ drill bit. After you drill the holes insert [the] buttons and make sure [they are placed well].”

On the software side, Zippy314 said he and his son have already written two games and a basic drawing app. 

Interested in learning more? You can check out the project’s official page and relevant files on Github here.

Das Blinken Bonken! is an Arduino ball game

A Maker by the name of Zippy314 recently designed an Arduino-based game platform as a Christmas present for his son. The project – originally posted to Instructables – was featured earlier this week on HackADay.

“Like all highly addicting games, the Das Blinken Bonken! gameplay is simple; the player throws a ball at the target board while aiming to hit a specific pad,” explained HackADay’s Kevin Darrah.

“There are many game possibilities with this platform, like trying to hit the illuminated target each time, or just trying to hit all of the pads on the board as fast as possible.”

So, how does the game work?

According to Darrah, the pads register a hit with the help of home-made pressure sensors – each constructed in a ‘sandwich’ of pressure-sensitive conductive sheets. 

Since the resistance through the sheet lowers as pressure is applied, a simple voltage divider circuit is used to feed the analog inputs on the Arduino Uno (Atmel ATmega328), thus making it easy to detect an impact.

Meanwhile, an I2C 4-Digit 7 Segment display keeps score and displays the game title, with a strip of addressable RGB LEDs providing player feedback and other gameplay data.

Interested in building your own Das Blinken Bonken? You can check out the project’s official Instructables page here and the relevant Arduino files on Github here. Once the software is installed via GitGub and everything hooked up correctly, Makers should see the word “AIM” spelled out on the display.

“Navigate the menu by pressing on the top two target segments until you see the display read ‘CAL’ Now press the target center to activate calibration,” Zippy314 explained in his Instructables post.

“This mode simply reads the amount of pressure being detected on the pressure pad you press on. You can use this mode to adjust the tightness of the screws so all the pads are roughly equal. To get back to the menu press the top two target segments simultaneously.”

There are currently four Das Blinken Bonken games available: Aim, Speed, Fill, & Red vs. Blue. However,  Zippy314 is encouraging Makers to submit additional ones.