The classic 90's game
My version
## Specs / Materials
- **To run the game:** Raspberry Pi Pico W running MicroPython
- **To bop it!:** TTP223B1 Touch Sensor
- **To shake it!:** MPU6050 6DOF Sensor
- **To slide it!:** Slide potentiometer
- **To flick it!:** KY023 Joystick
- **To instruct:** 16x2 LCD Display and Piezo Buzzer
- **To power it:** 2AA Batteries!
Total cost: ~$31, not including materials already available at the hub 😅
### Game Play
- Player powers on game using battery switch.
- Player touches the touch sensor to start the game.
- In a loop, the game prompts (via the LCD) to perform one of the four actions (Beep, Shake, Flick, or Slide).
- Similar to Bop It!, player attempts to perform the actions as quickly as possible and go for a high score.
- Player gets 3 wrong chances before they lose.
### Game Input
The sensors follow a number of different protocols:
- **I2C:** Inter-Integrated Circuit, which is a two-pin input. The Pico has two sets of I2C pins, one which is used to read the accelerometer data, and the other to communicate with the LCD display.
- **Analog:** Both the sliding potentiometer and the joystick return analog data, which takes up the three Pico analog pins. No converter needed!
- **PWM (Pulse Width Modulation):** The Pico uses PWM to control the buzzer, varying the duty cycle to produce different tones.
### Reading from a sensor
```python
from machine import Pin, ADC
JOYSTICK_X_PIN = 27
JOYSTICK_Y_PIN = 26
vrx = ADC(Pin(JOYSTICK_X_PIN))
vry = ADC(Pin(JOYSTICK_Y_PIN))
joystick_x_position = vrx.read_u16()
joystick_y_position = vry.read_u16()
```
### Trust the process
- Prototype first using a breadboard
- Connect to one sensor at a time
- Document the schematic
- Convert the prototype to a more permanent, wired device
- Design and print the housing
- Assemble and hope you haven't broken something during all those steps
- Debug, debug, debug
Altogether now
## (A Few) Lessons Learned
- Soldering is _really_ hard (for me) 😩
- If something's broken, it's _probably_ the wiring 🤦♀️
- Gotta handle those debounces 👈
- Audio is kinda complicated 🔊
- Analog inputs fluctuate slightly, so the application logic needs to account for it 🔀
