144 LED Games Console Project

[Art]

Thanks for the comments

Version 2 eliminates the need for the external EEPROM,
improves Tetris scoring system (where it's worth more to get multiple rows simultaneously),
More fixes described in the source code header.
Cheers, Art.

[falingtrea]

Heheh, remember the the old Mattel handheld football game, I bet you could write a version of that game for your unit.

http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Mattel/FB.htm

[Art]

Hmm, I'm 35, so I might have been around for something like that, but don't remember it.
I have made room for another game on the same chip though

[Bruce]

From what I've seen so far - I'll bet you can come up with a boat-load of very cool games for this one.

I'll look at making a board for it with surface mount components, and ICSP header. I think this would be a really cool board for people just starting out with PBP.

[Art]

From what I've seen so far - I'll bet you can come up with a boat-load of very cool games for this one.

I'll look at making a board for it with surface mount components, and ICSP header. I think this would be a really cool board for people just starting out with PBP.

I'm thinking of an action game next, like a lo-res sideways shooter or something.
A playable Pong would be easy, but pretty boring with fixed angles.
I am looking at fitting as much as possible on the 16F877/A.

If you make better hardware I really hope you'll consider selling me one
(or at least sharing the PCB layouts, etc).

I've got to look at making PCBs soon... Just got my first PCB kit with a pen,
but I think I should have moved straight to the photographic kind.
It's too much to stuff around with transfers for IC footprints, etc.
I think I'll just try some sort of radio with these etchant resist pen type.
Art.

[mackrackit]

Black Sharpie's are great pins for PCBs. Cheap and you can get them in several point sizes.
Alcohol will take the ink off but the etchant will not.

Through the hole work is easy for hand drawn work. Drill the holes first and connect the dots.

[Art]

I was thinking of a surface mounted FM radio like this:
http://www.somerset.net/arm/reprints...ecial/rss.html

Mainly because I can't imagine doing something with pic chips if I had to draw tracks myself.
For through mount, I imagine it's a challenge to mirror chip pinouts too.
At least the radio would probably work

[whoop_john]

Version 2 eliminates the need for the external EEPROM,
improves Tetris scoring system (where it's worth more to get multiple rows simultaneously), More fixes described in the source code header.
Cheers, Art.

Is there a reason why the version 1 package has the files pic.bas and SCROLL.hex while the version 2 package has pic.HEX and scroll.bas - have the hex files by any chance crossed over into the wrong folders?

I am going to make this one, for sure. It will likely be a hand-etched iron-on laser toner board, but maybe I'll use perf board. Where are you getting your proto PCB from?

Great project by the way, well done.

[mtripoli]

Can't speak to the firmware; Art is responsible for that.

As for the PCB, I'm still working on it (I've been slammed with work - right now I just got finished laying out a USB drive MP3 player. I'm also doing a Class D amp, a guitar effects processor, an audio mixer and a microcontroller "brain" for the lot)...

I just finished an 8 channel RF remote control system with capacitive touch input controls for "work". I'm trying out a PCB manufacturer that posted an ad on this forum. Their prices are very good and the guy I'm dealing with has been very responsive. I should have the boards back in a week or so; I'll let everyone know how they turn out.

[Ioannis]

Please do!

Thanks,
Ioannis

[Art]

The hex file is just renamed from "scroll" which is the project name in MPLAB.
I'll upload a new schematic. The first one has an error where the transistors are.
Unfortunately I can't edit earlier posts, so I deleted the image from the host. The parts list is correct.

I got my protoboard from Dick Smith Electronics which is an Australian electronics store.

[Art]

Oh, Tetris is a little improved from the YouTube video too.
Because you turn the unit vertical to play Tetris,
characters are rotated 90 degrees and scrolled vertically, and other similar touch ups.

I'm glad I was sitting... I know things cost more depending on where you live, etc....

Dick Smith Electronics are getting out of the hobby electronics business.
So an opportunity came up to purchase these:




So I won't be worrying about the price of LEDs for a while

[Byte_Butcher]

Ahhh, Dick Smiths loss is your gain.
Nice storage racks too!



steve

[whoop_john]

Thanks for the update and explanation. Art by name, art by nature.

Good luck to mtripoli with the pcb. As is pointed out, a bridge on the power input will allow for AC or DC power of either polarity. Neat.

[Art]

Just looking at the schematic again, mrtripoli has already implemented the changes I was talking about.
I mistook the ICSP connector for an EEPROM!

Looks like I can adopt this schematic for the final package
Many thanks mrtripoli.