144 LED Games Console Project

[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

[mtripoli]

If enough people are interested I can layout a PCB for this and upload the schematic and Gerber files. You could then send the files to your favorite PCB house for manufacture, or if someone wants to make a run of boards you're all set. Though I'd use SMD personally I'd think a through hole board would be easier for first-timers to solder. It would be a two sided-plated though hole board. I can knock this out in a day or so...

Give me the word and I'll go ahead. I would say though add any switches, connectors, headers etc. ideas before I do it (layout is no big deal, rip-up and re-route sucks)...

Mike Tripoli

[Art]

Give me the word and I'll go ahead.

If you're waiting for the word from me, then go ahead
If SMD makes the LEDs cheaper that's something to think about.
I paid about $30 Au in LEDs per unit, and they were fairly ordinary LEDs.

The only consideration I can think of is the joystick buttons should be
arranged like a joystick, and remember you have to turn the unit vertical to play tetris,
so I don't think the joystick can be ideally located for both games.
I've posted an image of how I'd try to lay it out now so the joystick could be
used for both games without wiring it seperately.

It also might be an idea to add the EEPROM as it is in the first schematic.
If you're using a 40 pin DIP for the 16F877 then the ICSP header is optional.

In the schematic I have given, two of the direction buttons switch pins to gnd,
and the other two switch pins to +5V. This could be changed to make
the buttons all uniform (and the software altered), or left as is.
Cheers, Art.