Crafting a Portable Pong Device
Creating a handheld Pong game, resonating with gamers even today, is quite the joint! One such enthralling project has been put together by [Arnov Sharma], crafting a sick little handheld version using modern components.
The heart of this bad boy is an ESP32 development board. It's a powerful little beast, capable of operating at hundreds of MHz, although that's way more muscle than necessary for a simple Pong game. Nonetheless, it's affordable, and it gets the job done. It partners up with an SSD1306 OLED screen, boasting 124 x 32 resolution. That might not sound like much, but it's quite serviceable when one's just drawing two paddles and a ball bouncing off them. You've got control via a pair of SMD push buttons, providing a nice, responsive feel.
What truly sets this handheld Pong apart, though, is its presentation. Wrapped in a hip bean-shaped housing that's somewhat reminiscent of 16-bit era game controllers (specifically the Sega Genesis), it looks the part and seems comfortable to use, too. The black PCBs blend perfectly with the bright orange 3D printed components, making it a real eye-catcher.
While it's a straightforward project, it's been expertly executed. Just by considering color choices and assembling the components with a keen eye, [Arnov] has managed to create an attractive and functional game that's more eye-catching than most projects stuffed in old project boxes. In fact, we've seen some stellar projects with similar techniques before. If you're working on something similar, don't hesitate to let us know!
[Enrichment data]
- The project uses an ESP32 development board, an SSD1306 OLED screen, and SMD push buttons, all housed in a 3D-printed or fabricated bean-shaped enclosure, inspired by the Sega Genesis controller.
- The ESP32 board handles game logic, input, and display communication. The OLED screen provides a display for Pong game visuals. The SMD push buttons enable user control.
- The assembly process includes circuit design, enclosure fabrication, and software development for game logic and user interface.
This handheld Pong game, created by Arnov Sharma, showcases a blend of electronics and technology, as it utilizes a powerful yet affordable ESP32 development board and an SSD1306 OLED screen, pairing gadgets similar to SMD push buttons. The final presentation of this project, with its bean-shaped housing and contrasting black PCBs and orange 3D printed components, makes it a captivating display of modern electronics and craftsmanship in the realm of gadgets and gaming.
