Parts

The LED module has header pins already soldered to it and Nano can be purchased with headers already attached.

Note that some of the button modules may have the header pins pre-soldered on the wrong side of the PCB for direct use in this project.


Assembly

On the breadboard with the Arduino Nano already inserted …

  1. Plug in a 1.75” wire connecting pin D13 to the top row of pins on the left side
  2. Opt. for brighter LEDs: Plug in a 3.25” wire connecting the 5V pin to pin D10 (preferably red)
  3. Insert the button module, optionally with a pad beneath it (see photos for placement)
  4. Insert the LED bar display module
  5. Insert the piezoelectric sounder, noting that the + side goes in the top row & the other in the second

Noting the placement and alignment of components, in the photos above. The button module interconnects to pins A1-A5 of the Nano micro-controller. The Led bar pins interconnect to pins D2-D10 of the Nano micro-controller. The piezo sounder (+ side) is connected to D13 via a wire and the other pin to D12.

Notice that we are not going to use a box enclosure for this simple modular "plug & play" project.

For operation you need to connect a micro USB cable to a power-bank, laptop or PC.


The Games and Activities

The included Arduino Sketch provides a select set (21 out of 40 implemented) of Games and other activities listed in the image.

The sketch (including "Best_Games.ino" and "Mini_STEM_Platform.h") needs to be loaded into your LED games device using the Arduino IDE.

The games are all well documented in the manual further down. Please refer to the manual on how to navigate the menu system.


Arduino Sketch Files

Best_Games.ino

Mini_STEM_Platform.h

Best_Games.odt


Video Hightlights !!


Going Beyond


More Games …

The limit of how many games that are broken out is due to the amount of available storage. Which games are available to play is controlled by being included in code lines, populating the games[ ] array, like these:

  //{TBD, PushIt, ShootingGallery, JumpMan_8, Skee_ball, Sea_Hunt_8, PIG, BiFunc, Flip_d},
  {TBD, PushIt, ShootingGallery, Skee_ball, PIG, TBD}, 

The controlling factor is whether or not it will compile without running out of storage.

This document file is included here for reference; and it fully documents the set of 40+ games and activities found within the "Best_Games" sketch.

Mega_Games_Manual


RP2040 use ….

This project and related sketch can be based on a WaveShare RP2040-Zero. 

The modules need to be plugged into the breadboard as in the photos below. Additionally the MCU module needs the bottom header pins (9-13) to be cut off or removed, and the piezo sounder to be soldered to pins 10- and 12+. In the .h file the line "#define RP2040" needs to be placed near the top.

When utilizing the RP2040 any number of the game/activities can be compiled together.

The Nano was first used due to cost, availability and familiarity, along with the possibility of absolutely no soldering.


Sept 2024 UPDATE ...

There are now PCB and 3D cases available for building portable versions of this "mini LED Game Machine", based on the RP2040-Zero.

I used PCBWay.com to make the prototype PCB and 3D cases. I was surprised, and very pleased, to find how easy, fast and cost effective it was to get these parts from them. I was especially pleased with all the 3D material choices they offer. The parts' quality was excellent.

This Document details the building of these portable versions.