ARDUINO GAME BOARD
Shawn Denny
Eastern Kentucky University
May 8, 2013
OUTLINE
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Arduino
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Software
Hardware
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Game board
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Finished Product to
Prototype
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MOTIVATION
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Custom Game Board
Allow faster placement of scenario
objectives
Interesting way of presenting
objectives
Avoid carrying objective markers
around
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INTRODUCTION
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Background
 Game Board for Steamroller Scenario
Rules for Warmachine and Hordes
miniature war game
Objective/Scenarios
 Player selection
dependent
 Need to change
based that
selection
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INTRODUCTION
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Arduino
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Why I choose Arduino
Arduino/C/C++ programming
Hardware
Game Board
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Why
Material selection
Approach
5
PROBLEM STATEMENT
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Make a customizable game board
with selectable scenarios
Maintain a reasonable budget
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ASSUMPTIONS
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Arduino
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That it would work for what I wanted
Programming would be easy enough
that I could learn it
It work function better then other
microcontrollers I had use
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ASSUMPTIONS

Game Board
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I could build it relatively easy
Interface would be user friendly
The method for objective marking
would not interfere with gameplay
Players
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Players would enjoy the experience of
playing on the game board
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PROPOSED SOLUTION
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Arduino
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Control objective selection
Control method of objective marking(LEDs)
Programming could be uses for adjustment
for player side selection
Add other interactive elements(terrain,
special effects)
Stand alone device no need for an outside
resource(PC)
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PROPOSED SOLUTION
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Programming
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Control player side selection
Control scenario selection
Using input for selective from PC
Using input from buttons
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PROPOSED SOLUTION
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Game Board
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Objective markers that don’t interfere with
gameplay
Simple design
Ability to add interactive elements
Maintain the games character
Use RGB LEDs to mark objective/scenarios
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Colors used to specify player based variables
Decorate board to theme to add interest
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RESULTS
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NOTHING GOES AS EXPECTED!!!!
Game Board
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The number of LED required was
surprising. 126!
Wiring was incredibly time consuming
Recessed LED worked terrifically
Transistors with a secondary power
source is a must if I add interactive
terrain
12
RESULTS
13
RESULTS
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RESULTS
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NOTHING GOES AS EXPECTED!!!!
Programing
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Slightly more difficult to use then
expected
To do the more advanced features was
outside of my understanding
Trial and error was a way of life
Arduino community is a great resource
15
CONCLUSIONS
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Finished Product vs. Prototype
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Arduino is a terrific piece of hardware
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Had to cut scenarios down by half due
to lack of outputs
It was capable, me not so much
Short of # of outputs I needed it worked
Planning
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A more detailed plan would have went a
long way
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CONCLUSIONS
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My approach will work will need a lot
of refinement
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CONCLUSIONS
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FUTURE WORK
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Implement all 12 scenarios into the design
rather then 6.
Add ports to power electronic terrain pieces
Decorate the game board to fit my original
theme
After initial design is complete get
suggestions and criticism from Warmachine
and Hordes Community
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FUTURE WORK
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Question or ideas from the audience
[email protected]
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REFERENCES
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SIK Guide (2012). SparkFun Inventory’s Kit
for Arduino. SparkFun Boulder, CO
Monk, S. (2012). Programming Arduino:
Getting Started with Sketches. Chicago:
McGraw-Hill.
Purdum, J. Ph.D. (2012). Beginning C for
Arduino. New York: Apress.
Margolis, M. (2011). Arduino Cookbook.
Sebastopol: O’Reilly Media, Inc.
Arduino. (2012). Language Reference Page.
http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/HomePage
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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If any external photos, images, videos
from other sources were used in the
presentation acknowledge their use
Provide a thumbnail of image/video
along with online/author information
You may acknowledge the assistance
or contributions of others in the project
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