Arduino Game Board

1. Arduino Game Board Shawn Denny Eastern Kentucky University May 8, 2013

2. OUTLINE • Game board • Finished Product to Prototype • Arduino • Software • Hardware

3. MOTIVATION • Custom Game Board • Allow faster placement of scenario objectives • Interesting way of presenting objectives • Avoid carrying objective markers around

4. INTRODUCTION • 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

5. INTRODUCTION • Arduino • Why I choose Arduino • Arduino/C/C++ programming • Hardware • Game Board • Why • Material selection • Approach

6. PROBLEM STATEMENT • Make a customizable game board with selectable scenarios • Maintain a reasonable budget

7. Assumptions • Arduino • 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

8. Assumptions • Game Board • I could build it relatively easy • Interface would be user friendly • The method for objective marking would not interfere with gameplay • Players • Players would enjoy the experience of playing on the game board

9. PROPOSED SOLUTION • Arduino • 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)

10. PROPOSED SOLUTION • Programming • Control player side selection • Control scenario selection • Using input for selective from PC • Using input from buttons

11. PROPOSED SOLUTION • Game Board • 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 • Colors used to specify player based variables • Decorate board to theme to add interest

12. RESULTS • NOTHING GOES AS EXPECTED!!!! • Game Board • 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

13. RESULTS

14. RESULTS

15. RESULTS • NOTHING GOES AS EXPECTED!!!! • Programing • 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

16. CONCLUSIONS • Finished Product vs. Prototype • Had to cut scenarios down by half due to lack of outputs • Arduino is a terrific piece of hardware • It was capable, me not so much • Short of # of outputs I needed it worked • Planning • A more detailed plan would have went a long way

17. CONCLUSIONS • My approach will work will need a lot of refinement

18. CONCLUSIONS

19. FUTURE WORK • 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

20. FUTURE WORK • Question or ideas from the audience • shawn_denny@mymail.eku.edu

21. REFERENCES • 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

22. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • 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