Process

Planning Stage:

We agreed to replicate the infamous Whac-A-Mole arcade game. We began the prototype by creating a visual and began collecting materials: cardboard, Raspberry Pico Kit, and 4 buttons. In addition, we began designing the code! We worked on a spreadsheet that would track our budget and made a schedule to follow, so that we could complete the project! (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Snapshot of our spreadsheet that kept us on track!

Low-Fidelity:

We began testing out the functionality. Our materials included a cardboard box, Raspberry Pico Kit, and 4 buttons. We coded the foundational code (Figure 2) and found that 2/4 of our buttons worked. Each button had 2 LED wires and 2 power wires. Once we realized that we could successfully build this project, we decided to design two boxes to create a 1v1 game. Since 2/4 buttons worked, we concluded in the next prototype we would address this issue. In Figure 3, you'll find a visual of our progress!

Figure 2. Our code

Figure 3. Santi and Jose working on our low-fidelity prototype!

High-Fidelity:

In our high-fidelity prototype, we changed our material to medium-density fiberwood (MDF). We continued using 4 buttons per box. Here, we were able to complete the code for both boxes. We were able to lasercut at EXP to complete the boxes (Figure 4). We began designing the first box and had one successful box working on presentation day! All four buttons reacted to the code. During this process, we found that the buttons FYELIC provided had a very low light, so we made the decision to upgrade the buttons. This decision would allow the players to navigate the game more easily.

We included a LCD light, but found that the LCD light resulted in dim buttons as it took up too much power, so we decided to not incorporate the LCD light in our project.

Figure 4. Lasercutting at EXP

Dry Run:

Both boxes were built and decorated. However, the second box didn't have all of the buttons ready for presentation day. Between the dry-run and BCM day, we soldered the buttons and wired the buttons. Lasercutting the first box had no issues. However, the lasercut wasn't able ot puncture any holes on the second box, so we had to drill the holes at FYELIC (Figure 5). In addition, we needed to solder wires to the new buttons that we purchased. As a team, we worked on that! (Figure 6).

Once that was completed, we had both boxes ready for the Boston Children's Museum! (Figure 7).

Figure 5. Drilling holes for the second box

Figure 6. Soldering at FYELIC

Figure 7. Both boxes ready for Boston Children's Museum!

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