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Scratch Makey Minigames Arcade Cabinet

Page history last edited by Josh Burker 5 years, 3 months ago

 

 

We transformed this lowly cardboard box into a stand up arcade cabinet that holds a laptop and has a Makey Makey-based control panel for the keyboard arrow keys and space bar, as well as two "ground" pads on which the player rests her or his hand. We also programmed minigames, short absurd scenarios that you have three seconds to beat.

 


Tasks

  • Design the exterior of the arcade cabinet and paint it
  • Program minigames in Scratch, add them to our Studio
  • Create controls for our minigames using conductive materials and a Makey Makey

 


Design

 

We need catchy graphics for our arcade cabinet. Who is a good artist? Design with pencil then we will use paint to make the cabinet look awesome!

 

We will open up the front of the box and add an interior box that will hold a laptop. The laptop will connect to the controls that we will also build via a Makey Makey.

 

  


 


Program

 

Start by remixing the minigame project created for this Scratch Day. It has a 3 second countdown and a 3 second timer. That's right, after 3 seconds your minigame should be over! The player has to complete some task in 3 seconds. What are some ideas?

 

  • Dry a glass with a rag
  • Take a shot on a goal
  • Make a dog sit
  • Dig a hole
  • Jump over a rolling barrel

 


Controls

 

We will build controls for the arrow keys and mouse movements. We also need a ground. All the controls will connect to a Makey Makey that connects to the laptop in the arcade cabinet.

 

Cut about 20 inches of 22 gauge solid core hookup wire, preferably in a variety of colors. Remove about half an inch of insulation from each end of the wire. Create labels for one end of the wire with masking tape doubled over itself, and label each wire with the arrow keys and space bar as well as the ground. Poke the wire through holes in the cardboard, then secure them to the underside of the control panel with some more masking tape.

 

 

Turn the control panel back over. Place small pieces of conductive copper tape underneath each piece of wire, then put your copper tape "keys" over the wire, making a sandwich of copper tape, wire, and copper tape.

 

 

 

Once all your control and ground keys are built, turn the control panel back over. Bend the labeled ends of the exposed wire into loops onto which you hook alligator clips. The alligator clips connect to the corresponding keys on the Makey Makey.

 

 

Close up the cabinet. Place the Makey Makey on the little shelf you built and glued to the inside of the cabinet. Place a laptop inside the cabinet. Connect the Makey Makey to the laptop. 

 


Play!

 

The microgames we programmed are great fun to play on the cabinet!

 


More Resources

 

Joystick design

Example Scratch microgames

3D printed cardboard rivet

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