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The DUO

Arduino Based 2-Button(and Accerometer) Pocket Gaming System

sean-hodginsSean Hodgins
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The goal is to create a simple gaming platform, something you can carry on a keychain or in your pocket. Plays simple low resolution games capable of being shown on a tiny OLED display. Anyone will be able to develop and share their own games. If possible at some point, add a way to drag and drop .DUO files to an Arduino bootloader of some sort, so multiple games can be stored on the device. Part of the fun and the challenge is utilizing only the two buttons and the accelerometer to create the games. Being partially limited could inspire some creativity.
There will be two versions, the DUO MX, and the DUO Nano. The DUO MX will have cherry MX keys, for those who love mechanical keyboards, but it will be slightly bigger. The DUO Nano will have regular tactile switches, making it much smaller. It can also be useful for people who fidget and like having things to click.
It would be great to develop a community of people creating games for the device.
Who wants an early dev. version?

This mini gaming system will run on the SAMD21G Atmel microcontroller. I'm planning on cramming a giant 320-400mAh LiPo battery behind its monstrous 64x48 pixel OLED screen. Tired of your old "not very clicky" boring typical buttons? How about Cherry MX buttons. That is right. This system will have actual cherry MX buttons so you can fit any of your favourite key caps. With an on board accelerometer(+ gyro and compass - MPU 9250), your games don't just involve clicking, they also require some movement, you'll be accelerating all over the place with this thing. Watch out!

Possible upgrades/addon modules:

  • GPS
  • Bluetooth
  • Wifi
  • Extra Buttons
  • GPIO Board
  • RGB LEDs
  • Camera Module

Want early access to start designing games and apps?   Contact me. I'm looking for creative developers to get an early version of the board and start creating some apps/games - maybe even a custom bootloader or game loader. 

I'm in the works of possibly Kickstarting this. Unless I win the HackADay prize, then I wouldn't need to! :)

  • 1 × ATSAMD21G18A-MU

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b6328518 wrote 06/24/2024 at 09:20 • point

You 

Thanks for the insightful post on game platforms! If you're looking for an exciting game to play, download https://stickwarlegacyapp.com/stick-war-legacy-characters/. It's a fantastic example of a well-designed mobile game.

  Are you sure? yes | no

olpexhalvin wrote 05/24/2023 at 12:40 • point

There has been a great deal of value to me in my involvement with the project. Would like to share it with the Get insights here team so they can also read it and implement something new.

  Are you sure? yes | no

zakqwy wrote 10/12/2017 at 22:22 • point

This is awesome! Love the form factor. Can you post more design details? Chipset, power source, etc?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sean Hodgins wrote 10/13/2017 at 00:50 • point

Yeah, I do need to add a bit more details, haha. Have been busy with a few projects. I'm going to add a BOM and stuff now, since I just ordered the parts. Should be here tomorrow.

  Are you sure? yes | no

zakqwy wrote 10/13/2017 at 09:53 • point

saw the Project Details update, thanks for filling us in! I haven't used the SAMD series; what's the toolchain (physical & otherwise) like for those chips? Looks like the PCB is pretty well sorted, but did you consider a higher feature IMU like the BNO055? Offboarding sensor fusion and so forth makes the data much easier to work with, depending on what the developers are looking to do..

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sean Hodgins wrote 10/13/2017 at 15:07 • point

The SAMD21 series is capable of being programmed using the Arduino IDE or MicroPython. In fact most Adafruit boards like the Feather and the new trinket use the SAMD series. They're pretty versatile and powerful chips. I'm not much of a low level programmer, but I would love to have a system on board where you could drag and drop ".duo" files as apps, and have the system be able to boot them from a list. That way people could develop games, but keep the same firmware on board and add as many as the memory allows. I don't know if this is really possible yet, but I will see. 

Thanks for the info on the BMO055 I will look into the performance differences between that and the MPU-9250. I'm familiar with the MPU series as I have used them in the past without complaints, which is why it was chosen, but that can change. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sean Hodgins wrote 10/12/2017 at 14:53 • point

Its actually a 64x48 OLED, not as commonly used. 4:3 ratio, good for porting old games.

  Are you sure? yes | no

davedarko wrote 10/12/2017 at 15:08 • point

should have one of them as well :D are you using an atmega32u4?

  Are you sure? yes | no

davedarko wrote 10/12/2017 at 14:24 • point

Are you using the 64x32 Oled? I'm kind of interested and bought a display the other day. If I have a good idea for a game, I'll get back to you :)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sean Hodgins wrote 10/12/2017 at 14:53 • point

Forgot to hit reply, commented above. :)

  Are you sure? yes | no

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