Avoid That Pixel

Avoid That Pixel

A handheld dodge game built on a custom Arduino Uno shield, featuring a 16x2 character LCD, real-time obstacle dodging, and buzzer sound feedback. Designed from schematic and PCB layout to embedded firmware.

Overview

Avoid That Pixel is a single-player reaction game: a player-controlled character must dodge incoming obstacles displayed on a 16x2 LCD before they collide. The project covers the full hardware-to-firmware pipeline; circuit design, PCB fabrication, and embedded C++ programming.

Hardware

• Custom Arduino Uno shield, designed in KiCad 10.0
  • Schematic capture and footprint selection
  • Copper pour (ground plane) for improved signal return paths and reduced routing complexity
  • ERC/DRC error resolution
  • Fabricated via JLCPCB
• 16x2 character LCD for game display
  • 220 Ohm resistor
• Pushbutton for player input
  • 10k resistor
• (3) Multicolored LEDs for health bar
  • (3) 1k resistor
• 10k Potentiometer for LCD brightness control
• Piezo buzzer (active) for audio feedback
  • 1k resistor
• Arduino Uno (base board)

Firmware

Written in C++ for the Arduino platform. Key implementation details:

• Non-blocking timing using millis() instead of delay(), allowing obstacle movement, button input, and buzzer playback to run concurrently without freezing gameplay
• Custom LCD characters for the player sprite and obstacles, defined via the LCD's CGRAM
• Collision detection comparing player and obstacle screen positions each game tick
• Buzzer audio for collision/game-over feedback, implemented without blocking the main game loop

Repository Structure

avoid-that-pixel/
├── firmware/
│   └── avoid_that_pixel.ino     # Main Arduino sketch
├── hardware/
│   ├── avoid_that_pixel.kicad_pro
│   ├── avoid_that_pixel.kicad_sch
│   └── avoid_that_pixel.kicad_pcb
├── docs/
│   └── media/                  # PCB renders, gameplay photos
└── README.md

Getting Started

1. Flash firmware/avoid_that_pixel.ino to an Arduino Uno using the Arduino IDE.
2. Mount the custom shield (or wire components per the schematic in hardware/) onto the Uno.
3. Power on and play — dodge the incoming obstacles on the LCD before they reach the player position.

Tools Used

• TinkerCad — original design and testing
• KiCad — schematic capture and PCB layout
• Arduino IDE / C++ — firmware development
• JLCPCB — PCB fabrication

Author

Kaiden Esteves (KJace05)