Raspberry Pi projects for kids: How to make an electronic game with Raspberry Pi Pico

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The word gaming always sounds Fun. It enhances problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and strategic planning. Additionally, gaming can foster social connections and teamwork through multiplayer experiences, allowing individuals to collaborate and communicate effectively with others.

The only thing cooler than just playing games is playing a game you made yourselves!!! That is precisely what we will be doing today in this post.

We will be recreating a very popular arcade game known as (Cyclone game) ourselves using some components such as a Raspberry Pi Pico board, RGB ring light, a push button, and a buzzer. This is a very good Raspberry Pi project for kids.

(If you are new to the Raspberry Pi Pico, check out the link below - Raspberry Pi for dummies):

Getting started with Raspberry Pi Pico

Cyclone game

The Cyclone game is basically an arcade classic game that involves LED light going around in a circle and also a static LED. A button is provided for the user. If the user presses the button exactly when the moving LED collides with the static LED, they score a point, and the game restarts with the static LED at a new randomly generated position.

Required components

Raspberry Pi Pico board
micro USB cable
WS2812 RGB ring light (Neopixel)
Breadboard
Jumper wires
Push button
Buzzer
Thonny IDE for writing microPython code.

Operation

When the system is connected to power (say to a computer via USB cable) the LED ring light turns on a random LED (yellow).
The other LEDs are then turned ON (red) and OFF in a rotatory pattern - one after the other.
Once the push button is pressed and the red running LED is at the exact same position as the target LED: the target LED changes color to Green meaning the player scores a point and a buzzer beeps - else, the red LED keeps running.
The speed of the running LED is also chosen at random by the system from the range specified in the code.

The circuit

Circuit connection layout for cyclone LED game.

Tip: All Red wires are connected to Power (VBUS) and all Black cables are connected to GND.

Raspberry Pi Pico	Other component's signal pins
GP17	RGB LED (IN) pin
GP16	Buzzer pin
GP15	Push button pin

Project code in MicroPython

# import needed libraries (all libraries are inbuilt with microPython)
from machine import Pin, PWM
import neopixel
import time
import random

# pin assingment and buzzer frequency assignment
button = Pin(15, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_DOWN)
buzzer = PWM(Pin(16))
buzzer.freq(500)

# initialize neopixel object
# pin17 is pico pin LED IN is connected to.
# 16 is number of LED in your strip (replace with your LED number
np = neopixel.NeoPixel(machine.Pin(17), 16)

# use random library to randomly pick target LED number
target = random.randint(0, 15)

# use random library to randomly select LED rotating speed
speed = round(random.uniform(0.01, 0.03)2)

while True:
    # chasing LED
    for i in range(0, 15):
        np[1] = (255,0,0)          #turn LED red per round trip
        np[target] = (255,255,0)   #keep target LED yellow
        np.write()                 #command to activate above command
        time.sleep(speed)    #set trip speed to randomly selected value
        np[i] = (0,0,0)      #turn off LED after each trip
        
        
        # hitting target with button
        while button.value() == 1 and i == target:
            np[target] = (0,255,0)   #turn target LED to Green
            np.write()               #activate LED command
            buzzer.duty_u16(1000)    #turn on buzzer
            time.sleep(0.5)          #keep buzzer on for half second
            buzzer.duty_u16(0)       #turn off buzzer
            
            target = random.randint(0, 15)  #reset value for target LED

Run code

Follow the simple steps below to save and run your code:

Click "File" then "Save" - a new window should pop up

Click "Raspberry Pi Pico" to save your code inside the microcontroller.

Save your code as "main.py". This will make your code run automatically once the Pico is connected to a power source.

Finally, click on the "Play button" to run your code.

Demo video

If everything works well: You're in for a lot of FUN!!!!!!!

This is where we draw the curtain for today. We have a lot more on this platform for you:

Follow the information below for more Technology activities for kids:

Online summer camp and summer camps in Takoma Park Maryland

You and your children are looking for nice activities to have fun and learn new things and skills. Come join us starting in May and this summer for more online coding courses for kids such as:

Python coding for kids and teens
Coding for elementary school students
Make video games
Electronics
Digital modeling (Create cars, rockets, rings, etc) for 3D printing and much more with the following link: Online summer camp

And the STEM summer camp in Maryland for your kids is organized in Takoma Park Maryland nearby Washington DC to have fun and learn more about robotics, coding, droning, and more. Check the link right here:

STEM Summer Camps 2023 - Takoma Park Maryland

Other cute things to make and hand-crafts for kids

If you are looking for more cool Arduino and kids' electronics project ideas to do with your kids, take a look at these other activities:

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