Summary of 2 player Pong using Arduino
This project involves building a 2-player Arduino-based Pong console housed inside an iPhone box. It uses Atari paddles for controls instead of a joystick and includes sound output. The video and audio signals are managed via RCA connectors with appropriate resistors for clear display and sound. The Arduino’s analog and digital pins are connected to the paddles, buttons, video, and sound outputs. The internal electronics are mounted on wood pieces fitted inside the box for secure assembly.
Parts used in the 2 player Pong using Arduino:
- iPhone box
- Arduino (Freeduino from Solarbotics used)
- Atari paddles
- Old RCA cable
- 9 pin D connector (Radio Shack pn 276-1538)
- RCA plugs
- Resistors: 75 ohm, 1 kohm, 330 ohm, two 10 kohm pull-down resistors
- Wire
- Screws
- Small pieces of wood
I started with the Instructable from Kyle Brinckerhoff;
http://www.instructables.com/id/Ardu-pong-the-Arduino-based-pong-console/
Thanks Kyle!
and the following at Make magazine
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/08/arduino-pong.html
and I see the original code is attributed to Pete Lamonica
Thanks Pete!!
I am using the paddles instead of the joy stick and I have made it for 2 players. Also I added some sound.
I put the electronics in an Iphone box .
Step 1: Video of the game
https://youtube.com/watch?v=5qqemkZLKiw%3Fhl%3Den%26fs%3D1
Step 2: What I used
I used the following:
Iphone box
Arduino – I had a Freeduino from Solarbotics that I used. The picture shows another but I am sure others would work fine.
Atari paddles – I had from an old system being stored in the basement. I see them on eBay.
An old RCA cord that was in my big box of misc cords
A 9 pin D connector that I got at Radio Shack – pn 276-1538
Also (not shown)
RCA plugs for the cable to attach to – had in my pile of broken things
resistors
75 ohm
1Kohm
330 ohm
2 10k ohm pull down resistors
Some misc hardware – wire, screws,small pieces of wood
Step 3: Prepare the box
I started with a small piece of wood which I cut to fit inside the box. The idea was I would secure everything to this piece and then secure the box to the wood. Holes need to be cut to fit the RCA plugs, the 9 pin connector, and for a USB cable which is needed to attach to Arduino .
I glued another small piece of wood to the larger to be used as a place to secure the Arduino.
Step 4: Electronics Part1 – the RCA plugs
Following the instructions from Kyle’s Instructable, I soldier a 1k ohm and a 330 ohm resistor to the center pin of the video out RCA jack.
I also connected the 75 ohm that is shown in the diagram . It made the picture a little less bright but much clearer and it stopped a lot of the flickering.
The RCA plug for the sound is straight forward: The center plug goes to Arduino pin 11 and the ground side goes to ground.
The bottom part of the diagram is different than what I did.
Step 5: Electronics Part2 – Connections to Arduino
Basically
Analog pin 1 – goes to paddle 1
Analog pin 2 – goes to paddle 2
Ground – used to ground the 9 pin connector, the RCA connectors
5v goes to the 5 v on the 9 pin connector
Digital pin2 – goes to the button on Paddle 1(button on paddle 2 is not used)
Digital 8 – goes to video RCA
Digital 9 – goes to video RCA
Digital 11 – goes to sound RCA
Arduino
Atari paddles
For more detail: 2 player Pong using Arduino
