Simple framework for creating games on the arduino platform
Currently there are two supported hardware setups:
- Arduino with tv signal via RCA connectors as display
- Arduino with OLED SSD1306 / SSD1309 (similar to Arduboy)
- Arduino with OLED SH1106
Both setups can be run with one of three controller types:
- Digital buttons; needs seven pins // TODO link to example board
- Analog stick with one switch, needs three pins // TODO add link
- Digital buttons on a single analog pin // TODO add link
The initial idea was to create simple games for the Arduino Nano (ATMega 328P), which is possible. But the Nano has very little memory (both RAM and program memory), and a good part of RAM is needed for running the display, so I ran out of memory early. So I decided to try out other setups; the Arduino Pro Micro / Leonardo with a 32U4 controller has a little bit more memory. The same controller is used in the ArduBoy, so if you want to develop minimalistic games and have a decent piece of hardware, it is probably better to get your own Arduboy. Another option I tried is the ATMega 2560; there is an Mega 2560 Pro Mini, which can be soldered on your own board. It is quite big and not cheap -- I think most people will prefer to develop for more powerful microcontrollers (e. g. STM32 or ESP32) which are cheaper.
Just install the libraries you need (or all provided) in your libraries folder and include the header file for the setup you want to use.
Initialize game and conroller implementations in you setup function and implement your game in the loop function.