17. Application & Implication

What will it do?

MogA is a modular gaming macropad device that can be used to play multiple games depending on the modules attached. It would run games like Minesweeper, Snake, and Tic Tac Toe depending on the modules connected.The keys act as visual lighting feedback to play the games. The main inspiration of this project came from the game Minesweeper. I wanted to make a physical version of the game. As the ideation developed along , I thought of making the whole board modular which expanded the scope of the project to many directions.
I wanted to explore the aspect of being in the present and how it can help enhance cognitive function through strategic thinking and problem-solving, increased social interaction and bonding, and opportunities for relaxation and stress reduction. In this age where gaming has become individualistic, i would like to cultivate a sense of shared experience back into game spaces.

Who's done what beforehand?

My project takes inspiration from keyboard macropads that are often used to automate repetitive actions, enhance gaming workflows, or streamline media control. I wannted to take this and customize it into a solitary gaming device. I havent found anything specifically made for a game , rather the macropads acted as mini keyboards for controlling something on the computer.
The concept of making it into a physical gaming device stemmed from wanting to make a game console such as the Nintendo Gameboy and switch, to bring back that era of handheld gaming .

The Nostalgia of Retro Gaming Handheld Consoles
The distinct chiptune melodies, pixelated graphics, and even the feel of those chunky plastic buttons can instantly transport players back to their youth. Engaging in older gaming experiences indirectly (via memories) and even directly (via replaying or recreating experiences) elicits nostalgia, which in turn contributes to players' self-optimization and enhanced well-being. You're not just playing a game-you're reconnecting with a part of your personal history.

Minesweeper
We all have played Minesweeper as children on our computers. Following the earlier said concept of nostalgia for the future, i wondered how it would be to bring the game into the physical world while keeping the soul of the game intact. There would be randomized set of possibilities to play for each person and similar effects of game such as the sound of the original game can be added to the physical playing console. This was the origin point of my final project journey.
Minesweeper is a puzzle video game where the objective is to uncover all safe squares on a grid without detonating any mines (bombs). The game board is divided into cells, some of which contain mines and others that are safe. Players uncover cells by clicking on them, revealing either a number (indicating the number of adjacent mines) or a blank tile (if no mines are adjacent). I pulled inspiration from various products and graphics for the colour, feel, design etc. I basically wanted a retro feel with a pop of colour to maintain playfulness. These factors contributed towards the design of my product.

What sources will you use?

I referred to videos that explain how a macropad is built . The main video i referred to make the pogo connectors and understand modularity was "Salim Benbouziyane Ocreeb MK2". Other sources were gathered throughout my fabacademy journey throughout the weeks. For making custom keycaps i referred to How to Cast Artisan Keycaps with Silicone and Resin by Artisan Alliance.It was a thorough and informative video and explains the process very well.

What will you design?

I will be designing the entire product from scratch. I would be making the 3Dmodels, PCBs, keycaps and connectors. The block diagram below helps to to visualise and connect various aspects of the project. Features

1.Macropads with addresable LEDs
2.A smoke diffuser when a mine is clickes on / When you win the game
3.A Rotary encoder to choose difficulty level / Change games.
4.A power On/Off Button
5.Display that shows the score and menu.

What materials and components will be used? Where will come from? How much will they cost?

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Some of the components had to be bought from outside sources and most of the other components were available in the fablab inventory.

What parts and systems will be made?

Macropads with addresable LEDs
This is the main body of the project . The Idea is that macropads can be rearranged with various modules and compose different layouts using a magnetic connector system to play different games. The switches will be placed on top of a PCB that will have addressable Leds going around it in rows. Making custom Keycap
I would be making custom keycaps for the switches. I will be using the same method i followed during the molding and casting week to k=make them . The only difference being that the mold was directly 3d printed as a buttin and the silicon was cast over it. The button was then flipped to get the other side as well. A keycap will be 3d printed to be used as the positive mold for the silicon to be cast over it. Epoxy resin will be the material used for the casting of the keycap. Electronics
The PCBs required will be designed and produced. There would be 3 major pcbs : one for the node module, One for the display module and one for the Atomizer module. There will be another connector pcb along with the node module to pull in connections from the pogo pin connectors. Pogo connectors
I had to think of ways to make the pogo connectors as they are quite expensive and to buy as many as i required may not be feasible within the scope of this project. So i decided to make the connectors in house. I referred to some videos to make the connectors and went through some design iterations . Atomizer module
A smoke diffuser when a mine is clickes on / When you win the game. A piezo module is used to create a fog by atomizing the water. The atomizer will be placed withing a mine bomb model. o

What processes will be used?

What questions need to be answered?

The major questions that i wanted the answers to depended primiraly on the experience of the user.
1.Does it excite the user to use the device?
2.Can the device be carried around easily
3.How compact can i make it
4.How many modules can i make?
5.Will the integrated programming work seamlessly.
6.Will i be able to make the atomizer module.
7.Will i be able to get the gamepad in custom colours.

How will it be evaluated?

1. The master module and one node module and should communicate.
2. The quality of the surface finish.
3. If a game can be played on the pad smoothly.