48x32, a 1536 LED Game Computer (2023)

LED matrices are so fun to play with. The low resolution and chunky pixels give them the aesthetics I really enjoy.

I’ve built a 64x64 pixel art frame [0]. With the diffuser in front of the matrix, it looks like animations are floating in the air. I got parts for v2, but I’m yet to find time to build it.

I really like how electronics today are very accessible to start playing with. Basic stuff is mostly plug-and-play, and essentially it becomes a software project.

https://github.com/Stanko/retro-frame

I made something very similar recently as a gift. I borrowed code for a led matrix project I liked: NHL scoreboard, wrote a simple application framework, and then ported it to using it. Then I made a bunch of fun simple apps following the same thing, snake, screensavers, weather, stocks and crypto and a clock. Its easy to write new ones and I started on using a layout engine to make it even easier but never finished with that.

https://github.com/krruzic/tfeos

I did something similar a few years ago. I put together a Pimoroni Interstate 75 (which is an RP Pico with an integrated LED matrix connector), a 32x64 matrix, a NES controller port, designed a simple case for it and made a Tetris. It was a fun project and the first time I had really done anything with hardware.

I've been meaning to do a write up of the project, but I keep putting it off. I wrote the software bits in C++. To speed up iteration (i.e. not have to deploy to real hardware for every tweak to the game code), I made a small web harness that ran the core logic as wasm.

https://imgur.com/a/tetris-HoXenDg

Neat project! I'd be interested in how the power supply is done. I've wanted to do things with LEDs like this, but not knowing much about electronics this always seems the most complicated part to me, specifically powering both the micro-controller and the LEDs with a single wall plug in a safe and reliable way.

Cool project.

I keep wanting to build a large "lite brite" style display for my window. I keep getting stopped even though I have a lot of the tools necessary, like this laser engraver.

You just gave me an idea about an extremely simple way to build this using a Raspberry Pi Zero and my cheap laser engraver.

Exactly half the resolution of a TI83 (which is 96x64)

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