For as long as I can remember, I have been enamored with Milton Bradley’s classic 1978 electronic game “Simon.” If you’re old enough to remember when Michael Jackson was still a black man, then there’s a good chance you share my pain.
For me, the game of Simon represents the epitome of excellent game design. The game is simple, elegant, and wildly addictive. But don’t take my word for it. The game’s designer, Ralph Baer, was presented the National Medal of Technology by President George W. Bush in February 2006, for his “groundbreaking and pioneering creation, development and commercialization of interactive video games.”
Several years ago, while learning to use Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) to create programs for my cell phone, I did so using his pioneering design. Later, when I was learning Python, I used the PyGame API to bring his brainchild back to life one more time.
It was only fitting that my first electronic project should be the same. A few weeks ago I ordered Make: Magazine’s “Build your own electronic game kit.” a simple Simon clone created by Joe Grand of Grand Idea Studios.
Last weekend I had the chance to put my soldering iron to the pads. The game, while incredibly simple to assemble, provides beginners like myself with an opportunity to solder something that is both useful and productive. Both of which are required criteria when you need to convince your significant other that you’re working on something “important.”
That’s not to say I didn’t experience any setbacks. It seems that I’m prone to “overheating” the LED contacts and damaging the diode. While that’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a quick trip to the electronics store, next time I’ll be sure to leave the LED a centimeter or so from the PCB.
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