During the summer holidays of 2024, I started to get into electronics, beginning with an Arduino starter kit. After making quick progress, I started pondering about trying to make my own game console using basic electronic components and a programmed Arduino board.
Iteration 1
The first prototype worked pretty well, and after finalizing the circuit's layout I made use of the workshop downstairs of our Atelier to turn the breadboard prototype into a working product. This first version of the pong console however required a computer connected via USB cable, as it required a separate application that interpreted the serial data sent by the arduino board to draw the game's graphics.
Iteration 2
A while later, after performing some research, I learned that it is possible to generate a video signal with an Arduino board. The use case was apparent immediately: What if the pong console could actually be plugged directly into a television screen? Although the video signal possible with an Arduino board was very limited (black and white only and a max resolution of 128x90), it was just enough to make the pong console work on TV.