A little arcade built around a very simple question: how much can you do with one button?
ESP32-S3 / Arduino / OLEDI built an arcade around a simple constraint: every interaction has to work through one button. Four quick presses start a ten-second speed round; a longer hold opens the leaderboard.
The same switch handles play and initials entry. An OLED shows the current presses per second, five saved high scores, and a lifetime press counter. Scores and the counter survive power loss.
A custom 3D-printed enclosure brings the display, switch, microcontroller, and wiring together. The build gave me practice with embedded code, debouncing, persistent storage, and fitting electronics into a physical case.
View the GitHub repositoryLoading 3D preview…
Drag to rotate. Scroll or pinch to zoom. Arrow keys also rotate.
A cube for now. The arcade's model will live here as the project takes shape.
All currently documented parts are listed here. The exact switch model, cable lengths, fasteners, and power setup still need a final build inventory.
| Part | Quantity | Role & build notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 | 1 | Microcontroller running the Arduino sketch. The documented board selection is the No PSRAM version. |
| 128 × 64 SSD1306 I²C OLED | 1 | Game display. The documented Adafruit display uses address 0x3D; diagnostics also check 0x3C. |
| Normally-open mechanical switch | 1 | Input between A0 and GND. The internal pull-up is enabled; no external pull-up resistor is required. Exact switch model is not recorded. |
| Display connection | Not recorded | STEMMA QT / Qwiic cable, or four direct wires: 3V, GND, SDA1 (GPIO 41), and SCL1 (GPIO 40). The README documents both options; the installed cable is not specified. |
| Button wiring | 2 connections | Connects the switch to A0 and ground. Wire gauge, length, and connector type are not recorded. |
| Custom 3D-printed enclosure | 1 enclosure | Houses the display, switch, board, and wiring. Printed-piece count, material, and mounting hardware are not recorded. |
| Power & programming connection | Not recorded | The setup guide uses the board’s USB port for uploads. The final power supply and cable specifications are not documented. |
Code updates and notes from the build. Dated entries link to the corresponding GitHub history.
Updated OLED initialization to use the QT connector’s I²C pins and added startup messages for bus status, display detection, and restored counter data. A recurring serial heartbeat helps confirm the sketch is running when the screen is blank.
View the diagnostics updateAdded the lifetime counter, timed speed round, five saved high scores, and three-letter initials entry. Press timing separates normal counting, starting a round, and browsing the leaderboard; debouncing keeps switch chatter from becoming extra presses.
View the initial game codeDesigned and 3D-printed a case around the display, mechanical switch, QT Py, and wiring, then tested the assembled device. Build photos and enclosure files have not been added to this page yet.
Read the current build documentation