Concept
Portal Clash is a two-player, multi-platform spaceship battle game that merges the physical and digital aspects we learned in ourclass . One player commands their ship on a physical grid of NeoPixel LEDs controlled by an Arduino and a custom hardware console. The second player pilots their ship within a digital p5.js canvas on a computer.
The core of the game is the “portal” mechanic. Each player’s screen has a designated “sending” edge (colored green) and a “receiving” edge (colored red). When a player fires a projectile that hits their own green sending edge, the projectile teleports across dimensions, emerging from the opponent’s red receiving edge to continue its trajectory.
To create a dynamic and challenging experience, these portal edges are randomized every 10-15 seconds. Players must constantly adapt their strategy, re-evaluating their attack vectors and defensive positions as the rules of the arena shift beneath them. The goal is simple: land a set number of hits on your opponent before they can do the same to you.
Interaction Flow
The system main coding part is in p5.js sketch, which manages all game logic, physics, and state. The Arduino will act as a specialized display and controller for Player 1, translating physical inputs into data for p5 and rendering game state onto the NeoPixel matrix based on data received from p5.
Arduino Design & Hardware
The Arduino’s role is to be the physical interface for Player 1. It will continuously listen for input, send it to p5.js for processing, listen for display instructions from p5.js, and update the NeoPixel matrix accordingly.
Hardware Components:
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Arduino Uno (or similar board)
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16×16 NeoPixel Matrix (or four 8×8 matrices tiled together for a 16×16=256 pixel display. An 8×8 grid is too small for meaningful movement).
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5x Push Buttons (for Up, Down, Left, Right, Fire)
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Potentiometer (for rotation)
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Breadboard and Jumper Wires
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5V, 4A+ External Power Supply (I need to experiment the power of this as the 16×16 matrix can draw significant current, more than USB can provide).
Arduino Pinout:
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Digital Pin 2: Up Button
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Digital Pin 3: Down Button
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Digital Pin 4: Left Button
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Digital Pin 5: Right Button
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Digital Pin 6: Fire Button
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Digital Pin 7: NeoPixel Matrix Data In
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Analog Pin A0: Potentiometer Wiper