Day 3: Hook up Scratch Pong game with Makey Makey

10:03 PM Xun 0 Comments

So the Scratch game is done, it is time to hook up with Makey Makey.

Compared to computer, Makey Makey makes it easier to have multiple players; easier to use pretty much anything else other than the keyboard. I could have just use bananas. It might even be entertaining watching users brandishing bananas like maniacs.

So points go to Makey Makey.

However, Makey Makey is also clumsy. Problem 1: the wires can constantly fall off; Problem 2: you are forever tangled and tethered; Problem 3: You could start to notice that computer is acting strangely, only to find out that Makey Makey is inadvertently controlling a couple of keys.

Nevertheless, I got to hook up my pong game.

I decided to use real ping pong paddles. To make it conductive, I wrapped the padding surface with foil. I decided against real ping pong, because it is too light. Instead I used potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil.

So I ended up with some shinny paddles and silver goose eggs. Looking good. I hooked the ground to the paddles, and the eggs to the left and right arrows.

The game is ready.


It is playable. Though no real ping pong motion can be simulated. I do not think Makey Makey is capable of that, or I am capable of programming that. Instead, the kids just sort of banging the ball on the paddle.

After a while, it gets boring.

Oh well, despite all of its flaws, I liked it.