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MAKERbuino: Old-school game console homemade

26.3.2018

Translation: machine translated

Soldering, plugging together and programming - you learn all this when assembling the MAKERbuino. As an electrical engineering freak, I couldn't resist the opportunity to try out the MAKERbuino set for myself. My conclusion: The thing is a lot of fun and is educationally excellent!

The set contains everything you need for assembly: Soldering iron and tin, pliers, side cutters and screwdriver. Of course, the individual parts for the console are also included. These include resistors, capacitors, potentiometers, microprocessor and so on.

Who is behind MAKERbuino?

The DIY console was originally a Kickstarter project. The idea behind it: To give children, young people and beginners a playful introduction to the world of electrical engineering. You can also find more information in the project video, which is well worth watching.

Soldering exercises

The individual parts come in plastic bags and are organised according to work steps. This means that (almost) nothing can be mixed up and assembly is straightforward. Instructions are not included with the set, but you can find them online. Unfortunately, it is only available in English, but thanks to the many pictures, assembly is possible even if you don't speak English.

First, the processor and display are soldered on. The soldering points are marked so that you don't solder the wrong ones. Don't worry: there is enough space for the solder joints. This means that the board is also suitable for beginners or people like me who are not so good at soldering.

As soon as the monitor and processor are installed, the first functional test can be carried out. Everything works for me, so even with my limited soldering skills it works without any problems. If you remember my Gameboy project, this is not a matter of course. But with the MAKERbuino, everything works like clockwork. If it doesn't work right away, don't panic: The instructions also include a troubleshooting section.

More soldering to come. Now it's time for the resistors. Cut off the excess wires. It is important that you put four of the cut wires to one side. You will still need them to connect the power module. The lively soldering works quite well. Here's a little tip: get a helping hand to fix the speaker in place. This makes it easier to solder the cables. As soon as all the parts are in place, the final function test follows. Everything works for me.

The next step is to assemble the housing and screw it to the MAKERbuino. Before fixing the front glass, don't forget to turn on the buttons. Top, after one and a half to two hours my MAKERbuino is ready.

Handling

The finished device is surprisingly heavy for its size. But it is stable and thanks to the Plexiglas cover it can withstand a lot and won't fall apart at the slightest vibration. But now I finally want to play with it too.

As the MAKERbuino is based on an Arduino microprocessor, the games look accordingly. You definitely shouldn't expect Crisis. But Spaceinvader and Snake bring back feelings of nostalgia. I feel transported back to the good old Nokia 3330 days. But there are many more games on the MAKERbuino and the hard-working Community is always providing new additions. And if that's too boring for you, you can also programme your own games. Everything you need for this is included in the scope of delivery and you can find explanations on the MAKERbuino website.

Conclusion

The MAKERbuino is a great device for learning the basics of coding and soldering. It is definitely not suitable for small children. But from the age of 10 and with the help of adults, nothing stands in the way of discovery. So the whole family can learn something. Of course, the MAKERbuino is also suitable for adults who enjoy tinkering and learning new things. I enjoyed assembling the console and would recommend it to anyone.

Development boards + Kits

MAKERbuino Set including tools

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Quentin Aellen

Category Marketing Specialist

quentin.aellen@digitecgalaxus.ch

In a nutshell, I enjoy technology and being where the action is. So what better place for me than digitec?

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