MemAxe - 8Bit Sound Effects Memory Game

This is Instructable contains all the information and source code you need to build a fully functional MemAxe.

What is MemAxe?
MemAxe is an electronic game that tests your memory by making you copy a sequence of sounds using switches. The sounds emulate those of old 8-bit game consoles.

If you want to buy a kit with all the parts needed for this project including pre-programmed Picaxe, check this link out -> http://www.gadgetgangster.com/135

What does MemAxe do?
In the first round it plays one of 4 different sounds at random. Each sound represents a different switch on the device. After the sound is played you get a turn to copy the original sound by pressing a switch. If you get the sound right, MemAxe will play two sounds in the next round and so on. The limit is about 80 rounds.

Step 1: What Will I Need to Make a MemAxe?

Parts list

A) 1 x Resistor 330R (R1)
A) 1 x Resistor 1K (R2)
A) 1 x Resistor 3.3K (R3)
A) 3 x Resistor 10K (R4, R6, R7)
A) 1 x Resistor 100K (R5)

B) 1 x Capacitor 10uF (C1)

C) 1 x Picaxe 08M (IC1)
D) 1x 8Pin IC Socket (SC1)
E) 1 x Battery Holder 3AA (B1)
F) 1 x Micro Speaker 8Ohm (SP1)
G) 1 x LED (Green) 3mm (LED1)
H) 1 x Project PCB Half board (PCB1)
I) 4 x Tactile Switch Push button (S1 - S4)
J) 1 x Hookup Wire Solid core ~1ft

Step 2: IC Socket

Step 2- IC Socket
Place the 8pin IC Socket on the top side of the PCB, with pin 1 on G16 of the PCB and pin 8 on J16 of the PCB. Solder into place.

Step 3: Add Wire Links

Step 3- Wire links:
Solder the wire links to the top side of the board at coordinates:
A20 to Q20
B4 to B5
B14 to B15
D18 to F18
E16 to F16
E21 to M21
I11 to J11
K11 to K18
L16 to Q16
P4 to P6
P9 to P11

Step 4: Add the Resistors

Step 4 - Resistors:
Place the resistors on the top of the PCB at the following coordinates:

R1; D19 to E19 330R
R2; I6 to O6 1K
R3; C5 to I5 3.3K
R4; I9 to O9 10K
R5; C15 to I15 100K
R6; A17 to F17 10K
R7; L18 to Q18 10K

Step 5: Add the Capacitor

Step 5 - Capacitor:
Solder the 10uF Capacitor to the top side of the PCB, with the positive leg at L19 and the negative leg at N19.

Step 6: Add the LED

Step 6 - LED:
Fit the LED to the top side of the PCB with the positive leg (long) at B19 and the negative leg (short) at B18. Solder in place.

Step 7: Add the Switches

Step 7 - Switches
Place the switches on the top of the PCB at the following coordinates, and Solder in place.

SW1; M1, O1, M4 and O4
SW2; C1, E1, C4 and E4
SW3; M11, O11, M14 and O14
SW4; C11, E11, C14 and E14

Step 8: Add the Battery Box

Step 8 - Battery box:

Solder the Red wire on the battery box to M22 on the top side of the PCB.
Solder the Black wire to Q22 on the top side of the PCB.

Step 9: Add the Speaker

Step 9 - Speaker:
Cut 2 pieces of wire about 2inches long, strip both ends and solder one end of each wire to each terminal of the speaker. Solder the two wires to P19 and Q19 on the top side of the PCB.
Bend the wires to place the speaker in the place were you want it.

Step 10: Fit the PicAxe Chip

Step 10 - Fit Picaxe:
If the Picaxe has not been pre-programmed program it with the file "MemAxe V1_1.bas"

Fit the Picaxe 08M to the 8pin IC socket on the PCB.

Step 11: Fit Batteries and Test

Step 11 - Fit batteries and test

Fit the 3AA size batteries to the battery box.
Turn the MemAxe on at the switch on the battery box.

Testing:
1. Check that the LED is flashing.
2. Press one of the four buttons and a random sound should be played.
3. After the random sound is played press the same button a second time; you should hear the sound that corresponds to that switch.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all of the switches.

After you have tested and confirmed that sound is played, the LED works, and all four buttons function you're ready to start having some fun.

Step 12: How to Play

How to play
When you turn the battery pack on, the LED will flash while the device waits for you to press a switch. Once any switch is pressed one of the 4 different sounds are played at random. The LED then comes on to indicate that you need to press one of the switches. If you press the wrong switch, or don't press a switch, you will hear a sssshhhhh noise which means you have failed. The device then resets and waits for you to hit a key and start again. If you hit the correct switch, a clean tone is played to say you have passed. You now go on to the next round where two sounds are played. In each new round one of the four sounds is added to the end of the existing sequence. You enter your guess each time the LED comes on; after each guess the LED will briefly turn off then on again, now you enter your next guess, and this continues until the round ends. The pass tone will be played after each correct round of guesses to let you know a new round is starting.

The sound effects are bomb drop, laser fire, ship lift off, and little tune.

You are now ready to play a game. Don't loose heart if you don't get it straight away, it's actually hard to get the hang of making a button represent a sound. When you do, it becomes a really fun and challenging game. Remember you have the circuit and the code for this project so hack away. Good luck.

Step 13: How the Circuit Works

How the circuit works:
The MemAxe circuit is based around the Picaxe 08M microcontroller. The 4 different switches correspond to different sounds that are played. Each of the 4 switches are connected to a resistor which makes a voltage divider that produces a unique voltage when a switch is pressed. The voltage is sensed by the ADC (analog to digital converter) on the Picaxe and converted into one of 4 values in the program. The sound command is then used to output the sound to the speaker. A LED is fitted to one of the digital output pins to indicate when you need to press a switch.