One-Dimensional Space Invaders Looks Surprisingly Fun
This 1D RGB Invaders game actually seems like more fun than regular old Space Invaders.
Space Invaders may be an unimpeachable classic, but it isn’t exactly exhilarating by modern standards. A kid today would probably get bored with the simple two-dimensional graphics within a few minutes. So, it is very surprising that removing one of those dimensions to build this 1D RGB Invaders game actually seems to make things more fun.
The original Space Invaders had a 2D game screen, with pixels at X and Y coordinates. If you remove a dimension, you’re left with just a line. In this case, that one-dimensional game screen is a string of RGB LEDs. How could you possibly make an interesting game with a “screen” that is just a straight line? By bringing color into the mix.
Each “invader” is a random color and the player can only destroy it with a projectile of a matching color, which they fire using either the red, blue, or green button. As a line of invaders creeps down the line, the player must choose the right colors to eliminate all enemies before they reach the controller. As the number of invaders and their movement speed increases, that becomes more challenging. That is particularly fun because you can play in a real physical space, like a hallway in your home.
It doesn’t take much to build this. You just need an ESP32-S3 development board, a strip of WS2812B individually addressable RGB LEDs, some buttons, an amplifier module, a speaker, and a suitable power supply. You can do all the wiring in an hour and immediately start playing using the provided code. A self-hosted web interface will let you configure each gameplay session.