Wizzard NeoPixel Games PCB

YouTuber SubsySTEMs had a number of projects that required a 3x3 matrix of NeoPixels and buttons, plus a trio of buttons for select, enter, and reset. Thus he created the “Wizzard” lights-and-buttons development board. The device runs on an ATmega328 microcontroller – just like an Arduino Uno. However, its USB-C port is only for power, while programming is done via JTAG. In addition to the required lights and buttons, the board has a small buzzer, making it great for games and simple audio-visual experimentation.

With his initial projects and experimentation apparently out of the way, SubsySTEMs put up the extra devices that he had for sale on Tindie. Out of the box, it’s programmed with games/activities including Lights Out, where your goal is to turn all of the lights off; Repeat, which is similar to Simon; single-player and two-player tic-tac-toe; and composer, a simple music program. There’s also a lights program that randomly illuminates each NeoPixel addressable LED.

More info on the Wizzard’s design and programming is available on GitHub, along with the STL file for a 3D-printed cover. This print features flexible button tabs that diffuse the lighting and still allow the buttons underneath to be pressed. Cleverly, this cover attaches to the PCB via the board’s still-assembled rails with rubber bands, making use of something that would otherwise be a nuisance/waste! The board looks like a fun distraction, and something that could be programmed to do whatever else you could envision with this form factor.