Coding a game for the Worlds Smallest Console // in Micro Python

[@chrislaplante5040]

When you think she is about to say "The Nokia phone version of snake" and then she says "Google Chrome Browser" If you need me I will be coffin shopping. Great job!

[@karilawler]

a Nokia 6110/or 3310 is one thing I would love to add my collection some day ... so, trust me if I had one I would of shown it lol

[@jussikuusela7345]

I had a few of the mid-00's tiny Nokia phones... one of them had a very interesting bouncy ball game... and the cross button was positioned JUST under the Navi button, hitting of which quit the game without any further ado... after a few times I had to really try to keep myself composed and not smash the damn thing with a sledgehammer... the next model that had a WAY better keypad design, didn't have that game. F! Later on I thought that I might glue a small stud on the cross button to have kind of a joystick... but then I would be schlepping two phones with me, one for just a game.

[@matt92hun]

I've never been as old as I am right now.

[@JamieBainbridge]

Oh that'll be because by the time Kari was old enough for a phone, there were... only... only smartphones... Yeah buy a coffin for me too 😅

[@karilawler]

@@JamieBainbridge yep, although I never had one, Blackberry phones were the rage when I was in Junior school

[@rogerpalsgrove9678]

Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. I love the Tron t-shirt.

[@PeteSimpson]

As a self employed desktop software and mobile app developer in multiple development languages, I must say that your coding is nice and clean as well as simple to follow. Nice work. What an absolutely excellent video you've created. Keep making the interesting retro content that you've been creating and this channel will blow up and become huge.

[@derekjc777]

Modern languages make implementing something like snake really easy. The difficulty in snake was deleting the end of the snake as you move forward one block, and doing it efficiently. Essentially using a FIFO makes it much easier, and computers are so fast now! But it seems the Nokia phone screen resolution was only 84 by 48 pixels, and each segment of the snake was 4 by 4 pixels, with 4 rows/columns used for the border plus 8 lines for the score, producing a grid of 20 by 9, which means that only 180 bytes were required to hold the screen. Knowing where the head and tail is and moving along the snake would reduce the search time.

[@AlbertKefka77]

Not gonna lie, I was lost a couple of times during the video, but you are truly an inspiration for someone who wants to learn to code! GJ.

[@rockaholictom]

I was losing my mind soldering teeny components so thank you so much for the 15 min break 😂 looks like loads of fun to tinker with

[@martin-uz1py]

I thought it was bonkers when they ported Doom onto my MP3 player but that is insane. Great video, thank you for doing a bit of coding.

[@ca.m.572]

Excellent video, as usual, cheers Kari.

[@karilawler]

Many thanks!

[@Aberusugi]

I bought one of these on kickstarter a few days after they first announced it, really nice piece of cute engineering.

[@karilawler]

It really is!

[@Rich.Newell]

I have no idea about anything you are doing, but your enthusiasm for doing it is very infectious 😊

[@maineroad]

Brilliant video Kari, way beyond my technical ability but enjoyable nonetheless. Your fast becoming one of my favourite KZbinrs 👍

[@rowlandspear4061]

Writing Snake in Python? Sssssssssensational! 😀

[@jetpropulsionlabrador3615]

Wait I’m so excited about this, I didn’t realize it used Python! That’s the language I know most about cause I do data analysis sometimes. Thanks for going into detail about the code!

[@Drew-Dastardly]

What I like about MicroPython is it reminds me of coding in 8 bit BASIC back in the day and you can easily just change the code on the fly. It is great for testing hardware/software interface concepts on the fly, with a web browser or serial interface. But I would then use what I learned to code the ultimate project properly in C/C++ because there are inevitable speed issues with running an interpreter like Python or BASIC. The same as I would go to assembler on the 6502 or Z80. Love this channel and Kari is an absolute angel.😍

[@TheDotBot]

Only back in the day you'd have been peeking and poking into the display memory for drawing and collision detection, do there's that. Mapping the display into an array without running out of memory... hmm yes I guess things have changed a bit lol

[@Drew-Dastardly]

@@TheDotBot Honestly I have coded worse on a Z80. If it works in BASIC it will also run 20x faster and take 5x less precious RAM. (by doing it in assembler)

[@TheDotBot]

@@Drew-Dastardly I programmed my own game on a PET (6502) and dabbled in a bit of assembler because it was relatively easy (but time-consuming), then rewrote it on a Sinclair ZX81 - more complicated without the display page, but somehow it worked? All I can remember is that the screen addresses started at 32767. Which can't have been an actual byte address so... no clue how that worked! Never got into Z80 assembler though.

[@Drew-Dastardly]

@@TheDotBot Yes I did raw hex on my MZ-80A when it came to machine code. I want to get it out my loft and do an 80 column mod and then design a ROM filing system with a RP2040. Z80 I literally coded on paper and got it to work using pokes. 6502 was so much easier on the BBC Micro with it's assembler.

[@MightyGimp]

How did you learn to code? I’m absolutely lost with talk of assembler, byte addresses, etc. I’ve never known how people became so knowledgeable back in the day.

[@derekjc777]

Good to see this video. I've backed the Thumby Color on Kickstarter back in September and it appears they are entering production now so hopefully I'll see what they look like very soon! It's got a whopping 128x128 16-bit colour IPS display and the new Raspberry Pi RP2350 processor!

[@adisimpson1981]

When i see a new Kari video, iam always excited. Well done Kari :)

[@domramsey]

Love the more technical videos!

[@gvetech]

Awesome, well done!

[@karilawler]

Thanks for the kinds words, it's appreciated👍

[@gvetech]

@@karilawler you are welcome!

[@louroboros]

Very nice little port of snake, but I was most impressed with how easy you made it look to play the game on the real hardware! I’m a big fan of Tiny Circuits, especially their attention to friendly developer tools. Thanks for showing the process!

[@thebytespider]

great tutorial, clear and concise. Nokia snake was played an awful lot by me as a younger person. it's also a game I've never considered to make before so your video has been insightful

[@karilawler]

thank you

[@RicardoK-ng5ch]

Kari ! You rock

[@flukadamus]

Great video as always! I'm of the era of playing online Shockwave games back in the day and wanting to learn to code my own Flash games. Ended up learning Java without creating games for that, but this brings a whole big case of "What If?"

[@venomhemi3914]

Super Mario land 1 and 2 was some of my favs for GB, I still have the og gameboy!

[@notnowmike_]

This is great! It's another entry into programming. I bet this inspires more people. 😊

[@Rockythefishman]

Great video, just what I needed to unwind on a Sunday night

[@karilawler]

thank you

[@DerekTurtleRoe]

I thought you were going to make a game for the Game Boy, but awesome project! 😮 If you made a video about making Game Boy games using GB Studio or gbdk, I'd love that as well. 😊 Your videos are always entertaining and informative, thank you! 😊❤

[@TheDistur]

My eyes hurt just thinking about playing on that thing but it is cool. Good job putting a game on it too!

[@karilawler]

thank you, it was a fun exercise👍

[@Retroguyuk75]

You always pic awesome subjects Kari 😄! Fabulous video as always 🎉🕹️🎮🎯

[@karilawler]

thank you ... it was fun to make👍

[@jonyak1221]

At first glance at the thumbnail for this vid i thought this was going to be about the Arduboy. Tiny circuits makes some cool devices

[@joeblow229]

I was thinking that the code could probably be ported to other devices with minimal effort. I like the size of the Arduboy a lot better than the Thumby. "What is this, a console for ants??"

[@CodyShell]

Appreciate the link to the keyboard you're using in your bio. Love it! :D

[@awall1701]

Blimey!!! I know I would lose that console in seconds!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@karilawler]

trust me ... it's near impossible to find when you misplace it lol

[@EgoShredder]

I'd be waiting nervously upon the next toilet visit for a number two... Not sure if there is a log file with that download! 🤣

[@israelagalaba5493]

​@@EgoShredder 😂😂😂😂😅

[@apoxuponme9575]

Had an Adam computer as a kid. You could load games by ColecoVision cartridges or cassette tape. It sucked and was awesome

[@karilawler]

neither of which I own yet ... but hopefully one day I get to experience them👍

[@stevesgaming7475]

is there anything you can't do? ..very impressive! (btw, love the T-shirt!)

[@techrestoread]

Great video and fantastic content here keep up the good work you are smashing it 🎉

[@Zedclassic]

I want the super kari land wallpaper! 🥰

[@tonybennett7145]

Fun video Kari. Wow that is small, I think my thumb would cove the hole console lol. Good job you have petite hands Kari! Great Stuff! Keep em coming.

[@karilawler]

ha ... trust me, it's still to tiny for my small hands lol ... but fun nevertheless to make something for it :)

[@sohatyi]

Tiny Tanks - a tanks/worms/angry birds style game where you have to use your aim to defeat another tank on a simple terrain that is destructable.

[@karilawler]

on a similar note, I think Atari 2600 Combat might port well🤔

[@Ultra-Violet]

That's so cute Kari 👍🏻💜

[@TRONMAGNUM2099]

Brilliant! Great shirt!

[@TrickyDicky2006]

I guess a game like Alleyway/Blockout would work pretty well for it too. Perhaps even a very basic horizontal version of Tetris (blocks 'falling' from left-right or vice-versa) would be an interesting experiment. Or perhaps a combo of the two? a small pattern of blocks on right of screen. crrating a wall. a small triangle 'ship' on the left randomly generates a Tetroid that you can rotate clock/counterclock with A/B. Move ship up/Down and then 'Fire' the block to clear lines to the next 'room'.

[@integerofdoom69]

I'm not even sure my ancient eyes could see this thing. Still cool as hell.

[@TheGreyBaron]

This would be an awesome prop for scale toys/models. Makes me wonder what other retro platforms could be reasonably replicated to add realism to scenes/dioramas.

[@karilawler]

I’ve just said the very same thing to Theo of @slimehousetv fame

[@pixelfingers]

Loved this! New series / channel - Kari makes games!👾

[@john_amend_all]

The console reminds me of the gag in the 'Professor Branestawm Returns' TV movie where we think Connie's going to invent a tablet computer -- except that it comes out the size of the sort of tablet you swallow.

[@silverian]

I noticed that you can also use Arduino for connecting and programming. I actually used Arduino Micro few years ago for different application. I probably need magnify glass + mini sticks to play with this one 🙂The way, how you explained how code works, was nice!

[@karilawler]

thank you👍

[@ViridianGames]

I adore the concept, but I think it would be too small to actually play comfortably on it. Still, love seeing people making games!

[@TheJaguar1983]

I love that the Thumby is barely wider than it's own usb port 😂. Also, needed to use the microscope camera to film it. What a cool little device.

[@burgek1]

What game have I gone for, drumroll please..... Tetr... Snake?! Id have bet my house youd go for tetris after recent videos 😅

[@karilawler]

lol

[@streetmagik3105]

It's so ridiculous... I love it!

[@alexandrufloricica1435]

like the t-shirt :) one of my favourite movies

[@jasonschubert6828]

Would love to see the option for 2 button (clockwise and anti-clockwise) play. I'm sure that's how the old Nokias used to have it!

[@TravisGarnett]

@11:58 - Breakout, and Falldown [from TI graphing calculators].

[@CommanderKlag]

I enjoy all these videos, easy on the brain and the eyes. Thanks.😊

[@jurgenkruger3932]

"Honey, I have shrunked my Gameboy!" 😂 Really mad. 😊

[@Adam_22-k3e]

Wow the snake game is very cool. Got me thinking that I could make something simple for my Miyoo mini ❤

[@grigorione]

I wonder if you could get something like ' Lunar Lander ' for the C64 to work on that device ?

[@LBenjamin81]

Even at the reduced size, it's still clearer than the og Gameboy with that magnifying glass add on.

[@rrivillox]

That's a great coding, Kari. Congratulations. You're so cool. Greetings and let's go for a new tiny game. :8[

[@salmon85]

The micro usb is bigger than the thumby

[@karilawler]

😂

[@theburntcrumpet8371]

This looks like fun! I made snake in go with raylib recently

[@Electronzap]

That's a fun community!

[@fruitloop831]

Really cool, bit too small of a screen for me to play around with though

[@cmar4076]

I love your TRON shirt!!

[@trance_trousers]

I used to 'code' back in the 80s (or program as we used to cal it then) using various dialects of BASIC (BBC Basic being my favourite) and some 6502 machine code. I didn't really understand some of the Python code you'd written, so I think I'll stick with BASIC instead!

[@MartyTull]

Absolutely love Kari's tshirt game always on point. Have you ever played or used the nokia n-gage used to love mine back in the day especially having tomb raider on the go!.

[@karilawler]

I do in fact own one of those and have a sealed copy of Tomb Raider for it👍 twitter.com/KariLawler/status/1499097567682080779

[@EdwardianTeaChest]

A game that would be perfect for this tiny console is the Commodore VIC-20 game Blitz (a Canyon Bomber clone). It's very easy to write and only requires a single key/button to play it.

[@karilawler]

just checked it out and 100%, yes that would work perfectly (very similar to City Bomber that I've played on the ZX Spectrum)... might even be easier to play, as it only requires one button👍

[@pseudotasuki]

They recently finished a Kickstarter for the Thumby 2. It has a color display, an RP2350, and is shaped like a Gameboy Advance. Hopefully I'll be getting mine in a few weeks.

[@karilawler]

check out 12:27 in the video

[@pseudotasuki]

​@@karilawlerWhoops! That's what I get for not watching to the very end.

[@voodoomotion5855]

Awesome work. Wonder if you could attach a little stick the the d pad so it works like a joystick and be easier to control? Would the code work much faster if you check the x and y values to see if the head hit the border, and compare the head x and y values with the body values to see if it hit itself? First time I played snake was in QBasic on a 386sx, not sure how the code worked. The benefit with your code is it's easier to add extra walls and bonus items 😉

[@karilawler]

To detect if outside bounds, the code does just use the head coords ... Regards checking for body collision, yep, you could just run though the body array to see if there is a match and then do a food check thereafter as another way to achieve the same. But your right, using the playing area array does open the game up to adding other features, like walls :)

[@metronome8471]

This reminds me of the Dreamcast vmu games.

[@bryandrobny7690]

That's not the only thing switched on! 🥵

[@sonnyc3826]

i wonder where she learned to repair this stuff..itd be a rpetty neat hobby and probably profitable too. itd jsut be neat resotring stuf flike this buying old broken stuff and being able to fix them you can probabyl start quite a collection of every game and console for dirt cheap.

[@thomasvenables2795]

Imagine Elden Ring on the Thumby

[@karilawler]

normally people ask for Crysis lol

[@thomasvenables2795]

@@karilawler 🤣

[@grigorione]

no twitch channel ? or am i not seeing the link somewhere ?

[@Allen-by6ci]

very cool Kari

[@ДмитрийШпаков-о3н]

I think Nintendo's Tanks can be written for such a game console. Bomber man should not be very complex.

[@bearonatinybike]

Good stuff, thanks! I've been doing a little playing around with the Playdate and its API recently, which has is similarly graphically limited. I'd be interested to see the complete code for your Snake implementation, if it's something you're happy to share.

[@karilawler]

no problem with sharing the code ... for which, will see what I can do and prob. put a link up to it in the video description in a few days👍

[@bearonatinybike]

@@karilawler Awesome, ta. ❤️

[@ASoulphoenix]

Good to have a working micro computer. Bad that you need a microscope and stylus (or something) to use it. Also nice explanaition and t-shirt, Kari

[@karilawler]

yep, fully agree it's a bit to small for everyday use

[@3dhYT]

I am impressed.

[@johnybitmap2559]

Whoaa... so tiny! Bet you've got to play it under some kind of magnifier.

[@suvetar]

So cool!

[@jbullen82]

"Playable" is a strong word 😅

[@YanLipavsky]

Super ! You are amazing

[@graemepatterson]

We need a Thumby Colour 🤣

[@karilawler]

here you go www.kickstarter.com/projects/kenburns/thumby-color 🤓

[@patrickcardon1643]

Now you need to 3D-print little fingers to be able to play more easily

[@jceggbert5]

Ben Heck's ATTINY10 console: am I a joke to you?

[@terry-]

Great!

[@wolfzrat]

Hi, how did you make your wallpaper i like it and wanna make one like it

[@FC9k]

That's a tiny computah

[@spectrefate]

TBH, I'm just here for the t-shirts

[@kevintappminville195]

Woah! Okay the console is tiny but... Is Doom REALLY playable? Dpad to move check. A Button Fire check. B open doors and operate switches check. How to you cycle your guns? The answer to that question will decide wether or not i make an impulse buy XD

[@80s_kid.]

i want to get my hands on a hand held that will play Play Station 1 games

[@VoyeurOfMisfortune]

Ima put a custom rom hack of Pokémon on it and play with a fraction of the visible area.

[@Kolor-kode]

Does it come with the worlds strongest contact lenses so I can play?

[@azmansell6597]

Stuff Samuel L Jackson... Kari COULD get Jurassic Park back online!

[@HorizonOfHope]

It’s a little bulky. Do they make a smaller version?

[@karilawler]

lol

[@ErrorMessageNotFound]

Space invaders. Maybe the simplified Atari 2600 version of it.

[@B.von.Bentzen]

What a doll

[@PrinzMidas]

Please write GameBoy-Games!!!🥰

[@Urko2005]

Nice novelty, but i wouldnt like playing games on it for long.

[@karilawler]

yea, more of a fun little novelty to experience and add to the ever growing collection lol

[@TheRealCelerate]

My fingers are too big for the thumby. It's a shame they don't have a bigger version.

[@rockosgaminglogic]

No soldering today :(