Shenzhen I/O - Building Cheap Chinese Electronic Gizmos

[@Ergzay]

FYI, Scott, That Chinese datasheet is more unbelievable than you would ever imagine. as someone who's done a decent amount of embedded system programming and design, you'll often get datasheets for processors that are half chinese with the other half being badly translated english and it's obviously been xeroxed from some piece of paper rather than actually written on a computer. This thing is so freaking realistic I don't even know what to say. That is an AMAZING touch.

[@HelpFromAbove1]

Someone turned part of my job into a game... Oh joy...

[@scottmanley]

Do you think astronauts said that when KSP was released?

[@HelpFromAbove1]

Good point. Probably not. Its just funny to see this kind of game - Its not something you see every day. The fascination with space exploration seems to be much more universal for gamers than a fascination with embedded circuit design, so I was surprised to see a game built around it.

[@yyunko7764]

Circuit design is pretty awesome, I study logic as part of my engineering courses and I think I'm gonna get this game!

[@krawutzimon]

same here, but i'm really excited!

[@jonharson]

Scott Manley, because going back to the days of programming ASM on a sheet of paper is every engineers dream... Not. That said, you made a great job in selling me the game, the puzzle by themselves are pretty simple for someone who has been doing this kind of crap for over 20 years, but I am taking some pleasure in trying to optimise my code to reach to lowest power usage/instruction count, but I am also the kind of guy who love spending hour optimizing a project Euler problem for no reason at all.. but now I can factor primes with my eyes closed. I am pretty sure any astronauts would take any occasion they would get to go back to space, but I would never want to go back to ASM.

[@tecnd]

2:36 As a Chinese speaker, I can confirm that that is actually legit! Here is roughly what it says: Sometimes we meet situations where we cannot use standard parts or procedures. Because of this, we developed the PGA33X6. It has a flexible but strong logic structure, and can increase the capability of any device. Highlights: (3) Simple input pin with buffer (3) Simple output pin with buffer (6) Overflow area multiplication array (?) (1) Set/reset trigger with feedback and direct-output ability (?) Uses a sum-of-products on/off organization, to easily project inputs to outputs (?) Can replace hundreds of independent logic gates Not suited for low-power applications I'm not sure about the ones with more technical language; I put question marks after those lines

[@redbeam_]

nice job!

[@DUIofPhysics]

sounds like a CPLD in real life.

[@Nerdule]

I'm pretty sure that's actually a spoiler. Trying to figure out WTF that does and how to use it is probably part of a puzzle.

[@chris.dillon]

Good job studying "middle text" :). Quite a hard thing to do. I can't imagine.

[@PhoenixNL72-DEGA-]

PGA33X6 => PGA=Programmable Gate Array :)

[@apollo8364]

Embedded system design simulator. Literally one of the best concepts for a game I've ever seen. Wish there were more programming/hardware simulator games like this, when I first saw this on steam it was an insta-buy. Anyone else know of other games like this?

[@itsumonihon]

hello from the future, i agree with you entirely and also wonder if there are any other games like this. zachtronics has a number of other similar games but not quite the same as this one.

[@madoka-chan9217]

"Turing complete" uses logic gates, it may be interesting

[@timothymclean]

Zachtronics-making incredibly complex and technical games since 2008. Good work.

[@thevortexATM]

gamification has truly set new expectations for future generations. Scott has just been secretly designing circuits for the chinese government thinking he has been playing a game

[@nickl5658]

Won't it be funny if there is a Shenzhen I/O company.. and this is how they are designing their circuit boards. Similar games are used for protein and RNA folding predictions

[@tisajokt7676]

+Nick L Examples of such games please?

@@tisajokt7676 Not sure about games but Folding@home uses spare processing power to simulate protein folding.

[@quangho8120]

@@tisajokt7676 Foldit is also cool

[@bman12three43]

ah classic shenzen, putting micro controllers in everything even when you don't need them.

[@homebrew94]

So damn right, I hope lord Dave Jones didn't see it!

[@Nerdule]

Zach already did that one. (www.zachtronics.com/kohctpyktop-engineer-of-the-people/)

[@big0bad0brad]

Until you realize that a cheap PIC10 and decoupling cap is less cost than even a 555 timer and support circuitry.

[@Mythricia1988]

Was just about to say that. You can get a microcontroller the size of a rice grain and it'll cost about the same as a rice grain too (maybe not literally). So why not use one. Even if it performs a simple function, it can lead to a smaller and simpler circuit, smaller PCB, smaller enclosure, etc.

[@ykerman899]

Oh man, I feel like it's like first time ever that I feel a sense of pride for being a Chinese in the video game world. This is awesome.

[@sebb810]

Arduino, Rasperry PI AND KSP! ON one YT channel! I'm in heaven tight now!

[@90hijacked]

He's done Raspberry PI? Could ya please link it xD

[@scottmanley]

I haven't made any videos about it.... yet.

[@TheGolipop]

0:14 "This is something incredibly exciting, incredibly awesome!" *proceeds to put most exciting and awesome thing in the world away*

[@D0pam1n]

Never even heard of Zachtronics games, this sounds rather unique!

[@Tfin]

SpaceChem is likely the easiest to grasp. This looks like you might need to actually know some of the language used, unless I missed where they were on screen.

[@scottmunley7213]

The manual I showed at the start has all the info, and it's in digital form.

[@PixelisedPaul]

If you're not into code so much, check out Infinifactory, which is ace.

[@offtheball87]

I very highly recommend SpaceChem. All these years later, I still go back to it from time to time.

[@Tfin]

***** The biggest issue with SpaceChem... is that it's still advertising a 50% off sale for Ironclad Tactics. :)

[@yomatahellen4511]

it's funny that while this is a game which has some scientific terms in legit Chinese, the game itself does not have a Chinese version.

[@redchris05]

More accurately, the Chinese version takes place in real-world places.

[@yomatahellen4511]

and you get paid instead you paying for the "game".

[@bersK00]

There's a Chinese language option now in the "Control panel"

[@LordMithril]

Skipped through the vid thinking "huh this looks like a.. oh wait it is a Zachtronics game" and bought it. one of the few Dev's where I buy the games blindly. Loving them

[@daniellopes9382]

this is my first programing game i ever played.. took me a long time to read and to figure out the third level. and you made it look so simple hehe

[@basbekjenl]

didn't even realise this is 5 years old... damn I'm sleepy.

[@simonwiseacre3622]

Dear Scott, Purchased game three months ago and sat on it. No programming experience nor EE expertise. However following your logical explanation, programming is fun and easy to understand. Thank you

[@zubmit700]

Please do more of this. It's very interesting to see how this language works.

[@KillerSpud]

This game is like programming with boxing gloves on, with your arms tied to your sides, while locked in a coffin. But man does it teach you how to write tight assembly.

[@elvishfiend]

You had me at "new game from Zachtronics"!

[@etymology3]

In this video: a dude that codes for a living coming home to play a game where he codes for fun. Awesome

[@Mythricia1988]

I am so happy that games like this are allowed to exist... And that someone actually cares about the subject enough to make such high quality games. It's actually fantastic. I'll have to look into this - I've spent plenty time IRL programming uControllers and laying out circuits, and heck, I actually find a great deal of fun in doing so! This looks freaking awesome. This is by the same guy(s) that made the flash-based silicon layout game thingamajig? A game on the web I remember from years back, you had to lay out actual P/N doped silicon tracks and metal tracks, vias, etc to create circuits. Something about this seemed really similar in some ways.

[@gmgmaker9289]

Mythricia yes, Zachatronics made KONSTRUCTOR (name of the game).

[@iaansecurity6727]

Can't wait to get my hands on this and TIS-100 this weekend!

[@ToqTheWise]

>Can take Kerbals to the Mün. >Can’t play a virtual card game my grandmother plays.

[@McMurchie]

Having worked in China, this is absolutely gorgeous and so damn nostalgic. I remember getting my papers through the post from fedex thinking, omg I am actually going now. I've since met my other half there and speak fluent Chinese, back in the UK for now, but will definitely return to China to work in the future.

[@erebostd]

I wouldn’t return to china. Gutter oil, oppressive security forces… nope, that’s a clear „no“ from me. Additionally: if you are a coder/engineer, you can work from everywhere…

[@nissenlam]

I can say that from what I see, the Chinese is correct. I don't know the professional words but the grammar is correct. Also, I've been to Shenzhen and I don't remember it looking like that.

[@exploitativity]

Bro, this is in the future. You have to watch out for the drone activity level each morning to make sure you don't get your hair buzzed off or something.

[@MyriceLi]

Chinese here, you are correct! It is really a standard Chinese manual.

[@destrierofdark_]

Translation of the stuff please?

[@BHavBA]

About the Chinese page: no spoilers, all words on it are legit Electronic words in Chinese.

[@berni8k]

Sorry the moment you said "Zachtronics" i stopped watching and went on steam.

[@headrockbeats]

The moment he said "Zachtronics" I stopped watching and ran away in terror.

[@berni8k]

Headrock Us engineers are a weird bunch i know.

[@basedeltazero714]

Their games aren't bad in concept, they just can't make a difficult curve worth anything. The first few challenges are easy, then suddenly super hard.

[@DoctorHerbstein]

That's... how a lot of engineering goes.

[@Padarom]

Same for me. I got SpaceChem off an early Humble Bundle and loved it, after watching a video on Infinifactory I got that as well and since bought their games whenever I see them. I honestly didn't even read anything about the game, the instant Scott said "Zachtronics" I went to Steam and bought it.

[@Amir-de8xx]

Would love to see a playthrough!

[@ANDRSNS]

Scott, what a lovely new dimension on your channel. I'd love to see more videos of you making stuff IRL!

[@waynebutane1338]

Shenzhen does not only produce cheap electronics. As far as I know they are getting better and better in producing high tech electronics, and they have a huge maker community

[@mtadd]

Please put more of this game up on youtube

[@themattenthehat]

2 LEDs that BOTH have to blink, better use two separate controllers :p

[@jacksonabernathy1683]

Matthew Hennes you actually have to use 2 controllers, because it is 2 different boards

[@PendragonDaGreat]

It was so good to get a game with legit feelies for once.

[@JamBear]

This looks right up my alley. It's like my research work but in game form!

[@anlizheng6134]

Interesting game and video, but Shenzhen (深圳) is "shen-jen" in Standard Mandarin, and something like "sum-tzun" in Cantonese (I'm from Shanghai, so my Cantonese is not so good). The "zh" should not be pronounced "z".

[@anuel3780]

Funny thing, the game itself points out this mistake in one of the emails!

[@Monothefox]

I wonder if they will do a crossover where one has to make custom user interface equipment for KSP.

[@richfiles]

I'm actually building a KSP instrument panel into my desk! I even have a real navball from an Israeli P4 Phantom flight simulator!

[@kingfriday555]

coolest comment here. . . if its true.

[@richfiles]

Definitely true. Just Google "Kerbal Simpit Repository". A bunch of people have controller builds on the Kerbal forums.

[@KatouMegumiosu]

Hey~~ Do a LP on this, detailed.

[@chelfyn]

for that last circuit my far less elegant solution uses a smidge less power. mov p0 acc teq acc 100 + mov 100 p1 + slp 1 mov 0 p1 slp 1

[@igorkutcher61]

teq p0 100 + not + mov acc p1 + slp 1 + not + mov acc p1 slp 1 Even less :)

[@bikutoso]

Thanks for reminding me this game came out on early access. I stumbled upon this game two weeks ago, but had forgotten it until l this video.

[@damienw4958]

Where's the "hullo I'm Scott Manley"?!?! :)

[@simp-slayer]

I like this hello better

[@dosmastrify]

he missed one!?!?

[@frederf3227]

main( ) { printf("Hullo world "); }

[@squidturkey7244]

+Brian Clark python right

[@Megaranator]

Pretty sure that's C

[@andrewkowalczyk1156]

Never thought they'd turn my day job/hobby into a video game. Part of me wants to try this, the other part of me thinks I could merely just start my own project and get the same experience that way. But if they're trying to teach people what it's like, then they're spot on

[@KriLL325783]

No brown sofa. -50 points.

[@PromptedHawk]

Or strangely arousing british voice. I don't think you can put points on that.

[@pvfireworks9118]

But he shows his hands only, this should give +50 points. The game must be good, because he didn't burn it...

[@PromptedHawk]

Still, no oddly sexy English accent.

[@TransistorBased]

Chef Excellence will need some Tesco gin for this.

[@VikingSchism]

Zachtronics, yet again Fucking love them

[@axlecharleston2582]

"It's a solitair game." Wait a minute, those are Mahjong pieces! XD

[@clancywiggum3198]

Looking forward to seeing this on GOG, looks amazing!

[@dman55122]

oh man, TIS-100 is one of my favorite game ever. I love this publisher so much.

[@blendpinexus1416]

zactronics have made some AMAZING stuff. first zactronics game i played was magnum opus, a fun molecular factory game.

[@arantisdavis1623]

Definitely getting this, as my girlfriend is currently working for an Electrical Engineering degree and I feel she'd be super interested in this.

[@gatomaru]

please make this a series it looks really fun!

[@bobthedino2007]

Love the SPARCstation monitor stand!

[@danielhoover5169]

You do things with Raspberry Pis and Arduinos too? You are now officially my favorite KZbinr.

[@uku4171]

The game is now on Game Pass, so I searched for a gameplay. I can't believe your video wasn't the first result.

[@BicyclesMayUseFullLane]

I lost it when the Chinese manual came out.

[@mrmadmaxalot]

Ah, man. I discovered TIS-100 a few months ago and was totally absorbed. Definitely going to get this game.

[@ChrisNorris]

11:05 Ah yes you mentioned TIS100 which is exactly my thoughts when I saw this. This looks fun.

[@invygithub]

Ha, we've actually done similar stuff for real with VHDL at the university.

[@manicornithologist]

Scott, I'd love to see more gameplay of this from you!

[@greenshadow622]

I just barely started watching the video just now, but I couldn't help but notice that you use the same keyboard I do!

[@xKatjaxPurrsx]

So glad you are playing this too :)

[@justintime506]

this is so up Scott's alley it's ridiculous.

[@offtheball87]

Oh my god. Takes me right back to uni. Definitely getting this.

[@lescarneiro]

Bought the game because of you, very interesting!

[@_Kerat]

Hi Scott, I read Chinese. All the words, phrases, and sentences are written and used correctly.

[@TheMasonX23]

"Das blinken lights" - clearly an AvE fan

[@TheTechnicalNirl]

This looks really interesting and pedagogic!

[@Koriolis]

The Chinese text used is accurate as far as I know.

[@manson1823]

When I saw this game in Steam store, I just don't really get what is the gameplay of this game, until I saw your video, I get it now. So it is a game that require you to complete the Assembly code, to make the output wave form match the objective, right? Thanks for your video, it seems interesting and I'm going to add it to my collection of Steam game now.

[@Daednumai]

Got this yesterday, great little game, really loving it.

[@Polarwhisper6]

Thanks for introducing me to this game

[@LeventDV]

chinese seller: how do we plan circuit boards without paying? make people do it! *makes the game*

[@SteveBakerIsHere]

I just kinda feel that they made this so realistic that I really prefer playing with actual hardware and actual wiring, software, test gear and so forth. Most video games have you do things that you can't to in real life - but this has you do things you can ACTUALLY do - for cheap, for real. So I'm gonna pass on this - and carry on hacking kid's toys using ESP8266 and RaspberryPi boards...here in real life.

[@Kryoclasm]

My jaw about fell off when I saw you write the code for the pulse generator. It may not save much power but it is elegant. I really think you have a few IQ points on me. :P

[@dosmastrify]

come on Scott you're old enough to remember that when games used to come with cool stuff like this

[@Candesce]

Salubrious is now my new favourite word haha.

[@TheKrazyKat89]

This seems like a fancier version of TIS-100, which is a good thing. I think I'm going to get it as soon as it's out of Early access.

[@Ram21s]

Would definitely watch you play more of this game.

[@HalfUnder]

Shenzhen is where a majority of vaping hardware is made. Most of the large companies are located there. Innokin, Smok, Kanger and on and on.

[@mtz21601]

Scott I would like to recommend the game logic bots to you if you have never tried it. Like you I really like games like this and TIS 100 and Logic bots has become a favorite. You have a garage and kind of in Kerbal fashion you place your parts. Then you go intocurcuit mode and design the logic to make the robot perform different tasks to complete a course.

[@spacewater7]

I think if you included an 'or' gate into the last circuit that would cut power to the accumulation as long as the button was pressed, you would reduce power consumption. It would increase cost though. P.S. my dad lived in Shenzhen and worked there for a decade.

[@headrockbeats]

I passed through Shenzhen when it was being built. Creepiest place ever, back then. Before millions of people started moving into it. I bet it's a lot nicer now. Well, unless you work in some of the factories...

[@The51stDivision]

I can imagine. Shenzhen basically morphed from a tiny fishing town into a giant metropolis within a few years in the 1980s.

[@KusaneHexaku]

from what i've seen of the "Solitaire" you showed in this vid, it looks really similar to the game Freecell.

[@BADKALOS]

I'm on my first grade studying electrical engineering, i think I'll give it a shot.

[@fatgonzo]

Good review, thanks. You just sold me this game! 25% discount on Steam Summer Sale for a few days if anyone is looking to save a mighty 3 dollars or so.

[@KuraIthys]

I do love my zachtronics games, even if I tend to get stuck past about 60-70 of the puzzles much of the time...

[@marcussmithwick6326]

Such an awesome concept

[@Overglock]

I was definitely able to translate that page from Chinese on my phone, it's real!

[@vosskftw5220]

The Chinese document is actually real and quite professional,surprise surprise

[@vosskftw5220]

And all of the Chinese are pretty good as well

[@SuperFrodo95]

A deluxe edition for a game that isn't even finished. Don't be surprised if I don't find that too thrilling.

[@Mostlyharmless1985]

Zachtronics releases games into early access as nearly complete polish. They could stand on their own but they get that little extra buffshine out of user experience and feedback.

[@enowlin82]

As an electrical engineer, this looks like a game of work.

[@kyouhyung]

Give a medal to someone who came up with the title lol

[@ayebraine]

90 000 rubles is around 1.5 to 2 thousand USD depending on exchange rate (2016 to 2020)

[@Reisi81]

Me: Oh boy oh boy, nice puzzle game Scott types: +not -1 Me: Brain crash This game is clearly not for me. Can anyone explain, what is happening there?

[@vadersawyer]

Test op codes set a hidden plus/minus register causing either only the plus thing prefix lines to run or only the minus prefix lines to run depending on if the test was true or false.

[@Reisi81]

I think I sort of get it now. It just threw me off line, when there is 'mov acc p1' in false-statement and nothing similar in true-statement, so I thought Scott did some voodoo to get 'mov acc p1' triggered, even when p0 is high.

[@EyesBlack2]

Late to the party but that voodoo not command is a way of saying if acc is 0 make it 100 or vice versa if acc is 100 make it 0 =)

[@NolePTR]

really wish this game was in Intel syntax. I hate AT&T syntax-like code.

[@psyko_]

yeah at the final circuit the wheels fell off my brain too

[@Austin-xd2kl]

This game was really realistic on language part. Especially the whole Chinese page in the manual (lol).

[@PhoenixNL72-DEGA-]

That manual looks pretty legit like older style white papers.

[@fanjerry8100]

Scott play more Children of a Dead Earth, it's got ship designing in it you can unlock after a few more missions.

[@galenwolf]

Took me waaay to long to realise what Scott did with the acc. Jesus that syntax threw me. I need this game.

[@johannyao6403]

Being a Chinese-speaking student major in EE/CS I can say, though some of the technical terms in the Chinese document page are not precisely right( by this I mean the dev get the meanings right, but real-life engineers or documents will use other terms with the same meaning) , generally it is just like a page of typical document about some kind of FPGA chip. BTW nice video, well done

[@Will-wi7hv]

Hey Scott how do you always stay interested in ksp? I love KSP to death and wish I could play it forever! But I seem to get bored of it after like 1 month of playing and it takes me like 6 months to get back into it. Whats your advice of staying interested in it?

[@ZexMaxwell]

Some ideas I can think of that's common in other games. Play the game with mods. try to challenge yourself with fun and strange rules. stay involved with the community. the community will throw ideas or rules that can make the game fun and challenging again.

[@ebigunso]

Play Realism Overhaul, with RP-0 combined with MKS/OKS and TylerRaiz's UKS/RO configs. Your goal is to go and colonize the planets in the solar system. Going to Mercury, or Pluto, or even setting up shop on an asteroid could be nice. Everything is so hard in RO that anything you try becomes an immense challenge.

[@simp-slayer]

moar mods!

[@dosmastrify]

mods. and making up Random personal goals. like I have lunar Rover with highish impact toletance

[@simp-slayer]

Why don't you build a drone(airplane) for duna and other planets with air? Although I gotta say I too get bored of KSP, but I always come back after a while as well.

[@KerboOnYT]

This looks great, I just bought it

[@aleksandersuur9475]

Hah, this is hilarious, especially as I just flew home from China, from Shenzhen specifically. Not sure I want to actually play it, sounds too bloody close to my real job though.