Program the ESP32 card to create the Snake game

Tutorial plan

1- Presentation of the Snake game

2- Objective of the Snake Game Project

3- Required Components

4- Component Wiring

5- Programming ESP32 with Micropython

Presentation of the Snake game

The Snake Game is a classic arcade-style game that challenges players to control a growing snake navigating a grid to collect items (commonly represented as apples or food) while avoiding collisions with obstacles, including its own body. Its simplicity and addictive gameplay have made it one of the most iconic and enduring games.

Objective of the Game

Primary Goal:

Eat as many apples as possible to increase your score.

Challenges:

Avoid colliding with the walls or the snake's own body.

Navigate the snake as it grows longer, which makes the game more challenging.

End Condition:

The game ends when the snake collides with itself or the boundaries of the grid.

Gameplay Mechanics

1- Snake Movement:

The snake moves continuously in one of four directions: up, down, left, or right.

Players control the direction using input devices like arrow keys, a joystick, or buttons.

2- Apple Collection:

Apples appear randomly on the grid.

When the snake eats an apple, its length increases, and the player's score is incremented.

3- Collision Detection:

The game checks if the snake's head:

Hits the boundaries of the grid.

Collides with any part of its own body.

If a collision is detected, the game ends.

4- Scorekeeping:

Players earn points for each apple consumed.

The score is displayed on the screen, and some versions track high scores.

Objective of the Snake Game Project

The objective of a Snake Game project using an ESP32 microcontroller, joystick, LCD screen, and MicroPython is to:

1. Create a Functional Retro Game:

Implement a playable version of the classic Snake Game where the player controls a snake that moves around the screen, consumes food, and grows longer while avoiding collisions with itself and the screen boundaries.

2. Learn MicroPython Programming:

Utilize the MicroPython language to program the ESP32, demonstrating its ability to handle real-time interactive tasks.

Gain experience in controlling peripherals such as displays and input devices with MicroPython.

3. Interface Hardware Components:

Interface an LCD screen (e.g., OLED or TFT) to display the game graphics.

Use a joystick as the input device to control the direction of the snake.

Leverage the ESP32's GPIO pins for connecting and managing these peripherals effectively.

4. Explore Microcontroller Capabilities:

Understand and utilize the computational power of the ESP32 for real-time gaming.

Explore the graphics rendering capabilities on the LCD screen and real-time processing for game logic.

5. Enhance Embedded Systems Skills:

Gain hands-on experience with embedded systems design, including hardware interfacing, software development, and debugging.

Learn about real-time constraints and how to optimize performance in embedded applications.

6. Provide Entertainment and Educational Value:

Create an engaging game that is fun to play while demonstrating core principles of hardware and software interaction.

Use the project as a teaching tool for beginners or students learning about MicroPython, ESP32, and embedded systems development.

7. Customizability and Scalability:

Implement a modular code structure to allow for future upgrades, such as:

Adding new game features (e.g., obstacles, power-ups, or multiple levels).

Enhancing graphics and animations.

Exploring wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) for multiplayer functionality.

This project is perfect for learning-by-doing, providing a hands-on introduction to game development on microcontrollers, and can be showcased in academic projects, maker fairs, or personal portfolios.

Required Components

ESP32 board

Acts as the main control unit for running the game logic and interfacing with peripherals.

Joystick Module

Used as the input device to control the direction of the snake.

LCD Screen (16x2 or 20x4)

Displays the game grid, score, and messages.

Jumper Wires

Jumper wires will be used to make connections between the components.

Breadboard:

A breadboard can be used to create a temporary circuit for testing and prototyping.

Component Wiring

1- Joystick to ESP32 :

GND → GND

VCC → 3V3

X-axis (VRx pin ) → GPIO34

Y-axis (VRy pin) → GPIO35

Button (SW pin) → GPIO33

LCD Screen (I2C-based) to ESP32 :

SDA → GPIO21 (I2C Data).

SCL → GPIO22 (I2C Clock).

VCC → 5V

GND → GND

Programming ESP32 with Micropython

1- Ensure MicroPython is installed on your ESP32

2- Flash your ESP32 with MicroPython using this file esp32-20210902-v1.17.bin

3- Import this two libraries : i2c_lcd and lcd_api for I2C LCD screen

4- Initialize peripherals (LCD, joystick) and game variables (score, snake position, etc.).

5- Continuously read joystick input.

6- Update the snake’s position.

7- Check for collisions or food consumption.

8- Refresh the display with updated graphics.

Here is the full program :

This project combines programming and hardware interfacing skills to create a retro Snake Game. By completing this project, you gain hands-on experience with MicroPython, ESP32, and peripherals, while also creating a fun and interactive game that can be further expanded with additional features.