Getting started

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Revision as of 2014-05-15T16:56:59 by Rodot (talk | contribs) (Turn it on)
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How to get a Gamebuino

For an overall presentation head to the home page or indiegogo page.

As the indiegogo campaign is over, you can't order a Gamebuino for now. But you can subscribe to the newsletter to know when they'll be available for order again.

How to use my Gamebuino

First things first

  • You just received your Gamebuino, hurray! You should first turn it on to check that nothing has been damaged during shipping (see below for screen troubleshooting).

Remove the paper cover

  • The transparent acrylic case is covered with a brown paper protection. Some of you may want to keep it, some may want to remove it.
  • First, check that your Gamebuino works fine.
  • Dismantle it:
    • Unscrew the 4 short screws on the back side first
    • Remove the back plate
    • Unscrew the 4 white nylon spacers
    • Remove the PCB
    • Unscrew the 4 long screws on the front side last
  • Remove the paper cover. Be careful not to scratch the acrylic
  • Check that everything still works fine (especially the display)
  • Assemble back your Gamebuino:
    • Be gentle when you tighten the screws or you may damage the nylon spacers
    • Screw the 4 long screws with 4 nylon spacers on the top plate (be careful to put it on the right side)
    • Put the screen holder on the two upper nylon spacer
    • Put the PCB in place, check that buttons are correctly placed int their holes
    • Screw 4 nylon spacer to hold the PCB in place
    • Add the back plate and screw it with the 4 short screws
    • You might want to a spacer between the back plate and the PCB to limit the PCB bending because of screen pressure

Charge the battery

  • You may want to charge you're Gamebuino battery when you receive.
  • To load the battery, you just have to connect your Gamebuino to an USB port (from your computer or an outlet charger) using the provided micro USB cable. The "charging" LED will turn on (the one next to the empty battery logo) until it's fully charged. Then, the "charged" LED will turn on (the one next to the full battery logo).
  • Your Gamebuino will charge faster if turned of.
  • A charged battery will give you at least 8 hours of continuous play.

Load games from the micro SD card

Change the settings

Troubleshoot display issues

If the screen is too dark or too dim

  • Adjust the contrasts using the program SETTINGS.HEX located on the SD card.
  • Pinch the top of the screen to improve the contact with the PCB
  • Check the screen holder is in place to prevent the screen from moving.

If the screen is blank when you turn on your Gamebuino

  • If you don't hear the startup sound
    • You may be out of battery: turn your Gamebuino off, and plug it in (the "charging" led should turn on) for about one hour and try again.
    • You may not have a program loaded in your Gamebuino, so press C while you turn your Gamebuino on to flash LOADER.HEX from the micro SD card.
  • If you can hear the sound but the display stays blank, it means that it may have moved and the contacts with the PCB are misaligned.
    • Check that the screen is correctly snapped to the PCB
    • Check that the screen holder is in place
    • Try to gently push the screen upward/downward/leftward/rightward and restart the Gamebuino until the contacts are correctly aligned and you can see something.

How program my Gamebuino

Install the Arduino software

  • Download the Arduino application here and follow instruction to install it.

Install the Gamebuino Library

  • Download and the Gamebuino library
  • Extract the archive and open the folder named "Library".
  • Copy the folder named "Gamebuino" and paste it into Arduino/libraries
  • To check that the library is correctly installed, start the Arduino software. Click on File/Examples, there you should find "Gamebuino".

Install the drivers

  • Drivers are located in the Arduino/drivers folder
  • If you need help to install the drivers, refer to the Arduino guide
  • Note that your Gamebuino should be turned on when you connect it to the computer

Upload a game

Now, you're all set, all you need is to upload a program to check that everything works fine :

  • Start the arduino IDE.
  • Open an example by clicking File/Examples/Gamebuino/ If you don't find it, check that you correctly installed the Gamebuino library
  • Select Tools/boards/Gamebuino
  • Select the right serial port. If you don't find it, check that you have correctly installed the drivers, that the Gamebuino is plugged in you computer and turned on.
  • Upload the program

You just uploaded your first Gamebuino game, congratulations !