1. If each member of your team has distinct project skills (fabrication, circuits, software), you can readily split work along those lines, work separately over Thanksgiving and be reasonably efficient. However, you won't learn as much as if you had stretched into areas where you aren't as strong.

2. Talk to other teams and observe how they are writing software, connecting proto-boards, receiving user input and actuating motors. Help them and they will help you.

3. Have backup hardware!!! Even if you think you have tested everything thoroughly, on presentation night when there are 40 people watching, players will knock your game every which way to try and win. Having a couple of extra parts will keep you up and running throughout the night.

4. Try to have the game working at least a day ahead of time so that you can make any further tweaks that will give it that extra touch (or troubleshoot if things aren't going right).