SkeeBall Racer
Summary
This game takes user input in the
form of shooting balls into holes and uses this input to set the speed of a car
going around a track. The user’s car competes against a pacer car (speed set by
difficulty), and the first to make 3 complete circuits of the track wins the
race.
Gameplay
1. Select Difficulty: User selects a difficulty level
(Beginner?, Moderate, or Out of Control) on an analog
dial, which sets the speed of the pace car and the number of shots the user is
allowed.
2. Input Penny: After selecting the
difficulty, the user inserts a penny to begin the game. An LED countdown begins, and on the green light,
the pace car begins to move and the user can begin shooting balls to start
their car.
3. Racing: The user shoots the balls up a ramp using a pinball
style launcher. At the top of the ramp
are a series of holes and gates that determine whether the user’s racer speeds
up or slows down. Once the ball passes
through a hole/gate and triggers the contact switch inside, it is returned to
the user to shoot again.
4. Prizes: Any user that manages to defeat the pace car
receives a bouncy ball dispensed out the side of the game.
Sensors
Launch Sensor: At the exit of the ball launcher, there is an IR
emitter—phototransistor pair to tell when a ball is launched (both to count
shots left and to register a false start).
Ball Holes: Each of the possible ball holes has a contact switch
inside to register ball hits.
Lap Sensor: Each of the
car tracks has a contact switch with a roller to register when the car passes
the start line.
Prize Sensor: Senses
when the prize magazine has rotated enough to dispense one ball.
Indicators
Shots Remaining Indicator: This indicator is a 7-segment display that
tells the user how many shots they have left to affect the speed of the car. Once the user is out of shots, their car
continues at the speed set by the last legal ball that they shot until either
their car or the pacer car finishes the race.
Speed Indicator: The speed indicator tells the user how fast their
car is going, either increasing when the user hits one of the accelerating
holes or decreasing when the user hits a hole that decelerates the car.
Message Signs: These signs light up with important messages: “Start
your engines”, “On your marks”, “Get Set”, “Go”, “You Win”,
and “Try Again”.
Laps Remaining Indicator: This indicator is a 7-segment display
that shows the user how many laps they have left to complete.
Vibrating Launcher: When the user’s shot goes into one of the
holes that will speed up the car, the launcher vibrates to indicate a good
shot.