Tic-Tac-Zap
Ian
Harrison
“Tic-Tac-Zap” is a simple game, based on the childhood
favorite, “tic-tac-toe.” Our game is a human vs. computer fight to the finish.
What separates our “tic-tac-zap” from anything seen before is the innovative
laser-based input. This adds a completely different dimension to this game, and
makes it challenging in another way. As can be seen, a laser is placed on a
stand several inches from 6in.X 6in. board, which is perpendicular to the
ground. A move is made by firing the laser at the desired square on the game
board. Photoresistors are present on each square in order to pick up the laser
light and store the move in memory. There are two led’s located at each square
(red and green), to indicate which player has hit the square.
Knobs are present on the base of the game piece which
provides the human with horizontal and vertical control of the laser. A fire
button is also present on the game piece, which will provide a one second long
laser pulse when hit. The computer will of course have pre-programmed coordinates,
according to which it will position itself when selecting a square. Due to the
fact that the photoresistors take only a fraction of the individual squares,
shooting accuracy will be a skill required in order to win this game, in
addition to ordinary tic-tac-toe strategy skills.