Asked by: Noor
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Kitronik ARCADE plus batteries
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Kitronik ARCADE plus batteries and USB cable
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Description
Develop your coding skills with the Kitronik ARCADE, a fully featured programmable gamepad for use with the MakeCode Arcade block editor.
The MakeCode Arcade editor has been designed to allow everyone, from beginners to experienced game enthusiasts, to create retro arcade games to run in the browser or on handheld consoles. It consists of drag-and-drop blocks that snap together to form programs. You can also write your code in Javascript and Python! The Kitronik ARCADE is a handheld gaming platform designed specifically for use with the MakeCode Arcade editor, either write your own games and run them on ARCADE or download existing games and enjoy a fully-featured handheld gaming experience.
Onboard Features:
The Kitronik ARCADE has been specifically designed to offer the perfect platform for running these games. It's packed full of features and has been ergonomically designed for comfort and ease of use. It features a full-colour LCD wide viewing angle screen, a piezo sounder for audio feedback, a vibration motor for haptic feedback, 6 gamer input buttons, a menu button, a reset button and an on/off switch. Everything you need for the perfect gaming experience. It also features a software volume control, a USB programming port, and 2 expansion ports for expert-level users.
For Education:
The emphasis for MakeCode Arcade is Learning/Education and there are a wealth of resources available on the MakeCode Arcade website to facilitate this. There are; guided tutorials that walk you through creating simple games, more complex games that you can open and learn from, games written by community members that you can learn from, game concepts tutorials, tutorials that explore graphics and Maths, lesson plans, CS courses, printable coding cards for the classroom, video tutorials, and much more!
For Fun:
Sometimes it's all about playing! ARCADE offers a fully-featured platform for an immersive handheld gaming experience. If coding isn't your thing and you just want to play, there are a wealth of games available on the MakeCode Arcade website that you are free to download and enjoy, with no learning/debugging required. Access to these games is free and more are being added by users continuously. Just browse for something you like, download it, and then sit back and enjoy the experience.
Power:
The ARCADE can be powered by either 3xAA batteries or via the micro USB connector, with the battery holders located on the rear of the PCB. The three battery holders have been ergonomically positioned to also act as hand grips for maximum comfort and control when gaming. The onboard powering via batteries allows you to play your games anywhere you like; on the train, on the couch, or anywhere else!
For Advanced Users:
And for the advanced user, we have 2 expansion ports and a debugging port. The expansion ports give you direct access to the microprocessor pins and the debug port allows you to customise the bootloader code. For more information, please see the last page of the Datasheet and our GitHub repository. Permanent damage can happen here, so please avoid,it unless you, are confident you know what you're doing.
Features:
- The Kitronik ARCADE is a feature-packed handheld gamepad for use with the Microsoft Arcade editor.
- Write your own games to play or freely download games from the MakeCode Arcade website.
- Use the wealth of educational material available to create a game from the ground up or tweak existing code and learn the open-source way.
- It features a full-colour LCD wide viewing angle screen.
- It has a piezo sounder for audio feedback.
- Make use of the vibration motor for haptic feedback.
- It also features; 6 gamer input buttons, a menu button, a reset button and an on/off switch.
- There is also a software volume control, a USB programming port, and 2 expansion ports for expert-level users.
- The ARCADE can be powered by either 3xAA batteries or via the micro USB connector.
Contents:
- 1 x ARCADE for MakeCode Arcade gamepad.
- Laser-cut protective case parts and fixings.
Dimensions:
- Length: 155mm.
- Width (Max): 60mm.
- Height (Max): 28.3mm.
Video:
Requires:
Buy British:
This product is designed and manufactured in the UK by Kitronik.
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Datasheet.
- Hour of code Educators Guide & Teacher Resources.
- Access countless hours of tutorials, lesson plans and more at the MakeCode Arcade website.
- Tech Talks - Live Playback.
| Attribute | Value |
| Processor | Atmel SAMD51J19A. |
| Operating Voltage (Vcc) | 3xAA – Alkaline or NiMH/NiCad (3.6-4.5V) or USB (typically 5V). |
| LCD screen resolution | 160 x 128. |
| LCD screen size | 1.77 inch (diagonal). |
| Typical Current Draw | Approx. 80mA (depending on use). |
| Typical Battery life (based on 3xAA 1500mAh batteries) | Approx. 20 hours (depending on use). |
Same Day Dispatch
- Orders placed online before 3:00pm Monday - Friday (excluding public holidays and our Christmas shutdown period) are always dispatched the same day provided the goods are in stock. If the goods are not in stock we will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible to discuss a dispatch date.
UK Deliveries
- If you live on the UK mainland and don't have any large materials or lithium batteries in your order it will cost £3.95 (£4.74 including VAT) if you spend less than £40 (£48 including VAT).
- If you spend between £40 and £200 (£48 - £240.00 including VAT, excluding large materials or lithium batteries) delivery is free to most locations, £12 (£14.40 including VAT, excluding large materials or lithium batteries) to Northern Ireland and £15 (£18.00 including VAT, excluding large materials or lithium batteries) to UK remote locations. For a list of postcodes that will be charged the remote location rate: remote area list.
- If you spend over £200 (£240.00 including VAT, excluding large materials or lithium batteries) delivery is free within the UK.
Rest of the world
- These orders are sent via UPS, and the cost is dependant on the service you choose at checkout. Alternatively you can choose the free collection option and have your own courier collect it from us. International orders can only be shipped to the registered card address. Please note: International orders may be charged import duty dependant on local import laws and duty rates. These charges are usually billed to you directly from UPS.
- Delivery times vary for international orders depending on the service selected and the destination. You can see the delivery time and cost at the shipping stage, or by using the shipping estimator from within the shipping basket.
Collection
- If you would like to collect your order, or use your own courier then there is an option you can select during checkout. We do not charge a packaging or handling fee for this service, and you will receive an email when your order has been processed, you can collect half an hour after receipt of this email.
Further Information
- For information about all of the delivery options we offer see full delivery details.
In uncertain times, we must come together and help one another. From this Friday, a lot of schools in the UK will close for the majority of children, which means...
In uncertain times, we must come together and help one another. From this Friday, a lot of schools in the UK will close for the...
Kitronik ARCADE has proven incredibly popular since launching back in October, but, there's one question we've been asked a lot. Is it educational? The answer...YES!ARCADE is an ergonomically designed, programmable...
Kitronik ARCADE has proven incredibly popular since launching back in October, but, there's one question we've been asked a lot. Is it educational? The answer...YES!ARCADE...
Q:
How to install/ download makecode arcade editor on the kitronik arcade game pad
A:
Hi Noor,
Thank you for your question, you would start by creating a code on the make code editor on the link below. Click new project and create your code in there. Then click download and click on the option that says Kitronik Arcade. It will take a moment but it will then create a .uf2 file. Connect your arcade to your PC with a micro USB and then drag the file onto the Arcade that should appear as a USB device and that will load the code you have created onto the Arcade.
https://arcade.makecode.com/
Best Regards
Cullen
Thank you for your question, you would start by creating a code on the make code editor on the link below. Click new project and create your code in there. Then click download and click on the option that says Kitronik Arcade. It will take a moment but it will then create a .uf2 file. Connect your arcade to your PC with a micro USB and then drag the file onto the Arcade that should appear as a USB device and that will load the code you have created onto the Arcade.
https://arcade.makecode.com/
Best Regards
Cullen
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
21-May-20
Q:
Is there any way to expand the program storage over the 512K on CPU flash? I've seen other devices use an external flash chip for game asset storage.
Asked by: Steven
A:
Hi Steven,
Thank you for your question, in theory yes you could, but not trivially. You could in theory connect additional memory to the expansion ports and then recode the boot loader but it would be a pretty involved change.
Best Regards
Cullen
Thank you for your question, in theory yes you could, but not trivially. You could in theory connect additional memory to the expansion ports and then recode the boot loader but it would be a pretty involved change.
Best Regards
Cullen
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
04-May-20
Q:
Which blocks do you use to setup the haptic feedback in arcade on the Controller?
Asked by: Scott
A:
Hi Scott,
Apologies for the delay in replying, it took me a little while to work out the way it worked. In the programme you need to add the controller extension and in that extension there is a vibrate function that you can use.
Best Regards
Cullen
Apologies for the delay in replying, it took me a little while to work out the way it worked. In the programme you need to add the controller extension and in that extension there is a vibrate function that you can use.
Best Regards
Cullen
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
12-Mar-20
Q:
Will there be CircuitPython or MicroPython support for this?
Asked by: Kevin Walters
A:
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for your question, Python is in Beta for the platform and is being developed by microsoft. Our kit should be compatible but we will have to see what the situation is when python based codes are released by microsoft.
Best Regards
Cullen
Thank you for your question, Python is in Beta for the platform and is being developed by microsoft. Our kit should be compatible but we will have to see what the situation is when python based codes are released by microsoft.
Best Regards
Cullen
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
08-Nov-19
Q:
How much flash / ram / file storage memory does this have?
Asked by: JD
A:
Hi there,
Thank you for your question, the board has 512K Flash, 192K of S-RAM. If you need to know the processor is a SAMD51J19NUT processor.
Best Regards
Cullen Lewis
Thank you for your question, the board has 512K Flash, 192K of S-RAM. If you need to know the processor is a SAMD51J19NUT processor.
Best Regards
Cullen Lewis
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
04-Nov-19
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