We love seeing retro games evolve into new, unexpected dimensions. Enter [Markus]’ adaptation of 3D Tetris on a custom-built 3x3x12 RGB LED matrix. Developed as a university project, this open-source setup combines coding, soldering, and 3D printing. It’s powered by an ESP32 microcontroller with gameplay controlled by a neat web interface.
This 3D build makes the classic game so much harder to play, that one could argue whether it’s still a game, or has turned into a form of art. Although it is challenging to rotate and drop blocks on such a small scale, for die-hard Tetris fans (and we know you’re out there), there is always someone up to become best at it. Just look at the FastLED-powered light show, the responsive web-based GUI, and fully modular 3D printed housing, this project is a joy to look at even when nobody is playing it. Heck, a game that turned 40 only a year ago should be so mature to entertain itself, shouldn’t it?
From homemade Pong tables to LED cube displays, hobbyists keep finding ways to give classic games a futuristic twist. Projects like this are about pushing boundaries. Hackaday’s archives are full of similar innovations, but why not craft some new ones?
I’ve coded an OpenGL 3D Tetris clone for a university course, and it was WAY more than just 3×3! Definitely incredibly challenging to play!
(we used spheres for the individual “bits”, so you could – attempt – to see “between” them. Not well, that’s for sure!)
But this! This makes it WAY easier to view!
So, a somewhat more visually accessible, and larger field, version of “Block Out!” –? Love it.
3D Tetris was a real thing on the PC a long time ago.
This project is cool !
Dammit I love it! Blockout was the first game I’ve ever played and I spent most of my time playing at 3x3x18 and those few extra lines don’t matter much once you get past the kill level.
And psst, spoiler alert: I’ve dropped a new PONG related thingamajig and I bet you’re gonna like it. I’ve even made a fake 1980s TV commercial using (almost) period correct video hardware and had an absolute blast.
It’s unlikely that I’d even be able to play this thing, but it sure looks like a cool project.
It triggered me to wonder about an LED Rubik’s cube-ish. Rather than actually physically rotating, pressure sensors or other handwavy device could be used to detect what you intend to rotate. Not sure exactly how it would work. Then again I’ll never try to build one so I don’t have to figure out exactly how it would work. :-D
The matrix was the easier thing. It is soldered like a RGB Led strip where you can address the Leds by index. But getting the rotation and collision running was the hard parts
Waiting for the 8x8x8 versión since most of the Matrix cube available online are this size
The code was written be able to be modified. You only have to change the matrix size and also by switching to a different matrix the way how to send the signals to the LEDs but everything else should work how it works on a 3x3x12