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Final Build Reveal: The Pixel Ball Showdown
2025-07-04 | By Zach Hipps
Alright, we are in the homestretch! After weeks of mystery, head-scratching, and some magnificent 3D printing failures, Pixel Ball is finally ready for its big reveal. I even had cameraman Pat help me move the workbenches out of the way so this monstrosity could actually fit in the shot. Yes, I know what you're thinking: "Zach, that thing looks a little saggy." Well, it just celebrated its 40th birthday, okay? A strategically placed piece of wood fixed that right up!
The real question is, “Did I deliver?” Before we dive into some epic Pixel Ball action, let's address the elephant in the room. Remember that initial parts list Ian and Jonathan sent me? The one I had to use everything from? Let's check it out again:
EMT conduit: Check! I used it in the big, beautiful arch base frame.
A door hinge: Nope. I still haven't used that. What am I gonna do with a hinge???
A 2x4 cut in half: Check! I used it as the base for the control panels.
Raspberry Pi Pico: Check! It’s the brains of the operation.
A level shifter: Nope. I didn't need it after all…but I’ll need to figure out how to use it.
A piezo buzzer:. Check! Oh, you'll hear it in action
Labels: (left, right, swap, and power up) Check! I laser-cut them onto the button panels.
Small zip ties: Check! Look at that tidy wiring.
Miscellaneous wires: Check! So, so many wires.
Miscellaneous hardware: Check! I used screws to hold everything together.
So, I had two items left: the door hinge and the level shifter. My promise was to use everything. You know what I did? I hot glued them to the back of the control board. Check and check! I never said how I'd use them, just that I'd use them. Never give an engineer a way around the rules!
Now, for the main event: Pixel Ball! (Inspired by that popular sport, pickleball, which I know nothing about, except that it’s popular.)
Here's a quick rundown of the rules:
Objective: Don't let your paddle zone get to zero LEDs. Each player starts with 10 LEDs lit up at the bottom of their arch – that's your paddle zone.
Gameplay: A "pixel" (a single illuminated LED) travels back and forth, like a volley in ping pong or tennis, across the arches. The middle is the "net."
Returning a Volley: When the pixel enters your paddle zone, hit your Left or Right button (matching the side of the pixel) while it's still in play. If you miss, your paddle zone shrinks by one LED, making it harder next time!
Power Up!: Successfully returning a volley charges your Power Up! Meter. When it's full, you can hold down the Power Up! button when returning a volley to send the pixel back at super-speed! The more power points you've earned, the faster it goes. Strategy: Should you spend early or save up for a devastating blow?
The Swap Button: This is your offensive secret weapon. When the pixel is on your side of the court, hit the Swap Button to change which side the pixel will travel on your opponent's court. Mix it up, keep them guessing! (There's a cooldown, so no spamming!)
Game Speed: The game automatically gets a little faster with each successful volley, just to keep you on your toes.
Inaugural Pixel Ball World Championship: Zach vs. Pat!
"Alright, Pat, let's rock and roll!"
(Game 1: Keep it Simple Speed Run!)
We started slowly, the pixel just creeping along. You get audio feedback for a successful return, and your power meter slowly climbs. "This is the slowest speed it'll ever be!" I joked. As the volleys continued, the pace intensified. Pat, with his power-up, sent it flying! "Oh, shoot! I missed it! Did you hear the little missile drop sound effect?" The game was fast and furious! Red (me) wins! It was close; I only had one pixel left.
(Game 2: The Swap Challenge!)
"Ready to use the Swap button?" I asked. This adds a whole new layer of strategy. You can only swap when the pixel is on your side. It took Pat a moment to get the timing right, but once he did, it was chaos! The little piezo buzzers hummed, creating polyphonic sounds as the pixel zipped back and forth. "Oh, no! I missed!" The speed was insane, and the swaps were brutal. "Oh, you got me good on that one!" said Pat. Red (me) wins again! This game is so much fun.
Good game, Pat. Very fun! I think with a little practice, he'd be a pro, but he's not quitting his day job. (Don't you dare, Pat!) I had a blast programming this project, and I had a blast building it, and I couldn't have done it without all of you – the amazing community members who submitted your ideas and helped make Pixel Ball a reality. A special thank you again to Ian, Jonathan, and Producer Bob, who put in a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes to make this entire 100-video celebration possible. That's it for this one. Thank you for 100 videos, and here's to the next 100!
Hong Kong, China