Visual Engineering: LCD Side Scroller

Standard 16x2 text LCDs are designed exclusively for boring letters and numbers. The LCD Animation and Gaming project forces the simple <LiquidCrystal.h> library to its knee by rapidly deleting and redrawing completely custom, pixel-by-pixel character sprites, creating a fully playable miniature video game.

Generating Custom Sprite Graphics

The LCD controller allows you to define exactly 8 custom characters, stored locally in its CGRAM.

1. You use a 5x8 pixel grid tool to draw your sprite.
   • A tiny Dinosaur character standing.
   • A tiny Dinosaur jumping (Legs up!).
   • A Cactus obstacle.
2. The grid converts into an array: byte dinoJumping[8] = { 0b00111, 0b00111... };
3. You command the library: lcd.createChar(0, dinoJumping);. Now, whenever you print character(0), the screen draws the jumping dinosaur instantly!

The Collision and Frame Rendering Loop

This is not a looping movie; the user is playing the game via a massive Arcade Push Button!

1. The Game Loop: An integer obstaclePos = 15; (the right edge of the screen).
2. Every 200 milliseconds, obstaclePos--. The cactus physically "slides" one block to the left. The Arduino must aggressively lcd.clear() and immediately redraw everything in its new position to create smooth animation!
3. The Jump Action: The user slaps the Arcade button. The Arduino instantly moves the Dinosaur sprite from Row 2 up to Row 1.
4. Collision Detection: if (dinoRow == 2 && obstaclePos == dinoColumn) { GameOverSequence(); } If the dinosaur is on the bottom row at the exact same time the cactus slides into his column, the game stops, and the buzzer sounds the death knell!

Essential Parts

• Arduino Uno/Nano: The game engine.
• 16x2 or 20x4 Text LCD with I2C Backpack.
• Arcade Push Button or Joypad button.
• Piezo Buzzer: For jumps, points, and game-over sound effects.