Video Game Shield Tetris With N64 Controller

Required Parts and Equipment
Arduino Uno R3: $35
Wayne and Layne Video Game Shield: around $30 (with shipping)
Soldering Iron and Solder: I got mine for around $8 at RadioShack
Two way RCA cable
N64 controller

Step 1: Assembling the Video Game Shield

To assemble the Video Game Shield follow these instructions.

Step 2: Connecting the N64 Controller

Cut the cord of the controller to expose three wires: red, black, and white.
Red wire is 3.3V.
Black wire is ground.
White wire is the data line.
(All the lines in the picture above look orange because I soldered jumper wires onto the end of them).

Solder the white wire to the digital pin 2 hole on the video game shield, the red wire to the 3V3 pin, and the black wire to the GND pin.

Step 3: Installing Arduino Libraries and Uploading the Code

I adapted the code from two different sources. First you must install the arduino libraries for the video game shield. The files and instructions on how to do that can be found here. The tetris example I used can be found in the files you downloaded from Wayne and Layne under VideoGameHelper --> examples --> tetris. I downloaded the code for N64 communication here (download the zip file named N64_Arduino.zip) from instructables user quasse.

If you don't feel like figuring out how to mash all this code together I have provided a completed sketch. Download the files in MacSpinks_Tetris.zip and upload the sketch to your arduino. Then you are good to go! All you have to do now is plug the RCA cables from the arduino to your tv and play.