Project Pokedex - Looking for ideas

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey everyone,

I want to make a Pokedex.
More specifically, I'm building the most awesome pokemon-based treasure hunt ever for a friend of mine, and the centerpiece of that will be a handheld pokedex, which will be used to interact with the hints I'll leave all over and to find and "capture" pokemon (plushies).

Technically, what I planned on doing was to get one of these Pokedex toys from the 90s, and hack it so the user can input data and get clues on where to go / a description of the pokemon they just "caught".

While I know my way around embedded systems and I've helped some friends with similar projects, this is my first time tackling something like this on my own, and I can count the number of times I've soldered things in my life on one hand (though I do have access to a well-equipped lab and friends who can help with this) - so I could use some tips!
I was thinking of fitting an Arduino (or some other microcontroller) into the pokedex, and either connecting it to the existing LCD or getting a new one; but I have no idea how easy it would be to interface to the buttons...

The things I'd like this to do:

  • Must have -
  • Some basic way to insert data (eg. a numerical code), preferably via the buttons, and show pre-defined screens on the LCD
  • Be a pokedex (ie. fit into the toy's case)
  • Run on a battery for several hours
  • Nice to have -
  • A cooler way to insert data (scan QR codes? BLE/NFC? GPS coordinates? Really, I'd appreciate wild ideas)
  • A speaker to play sounds
  • ??? (=anything you can come up with!)

My sincere thanks to anyone who could help me think on what components I'd need, and how to actually get this to work :slight_smile:

2
  • Must have -
  • Some basic way to insert data (eg. a numerical code), preferably via the buttons, and show pre-defined screens on the LCD
  • Be a pokedex (ie. fit into the toy's case)
  • Run on a battery for several hours
  • Nice to have -
  • A cooler way to insert data (scan QR codes? BLE/NFC? GPS coordinates? Really, I'd appreciate wild ideas)
  • A speaker to play sounds

So right off, I think you need to deal with thee power/size issue. Very inexpensive arduino clones are available if the total requirements will run on a 328P uC, same as the UNO.

These run great on 3 AA or AAA batteries.... And an 8MHz version is available for 2 AA batteries which makes it nice for the 3V Nokia displays like my project here:
http://www.hackster.io/rayburne/tiny-serial-terminal

You could use RFID.
You could use plugable EEPROM.
I think I would use SD cards and have a reader in the pookie. Each card would have a time unique to that individual. Another time would have everything else.
Insert card. Power On, read screen. Card can contain another time updated by the uC for this event.

Main points.... Size power. I personally would have the uC go into deep sleep until the PowerOn is depressed. After a few minuter, it can turn itself off again.

Piezo speaker and tone library are very simple.

If you design your responses carefully, you may be able to get away with 3 pushbuttons...
On
Yes
No

Or, with the SD file, a menu can be presented that "rolls" ... 1 button to scroll & 1 button as Enter!

Good luck,

Ray