The challenge
Producing a gameshow solution under a very short deadline was the key challenge for Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee. The system needed to:
- Support contestant buttons with wireless functionality, reliable responsiveness, and synchronized animations.
- Handle game events such as button presses that trigger animations, lock other buttons, and illuminate the active button.
- Work seamlessly with monitors built into podiums using Fire Sticks for visual feedback.
- Be flexible enough to support multiple game modes and idle animations, all while being robust for a live production environment.
The tight timeline required rapid prototyping and integration of off-the-shelf components with custom software to ensure everything functioned perfectly on time.
The Sniper solution
We designed and implemented a comprehensive system using innovative hardware and software solutions. By integrating Fire Sticks, ESP32 wireless buttons, and an MQTT server, we delivered a fully operational gameshow system under a tight deadline.
What we did
Custom button system
Built wireless buttons using ESP32s and off-the-shelf components, programmed for fast and reliable functionality.
Fire stick integration
Created a custom app for Fire sticks connected to podium monitors to display animations and feedback.
Game server
Developed an MQTT server running on a laptop to handle game logic and send synchronized events to screens and buttons.
Interactive features
Implemented pre-designed animations for button presses, illuminated buttons, and synchronized displays to enhance the user experience.
Game modes and animations
Supported multiple game modes and idle animations, adding flexibility and polish to the gameshow system.
