Play the Space Race Game using the Arduino and Nokia 5110 Graphic Display
Graphic Display Developing with Arduino is fun, and programming has been that way for years. Everyone out here has used the language they are learning or practicing to develop some kind o…

Know the mission before touching a wire.
Understand what you are making, prepare the right tools, and make the workbench safe.
Project details
Play the Space Race Game using the Arduino and Nokia 5110 Graphic Display is a arduino project. Graphic Display Developing with Arduino is fun, and programming has been that way for years. Everyone out here has used the language they are learning or practicing to develop some kind o…
- Source pages
- 700-702
- Named parts
- 2
- Build goal
- Working, tested prototype
Tools you need
- Digital multimeter
- Wire stripper and side cutters
- Soldering iron with a fine tip
- Current-limited bench supply
- Computer with a data-capable USB cable
Use eye protection, good lighting, and a clean insulated surface throughout the build.
Safety precautions
- Disconnect every power source before changing a connection.
- Check component polarity, pinout, and supply voltage twice.
- Use a current limit for the first power-up.
- Keep liquids, loose metal, and uninsulated wires away from the bench.
Gather, identify, and understand every part.
Use the standardized inventory, then open What's this? to learn each part's role, advantages, limitations, handling, and specifications.
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications

LCD display
An output component turns an electrical control signal into light, sound, motion, switching, or displayed information.
What it does hereIt presents the circuit result or acts on the physical world.
Buy / compare this part ↗Advantages
- Makes system state visible
- Can be tested separately
- Supports clear troubleshooting
Limitations
- Loads may exceed controller current
- Polarity or driver direction can matter
- Inductive loads create voltage spikes
Handling
- Use the documented driver stage
- Check polarity and load current
- Add flyback protection for inductive loads
Specifications to verify
- Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for LCD display; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
- Confirm voltage, current, polarity, interface, driver requirements, and duty cycle.
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications

NEVER
A named project component whose exact role is defined by the source circuit and build guide.
What it does hereIt performs a documented electrical, control, interface, or construction function in this project.
Buy / compare this part ↗Advantages
- Selected for this project
- Can be checked independently
- Supports modular troubleshooting
Limitations
- Substitutes may differ
- Generic names can hide variants
- Pinouts and ratings vary
Handling
- Compare the received part with the source
- Keep it labelled
- Do not force connectors or adjusters
Specifications to verify
- Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for NEVER; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
- Confirm dimensions, ratings, connection method, polarity, and environmental limits.
Connect one verified path at a time.
Explore the named components and standardized signal flow, then use Source Check to verify exact physical pins, values, and topology before applying power.
Trace this circuit.
Play the Space Race Game using the Arduino and Nokia 5110 Graphic Display: interactive parts, standardized terminals, responsive anchored wires, student explanations, and the original circuit reference in one shared system.
Trace before wiring
Follow power, ground, inputs, processing, and outputs in that order. Never guess a pin from package shape alone.
Connect with power off
Make short, labelled connections and share a common ground only where the schematic requires it.
Inspect every joint
Check continuity, polarity, adjacent shorts, and loose connections before the first power-up.
Open all source diagrams and build views 2 visuals


Confirm the hardware-only control path.
This project does not include firmware in the source. The circuit itself provides the required behaviour.
How to connect
- Match every controller label to the circuit view and source pin map.
- Join grounds before signal wires when separate low-voltage supplies are used.
- Keep motors, relays, pumps, and other loads on a suitable driver and external supply.
Common mistakes
Reversed VCC/GND, board-label versus GPIO-number confusion, missing common ground, and charge-only USB cables.
Troubleshoot
Disconnect loads, continuity-test one path at a time, then test with a current limit.
Software preparation
No IDE, board package, library, or firmware upload is required for this project.
If you add a programmable controller as an extension, document its pin map separately.
How to upload code
The original design is implemented entirely in hardware, so proceed after verifying the circuit and supply.
Assemble, deploy, test, and troubleshoot.
Use the complete source notes in build order, then pass the final checks before calling the project finished.
Build in functional stages
- Power and regulation
- Controller or processing stage
- Inputs and sensors
- Outputs and loads
- Enclosure and strain relief
Power up safely
- Inspect unpowered continuity first
- Apply the lowest safe current limit
- Measure supply rails before signals
- Add one load at a time
- Record expected and actual results
Work from simple to complex
- Confirm power, ground, polarity, and orientation
- Compare each pin with the source
- Test inputs separately from outputs
- Replace only one variable at a time
- Power off before every correction
Follow the documented instructions.
These notes come from this project's source and remain in their original order.
Project overview
Project build noteGraphic Display Developing with Arduino is fun, and programming has been that way for years. Everyone out here has used the language they are learning or practicing to develop some kind of game. They have fun while practicing programming in this way. My interest in Arduino has been on the rise ever since I was introduced to it and wanted to do something cool with it. When I saw how smooth an interface could be using a Graphical LCD like the Nokia 5110 along with Arduino, the idea of developing a game came to me. So, you might also enjoy developing your game since it was an effective way to practice programming skills. As a result, in this project, you will learn how to build an entertaining game employing the Arduino microcontroller and the graphics LCD display.
Circuit Diagram
Project build noteThis time around we are going to try a new version of the Snake game using Arduino, which we have named Future Race, in which the player needs to keep their vessel safe from enemy ships by using a joystick.
Game Plan
Project build noteThe method by which your game would work is very important before we start. A graphics LCD and joystick was the hardware that I chose for my hardware selection. You have likely selected the same option in this tutorial as well. We have had to plan our entire game inside the 84 * 48-pixel dimensions of the Nokia 5110 display because it doesn't have a lot of free space. The Nokia 5110 LCD has been reprogrammed to be used with the Arduino, as well as the Nokia Joystick for Arduino. It will be difficult to arrange the gaming area within this space, as well as the scoreboard area, which displays things like score and things. In order to
update your screen with the pixel locations, it is very important to know where the pixel locations are. Fig. Prototype of Space Race Game using the Arduino It's very easy to make this game with Arduino; we just need to interface the Nokia 5110 LCD module, and the Joystick to Arduino. Our game characters need to be decided after we determine the appearance of the game screen. I have designed a game based on a spaceship over a planet and an enemy spacecraft disguised as a planet. So, I used the Nokia LCD's bitmap feature and my spaceship and enemies were displayed on the screen. A spacecraft will race against the alien spaceships, and have the capability to change lanes to avoid a contact with them. It should never be possible for an alien to occupy more than two tracks at a time and the player should always be able to drive over a free track. Our goal is to finish the Hardware and complete the Programming once the ideas are concluded.
You built Play the Space Race Game using the Arduino and Nokia 5110 Graphic Display.
You followed the full workflow from understanding the mission to testing the finished project. That is a real engineering achievement - well done.
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