CircuitPython Usage
To use the game, you need to update code.py with the game program to the CIRCUITPY drive.
Thankfully, we can do this in one go. In the example below, click the Download Project Bundle button below to download the necessary libraries and the code.py file in a zip file.
Connect your board to your computer via a known good data+power USB cable. The board should show up in your File Explorer/Finder (depending on your operating system) as a flash drive named CIRCUITPY.
Extract the contents of the zip file, copy the lib directory files to CIRCUITPY/lib. Copy the code.py file to your CIRCUITPY drive. The program should self start.
Drive Structure
After copying the files, your drive should look like the listing below. It can contain other files as well, but must contain these at a minimum.
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2025 Tim Cocks for Adafruit Industries
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
"""
A game featuring Nyan cat inspired by flappy bird.
Learn Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/flappy-nyan-cat-game-on-metro-rp2350
Controls:
Spacebar: Jump
S: Switch Trails
P: Play again after game over
Q: Quit after game over
"""
import random
import sys
import terminalio
from displayio import Group, TileGrid, Bitmap, Palette
import supervisor
import bitmaptools
from adafruit_display_text.bitmap_label import Label
from micropython import const
import adafruit_imageload
from adafruit_fruitjam.peripherals import request_display_config
from adafruit_pathlib import Path
# how strong the gravity is
FALL_SPEED = 1
# how powerful the jump is
JUMP_SPEED = 5
# maximum gravity speed
TERMINAL_VELOCITY = 7
# make "close calls" more likely by fudging the collision check
# in favor of the player a bit
COLLIDE_FUDGE_FACTOR = 8
# how many scaled pixels wide the trail will be
TRAIL_LENGTH = 20
# current score
score = 0
request_display_config(320,240)
display = supervisor.runtime.display
# initialize groups to hold visual elements
main_group = Group()
# any elements in this Group will be scaled up 2x
scaled_group = Group(scale=2)
main_group.append(scaled_group)
class Post(Group):
# gap location constants
GAP_TOP = const(0)
GAP_MID = const(1)
GAP_BOTTOM = const(2)
def __init__(self, spritesheet, gap_location=GAP_MID):
"""
A pair of scratching posts, aligned vertically. This class
holds the visual elements, and provides collision checking.
:param Union[Bitmap,OnDiskBitmap] spritesheet: The Bitmap containing the post sprite sheet.
:param gap_location: Where the gap should be. Must be one of GAP_TOP, GAP_MID, GAP_BOTTOM.
"""
super().__init__()
# start out not visible
self.hidden = True
# hold a reference to the spritesheet Bitmap
self.sprites = spritesheet
# check which gap location was specified and
# set the post heights accordingly
if gap_location == Post.GAP_MID:
top_height = 4
bottom_height = 4
elif gap_location == Post.GAP_BOTTOM:
top_height = 7
bottom_height = 1
elif gap_location == Post.GAP_TOP:
top_height = 1
bottom_height = 7
else:
raise ValueError("Invalid gap_location")
# initialize top post TileGrid
self.top_post = TileGrid(
post_sprites,
pixel_shader=post_sprites_pixel_shader,
height=top_height,
width=1,
tile_width=16,
tile_height=16,
default_tile=3,
)
# set the tiles for the top post.
# Normal double ended post tiles with
# the bottom cap tile below them.
for i in range(top_height):
if i == top_height - 1:
self.top_post[0, i] = 2
else:
self.top_post[0, i] = 1
# initialize bottom post TileGrid
self.bottom_post = TileGrid(
post_sprites,
pixel_shader=post_sprites_pixel_shader,
height=bottom_height,
width=1,
tile_width=16,
tile_height=16,
default_tile=3,
)
# set the tiles for the bottom post.
# Normal double ended post tiles
# with the top cap tile above them
for i in range(bottom_height):
if i == 0:
self.bottom_post[0, i] = 0
else:
self.bottom_post[0, i] = 1
# move the bottom post to the bottom of the display
self.bottom_post.y = 240 - bottom_height * 16
# append both post TileGrids to super class Group instance
self.append(self.top_post)
self.append(self.bottom_post)
def check_collision(self, sprite):
"""
Check if either of our top or bottom posts are colliding with the given sprite
:param sprite: The sprite to check collision against.
:return: True if sprite is colliding with a post, false otherwise.
"""
# if the sprite is horizontally aligned with the posts
if (
(sprite.x * 2) - self.top_post.tile_width
<= self.x
<= (sprite.x * 2) + (sprite.tile_width * 2)
):
# if the sprite is within the vertical range for either top or bottom post
if (
sprite.y * 2
) + COLLIDE_FUDGE_FACTOR <= self.top_post.tile_height * self.top_post.height or (
sprite.y * 2
) - COLLIDE_FUDGE_FACTOR >= self.bottom_post.y - (
sprite.tile_height * 2
):
return True
return False # no collision
class PostPool:
def __init__(self):
"""
A pool of Post objects to pull from and recycle back into.
"""
# list to store the Posts in
self.pool = []
# start with 2 of each gap location
self.pool.append(Post(post_sprites, Post.GAP_MID))
self.pool.append(Post(post_sprites, Post.GAP_MID))
self.pool.append(Post(post_sprites, Post.GAP_BOTTOM))
self.pool.append(Post(post_sprites, Post.GAP_BOTTOM))
self.pool.append(Post(post_sprites, Post.GAP_TOP))
self.pool.append(Post(post_sprites, Post.GAP_TOP))
def get_post(self, index=None):
"""
Get an available Post from the pool.
:param index: The index of the post to return.
Default is None, which means random.
:return: An available Post object.
"""
# if index is none, generate a random index
if index is None:
rnd_idx = random.randint(0, len(self.pool) - 1)
else: # index not None
# use the provided index.
rnd_idx = index
# select a Post and remove it from the pool
next_post = self.pool.pop(rnd_idx)
# make the post visible
next_post.hidden = False
# return the post
return next_post
def recycle_post(self, post):
"""
Recycle a Post back into the pool
:param Post post: The post to recycle.
:return: None
"""
# set the post to not visible
post.hidden = True
# add the post to the pool
self.pool.append(post)
class GameOverException(Exception):
"""
Exception that will be raised when the player loses the game.
"""
def __init__(self, msg):
self.msg = msg
super().__init__(self.msg)
# palette of colors for the trail
trail_palette = Palette(10)
# rainbow colors
trail_palette[0] = 0x000000
trail_palette[1] = 0xE71C1F
trail_palette[2] = 0xF39816
trail_palette[3] = 0xF1E610
trail_palette[4] = 0x6DB52F
trail_palette[5] = 0x428CCB
trail_palette[6] = 0x4B4C9C
# trans flag colors
trail_palette[7] = 0xF5ABB9
trail_palette[8] = 0x5BCFFA
trail_palette[9] = 0xFFFFFF
# setup color index 0 for transparency
trail_palette.make_transparent(0)
# Bitmap that holds 1 pixel width of the trail
trail_bmp = Bitmap(1, 6, 7)
# initialize the Bitmap pixels to the rainbow colors
trail_bmp[0, 0] = 1
trail_bmp[0, 1] = 2
trail_bmp[0, 2] = 3
trail_bmp[0, 3] = 4
trail_bmp[0, 4] = 5
trail_bmp[0, 5] = 6
# Bitmap for the background, 1/10 of 160x120 which is the
# of the display area accounting for the 2x from the scaled_group
bg_bmp = Bitmap(16, 12, 1)
# palette for the background
bg_palette = Palette(1)
bg_palette[0] = 0x00014F # dark blue
bg_tilegrid = TileGrid(bg_bmp, pixel_shader=bg_palette)
# Group for the background scaled to 10x
bg_group = Group(scale=10)
# add the background to it's group and add that to the scaled_group
bg_group.append(bg_tilegrid)
scaled_group.append(bg_group)
# load the sprite sheet for the posts
post_sprites, post_sprites_pixel_shader = adafruit_imageload.load(
"scratch_post_sprites.bmp"
)
# set up color index 0 for transparency
post_sprites_pixel_shader.make_transparent(0)
# initialize a PostPool() which will start with 2 posts
# of each gap location
post_pool = PostPool()
# add all posts to the main_group. Note, not the scaled_group.
# posts are displayed at 1x size.
for _post in post_pool.pool:
main_group.append(_post)
# get the first_post out of the pool
first_post = post_pool.get_post()
# move it to the right edge
first_post.x = 320 - 16
# second post starts near the cat, so we want it to be
# middle gap to start with always. middle gap starts in index 0.
second_post = post_pool.get_post(0)
# move it to the center
second_post.x = 160
# Group with an additional 2x scaling to hold the rainbow trail
canvas_group = Group(scale=2)
# Bitmap for the trail canvas 1/4 display size for 2x from scaled_group
# and 2x from canvas_group
trail_canvas_bmp = Bitmap(display.width // 4, display.height // 4, 10)
# TileGrid for the trail canvas
trail_canvas_tg = TileGrid(trail_canvas_bmp, pixel_shader=trail_palette)
# add the canvas tilegrid to it's group, and add that to the scaled_group
canvas_group.append(trail_canvas_tg)
scaled_group.append(canvas_group)
# load nyan cat Bitmap
nyan_bmp, nyan_bmp_pixel_shader = adafruit_imageload.load("nyancat_16x12.bmp")
# set color index 0 transparent
nyan_bmp_pixel_shader.make_transparent(0)
# TileGrid for cat
nyan_tg = TileGrid(bitmap=nyan_bmp, pixel_shader=nyan_bmp_pixel_shader)
# add cat to scaled_group
scaled_group.append(nyan_tg)
# move cat near the center
nyan_tg.x = 80
nyan_tg.y = 50
# text label for the current score
score_lbl = Label(terminalio.FONT, text="Spacebar", color=0xFFFFFF, scale=2)
# move it to the bottom left corner
score_lbl.anchor_point = (0, 1)
score_lbl.anchored_position = (2, display.height - 2)
# add it to the main_group
main_group.append(score_lbl)
game_over_label = Label(
terminalio.FONT,
text="",
color=0xFFFFFF,
background_color=0x000000,
padding_top=10,
padding_bottom=10,
padding_left=10,
padding_right=10,
)
game_over_label.anchor_point = (0.5, 0.5)
game_over_label.anchored_position = (display.width // 2, display.height // 2)
game_over_label.hidden = True
main_group.append(game_over_label)
# set the main_group to show on the display
display.root_group = main_group
# disable auto_refresh
display.auto_refresh = False
# list to store coordinates of each horizontal pixel of the trail
trail_coords = []
# cat_speed variable holds pixels per tick to move downward for gravity
cat_speed = FALL_SPEED
# print(f"memfree: {gc.mem_free()}")
def swap_trail():
"""
Swap the trail graphic between rainbow and trans flag colored.
"""
# if the top pixel is red
if trail_bmp[0, 0] == 1:
# change to the trans flag colors
trail_bmp[0, 0] = 0
trail_bmp[0, 1] = 8
trail_bmp[0, 2] = 7
trail_bmp[0, 3] = 9
trail_bmp[0, 4] = 7
trail_bmp[0, 5] = 8
else:
# change to rainbow colors
trail_bmp[0, 0] = 1
trail_bmp[0, 1] = 2
trail_bmp[0, 2] = 3
trail_bmp[0, 3] = 4
trail_bmp[0, 4] = 5
trail_bmp[0, 5] = 6
def draw_trail():
"""
draw the trail in its current location
"""
# loop over the coordinates of the horizontal pixels
for coord in trail_coords:
# blit a copy of the trail Bitmap into the canvas
# Bitmap at the current coordinate
bitmaptools.blit(trail_canvas_bmp, trail_bmp, coord[0], coord[1])
def erase_trail():
"""
Erase the trail in its current location
"""
# loop over the coordinates of the horizontal pixels
for coord in trail_coords:
# fill a region the size of trail Bitmap with color_index 0
# to make it transprent
bitmaptools.fill_region(
trail_canvas_bmp, coord[0], coord[1], coord[0] + 1, coord[1] + 6, 0
)
def shift_trail():
"""
shift the coordinates of the trail to the left one pixel
"""
# loop over indexes within the trail coordinates list
for _ in range(len(trail_coords)):
# update the x value of the current coordinate by -1
trail_coords[_][0] -= 1
def shift_post(post):
"""
shift the coordinates of a post to the left
:param Post post: The Post to shift
:return: The shifted Post instance, or the new Post if the old one
went off the left edge
"""
# global score variable so we can update it
global score # pylint: disable=global-statement
# if the post is at the left edge
if post.x <= 0:
# add bonus points for each post that makes it to the left edge
score += 10
# recycle the Post object back into the pool
post_pool.recycle_post(post)
# get another Post out of the pool
new_post = post_pool.get_post()
# move it to the right edge
new_post.x = 320 - 16
# return the new post
return new_post
else: # post is not at the left edge
# move it left, getting faster for every 100 score points
# maxing out at 8 pixels per shift
post.x -= min((3 + score // 100), 8)
# return the shifted post
return post
# initial display refresh
display.refresh(target_frames_per_second=30)
print("Press space to jump")
# boolean to have the game paused to start and wait for the player to begin
playing = False
while True:
try:
# if the player hasn't started yet
if not playing:
while True:
# check if any keys were pressed
available = supervisor.runtime.serial_bytes_available
# if one or more keys was pressed
if available:
# read the value
cur_btn_val = sys.stdin.read(available)
else:
cur_btn_val = None
# if spacebar was pressed
if cur_btn_val == " ":
# do the first jump
cat_speed = -JUMP_SPEED
# set playing to true and breakout of the pause loop
playing = True
break
# check if the cat is touching the first post
if first_post.check_collision(nyan_tg):
raise GameOverException(
f"Kitty got distracted by the scratchers post.\nScore: {score}"
)
# check if the cat is touching the second post
if second_post.check_collision(nyan_tg):
raise GameOverException(
f"Kitty got distracted by the scratchers post.\nScore: {score}"
)
# check if any keyboard data is available
available = supervisor.runtime.serial_bytes_available
if available:
# read the data if there is some available
cur_btn_val = sys.stdin.read(available)
else:
cur_btn_val = None
# apply gravity to the cat, maxing out at terminal velocity
cat_speed = min(cat_speed + FALL_SPEED, TERMINAL_VELOCITY)
# if there is keyboard data and spacebar was pressed
if cur_btn_val is not None and " " in cur_btn_val:
cat_speed = -JUMP_SPEED
# award a point for each jump
score += 1
elif cur_btn_val is not None and "s" in cur_btn_val:
swap_trail()
# award a point for swapping the trail
score += 1
# move the cat down by cat_speed amount of pixels
nyan_tg.y += cat_speed
# if the cat has touched the top or bottom edge
if nyan_tg.y > display.height // 2 or nyan_tg.y < 0:
raise GameOverException(f"Kitty wandered away.\nScore: {score}")
# current coordinates of the cat
draw_coords = [nyan_tg.x // 2, nyan_tg.y // 2]
try:
# erase the trail
erase_trail()
except ValueError as exc:
raise GameOverException(f"Kitty wandered away.\nScore: {score}") from exc
# shift the trail coordinates over
shift_trail()
# add new coordinates to the trail at the cats current location
trail_coords.append(draw_coords)
# if the trail is at its maximum length
if len(trail_coords) > TRAIL_LENGTH:
# remove the oldest coordinate from the trail coordinates list.
trail_coords.pop(0)
# draw the trail
draw_trail()
# shift the posts over
first_post = shift_post(first_post)
second_post = shift_post(second_post)
# update the score label
score_lbl.text = str(score)
# refresh the display
display.refresh(target_frames_per_second=30)
except GameOverException as e:
# update the game over message
game_over_label.text = str(f"{e.msg}\nPress P to play again\nPress Q to quit")
# make the game over message visible
game_over_label.hidden = False
# refresh display so the message shows
display.refresh()
break
# wait for the player to press a key
while True:
# check if any keys were pressed
available = supervisor.runtime.serial_bytes_available
# if one or more keys was pressed
if available:
# read the value
cur_btn_val = sys.stdin.read(available)
# if player pressed p
if "p" in cur_btn_val:
supervisor.set_next_code_file(__file__,
working_directory=Path(__file__).parent.absolute())
supervisor.reload()
# if player pressed q
elif "q" in cur_btn_val:
print("exiting")
supervisor.reload()
Page last edited March 07, 2025
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