History
Scrapeboard started in 2017 as a side project of the STORE 2 exhibition at Babycastles, which Frank, Blake, and Clement, worked on, along with curator Mushbuh and a team of volunteers. The team received a donation of a signed skatedeck from Tony Hawk to be added to the exhibition. After the exhibition, in preparation for MAGFest 2018, Frank and Blake created Scrapeboard so they could use the skatedeck as a game controller.
The original prototype was created using the signed skatedeck, cardboard, aluminum foil, copper tape, and a Makey Makey. The skatedeck was turned into a conductive device by applying copper tape to the bottom of the deck and placing it on a platform made of cardboard and layered aluminum foil. In the center of the platform was a cross section of aluminum foil, separated by bare cardboard and painter's tape from four other sections of aluminum foil outside the cross section. The four outside sections and cross section were connected to the Makey Makey with alligator clips. This served as a proof of concept for the game and was even able to be used for a few events.
The next version of Scrapeboard used four aluminum street signs, a rug, an aluminum sheet, and an Arduino. Four rectangles were cut into the rug to frame the aluminum signs, which were taped to the bottom of the rug with carpet tape. The aluminum sheet was drilled into the bottom of the signed skatedeck. The Arduino circuit was designed using pull-up resistors and a program loop which turned each input low and tested for a connection with the other inputs, so the circuit wouldn't require a ground connection anymore. This version was used for many events but required a lot of repair and maintenance before and after each event.
A newer model was made in preparation for GDC 2022, using wood, aluminum street signs, steel anchor rings, and the same Arduino circuit. The aluminum street signs were drilled into four pieces of wood which were bracketed together on the underside. The steel anchor rings were fastened to the underside of the skatedeck using machine screws. By the end of 2022, this version had been refined to last through multiple events without needing repair, a significant milestone for the project because it opened up the possibility of the game being able to run without constant supervision.
Although there are still improvements being worked on, the 2022 model is what the Builder's Manual is based on and what the instructions will create.
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