How do I Make A Lightbulb Randomly Turn On?

I'm with Hedge on this...is random what you really want? For all of the implementations of this I can imagine so far, I can't see how you could retain turns and turn order in a fair way. Maybe it isn't what you meant, but unfortunately, words matter (otherwise people wouldn't complain of poorly written rules).

I'm sure someone does, but this seems like a production detail. I mean really, why worry about it until you're ready to prototype? Maybe just flip a token colored yellow on one side (sun) and white on the other (moon). Or close your eyes while you set an egg timer. Or periodically try to turn on the room's overhead light by throwing balled up socks at the lightswitch. ;-)

OK

I won't give you the exact recipe but I can still give you some information to make you chose if it really worth it.

There is 2 path you can take :

- The electrick analogue way
And
- The electronic numeric way

The electrick way will use a real light builb. Put it will be really difficult to programm some sort of behavior to the light bulb. The only thing I can think of is setting some sort of clock against yur power entry that cut and enable the current. Still it won't be random.

For the electronic you will use a led for light. First you need a crystal to make oscilation a some kind of clock chip. This will make some kind of clock. Then you can use a counter chip will hold a value that increment itself each time the clock send a signal.

So in this case, let say the clock sent a signal each second, you can say that when the counter reach 20, cut/enable current in the led and then reset the counter. This will make the light change each 20 seconds.

Now the problem is the randomness. There is no chip that produce random numbers ( not that I know ) it can only be done through software algorithm. Still, one thing you can do is keep a full real clock in the board and when you change the light, reinitialise the counter to a clok value ( the seconds for example ). This will somewhat vary the 20 seconds fixed delay. But it will still be predictable.

Now if you want to do randomness by software ( let say you really want to do it ) you must first add a processor chip and then a ROM chip where you will write your programm on it. You might need some other chips for a buffer ( I am not sure ) but basicly it is what you will need.

So making pure random number out of electronics can be really hard ( unlss they have made a chip to do the job. It could still be possible to make a simple clock circuit, it won't be easy but it can be done by hand in and won't be too much complex to debug.

You could also think about using interruptors. Like some even in the game can allow you to push a button that will influence the circuit. It could allow some kind of randomness.

Sayonara(^_^)

Larienna

Is the random factor going to be automatic (the light migh turn on in the middle of a players turn) or turn based (as if it were triggered by a roll of dice or the pick of a card)?

I think the answer to that will influence both gameplay and how to implement the random light.

I would rather go for turn based, to avoid players slowing the game just waiting for the light to randomly turn on, or playng in a mad rush to avoid the light, if they are in the risky area. (Now that I think of it, that wouldn't necessaryly be a bad thing, though).

If turn based (say, every player makes his/her move(s), then triggers the "Random Light Switch(R)" to determine whether the light remains off or turns on), you could spin a wheel or soemthing. The wheel would have some conducting areas and some insulated ones, and work as a swithch in the light circuit. Sometimes the wheel will close the circuit and the light will turn on, some other times the circuit will remain open, and the light off. This shouldn't be too hard to bouild, just a cardboard disc with some metal foil swatches (like rays that join at the center) on the back.

I've just build a rough model to check if the idea works, and it does. :-)

The 2" nail and the kitchen aluminium foil aren't the best choices for mass production, though. You're granted a free licence of my Random Light Switch(R) as long as you solve those two issues. ;-)

Here is the RLS(R) at work:

And here are the unmounted view showing the high end technology involved:

You can control the likeliness of the light turning on by modifying the % of conductive areas in the wheel. Mine is 'calibrated' for 1/3 (aprox) chance of light and 2/3 of no light.

HTH,

Seo

Your best bet would be to use an LED instead of a lightbulb, and have it controlled my a microcontroller.

Microchip (www.microchip.com) makes an MCU roughly the size of a grain of rice that's 49 cents in production quantity (under $1 in singles) that you could use. With this device all you'd need is the MCU, LED, and a coin-battery. Total price should be about $1.50 and it will be very tiny.

Of course you'll need someone to write the very simple assembly program for the MCU as well as program the chip and assemble the device.

I have to admit that your electronic solution sounds a lot more practical. Production costs for my wheel would be higher, and it will be more prone to suffer from construction or assembly problems.

It was fun to build it, though. :-)

Seo

I have a game called Vampire Hunter

http://www.gamepart.com/product/item/fly_628.html

It uses a color changing light in a castle. The game must be played in the dark, and the board is done in red and blue and the spaces on the board change in either red light or blue light.

It uses a simple push button switch -- push it once it's red and again and it's blue. Game effects change what color the light is supposed to be.

That's a very simple solution.

Vampire Hunter can be purchased very cheaply at Kay Bee Toys. Buy one. Steal the tower. Come up with mechanics (dice, cards, etc.) that effect a light status change. If you like the effect, build your own light structure. A cheap and easy way to playtest.

I thought the spinning wheel randomizer was, by the way, the bomb. If you need random, that's one of the best ways to go. Whatever you do, do NOT use a time-dependent algorithm, or as others have pointed out, people will stall until the light changes.

The random light could work in the game, if there were some other reason to avoid stalling, for example, any player can trigger end-of-round when ready, leaving stalling players in the cold.

Like any real-time game, close calls would still probably cause disputes among players who are prone to them.

Oh, and I bow to the RLS, as well!

Yogurt

Wow, thanks, Yogurt. I'm flattered. :-)

If only I could build as successful games as gadgets, I would have a shot to detrone you from the Game Design Showdown kingdom. ;-)

I forgot all about that game... used to have it as a kid! And loved it! Thanks for reminding me!