This article first appeared in Make: Volume 41.
Here’s a classic toy reimagined for you to make just in time for Halloween candy-giving and party fun. It’s the Mad Monster Candy Snatch game, which combines the nerve-wracking dexterity of the old classic Operation game (BZZZZZT!) with a fun monster head–shaped candy dispenser. Make those little goblins earn their treats with this tricky game!
It’s simple to make and you can customize the play to be as easy or difficult as you like. You can even personalize it with your own voice, choice sayings, and sound effects.
The see-through green monster head is filled with fun-sized candies. Do you dare to snatch a snack? Use the forceps to carefully reach inside its mouth. If you can maneuver out a candy, you’ve won a treat! But be careful — if you touch the side you lose! The monster wakes up with crackling, shocking sound effects and announces “YOU MAKE MONSTER MAD! YOU LOSE!” as his angry eyes flash red. No treat for you!
Really excited to attempt this build. However, as a newbie to electronics, can you explain the function of the power transistor to me? Also, on the schematic, wouldn’t the LED resistor come before the LEDs or is the power flowing the other direction?
I did a remix of this. Made it a little simpler and added Scratch Software
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152210869292134&set=vb.630322133&type=2&theater
Approximate cost? Time to make?
I got through the gauntlet of soldering new wires to the switch pad, but I got lost when the directions said, “Add the power transistor to the perf board and after noting the E,C,and B legs, wire up the connections to the speaker, and then solder the connections to the dropping resistor and the two LEDs.” Am I supposed to solder NEW wires to the speakers? The picture shows two sets of wires there. How do I determine the polarity; both of the wires connecting to my speaker are the same color. How do the wires then connect to the transistor? I know which leg is which, but I don’t quite understand where to go with just that information. Am I also supposed to solder the LED leads to the transistor? I am new to this, so I sincerely appreciate any suggestions for better understanding the schematic or this part of the written directions. Can anyone advise, please?
If you’re using the Radio Shack Sound Module, on the speaker there is a faint “+” and “-” where the leads connect to the speaker….FWIW, In my build I bypassed the transistor altogether and added 2 wires to the speaker and sent them directly to my LEDs (with the 220 resistor in the middle of course)
Thanks, Joe. I’ll give that a try if I can’t get more explanation on the transistor. I just really want to understand the designer’s intent.
Household of new makers in over our heads! If anyone can explain a bit the things listed below by Jill, I am not certain what to solder/how to connect the resistor and B,C and E. Ideally someone can take up close photos of perf board (top and underneath?) and the led light parallel wiring on their completed project and I can copy at home. It appears I should cut off microphone from sound board and use those wires? Photos should answer most questions I think.
My six year old and I are bound to get better over time, but inspiration is not pulling this one off! We did get our sound board soldered and hooked up so the monster “speaks” when the tweezers touch the aluminum tape.
Where are the downloadable audio file you mention in the article? I’ve gone through the project page and can not find them. Thanks.
I have finally figured this out and have posted the solution to my blog. Thanks for the tip about the polarity of the speakers, Joe. http://jillericksondawson.blogspot.com/2014/10/mad-monster-success.html
Mad Monster Candy Snatch
Game at Girl Fest – great project !!! https://www.facebook.com/TheTechnoChix/photos/a.726499564108415.1073741859.147052592053118/726499924108379/?l=2df85297c4
We made ours, thanks for all the help Bob! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFzj3CqSpRk&feature=youtu.be
Awesome!
We didn’t have all the parts, but that didn’t stop our boys…they used their Snap Circuits kit to create the alarm. And we used Lego Minifigs instead of candy :)
I work for a company (www.atec.com) that designs and builds aerospace equipment and we have an annual Halloween party with pumpkin carving contest. I made a version of this game as a pumpkin. For the transistor, I used P/N NTE56 from Fry’s and I found push lamps at a dollar store with 3 LEDs that I removed from the housings for the lighted eyes. I put foil around the mouth and a pie plate inside that I bent in half to prop up the candy raising the level up past the mouth. Worked great. First place. I have been a lifetime Maker, starting at age 10 with the Radio Shack 75-in-1 electronics kit, reading everything Forrest Mims III wrote on electronics and eventually an EE degree. Parents, please encourage your kids to make things by getting them the parts they need like mine did. We need more engineers with “the knack” for it that comes from hands on experience playing around with hardware. Thanks MAKE Magazine for motivating the next generation of hardware hackers. Link to video: http://www.atec.com/2015/10/halloween-company-party/
Newbie question here: The parts just say “Wire” – Are we supposed to use any particular wire? Thx
Newbie question: The Parts section says “Wire” – does it need to be any specific kind of wire?
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