Serpenti is a classic Snake Game fully developed for the PIC16F877A microcontroller, integrated with a 128x64 Graphical LCD (GLCD), a buzzer, and five tactile buttons. Built using CCS C, this project showcases a complete real-time embedded system combining software and hardware in harmony.
🎮 Developed as a collaborative embedded systems project by Eren Yurtcu and @berkinyl
To develop an educational, real-time, and interactive game experience using:
- Low-level embedded C programming
- Hardware control using GPIO (PORTB/PORTC)
- Modular and efficient logic for constrained microcontrollers
- Realistic Proteus simulation and breadboard implementation
✅ 10x10 Grid drawn dynamically using GLCD
✅ Snake Movement via UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT buttons
✅ Game Reset using dedicated button
✅ Difficulty Menu (Easy, Medium, Hard) with real-time visual selection
✅ Score Tracking with real-time and session-based best score
✅ Collision Detection: Wall and self-hit logic
✅ Random Food Generation avoiding overlap with snake
✅ Buzzer Feedback: Beeps for food, error melody for game over, victory tune
✅ Victory Condition when snake reaches length 64
✅ Screen transitions: Splash, Game Over, Victory, In-Game UI
✅ Stable and responsive physical implementation
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Microcontroller | PIC16F877A |
| Display | 128x64 GLCD (LGM12641BS1R) |
| Input | 5 Tactile Push Buttons (UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, RESET) |
| Audio | Active Buzzer with PNP Transistor driver |
| Crystal Oscillator | 16 MHz with 22pF capacitors |
| Potentiometer | 20kΩ for contrast adjustment |
| Breadboard + Wires | Standard prototyping setup |
| Power | +5V Regulated Supply (USB-serial tested) |
| Component | Pin / Terminal | Connected To | PIC Pin No | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRYSTAL | Pin 1 | PIC16F877A – OSC1 | 13 | Crystal input (clock in) |
| CRYSTAL | Pin 2 | PIC16F877A – OSC2 | 14 | Crystal output (clock out) |
| GLCD | CS1 | RB0 / INT | 33 | Chip Select 1 |
| GLCD | CS2 | RB1 | 34 | Chip Select 2 |
| GLCD | DI (RS) | RB2 | 35 | Data/Instruction Select |
| GLCD | RW | RB4 | 37 | Read/Write Control |
| GLCD | E (EN) | RB5 | 38 | Enable Signal |
| GLCD | RST | RC0 | 15 | Reset Signal |
| GLCD | DB0 | RD0 / PSP0 | 19 | Data Bit 0 |
| GLCD | DB1 | RD1 / PSP1 | 20 | Data Bit 1 |
| GLCD | DB2 | RD2 / PSP2 | 21 | Data Bit 2 |
| GLCD | DB3 | RD3 / PSP3 | 22 | Data Bit 3 |
| GLCD | DB4 | RD4 / PSP4 | 27 | Data Bit 4 |
| GLCD | DB5 | RD5 / PSP5 | 28 | Data Bit 5 |
| GLCD | DB6 | RD6 / PSP6 | 29 | Data Bit 6 |
| GLCD | DB7 | RD7 / PSP7 | 30 | Data Bit 7 |
| POT-HG | Left (VCC) | +5V Supply | – | Connected to +5V supply |
| POT-HG | Middle (V0) | LCD Pin 3 | – | Contrast voltage input for GLCD |
| POT-HG | Right (VOUT) | GND | – | Ground reference |
| BUTTON | UP | RC1 | 16 | Controls upward movement |
| BUTTON | DOWN | RC2 | 17 | Controls downward movement |
| BUTTON | RIGHT | RC3 | 18 | Controls right movement |
| BUTTON | LEFT | RC4 | 23 | Controls left movement |
| BUTTON | RESET | RC5 | 24 | Resets the system |
| BUZZER | – Terminal | PNP Emitter | RB3 | Controlled via RB3 through PNP |
| RESISTOR | One end | RB3 | 36 | 100Ω to PNP base (current limiting) |
- CCS C Compiler
- Proteus 8.0 or higher (for simulation)
- GLCD Library (
glcd.c) - Real-time embedded logic in modular C code
- Direction buttons mapped to
PORTCpins (RC1 to RC4) - Movement restricted to grid bounds (10x10)
- Snake grows when it eats food
- Randomly generated on empty grid cells
- Eating food:
- Increases score and snake length
- Triggers short beep
- Updates Best Score if needed
- Game Over: Wall hit or self-collision →
"GAMEOVER !!!"with error beeps - Victory: Reaching length 64 →
"YOU WON!"+ melody
- PORTD → GLCD data lines
- PORTB → GLCD control + Buzzer
- PORTC → Button inputs
- RB3 → Controls buzzer via PNP transistor
- V0 (GLCD Contrast) → Controlled via 20kΩ potentiometer
- Oscillator → 16 MHz crystal + 22pF capacitors
 |
 |
|---|---|
| Game Open Screen | Difficulty Selection Screen |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| In-Game Playing Screen | Game Over Screen | Victory Screen |
📄 main.c → Main game logic (snake, movement, GLCD drawing)
📄 main.h → Header file for definitions and function declarations
📄 main.hex → Compiled output ready to be flashed to PIC16F877A
📄 main.ccspjt → CCS project file
📄 main.cof → COF file for debugging in Proteus
📄 main.STA → Compiler status file
📄 main.err → Compilation error log (if any)
📄 main.lst → Assembly listing file
📄 main.tre → Symbol table (tree format)
📄 main.sym → Compiler-generated symbol info
📄 main.esym → Extended symbol file
📄 main.xsym → Extra symbol information
📁 _history/ → Auto-generated backup history (by IDE or CCS)
📄 .gitattributes → Git attributes (text encoding rules)