Computer scientist invents clever way to play Namco’s Armadillo Racing

Computer scientist Tom Tilley is known for his hacked joysticks and the world’s largest Game & Watch. The latest design is simpler and uses materials most of us have at home. It’s made from a lot of old roll-on deodorant sticks. It’s a creation designed specifically to play Namco’s ’90s Japanese arcade racing game Armadillo Racing. Tilley calls it Under Armadillo Racing.

Tilley’s got his step-by-step process up on YouTube, spotted by Hackaday. Tilley creates a cardboard base that is held together with glue. The first three roll-on sticks are for holding the soccer ball. However, the fourth, most significant roll-on is placed in the middle, and covered with an optical mouse. On top, the soccer ball is placed. It moves as the soccer ball below it. The mouse then controls the movement of the mouse, which allows the armadillo to follow its course.

It’s a homemade, DIY reimagining of the Armadillo RacingThese arcade controls were exclusive to Japan. Armadillo RacingThe game is quite simple. There are 2 courses that the armadillos can race down. The game has a little more… Arcade Museum claims that pushing your armadillo to hard can cause a heart attack. Brutal!

Original Armadillo Racing was built on Namco’s System 22 arcade board. If you don’t — or can’t — build your own deodorant rollerball controller, you can still purchase the board for a few hundred bucks on eBay — Armadillo Racing included.