NXT Duel

The NXT Duel is a game that tests your reflexes, entirely built with a NXT 2.0 kit. Play against other person, or play by yourself beating the computer challenges.

How to play

Whoever shoots first after the bell rings wins. Watch out for distractions, like the crows squawking — if you shoot too early, you’ll lose.

During the round, an orange flag will rise. Its purpose is to create tension since the bell is guaranteed to ring sometime before it fully rises.

Single player mode

In single player mode, you’ll need to beat the 9 computer challenges: after the bell rings, you must shoot within the number of milliseconds specified in the round. In the first round, you’ll have 500 ms — that’s actually plenty of time! In the last challenge, though, you’ll be at the edge of standard human reflex times :)

The record number of tries that you take to complete all challenges is recorded. Can you do it in only 9 rounds, without a single miss?

In this mode, use the gun with the grey handle.

Two player mode

It’s simple: whoever shoots first, wins! You can select the number of rounds you need to win in order to win the game. The response time of the round winner is shown on the screen.

Instruction and Program

First, get everything you need:

  1. Download program, source, LDD model and resources
  2. Extract the zip file (check this if you need help)

Buliding the model:

  1. If you don’t have LEGO Digital Designer, download and install it.
  2. Double click the duel.lxf file in the folder you have extracted.
  3. After the file opens in LEGO Digital Designer, press F7 and follow the instructions to build the model.

Downloading the program and files to the NXT:

  1. Open the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT sofware
  2. Near “Create new program”, click “Go >>”
  3. Open the NXT window (click the upper left button above the “Play” button
  4. Click on the “memory” tab
  5. Click “Download”. Go to folder you have extracted in Step 2, select the first file and Click OK. Click “Download” again, select the second file, click OK, and so on for all files (sorry, I don’t know any easier way to do this)
  6. In your NXT, go to “My Files”, “Software Files”, then “Duel”
  7. Play!

The program is coded in NXC, you can use the Bricx Command Center if you want to make changes to the code.

Fun Facts About Reaction Time

There is some interesting research on reaction time; check this literature review. Some highlights:

  • Reaction time for sound stimuli is smaller than for visual stimuli; 160 ms vs 190 ms on average. (These are simple reaction times. Since there are distractions in the NXT Duel, your response time will be slower.)
  • Your reaction time get worse if you’re too relaxed or too tense.
  • Your reaction time is faster during expiration.
  • Your reaction time is faster with your left hand if you are right-handed, and vice-versa.
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37 Responses to NXT Duel

  1. Fernando says:

    Buenas noches!
    Me gustaria informate que al compilar el archivo Duel.nxc con Bricx Command Center no funcionan bien los tiempos.

  2. Fernando says:

    El problema es que a la variable end_time no se suma la variable CurrentTick() si lo pones de la siguiente manera:

    long end_time = CurrentTick() + 2000 + rnd + Random(1000);

    Para solucionar el problema debemos de poner:

    long end_time;
    end_time = CurrentTick() + 2000 + rnd + Random(1000);

    • Conrado says:

      I think you may be using a older version of Bricx/NXC, try updating it :)

      But thanks for report, other people might have the same issue.

  3. EpicChicken says:

    How does it stand up? The base is really flexible. And, the instructions are impossible to understand! *MAD!*

    • Conrado says:

      I’m not sure what you mean, the base is somewhat flexible, but it held itself fine on a flat surface.

      Sorry for the instructions, LDD instructions are not so good. I’ll try to make my own next time.

      But I suggest that you use your creativity, the basic structure is very simple (just motors with axles attached). Most of the model is just decorations, so you can come up with your own :)

  4. Anonymous says:

    Can you please make better instructions for this particular robot. I really want to build it but the LDD instructions are horrible. Please post this ASAP.

    Thanks

    • Conrado says:

      Sorry, I’ve already disassembled it. But it is very simple, you can make your own — it doesn’t have to be exactly the same to work.

  5. vin says:

    very cool made it
    but can u tell me how to put the files on the nxt so i can play with it
    thanks

    • Conrado says:

      Open the Memory tab of the NXT window (the upper left button besides the “Play” button) and click Download.

  6. yorick says:

    where are the building instructions? I can not find names and I really want it done because he looks very nice Thanks

  7. yorick says:

    okay thank you but where can I find lxf file and how can I open it and where can I open it??

    • Conrado says:

      Click on the “Download program, source, LDD model and resources” link in the post. Extract the zip file. Install LDD. Double click the extracted lxf file.

  8. yorick says:

    Thank you and where is the program I need it for?

  9. parney says:

    Conrado….I cannot get the flag to rotate properly. It doesnt rotate like on your video it just sits there and i have to manually push it down to get the next shot to work. Is your program faulty? can you take a look at it and let me know?

    • Conrado says:

      I’m sorry, I don’t know what is wrong, the program worked fine for me. Try exchanging motors and cables and see if it persists.

  10. mario says:

    i dont understand how you get all those files from the zip file to the mindstorm program itself.

    • Conrado says:

      Extract the zip file.
      Open the Memory tab of the NXT window (the upper left button besides the “Play” button) and click Download. Select the extracted files.

  11. parney says:

    I tried changing the cables and every possible combination but still the flag doesnt rotate like it is supposed to. Anyone else had this problem with the program?

    • Conrado says:

      That’s too bad! I will try to double check the program to see if it’s OK.

    • Conrado says:

      I’ve double checked and everything is fine. If you use batteries, are they fully recharged? Otherwise, it may be a problem in the “A” port of your NXT brick — do other programs work fine?

  12. parney says:

    i think you mean “download” not “upload” don’t you? upload takes programs from the nxt to the pc whereas “download” takes programs from pc and puts it onto the nxt.

  13. mindy says:

    how do you open the program? Is on the Mindstorm program things?

    • Conrado says:

      You can’t open the program in the NXT software since it was coded using another method. But it runs just fine. If you want to edit the code, you will need to learn NXC.

  14. mindy says:

    Thanks but i alreay firgured it out

  15. kaka says:

    Have you the programme in C or C++?

  16. kaka says:

    But it is the .nxc file, I mean “.c fil”.

    • Conrado says:

      The NXC compiler for the NXT, which uses (something like) the C language, uses the .nxc file extension. The source code is in the .nxc file.

  17. yasha says:

    i downloaded all the extracted files into the memory tab but how do i download them on to my NXT?

  18. Yasha Kasha says:

    i downloaded all the extracted files on to the memory tab but could not doownload them to my NXT

  19. Silhouette says:

    ermm…. I try to download the program into the Nxt-g v2.1, but.. the download button cannot be press… HOW?

  20. Kevin Chung says:

    Can you make a pdf document instructions?

    • Conrado says:

      Are you having trouble generating the instructions, or did you not like the instructions generated by LDD?

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