Spaß mit Maß

It all started at a pizza party. A kitchen scale was still on the table, and friends challenged me to drink about 50 grams from my beer can. I barely got it right, but neither did they. The challenge did not go unnoticed, and other partygoers joined the game, taking turns trying to drink the designated amount. The party was soon over, but the idea for such a game stuck with me. So, for Roboexotica 2018, I built an automated version of the game.

The first version of Spaß mit Maß consisted of individual game devices that communicated with each other via Wi-Fi. Each device featured a laser-cut acrylic glass frame, a load cell, a display, LED rings, and a microcontroller managing all components. The first device to boot up elected itself as the game server to handle all the logic, while the other devices registered as clients and waited for server commands to measure drinks, animate LEDs, and display scores. The game was very well received at Roboexotica and Maker Faire the following year, so I decided to continue development.

The next iteration of Spaß mit Maß improved the networking architecture by adopting MQTT as a messaging protocol and moving the server logic from each device to an independent server node. This meant that game devices could now be added, removed, or rebooted without affecting the overall game. Using MQTT's Quality of Service level 1 further improved data transmission in crowded Wi-Fi environments such as Maker Faire. Another key benefit of a dedicated server and MQTT was the ability to display the current game state and high scores on a standalone presentation screen and to support different game modes simply by changing the server logic.

As a player, having your own game device is nice, but as a game master, having several of them neatly bundled into a single transportable unit is even better. I wanted to be able to conveniently put Spaß mit Maß onto a bar table, switch it on, and have it ready to play instantly. A hexagonal shape was the obvious choice, as it accommodates six players around a table and uses a single central screen instead of individual displays for each player.

For Roboexotica 2025, I designed and 3D-printed a unified enclosure that houses all the electronics in a single case. I chose a round display with an integrated ESP32 microcontroller that handles server communication, drink measurement, and game information for all six players, eliminating the need for separate microcontrollers. Power is provided via a USB-C port next to the handle and can be supplied by a power bank. The third version of Spaß mit Maß was once again very well received and was also on display at MuseumsQuartier Wien and Atelierhaus Graz.

Development continues! I am currently working on another hexagonal prototype with top and bottom plates made from laser-cut aluminium. This will not only improve the device's overall aesthetics, but also its durability. Due to time constraints, the LED effects from the earlier game devices did not make it into the current version, but they will soon return: a custom-made PCB with integrated LEDs will illuminate each player's drink. And since having a fully self-contained unit is a priority, adding an internal battery and having the option to run game logic directly on the device again are the next features I am looking forward to implementing.