Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, I show a simple retro 1970s electronic game based on the original computer game, "Kill the Bit" (aka "KillBits") originally written for the MITS "Altair 8800" computer in 1975.
The original design of this electronic game was presented in a YouTube video by an un-named designer on the "Develop IT" channel. I studied that circuit, made a few tiny changes, and designed my own bill of materials
and printed circuit board.
I show initial testing of the circuit blocks, some of the circuit board design, assembly of the kit, testing and demonstration of the game, and I describe the theory of circuit operation while viewing the schematic diagram.
I made this as an exercise, and to have a few kits I can give away as "stocking stuffer" gifts for friends who are likely to appreciate it. I do NOT have any Gerber files to share, and I am not posting the design documents anywhere at this time. This video was posted here primarily to allow me to discuss the circuit design for those people who might find it interesting. And I want to clarify again that, a few tweaks aside, I am not the original designer of the circuit for this game, and I give full credit to the original designer and where others can go to see his presentation on YouTube.
youtu.be/lnPEf8fGprY?si=RfFl4WG19_T0L7fp
Timeline Table of Contents:
00:00 Software version on an IMSAI computer
01:10 Bread-boarding circuit sections
07:26 PCB design
08:08 Kit assembly
11:01 Test and demonstration
13:28 Schematic & circuit theory
In this video, I show a simple retro 1970s electronic game based on the original computer game, "Kill the Bit" (aka "KillBits") originally written for the MITS "Altair 8800" computer in 1975.
The original design of this electronic game was presented in a YouTube video by an un-named designer on the "Develop IT" channel. I studied that circuit, made a few tiny changes, and designed my own bill of materials
and printed circuit board.
I show initial testing of the circuit blocks, some of the circuit board design, assembly of the kit, testing and demonstration of the game, and I describe the theory of circuit operation while viewing the schematic diagram.
I made this as an exercise, and to have a few kits I can give away as "stocking stuffer" gifts for friends who are likely to appreciate it. I do NOT have any Gerber files to share, and I am not posting the design documents anywhere at this time. This video was posted here primarily to allow me to discuss the circuit design for those people who might find it interesting. And I want to clarify again that, a few tweaks aside, I am not the original designer of the circuit for this game, and I give full credit to the original designer and where others can go to see his presentation on YouTube.
youtu.be/lnPEf8fGprY?si=RfFl4WG19_T0L7fp
Timeline Table of Contents:
00:00 Software version on an IMSAI computer
01:10 Bread-boarding circuit sections
07:26 PCB design
08:08 Kit assembly
11:01 Test and demonstration
13:28 Schematic & circuit theory
