JurassicLife is a little virtual dinosaur (Tamagotchi-style) living on an ESP32 with a screen.
It stays there, close to you, on your desk (or in your pocket if you build a case), ready to continue its life as soon as you power it on.
The concept is simple:
- you take care of your dino,
- you watch it evolve,
- and you make sure it doesn’t spend its entire life… doing poop. 💩
You can play right away… or modify everything: sprites, animations, UI, rules, pins, etc.
Basically: it’s made so you can have fun tinkering.
- What is JurassicLife?
- Supported hardware (plug & play)
- Install / upload (simple)
- DIY mode (your own build)
- Actions (GIFs)
- Save (microSD required)
- Customize sprites / animations
- Repo structure
A small companion/game where you take care of a dinosaur:
- feed it 🍖
- give it a drink 💧
- wash it 🧼
- play with it 🎮
- give it hugs 💖
- and… handle the “poop moments” (yes, it’s part of the job).
JurassicLife is designed to be very easy to upload if you have a supported board:
- 2432S022
- 2432S028
- Classic ESP32 + ILI9341 320×240 screen (DIY profile)
👉 With a supported board: pick the right profile in the code, upload, and you’re good.
Arduino code is here:
arduino/JurassicLife/
And the configuration README (boards, audio, pins, encoder/buttons…) is here:
arduino/JurassicLife/README.md
➡️ Basically: change a few #define lines at the top of the file, then upload from Arduino IDE.
You can also build your own setup:
- your ESP32
- your ILI9341 320×240 screen
- your buttons / encoder
- your 3D-printed case
- your custom sprites
This project is meant to be a fun base you can adapt however you want.
This is the “daily life” part.
Your dino isn’t complicated… but it has needs. (Like all of us.)
When it’s hungry, it looks at you like “I haven’t eaten in 3 minutes”.
Hydration = happy dino. And a happy dino breaks your karma a lot less.
Because yes… after certain activities, the dino deserves a quick cleanup.
The dino needs to blow off steam. Otherwise it starts brooding. And a brooding dino… is suspicious.
The most noble part of the project: poop management.
Don’t judge it. Help it. It’s your dino.
The secret recipe to boost morale: a hug.
(And yes, it works even on dinosaurs.)
If you want to find your dinosaur again after power-off: ➡️ you need a microSD card.
No microSD = no persistent save after restart.
Want your own dino? Your own style? Your own scenery?
Everything about sprites/animations + .h conversion scripts is here:
Sprites/
There’s a README there explaining how to create sprites and generate .h files.
arduino/: Arduino code (the core of the project)Sprites/: sprites +.hconversion scripts3DSTL/: printable cases / partsscreenshots/: screenshots + diagrams + GIFsModifencours/: tests / WIParchive/: old / legacy (if present)
🦖 Have fun, tinker, customize… and take care of your dino (even when it poops).