Uncommon Goods | Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar | Circuit

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Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar
Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar
Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar
Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar
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Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar

Game your way through the holiday countdown with an inventive calendar that tasks techies with building a new electronic challenge every day.
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Previous Price  $30.00 New Price  $11.99

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What Makes It Uncommon

Advent calendars aren’t just for chocolate anymore. Delight your favorite techie (and help them learn the basics of building circuit boards) with an inventive holiday countdown that tasks them with building a new electronic challenge every day, complete with diagram instructions. The complexity increases with each door opened, and includes a variety of games, like code cracker, wire maze, slot machine, roulette, and more.

  • Each door contains a different electronic component to build a circuit-based game/challenge.
  • Twenty-four games in all.
  • Diagram instructions are included for each day/game.
  • Requires three AA batteries, not included.
  • Made in China.

Usually ships within 24 hours.

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Need to return? Free returns are accepted forever—no time limits. Within 30 days of delivery, refunds to the original payment method will be available. After 30 days, refunds will be processed to a digital gift card. See our return policy for more details.


Ages

Recommended for 14+

Made from

paper, resistors, pet plastic, metal wire, led lights

Measurements

15.4" L x 8.8" W x 1" D

Notes

Requires 3 x AA 1.5 V batteries (not included).

Item ID

59177

Still haven't found the details you're looking for? Check out our Product Q&A!


2.38
2.38 stars out of 5
based on 13 reviews
23%
of respondents would
recommend this to a friend
5 stars
3 users rating this 5 stars
4 stars
0 users rating this 4 stars
3 stars
1 users rating this 3 stars
2 stars
4 users rating this 2 stars
1 star
5 users rating this 1 star

Faulty Parts?

Bought this as the first advent calendar for my partner, a mechanic by trade. We had fun putting it fogether and got going on the first few days withouth issue. However, the parts stopped responding at day 4, no matter the troubleshooting.

Response from merchant

We appreciate your feedback. We discovered that a limited number of these kits had some component issues, and our team has already addressed the problem. We're committed to making things right and are reaching out personally to offer assistance.


Faulty Day 2 Components

Cannot recommend this to anyone. I gave this as a gift to my husband, who has some background in electronics, and could not get the Day 2 part of the project to work. He believes it's likely do to a faulty micro controller. I requested a replacement, which to Uncommon Goods's credit, was shipped promptly. But even with the replacement components, he still could not get it to work.

Response from merchant

Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear about the difficulties you and your husband experienced with the kit, even more having background in electronics. We understand how frustrating it must have been, especially after the effort of giving it as a gift. Thank you for your patience in allowing us to send a replacement, but we’re sorry that even with that, the project still didn’t work out. We’ve discovered that a small number of these kits had some connection and wiring issues, and we are already taking steps to resolve this. To make things right, we’re reaching out directly to offer further assistance.


This is terrible - do not buy

It was incredibly disappointing and killed what we hoped would be a fun addition to our advent season. The directions were unclear. After spending too much time with a lot of frustration, it simply did not work.

Response from merchant

Thank you for sharing your feedback. I am sorry to hear that the Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar did not work as expected and that the unclear instructions caused so much frustration. We found that a small selection of these kits had issues with components, and our team has taken steps to correct that. We would like to make this right and are reaching out directly to assist.


Would not buy again.

I received this as a gift, and was very excited to try it. Day two, I double and triple checked the setup and it was a no go. Even pulled out a multi meter and checked it out. The IC controller, must be dead, because everything else is good. No IC means that I can't do any of the other games.

Response from merchant

Thank you for sharing your feedback. I am sorry to hear that your Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar stopped working on day two. We found that a small selection of these kits had issues with certain components, and our team has taken steps to correct that. We would like to make this right and are reaching out directly to assist.


Does not work

Two 30-something relatively handy adults could not get the system to work on day 1 or 2. Either the components or the troubleshooting instructions are inadequate. Very disappointed. As a side note, even if it functioned I was hoping that there would be explanations for how the connections work or what the inside of the breadboard looks like/does. Not as good of an educational toy as it seemed like it might be.

Response from merchant

Thank you for sharing your feedback. I am sorry to hear that the first two days of the Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar did not work as expected. We found that a small selection of these kits had issues with components and connections, and our team has taken steps to correct that. We appreciate your note about the educational content as well and will share this with our team for review. We are reaching out directly to offer assistance.


Would not buy this.

Sat for an hour with my parents and could not even get the first day. I was very excited to receive this now I am very disappointed. We followed the diagram EXACTLY.

Response from merchant

Thank you for your review. Our buying team tests every one of the new products offered on our website. We check for good quality materials, instructions, and packaging and are sorry that this item missed the mark! We make every effort to be transparent about the item through the images and product notes. We’re happy to offer a forever return policy and we’re here to help if there is more we can do!


This was great fun for my husband last year.

I'm surprised reading the negative reviews. Last Christmas my husband was able to all of the games to work. He loved it.


Couldn't complete the projects

I don't know if it's the quality of the components, problems with the instructions or what…. I gave up and stuffed it in a drawer. I have EE in my academic background so I tried alternative configurations that should work, but did not. But after a successful first few days/projects, the rest couldn't be done because they build on one another and it just didn't work.


Unfortunately, I cannot recommend. Faulty product.

Love the idea of this, but we too couldn't get it to work past day 2. Very disappointing.

Response from merchant

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experience. I’m so sorry to hear that you weren't able to get this to work. That’s certainly not what we want for our customers. Our buying team tests every one of the new products offered on our website. We check for good quality materials, instructions, and packaging and are sorry that this item missed the mark! We always stand behind the quality of our products and we're reaching out directly in case we can do more to help


Day 2 and it doesn't work

Steer clear from this one! Grown adult couldn't get past a possibly defective part in the 2nd day. Would return if I could.

Response from merchant

We're so sorry for the issue you've had completing this! We're not aware of any regular defects. We want to make this right, we're reaching out directly to find a resolution.


photos from reviews

  • Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar from Uncommon Goods. Customer submitted image.

Can you perform any of the games once you have completed the coding?

Verified reply from Iriscelis

Yes, all of the games can be played once it's built.