TamaFi — WiFi-Powered Virtual Pet
A Tamagotchi-inspired WiFi virtual pet for tiny ESP32 display boards — your pet's health depends on nearby WiFi networks, blending nostalgic virtual pet gameplay with wireless technology exploration.
Overview
TamaFi (271+ GitHub stars) is a creative blend of 90s nostalgia and modern WiFi technology. It's a Tamagotchi-inspired virtual pet that lives on a tiny ESP32 display board — but with a twist: your pet "eats" WiFi signals. The more WiFi networks nearby, the healthier and happier your pet becomes. Move to a WiFi-dead zone and your pet gets hungry. Featured on Hackaday.
Key Features
- WiFi-Fed Pet: Your virtual pet's hunger, health, and happiness depend on nearby WiFi network density
- Pet Animations: Cute pixel-art pet with animated states (happy, hungry, sleeping, sick)
- Color Display: Renders beautifully on small color TFT displays like the T-QT's 0.85" screen
- RGB LED: Mood indicator via the onboard RGB LED
- Buzzer Audio: Chiptune sounds for feeding, playing, and alerts
- Battery Powered: Runs on LiPo battery for portable use — carry your pet everywhere
- Deep Sleep: Battery-saving sleep mode when idle
Getting Started
Flash TamaFi via Arduino IDE or PlatformIO. The T-QT Pro or T-QT C6's tiny form factor with built-in display, battery charging, and WiFi makes it the perfect host. Power on and your pet hatches — now take it for a walk and watch it react to the WiFi landscape.
Why This Project
TamaFi proves that IoT projects don't have to be serious. It's a delightful conversation piece that makes WiFi scanning tangible and fun. The T-QT's thumbnail-sized form factor means you can clip it to a keychain or lanyard. It's also a great gateway project for beginners — simple enough to understand, fun enough to share, and a clever demonstration of WiFi scanning concepts.
