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The Airsoft Game Timer project began as a custom solution for a local airsoft club, built to meet the need for a reliable and flexible timing system during group games and events. What started as a simple idea has evolved through hundreds of hours of development, testing, and refinement into a robust and feature-rich platform for Airsoft, Paintball, and even Escape Room applications.
Originally shared only within a small circle of enthusiasts, the project is now being released publicly for the maker community, inviting collaboration, experimentation, and creativity.
Click on the image for the video. (To do: create new one)
The Airsoft Game Timer is a modular, programmable device that manages various gameplay scenarios through precise timing, triggering, and long range radio communication functions. It was designed with DIY builders and hobbyists in mind — especially those with experience in Arduino, electronics, and module integration.
To make assembly more accessible, a dedicated PCB has been designed to reduce wiring complexity and improve reliability. While it simplifies the build, it still encourages hands-on involvement: connecting components such as the LoRa radio module, NFC reader, Buzzer and LED pixel strip requires care and basic electronics knowledge.
Whether you’re an airsoft player, event organizer, or maker, this project provides a powerful and customizable platform to enhance your games and creative projects.
Airsoft & Paintball Game Modes
Competing teams capture and hold an objective. The timer automatically tracks and logs domination time for each side.
Teams must locate a hidden device and arm or disarm it using NFC cards, buttons, or custom sensors. Perfect for bomb-defusal or sabotage missions.
A suspenseful mode where players must physically cut the correct wire to safely disable the timer. Cutting the wrong one can trigger alternate outcomes, such as a faster countdown or simulated detonation.
A strategy-driven mode where teams must simultaneously activate multiple timers at different field locations to secure the objective — promoting coordination and teamwork.
Although primarily designed for Airsoft and Paintball, the hardware architecture of the Airsoft Game Timer also makes it suitable for Escape Room applications — provided the user performs firmware customization to adapt the logic and triggers to their specific scenario.
The timer’s PCB offers multiple integration points and I/O interfaces, allowing creative builders to design interactive puzzles or time-controlled challenges. Available hardware interfaces include:
⌨️ Integrated keyboard interface for user input or code entry
🟢 NFC reader port for RFID/NFC-based triggers or access cards
📡 LoRa radio module for wireless communication between devices
💡 Smart LED pixel port for visual effects and lighting feedback
⚡ Four exposed 4-wire connectors for attaching external sensors, buttons, or relay modules
🔌 General-purpose I/O pins for custom extensions or event triggers
These hardware features allow builders to create time-based puzzles, multi-step challenges, or automated escape room mechanisms with relatively little additional circuitry — though custom firmware programming is required to tailor the logic to escape room use.
One of the core strengths of the Airsoft Game Timer is its openness to customization. Through the exposed FTDI programming port, users can easily connect and upload their own firmware or modify existing code to design entirely new game modes or behaviors.
This means the timer is not just a product — it’s a development platform. You can extend it with additional sensors, control relays, modify communication protocols, or integrate new game logic using Arduino-compatible tools.
Whether you want to fine-tune timing logic, sync multiple timers, or design a completely new mission type, the system’s open architecture makes it possible.
🕹️ Multiple game modes: Domination, Search & Destroy, Cut the Wire, Synchronous Domination, and custom scenarios
💾 Self-programmable via FTDI interface for custom firmware and user-created modes
🔌 Peripheral support for NFC, LoRa, LED pixels, GPIO expansion, and relay modules
📡 Wireless synchronization between multiple timers
🧱 Durable field design for outdoor use
⚙️ Maker-friendly PCB with modular connectivity
🎯 Ideal for Airsoft, Paintball, and Escape Room applications
🤝 Community and Contribution
This project welcomes makers, airsoft enthusiasts, and escape room creators who want to explore, modify, and enhance the timer system. Your feedback, ideas, and contributions are what will help this project evolve further.
If you build your own version, test new hardware, or develop a custom mode — please share it! Together, we can continue improving and expanding what the Airsoft Game Timer can do.