> Markdown version of [/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine?t=376](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine?t=376). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

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# Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine

How do you turn a 300kg shoulder press into a multiplayer Pong console? Discover how EGYM engineers used C++ and local networks to gamify heavy fitness hardware.

- **Speakers:** [Daniel Meilak](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@daniel-meilak), [Enris Nogare von Tein](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@enris-nogare-von-tein)
- **Event:** World Congress 2026 Europe
- **Published:** July 9, 2026
- **Duration:** 18:27
- **URL:** https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine

## Summary

EGYM, a fitness technology company, transformed a 300kg motor-controlled shoulder press machine into a giant game of Pong during an internal Hack Day. Their smart strength equipment usually relies on digital motors and RFID integration to dynamically adjust weights and guide workouts. To convert this specialized hardware into a retro arcade console without endangering users, the engineering team had to creatively manipulate the stack—from tweaking firmware kinematics that map heavy levers to lightweight paddle movements, to ensuring robust safety safeguards remained active.\n\nBuilding a game in a 24-hour window demanded rapid iteration. The team leveraged a C++ and Qt/QML stack, ultimately implementing JavaScript for faster on-the-fly interface adjustments. A highly efficient CI/CD pipeline allowed them to push functional prototype builds to field machines in minutes. When tackling real-time head-to-head multiplayer, they hit a roadblock: the core backend was not optimized for constant state-syncing over the internet. Their solution was to repurpose an existing local network discovery protocol—originally designed for offline gym check-ins—to broadcast game states directly between adjacent machines.\n\nAlthough the Pong prototype was never fully released to the public, the Hack Day experiment proved highly valuable. The mechanics and competitive components they built directly inspired EGYM's production Game Day feature, which introduces interactive workout leaderboards to global gym floors. This journey highlights how giving developers dedicated time for unconstrained, cross-disciplinary experimentation not only fosters engineering agility but also fuels tangible product innovation that successfully merges physical experiences with digital gamification.

**Keywords:** hack day projects, smart fitness equipment, firmware engineering, qt/qml development, c++ programming, javascript rapid prototyping, ci/cd deployment pipelines, hardware kinematics, local network discovery, gamification implementation, connected gym hardware, variable torque control, product innovation, rfid authentication, interactive leaderboards

## Chapters

1. **Digitizing the workout experience with smart strength machines** (00:02) — How software-controlled fitness equipment automates weight setup and personalizes training plans on the fly.
1. **Encouraging developer innovation through dedicated hack days** (03:11) — Dedicated time for experimentation allows software engineers to build unconventional projects like gym-based video games.
1. **Transforming gym equipment into a gaming interface safely** (04:32) — Converting a strength machine lever into a custom Pong controller requires strict firmware safeguards against extreme weight output.
1. **Utilizing custom firmware for variable torque manipulation** (06:16) — Adjusting custom motor firmware manipulates weight resistance rapidly to simulate the responsive feel of a gaming joystick.
1. **Building rapid game prototypes with C++ and Qt** (08:37) — Combining C++ performance code with JavaScript and QML enables quick iteration and design adjustments during development.
1. **Managing rapid firmware deployments to machine fleets** (10:43) — A custom pipeline pushes cloud-based build code directly to target local machines within minutes for fast iteration.
1. **Engineering real-time multiplayer using local network broadcasting** (11:56) — Bypassing intensive internet traffic constraints by syncing complete game state directly across offline gym machines via local networking.
1. **Scaling experimental game concepts into production fitness products** (15:30) — Turning a basic multiplayer hackathon project into a permanent gamified leaderboard feature that drives long-term user engagement.

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