I used the ESP32-WROOM-32 for its balance of processing power, GPIO availability, and accessibility. For graphics, I used the TFT_eSPI library to drive the ILI9488 TFT display over SPI, taking advantage of its optimized drawing functions. One of the main challenges was managing display updates and game logic together while keeping paddle controls responsive and ball movement smooth. I also had to account for screen orientation and coordinate mapping to ensure everything rendered correctly. The project was a good opportunity to explore the practical limitations of embedded graphics and real-time input handling.

For those who have worked with the ILI9488, are there any particularly effective techniques for improving SPI rendering performance or reducing unnecessary screen redraws?