Hacker Con Badges

RootedCON 2026 · Spain · 2026

RootedCON 2026 Pacman Badge

Spanish ESP32 PACMAN CTF badge with project-builder and community-reversal evidence

RootedCON 2026's PACMAN-themed attendee CTF badge is documented by both community reversals and a first-hand TechFrontiers project-builder write-up. David Melendez Cano reports original colored Ghost boards that attendees could choose, an ESP32-WROOM-32 platform, ESP-NOW game-server interaction, per-badge NVS identity/key material, and digitally signed questions and answers. Community reversals independently identify an ESP32-D0WD-V3, 1.77-inch ST7735 128x160 display, directional controls, and native quiz-server CTF protocol for the March 5-7 sixteenth edition at Kinepolis Madrid.

RootedCON Spain Madrid ESP32 ESP32-WROOM-32 ESP32-D0WD-V3 ST7735 TFT Pacman Ghost CTF Quiz Server ESP-NOW Ed25519 LiPo UART0 TechFrontiers Europe
EventRootedCON 2026
SeriesRootedCON
LocationKinepolis, Madrid
CountrySpain

People

Authors & Credits

Pacman Badge firmware reverser

DonJulve

Community author of the RootedCon2026-PacmanBadge-Reversing repository reconstructing the official firmware and CTF protocol under GPL-3.0.

Source

TechFrontiers PACMAN/Ghost badge and CTF co-developer

David Melendez Cano

The direct project-builder write-up says the PACMAN Ghost boards were created from scratch by the author and TechFrontiers collaborator Gabriela G.; it describes the hardware and signed CTF design but does not allocate every individual engineering or manufacturing task.

Source

TechFrontiers PACMAN/Ghost badge and CTF co-developer

Gabriela G.

Named by David Melendez Cano as the TechFrontiers collaborator developing this hardware-experience line. The post does not provide a fuller name or assign individual hardware, firmware, artwork, or production tasks.

Source

event publisher

RootedCON

Official publisher of the 2026 sixteenth RootedCON edition at Kinepolis, Madrid.

Source

r4venOS custom firmware author

aherreros-dev

Community author of the r4venOS WiFi-auditing replacement firmware for the RootedCON 2026 ESP32 badge.

Source

source-named hardware-experience team

TechFrontiers

The builder post identifies TechFrontiers as the team under which the RootedCON PACMAN/Ghost hardware experience was developed; it does not establish RootedCON organizational ownership, a public design release, or image-reuse permission.

Source

Why It Mattered

It turns a previously community-reconstructed Spanish badge into a triangulated record with direct builder attribution, attendee Ghost-variant evidence, a source-described signed ESP-NOW CTF design, and retained independent reverse-engineering detail. The record still does not convert a personal project write-up into an official RootedCON source release, manufacturing ledger, or image-reuse permission.

Hardware

TechFrontiers' project-builder account calls the original board an ESP32-WROOM-32 design with LiPo 1S, integrated charger, under-voltage lockout, automatic USB-serial RESET/EN programming, exposed UART0 debug, SPI display wiring, directional/select controls, and an optional/easter-egg screen-ground MOSFET on some boards. Independent community reversing identifies the chip-level ESP32-D0WD-V3, 1.77-inch ST7735 128x160 TFT, D-pad, and additional buttons; those module- and chip-level descriptions are retained as source-specific evidence rather than collapsed into an official BOM. No official schematic, PCB, BOM, production file, final revision, battery capacity, charge configuration, or electrical-safety record has been recovered.

Software & Apps

The builder describes a CTF in which game-server questions were broadcast using ESP-NOW and accepted only after Ed25519 signature verification; individual badges signed replies with their own NVS-stored key material. The post frames recoverability of a badge's own key as an event hardware-hacking exercise while saying it did not grant another player's identity. Community repositories independently document the original Pacman firmware's native quiz-server CTF protocol, arcade mode, Marauder integration, and emulation work. No official RootedCON firmware, backend, hardware-design repository, release, protocol specification, or source license was recovered, so this record does not publish operating or extraction instructions or claim a canonical production release.

Lore

RootedCON is a long-running Spanish cybersecurity conference, and the 2026 sixteenth edition ran March 5-7 at Kinepolis in Madrid. The direct TechFrontiers account says attendees could choose red, purple, green, or blue Ghost boards, while PACMAN boards were reserved for the organization. David Melendez Cano says the badges were created from scratch by the TechFrontiers team with Gabriela G.; independent attendees later published reversing, repurposing, and replacement-firmware material.

Source-backed hardware metadata

Technical Profile

Structured technical signals seeded from public badge documentation, repositories, schematics, firmware notes, or event evidence. These fields are designed for filtering, API use, repair planning, preservation, and future Companion Gear matching.

Artifact type

  • Electronic badge documented

    The community reversing repository documents an electronic RootedCON 2026 Pacman Badge.

    Signal source

MCU / compute

  • ESP32 documented

    The TechFrontiers project-builder post identifies an ESP32-WROOM-32; a community reversing repository separately identifies the ESP32-D0WD-V3 chip-level detail.

    Signal source

Radio / wireless

  • Wi-Fi documented

    The TechFrontiers project-builder post describes ESP-NOW badge-to-server interaction for the RootedCON 2026 CTF.

    Signal source

Display / visual output

  • ST7735 TFT documented

    The reversing repository identifies a 1.77-inch ST7735 128x160 TFT display.

    Signal source

Firmware

  • PlatformIO documented

    The reversing repository documents a PlatformIO ESP32 build target.

    Signal source

Repair, preservation, and legal lab context

Companion Gear

Parts, tools, and supplies that match this badge's documented hardware, protocols, or preservation needs. These are category-level recommendations, not compatibility guarantees.

Seeed Studio exact

Replacement Displays

Display modules and related parts for repair and preservation planning.

Why this matches

This badge has a documented display signal. Matched technical signals: ST7735 TFT.

Matched evidence

Useful for preservation, repair planning, and careful display handling.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

SparkFun likely

Display Headers and Connectors

Headers, sockets, and connector supplies for display repair or replacement work.

Why this matches

Display headers and connectors are useful for repair and preservation planning. Matched technical signals: ST7735 TFT.

Matched evidence

Useful for careful repair or replacement of small display modules.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

Seeed Studio likely

JTAG / SWD Debuggers

Debug probes for ARM/RISC-V badge development, recovery, and documentation.

Why this matches

Debug probes can support authorized recovery, firmware work, and documentation for microcontroller badges. Matched technical signals: ESP32.

Matched evidence

Use only with hardware you own or are authorized to debug, repair, or document.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

Seeed Studio likely

Serial Debug Adapters

USB serial adapters for logs, recovery, and firmware documentation workflows.

Why this matches

This badge has a documented microcontroller platform where serial logs or flashing workflows may be relevant. Matched technical signals: ESP32.

Matched evidence

Useful for development, repair, recovery, and documentation of hardware you own or are authorized to work on.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

Amazon generic

ESD Storage

Anti-static bags and storage supplies for preserving loose badge PCBs and sensitive components.

Why this matches

This is documented as an electronic or hardware artifact where anti-static storage can support preservation. Matched technical signals: Electronic badge.

Matched evidence

Useful for preserving loose PCBs, add-ons, and sensitive electronic components.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

Lifecycle

Add-ons & Upgrades

badge firmware community-reversed

Pacman-themed original firmware

The original PACMAN-themed badge firmware's native quiz-server CTF protocol was reversed by the community. The community repository is not an official RootedCON release.

Compatibility: RootedCON 2026 Pacman Badge

Source
community firmware post-event

r4venOS WiFi auditing replacement

The r4venOS community firmware replaces the Pacman firmware with a WiFi scanner, evil-twin detector, deauth, and crypto utility toolkit on the same ESP32 hardware.

Compatibility: RootedCON 2026 Pacman Badge

Source
display and input community-sourced

ST7735 1.77-inch TFT and D-pad

Community reversals identify a 1.77-inch ST7735 128x160 TFT display and a directional pad with additional buttons on the ESP32-D0WD-V3 board.

Compatibility: RootedCON 2026 Pacman Badge

Source
event CTF and badge networking direct project-builder account

Ed25519-signed ESP-NOW CTF interaction

The builder describes ESP-NOW question distribution, Ed25519 verification before display, and individual badge-signed replies to the game server. This preserves the source-described event architecture without publishing packet construction, key-recovery steps, backend endpoints, final protocol source, cryptographic review, or a general security guarantee.

Compatibility: RootedCON 2026 PACMAN/Ghost attendee CTF badge

Source
event badge design and allocation direct project-builder account

PACMAN Ghost board choices and organization-only PACMAN variant

The TechFrontiers builder account says attendees could choose red, purple, green, or blue Ghost boards, while PACMAN boards were reserved for the organization. It does not establish quantities, exact recipient ledger, final color inventory, or every physical-board variant.

Compatibility: RootedCON 2026 PACMAN/Ghost attendee CTF badge

Source
power and debug architecture direct project-builder account

LiPo/UVLO, USB serial, and screen-power design surface

The builder describes LiPo 1S, integrated charging, under-voltage lockout, automatic USB-serial RESET/EN control, exposed UART0, and an extra screen-ground MOSFET on some boards. The account does not establish cell capacity, charge settings, board-revision coverage, electrical testing, safe modification, or a production-service procedure.

Compatibility: RootedCON 2026 PACMAN/Ghost attendee CTF badge

Source

Operational history

Issues & Camp Impact

missing rights-cleared image note

No RootedCON 2026 Pacman Badge image is published because neither the event, community repositories, nor the TechFrontiers builder post pairs a selected original badge photo or upstream raster with the complete reusable source URL, permission basis, attribution, and processing record.

The Spanish record remains source-backed and image-free rather than copying community repository diagrams, the LinkedIn post image, screenshots, social media, placeholders, or generated approximations.

Confidence
local project policy
Status
needs licensed original replacement
Timeframe
current catalogue build
Source note
badge.gallery image policy, RootedCON 2026 community repositories, and the TechFrontiers builder post.
project-builder confirmation and official-archive gap note

The TechFrontiers write-up directly attributes the PACMAN Ghost badge build and CTF design to David Melendez Cano and Gabriela G., while community reversals independently document several component and firmware details. Neither source set supplies an official RootedCON design repository, complete schematic/PCB/BOM/Gerber archive, production ledger, final revision map, battery/charger documentation, backend/protocol source, release, or license.

The catalogue now records direct builder attribution and event architecture without portraying a personal project post or community reverse-engineering tree as an official RootedCON source release, complete production specification, firmware security audit, or reusable-image permission.

Confidence
direct project-builder post plus community sources
Status
direct build/CTF confirmation; official archive unrecovered
Timeframe
2026 badge archive pass
Source note
David Melendez Cano / TechFrontiers RootedCON badge write-up; RootedCON 2026 community reversing, custom-firmware, and repurpose repositories.

Resources

Pacman Badge reversing repository community reversing repository · Community repository reversing the RootedCON 2026 Pacman Badge firmware, including arcade mode, Marauder integration, and the native quiz-server CTF protocol, published under GPL-3.0. RootedCON 2026 official site official event page · Official RootedCON source for the March 5-7, 2026 sixteenth edition at Kinepolis, Madrid. TechFrontiers RootedCON 2026 badge CTF write-up first-hand project-builder write-up · David Melendez Cano's public TechFrontiers write-up describes building the PACMAN Ghost attendee boards, their color variants, ESP32-WROOM-32, LiPo/UVLO/USB-debug surface, ESP-NOW CTF architecture, and signed question/answer model. It is direct builder evidence, not an official RootedCON source release or a reusable-image grant. badge_controller repurpose community repurpose repository · Community repository repurposing the RootedCON 2026 CTF badge as a wireless controller for a fighting robot over ESP32, TFT, and d-pad. r4venOS custom firmware community firmware repository · Community replacement firmware for the RootedCON 2026 ESP32 badge, documenting WiFi scanner, evil-twin detection, deauth, and crypto utilities on the same hardware.

Sources

David Melendez Cano / TechFrontiers: Cómo construimos un CTF con badges ESP32 firmados criptográficamente en RootedCON Retrieved 2026-05-15 · A direct April 6, 2026 project-builder account of the RootedCON PACMAN Ghost boards, attendee color choices, ESP32-WROOM-32, power/debug architecture, ESP-NOW game interaction, per-badge identity/key material, and signed CTF-question/answer design. It does not provide an official RootedCON archive, complete production data, image-reuse permission, or a safe operating guide. GitHub / DonJulve: RootedCon2026-PacmanBadge-Reversing Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary community source for the ESP32-D0WD-V3, ST7735 1.77-inch 128x160 display, D-pad, and native quiz-server CTF protocol reconstruction, published under GPL-3.0. GitHub / aherreros-dev: ravenOS_rooted26_badge Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Community source corroborating the ESP32 DevKit hardware and documenting the WiFi auditing custom firmware replacement surface. GitHub / double-thinker: badge_controller Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Community source corroborating the ESP32, TFT, and d-pad hardware by repurposing the badge as a wireless robot controller. RootedCON: RootedCON 2026 Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary official source for the March 5-7, 2026 sixteenth edition, Kinepolis Madrid venue, and Spanish cybersecurity-conference context.