A Deterministic Redstone Arithmetic Logic Unit in Minecraft: BCD Encoding, Two’s Complement Subtraction, and Seven-Segment Visualization

Voxel-based video games offer an interactive platform for simulating complex digital logic architectures. This paper presents the design and functional evaluation of a redstone arithmetic calculator capable of performing addition and subtraction on two three-digit numbers within Minecraft Java Edition Version 1.21.1. Hosted on a Spigot/Paper server fixed at 20 game ticks per second, the system establishes a deterministic operational clock to eliminate signal disconnection and timing race conditions across circuit arrays. Decimal inputs from a ten-key button panel are encoded into 4-bit Binary-Coded Decimal (BCD) representations via a diode matrix and latched using D Flip-Flop registers. A weighted combinational translator aggregates positional values into a unified binary format optimized for computation. The central Arithmetic Logic Unit executes bitwise addition and Two’s Complement subtraction governed by an RS Flip-Flop control line, with data routed across a synchronized parallel bus featuring passive delay calibration. The binary output is converted back into decimal format through a Double Dabble shift-add-three architecture to drive a seven-segment redstone Lamp display. Experimental results confirm deterministic signal execution and accurate visual output across all valid operations, demonstrating that spatial gaming environments serve as viable platforms for visualizing physical hardware design and computer engineering principles.