We’ve all had those fuzzy ideas: “Wouldn’t it be fun to make a simple swipe-or-click game?”
Usually, that thought dies somewhere between opening a blank repo and realizing you don’t have art, sound, or time.
This time, I didn’t let it die. I opened up Gemini Studio AI (free version, nothing paid) and threw in a prompt:
“I want to develop a simple yet relatable and fun game. Fuzzy concept is mobile swipe or click type game.”
And off we went.
Ugly Shell, Fun Core
The first draft was rough — ugly, basic, but it worked.
I played for a few minutes, scribbled notes in the chat box, refined my prompt, and waited.
Rinse, repeat.
That loop was surprisingly engaging. Instead of grinding through code, I was iterating on ideas.
Things that would normally take me a week were happening in two minutes.
From Vision to Balance: Building the Game’s Economy
I sketched out the core idea: a three‑tiered economy built around
- Capital— the obvious resource, the fuel for growth
- Users — the people you attract and keep
- Tech Debt — the shadow cost that drags you down if ignored
That was my vision. But the complexity, balance, and polish? AI built it.
I’d toss in the concept, and the system would come back smarter, tighter, more playable. Suddenly, the eco wasn’t just numbers — it was a living loop where cash, users, and debt pushed against each other.
Once that foundation felt solid, we layered in difficulty levels and called them job titles. Now the game had progression, stakes, and personality.
Zero Code, Zero Assets
Here’s the kicker:
- I wrote 0 lines of code
- I made zero images or sound effects
- I just prompted, played, refined, repeated
The AI handled the heavy lifting. I just steered the ship.
Why It Worked
- Rapid iteration → Play → note → refine → repeat
- AI as collaborator → I wasn’t coding; I was co-designing
- Fun over polish → The shell was ugly, but the gameplay loop was fun
Play It Yourself
The result is live: Eras In Code 🎮
It’s a swipe/click game that mirrors the developer journey — complete with cash, debt, and job-title difficulty levels.
Built in less than a day, powered by prompts, and surprisingly fun.
Final Thought
We talk a lot about AI “replacing developers.” That’s not what happened here.
AI didn’t replace me — it amplified me.
It took my fuzzy idea and turned it into a playable game faster than I thought possible.
Sometimes, the best way to build is to stop coding and start thinking.
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