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KainatSana
KainatSana

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Build Games Challenge

#aws #awschallenge

Building Super Mario Games with AI 🍄

Nostalgic game devs, if you grew up jumping through pixelated worlds as Mario, you’re going to love this!

This is a modern reinterpretation of the classic Super Mario experience—reimagined in two formats:

one for the web, one for desktop. Both versions were crafted to deliver smooth animations, vibrant graphics, and that familiar, addictive gameplay. 🎮

I created both versions in less than an hour using the Amazon Q Developer CLI, exploring the power of AI to scaffold the game logic, generate the folder structure, and even handle bug fixes automatically.

The Original Plan (That Failed)

I initially asked AI to build a "professional Super Mario game with advanced features." The result?

  • 2000+ lines of complicated code
  • Confusing file structure
  • Features nobody wanted
  • A game that wasn't fun to play

Lesson learned: More code ≠ Better game

The AI-Powered Breakthrough

Instead of fighting complexity, I worked with AI to build TWO focused versions:

🌐 HTML Version - The Universal Champion

Perfect for sharing and playing anywhere!

What I asked AI:

"Create a smooth Super Mario game for browsers. Make it mobile-friendly, under 300 lines, with spinning coins and responsive controls."

What AI delivered:

  • Instant browser play
  • Works on phones and tablets
  • Smooth animations
  • Easy to share with friends

🎮 Pygame Version - The Desktop Powerhouse

Enhanced with professional game development techniques!

What I asked AI:

"Take the HTML version and create a Pygame version with professional animations like squash & stretch effects and enhanced visual polish."

What AI delivered:

  • Squash & stretch animations (like Pixar movies!)
  • Glowing coin effects
  • Smooth physics simulation
  • Desktop gaming experience

Game Screenshots - HTML Version

Game Menu

Game Menu

The Game

Game level 2

Winning Scenario

You Win

Game Over

Oh No

Pygame Version

[Desktop app with enhanced animations]

Pygame

Level 1

AI Development Magic

The AI surprised me with smart suggestions I hadn't thought of:

Automatic mobile support for HTML version:

// AI added touch controls without me asking!
canvas.addEventListener('touchstart', handleTouch);
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Professional animation techniques for Pygame:

# AI implemented industry-standard squash & stretch
if mario.jumping:
    mario.scale_y = 0.8  # Squash when jumping
    mario.scale_x = 1.2  # Stretch horizontally
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Cross-platform optimization - AI automatically optimized each version for its platform.

Effective AI Prompts I Used

✅ Good Prompts (That Worked) 

"Create a Mario game for HTML5 that works on mobile browsers"
"Add professional squash & stretch animations to the Pygame version"  
"Make the coins spin in 3D with a golden glow effect"
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❌ Bad Prompts (That Failed) 

"Make a complex Mario game with advanced features"
"Add every possible animation and effect"
"Create the most professional game possible"
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Key insight: Specific, focused requests work better than vague "make it awesome" prompts.

Time Saved with AI

  • HTML Version: 2 hours (vs 8+ hours manually)
  • Pygame Version: 3 hours (vs 12+ hours manually)
  • Bug fixes: AI caught and fixed issues instantly
  • Cross-platform adaptation: AI handled platform differences automatically

The Results

Feature HTML Version Pygame Version
Platform Browser (Universal) Desktop
Installation None pip install pygame
Best For Sharing & Mobile Gaming & Learning
Animation Quality Smooth Professional
File Size 45KB 15KB

Running the Games

HTML Version (Recommended for sharing) 

# Just open in any browser
open smooth-mario.html
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Pygame Version (Recommended for desktop) 

cd pygame-mario
python3 smooth_mario_pygame.py
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Easy Launcher 

python3 play.py  # Choose your version!
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What I Learned

🤖 AI Development Tips

  1. Be specific - "mobile-friendly Mario game" works better than "good Mario game"
  2. Iterate gradually - Build features one at a time
  3. Ask for explanations - Understanding AI's choices helps you learn
  4. Platform matters - Different platforms need different approaches

🎮 Game Development Insights

  1. Simple can be better - Two focused games beat one complicated mess
  2. Platform optimization - HTML for sharing, Pygame for desktop experience
  3. User experience first - Fun gameplay > technical complexity
  4. Clean code wins - 300 readable lines > 2000 confusing lines

Try It Yourself!

🔗 Play the games: GitHub Repository

🔗 HTML Version: Play in Browser

Want to build your own AI-powered game? Start with a simple, specific prompt and iterate from there!

Credits

  • Built using AI assistance for rapid development
  • HTML version: Pure JavaScript, no frameworks
  • Pygame version: Python with professional animation techniques
  • Total development time: 5 hours (would have been 20+ hours manually)

🍄 Some more days until the deadline. Join “Build Games with Amazon Q CLI” to get hands-on agentic coding experience, build games, complete the steps and redeem a cool T-shirt. Get started from here → https://s12d.com/BGWQCLI”

What game will you build with AI next?

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