gluntyacademy

glunty academy

Game Studio - Lesson 1

Make your first game

Build a real game with AI - then question it, fix it, and compare your versions like a developer. This is the ONE game you keep leveling up all course.

0 of 15 done
  1. Finish the step above first
    01

    First: how Astrocade really works

    Before you make anything, learn how the tool works - so nothing surprises you.

    Astrocade turns your words into a game. But you do NOT get the whole game from one try.

    what will really happen

    You make a wish (you type what you want). The AI builds a rough version.

    Then you LOOK at it and make another wish to fix or add things.

    Plan on 3 to 5 wishes. The first one is never the finished game - that is normal, not a mistake.

    It needs a free account. Ask a grown-up to help you sign up the first time.

    Open Astrocade (new tab)
  2. Finish the step above first
    02

    Make your first wish

    Here is a plain starter wish. Tap Copy, open Astrocade, and make this your first wish.

    Let it build. Play it once. Remember - this is a ROUGH first draft, not the real thing.

    what will really happen

    The first build will look basic or a little wrong. That is expected.

    Do NOT fix it yet. Just play it once and notice what it actually did.

    Open Astrocade (new tab)
    a simple game where you jump over holes and grab coins to win

    Your versions so far - see it get better:

    1. No versions saved yet. Save this one to start comparing.
  3. Finish the step above first
    03

    Stop - judge it, do not celebrate

    Most people see any game pop out and say "cool". That is exactly how you end up with the same boring thing as everyone else.

    You are going to do the opposite. Look hard at what you REALLY got.

    hold on - judge it, do not celebrate
    • Does it play the way you pictured in your head? Or something else?
    • What is missing that you wanted?
    • What is boring, ugly, or annoying about it?
    • Would a friend actually keep playing this? Be honest.
  4. Finish the step above first
    04

    Wish the fix - just that one thing

    Go back to Astrocade. Make a new wish that fixes EXACTLY the one thing you just wrote. Only that.

    Play it again. Better? If not, wish it a different way. YOU are directing the robot now, not the other way around.

    what will really happen

    Your fix might take 2 or 3 wishes to land. Keep going - that is the skill, not a fail.

    Change one thing at a time, so you can see what each wish actually did.

    Open Astrocade (new tab)

    Your versions so far - see it get better:

    1. No versions saved yet. Save this one to start comparing.
  5. Finish the step above first
    05

    What is YOUR game about?

    This is the game that is YOURS. You keep making it better across every Game Studio lesson.

    Pick one fun idea you actually care about. A cat that dodges dogs. A skater who grinds rooftops. A pizza that must not fall.

  6. Finish the step above first
    06

    Who do you play as?

    Every game has a hero you control.

    A skater? A dog? A spaceship? A slice of pizza? Pick one.

  7. Finish the step above first
    07

    How do you WIN?

    A game with no goal is boring. What is the player trying to do?

    Catch 10 stars. Reach the door. Survive as long as you can.

  8. Finish the step above first
    08

    What makes it HARD?

    No challenge, no fun. What is trying to stop you?

    Falling rocks. A timer. Enemies. Gaps you can fall into.

  9. Finish the step above first
    09

    How should it FEEL?

    The feel is the flavor. Pick one.

    Fast and crazy? Spooky? Silly? Chill?

  10. Finish the step above first
    10

    Steal a game-designer trick

    Real designers borrow smart tricks. Tap Copy - your idea is already inside it - and ask ChatGPT.

    You are the boss. Only take the idea if it fits YOUR game.

    Open ChatGPT (new tab)
    You are a friendly game designer helping a kid make their first game. My game is about [idea] where you play as [player] and you win by [goal]. In very simple words, give me ONE simple, fun move or rule that would make it better. Just one, in one sentence. Then ask if I want another.
  11. Finish the step above first
    11

    Add YOUR twist

    One surprise makes a game yours. What is unexpected?

    The floor turns to lava after 10 seconds. The pizza can fly. The dog is secretly your friend.

  12. Finish the step above first
    12

    Your game plan, in one place

    Here is everything you designed, in ONE spot. This is a real game plan - a designer document.

    Tap Copy my game plan. This is your FIRST wish for the real game.

    Do the steps above and your your game plan shows up here.

    Did you copy your game plan?

  13. Finish the step above first
    13

    Build YOUR game - wish by wish

    Open Astrocade. Make your game plan the first wish. Let it build.

    Then run the loop you already know: look, find the biggest gap, wish the fix. Keep going until it feels like YOUR game.

    what will really happen

    This is a bigger wish, so it will take MORE passes than the plain one. Good - more of you goes in.

    Use the Share link to save it. Do not wait for Publish - putting it in the gallery can take a while; the Share link is instant.

    Open Astrocade (new tab)

    Your versions so far - see it get better:

    1. No versions saved yet. Save this one to start comparing.
  14. Finish the step above first
    14

    Judge YOUR game - honestly

    This is the big one. You designed this on purpose, so hold it to a higher bar.

    Compare the version you just built to the game you pictured in your head when you designed it.

    hold on - judge it, do not celebrate
    • Does it match your plan - your goal, your challenge, your twist?
    • Which part came out great? Which part came out weak?
    • What is the ONE thing that would make it most fun?
  15. Finish the step above first
    15

    Show this version - a checkpoint, not a trophy

    Post THIS version on the class wall - not because you won, but so you can look back later and see how far it came.

    Tap Copy for a caption, save your card, then put your game Share link on the wall below.

    Version 3 of my game. Not done - just getting good. #Glunty

The class wall - share yours

Loading the class wall...

v3

This is version 3 - the START of your game, not the end.

A real developer never ships the first thing the machine hands them. You questioned it, fixed it, and compared your versions. The next Game Studio lessons - a boss fight, game feel, real art - are each a tool to close the gap you found. Same game. Keep wishing. Keep comparing.

Back to the academy Your progress
Embedded tool from glunty.com