90s.dev is a web-based game maker designed to evoke the look and feel of classic DOS games. It offers a simplified development environment with a drag-and-drop interface for placing sprites and backgrounds, along with a scripting language reminiscent of older programming styles. The platform aims to make game development accessible to beginners while providing a nostalgic experience for seasoned developers. Created games can be played directly in the browser and shared easily online.
The blog post, titled "Finally Releasing 90s.dev," announces the launch of 90s.dev, a web-based game development platform designed to evoke the nostalgic experience of creating games in the 1990s. It's presented as a user-friendly tool for crafting 2D games directly within a web browser, eliminating the need for complex software installations or specialized hardware.
The creator details their motivation stemming from a childhood fascination with game creation tools of that era. They sought to replicate the simplicity and immediate accessibility of these older programs while leveraging the power and convenience of modern web technologies. The platform specifically targets an experience reminiscent of classic game development environments like Klik & Play, focusing on a drag-and-drop interface and an event-based logic system. This approach allows users to build game mechanics by visually linking actions and reactions, minimizing the requirement for traditional coding.
The post further elaborates on the technical underpinnings of 90s.dev, highlighting its use of WebAssembly for performance and JavaScript for the user interface. This combination allows the platform to offer a smooth and responsive experience within the browser. The project is open-source, further emphasizing the creator's commitment to accessibility and community involvement.
The blog post also outlines the platform's core features, including a sprite editor, a level editor, and a comprehensive event system. Users can create and manipulate game assets directly within the platform and then use the intuitive event system to define game logic. The sprite editor allows for pixel-art creation and animation, further reinforcing the 90s aesthetic. The level editor provides a grid-based system for constructing game worlds. Finally, the event system, as previously mentioned, facilitates the creation of complex game mechanics without requiring in-depth programming knowledge.
The announcement concludes with an invitation for users to explore the platform, experiment with its features, and contribute to its ongoing development. The creator expresses excitement about sharing 90s.dev with the wider community and anticipation for the games that users will create. The overarching tone is one of enthusiasm and a genuine desire to bring back the joy and simplicity of retro game development for a modern audience.
Summary of Comments ( 6 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44042371
Commenters on Hacker News largely praised 90s.dev for its nostalgic appeal and ease of use, with several comparing it favorably to simpler, pre-Unity game development environments like Klik & Play. Some expressed excitement for its potential as a teaching tool, particularly for introducing children to programming concepts. A few users questioned the long-term viability of the project given its reliance on a custom runtime, while others offered suggestions for improvements like mobile support, local storage, and improved documentation. The discussion also touched upon the challenges of web-based game development, including performance and browser compatibility. Several commenters shared their own experiences with similar projects or reminisced about the golden age of shareware games.
The Hacker News post discussing 90s.dev, a web-based game maker, has generated a number of comments exploring various aspects of the project.
Several commenters express enthusiasm for the project, praising its accessibility and the potential for fostering creativity. The ease of use, especially for beginners and those nostalgic for simpler development environments, is a recurring theme. Some appreciate the throwback to older game development tools and the potential for educational use. The choice of JavaScript as the scripting language is also highlighted as a positive, given its widespread familiarity.
A significant thread of discussion revolves around the underlying technology. Commenters delve into the specifics of the platform, including its use of WebAssembly and the performance implications. Some raise questions about scalability and the handling of more complex games. The discussion also touches upon the advantages and disadvantages of browser-based game development compared to native applications.
Several users share their own experiences with similar tools and offer suggestions for improvement. Ideas for expanding the feature set, such as incorporating multiplayer functionality or integrating with other platforms, are proposed. The potential for community involvement and the development of libraries or extensions are also discussed.
Some commenters draw comparisons to other existing game development platforms, both web-based and desktop-based. The relative merits and drawbacks of each are considered, with some suggesting that 90s.dev fills a specific niche for simple, accessible game creation.
Concerns about long-term sustainability and the potential for project abandonment are also raised. The importance of open-sourcing the project or providing clear plans for future development is emphasized.
One commenter points out that the game examples on the website autoplay with sound, which might be disruptive to some users. Another requests the ability to right click within the code editor for common actions like copy and paste. A suggestion is made to include a "save as" functionality to allow users to preserve multiple versions of their work more easily.
Overall, the comments reflect a generally positive reception to 90s.dev, with many expressing excitement about its potential. However, there are also pragmatic concerns about technical limitations and long-term viability. The discussion provides valuable feedback for the project's developers and highlights the community's interest in accessible and user-friendly game development tools.