Day 1: Maze game: Getting back into game dev... Trying to build the maze game I've wanted forever

Challenge:

Can I build my first game using AI-assisted development with spec-driven approach?

Attempt 1: Maze Game with Kiro IDE

Used Kiro IDE because of their free tier and spec-driven development for steering AI.

Process:

• Wrote requirements (though I didn't really know what I wanted beyond "maze game")
• Kiro wrote requirements document → design document → task document
• Let it run mostly unsupervised for a few hours

Outcome:

• Got a working maze game
• Added trapdoors, traps, portals when I asked
• BUT: Put bunch of symbols on screen, some worked, some didn't
• Had to do lots of back-and-forth steering
• Gameplay was unsatisfying because I hadn't been specific about what I wanted

Lessons learned:

• Process worked but I wasn't specific enough on gameplay requirements
• Since I didn't know what I wanted, AI chose and I wound up with symbols that didn't work properly
• Spent 1-3 days total and got working game + good understanding of process
• Need much more detailed requirements upfront

Next:

Try to clone an existing game so I have specific requirements to give the AI

Ingredients

• AI Platform: Kiro IDE - Free tier
• AI Assistant: Kiro's spec-driven AI development - Free
• Approach: Requirements → Design → Task document workflow
• Time Investment: 1-3 days total development time
• Key Discovery: Need specific gameplay requirements upfront
• Cost: $0 - Used free tier throughout
• Process: Mostly unsupervised AI development with manual steering