Train Switching Game Clone - Learning from Existing Games
Challenge:
My maze game requirements weren't specific enough. What if I clone an existing game I can show the AI?
Attempt 1: Train Switching Game Clone
There's a fun train game in the Luma City app - basic objective is switching train tracks to route trains to correct destinations.
💬 PROMPT
Gave it screenshot, exact game name, asked it to write detailed PRD, then said "make this game"
✅ OUTCOME
- Visually closer to what I wanted
- Drew basic shapes, trains moving on screen
- BUT: Pathfinding was horribly wrong
- Trains would try to drive straight from entry to station without following tracks
- Spent many cycles trying to fix "you have to follow the track"
- Would get stuck at switches, wouldn't respect switch positions
Lessons learned:
- Again, wasn't specific enough with mechanics
- AI seems trained on lots of development but not much game development
- Especially Claude Sonnet struggles with game-specific logic
- Need much more detailed instructions about specific game mechanics
Next:
Try the one-shot approach again but with even more detailed requirements
Ingredients
- AI Assistant: Claude Sonnet - AI struggles with game-specific logic
- Reference Game: Lumosity train switching game (screenshot provided)
- Approach: Screenshot → PRD → "make this game" one-shot method
- Tools: Browser-based development - Free
- Key Challenge: Pathfinding and switch logic complexity
- Time Investment: Multiple cycles debugging track-following behavior
- Cost: ~$3-5 in AI credits for iterative debugging
- Lesson: AI needs much more detailed mechanics instructions
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