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Show HN: my 4-y-o son drew a video game. He drew then we hacked together.

247 pointsby mneedhamover 13 years ago

34 comments

JonnieCacheover 13 years ago
Very nice!<p>A little tip: preload all your images so that they don't get downloaded as you perform the different moves, that caused the characters to disappear briefly for me. Doing so is as simple as creating an Image object and setting its src:<p><pre><code> var preload = new Image(); preload.src = "/path/to/image.png"</code></pre>
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antiheroover 13 years ago
I have been having what appears to be sex with the dinosaur for like 10 minutes now and it is still not dead.
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elliottcarlsonover 13 years ago
A while back I got my niece started with DS Game Maker - so she could make her own games for the Nintendo DS. I just got back from my sister's house and she showed me the progress she has made and it's amazing that after 9 months she hasn't lost interest and is still building her game.<p>Good job and keep your son interested in building his own world and making the computer do what he wants - and he will be smarter for it.
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codeslushover 13 years ago
I have a four year old, and a five year old. My four year old is getting to be a master at Angry Birds, my five year old has no interest. I would be VERY interested in a write-up on <i></i>how<i></i> you went about this with your child. Step by step...starting at the piece of paper that had the drawings, to how you turned it into this end result. I don't care if the game has bugs or not...the concepts would be fascinating to know and I would love to see if my four year old could do it. I would even be willing to pay a small price for a guide like this.
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mynameishereover 13 years ago
That is some wanky gameplay. I think your son is paying you too much.
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51Cardsover 13 years ago
Cool! I did a forward jump then started kicking. I levitated in mid air able to kick indefinitely. I have never felt closer to the Matrix than that moment. :) Great work!
bpraterover 13 years ago
Would be pretty cool if a kid could draw this stuff with this fingers on iPad and have it turned into a real video game. I bet kids would love this! "Draw your hero here." "Draw your monster here."
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leeHSover 13 years ago
I'm playing this while my 6 week old son is asleep and strapped to my chest.<p>I can't wait to share with him the joy of programming.<p>But I sometimes worry that today's technology has come too far to be used as a stepping stone to teach kids. I remember as a kid messing around with a Commodore-64, then moving on to Q-Basic. These were not only the technologies of the time, but perfect for a child to pick up.<p>Maybe I'm underestimating the little guys. :)
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esalazarover 13 years ago
Really cool. Teaching kids early is very important. Cool initiative in Ireland to teach young kids programming early, <a href="http://coderdojo.com" rel="nofollow">http://coderdojo.com</a>.
damoncaliover 13 years ago
There is a business in this. My six year old would be all over it. Let customers upload the images (sprites, background) from their kids' drawings.
chrislomaxover 13 years ago
I think this is great father son time. I wish I could get my little one interested in programming. I can't hold his concentration long enough. He is very interested in video games but I think 99% of that revolves around mario and I don't think anything short of a 3d mario would keep him interested!<p>I will not critique the game, I think it's flaws and all are a great result of some good bonding time
TomGullenover 13 years ago
Hi there!<p>It's great to see someone so young who is getting into game design. We have some software called Construct 2 which is aimed at non programmers and as a time saving device, you can see it at <a href="http://www.scirra.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.scirra.com</a> (a quick video of how it works at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RlSmkSbleI" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RlSmkSbleI</a>). You and your son might really enjoy using it! (Also exports to HTML5 games)<p>I'm not aware of us having any users as young as 4 years old, but we would love to hear if he enjoys using it and can make games in it!<p>I'm happy to give you a free license for it in return for some feedback if you want, don't worry if not :) Just send me an email if you want it.<p>Tom
antidailyover 13 years ago
Total rip of the Reptyl stage of Silver Surfer (NES). Don't be surprised when you get sued.
happyfeetover 13 years ago
Super cool.<p>I had been thinking if I really need to buy a domain now for my kid (or conserve cash now as I bootstrap my startup).<p>You just inspired me to buy a domain for my 2 yr old so I can do similar things when he is old enough. Done!<p>Thank you! :)
zacharycohnover 13 years ago
Awesome jobs! Found a few bugs:<p>If you jump, then jump again, you land level to where you jumped the second time (I suspect you have the character descend by C pixels, instead of back to X,Y coordinate)<p>I can walk past the dinosaur, and then I can face him, but if I punch or kick it turns me back around.<p>If I walk past the dinosaur, it can still hit me, even though it visually misses.
michaelschadeover 13 years ago
Very nice, and good job involving your son in coding that way–that's an awesome way to start!
mattdeboardover 13 years ago
Wow good for you guys. Now I feel bad; my 7-year-old daughter was doing great with Scratch but the power supply on the ancient laptop I had given her went bad and I haven't replaced. Guess I need to start looking around for another.
dquigleyover 13 years ago
Great idea and execution. From my perspective the point isn't how great the programmin is, but that you got your son to view himself as a creator, and to recognize that he can make things! Awesome father-son idea!
kragenover 13 years ago
This is great! I think there are some problems with the gameplay though. I was able to walk way past the dinosaur, but every time it attacked, I would start bleeding even though I was nowhere near it.
vorbbyover 13 years ago
Is that a domain name for your son in the future? I love the idea.
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jason_slackover 13 years ago
This is very cool. Would you consider sharing the code so I could teach my 13 year old? He is pretty good with HTML, but really wants JavaScript. My E-Mail is in my profile
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mamackerover 13 years ago
Very cool! If you add peerbind to it, it can be multi-machine. I wrote peerbind - and I added it to a game my boys built too. No more fighting over keyboard space. ;)
aspelundover 13 years ago
I actually did something similar, had my kids drawing sprites for a javascript/css game, but we did a shoot-em-up. Great fun!
antimoraover 13 years ago
I realized I can't play on my android phone because keyboard doesn't show up. Is there any work around?
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tantalorover 13 years ago
Am I a robot?
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philikonover 13 years ago
Is it just me or does it not work at all in Firefox? My keyboard inputs don't have any effect.
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cnlwsuover 13 years ago
This is amazing! I hope to be able to do things like this with my son once he is old enough.
101northover 13 years ago
You're an incredible father. I know he'll remember this forever.
marcamillionover 13 years ago
Love this. I think I might do something like this with my son.
cpearceover 13 years ago
Game doesn't work for me in Firefox.
CPlatypusover 13 years ago
I know the internet discourages "me too" responses, but...<p>This is awesome. Thanks for sharing it.
tedjdziubaover 13 years ago
This game sucks. I don't know why you want credit for it.
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truskoover 13 years ago
Hilarious!<p>T.
white_ravenover 13 years ago
That is awesome!!