Real workflows from paper prototype to playable build
Ship better games, faster.
AI-assisted game development and design craft, from prototype to launch.
Start free. If the build needs an outside set of eyes, game-design teardowns start at $250.
Image: Bud Leiser
Build an Evaluation Set Before You Add More AI
A source-linked guide to build an evaluation set before you add more ai.
AI Game Development Checklist: 10 Gates Before You Build
Ten practical gates for deciding whether an AI-assisted game concept is ready for a prototype, playtest, vertical slice, or larger production budget.
How Much Does a Game Prototype Cost? A Scope-First Guide
A practical way to budget a game prototype by the decision it must support, with clear examples of what a teardown, prototype sprint, and full build can cover.
AI for Solo Devs: Doing the Work of a Small Team
A practical 2026 guide for solo game developers using AI to cover the roles a small team would fill, what it handles well, and where you still have to be the expert.
Use a Steam Playtest Before You Expand the Production Budget
A structured playtest can answer onboarding and core-loop questions before a small studio commits to a larger production scope.
Building a Vertical Slice Faster With AI Tooling
How small teams use AI tooling in 2026 to build a convincing vertical slice faster, what to fake, what to finish, and how to keep the slice honest.
Where AI Helps (and Where It Hurts) in Game Art Pipelines
A candid 2026 look at generative AI in game art: the stages where it genuinely speeds a pipeline, the stages where it quietly costs you, and how to tell them apart.
From Prompt to Prototype: An AI-Assisted Workflow That Ships
A step-by-step 2026 workflow for turning a rough idea into a testable prototype with AI help, without falling for the one-prompt-makes-a-game myth.
AI-Assisted Game Dev in 2026: What Actually Works in Production
A practical 2026 guide to AI-assisted game development: the tools that ship, the workflows that hold up, and where AI still hurts more than it helps.
Get the AI Game Production Checklist
Ten practical checks for moving from concept to a testable build, plus occasional field notes from The Game Design.