{
  "id": 15821790,
  "title": "How I built this",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/how-i-built-this",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T00:08:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Simon Willison from Simon Willison’s Newsletter",
    "slug": "simon-willison-from-simon-willison-s-new",
    "url": "https://substack.com/redirect/192bd05e-4750-4868-8763-ca8a4d767c18?j=eyJ1IjoiZmlkcCJ9.pnyEZjqV_w9V_ijwnn7kvg0QBcTYN6DOzhd40tD1IuU"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "My latest coding experiment is a Command & Conquer style RTS game called Battle Drones. This game features two armies of drones, both flying and ground-based, battling for territory and resources. Unlike previous experiments, this one is actually enjoyable to play. Claude, an AI, was instructed to \"Make it a LOT more fun\" to achieve this result.\n\nThe game supports multiplayer between nearby devices using audio to synchronize the game state. Battle Drones is a browser-based game that works on both mobile and desktop devices. It has multiple play modes, several maps (including a random map generator), and even multiplayer support for two devices within microphone range of each other.\n\nThe development process involved 12 major iterations and 321 commits, mainly by coding agents, primarily Claude Code. Initially, the goal was to build an RTS game playable on a phone, inspired by the 1995 original Command & Conquer and its 1997 sequel, Red Alert. The game was coded in TypeScript, a language the author had minimal experience with.\n\nClaude helped create a mobile-friendly RTS game, but the first version was just a proof of concept and not much fun to play. The second version improved graphics and added AI vs. AI mode. By October, Claude was upgraded to Opus 5.5, which significantly enhanced graphics and gameplay. Claude generated new sprites using the OpenAI GPT image API and introduced new unit types, buildings, and varied terrain.\n\nAfter numerous iterations, Battle Drones started to resemble a real game. However, the author felt that coding agents could create a game that looks like one but doesn't provide genuine gameplay enjoyment. The author shared this belief with someone over dinner and decided to give the models another chance to prove the point. Claude was prompted to \"Make it a LOT more fun,\" and the results were remarkable.\n\nThe latest version of Battle Drones (v7) includes 3D models for buildings, vehicles, and landscapes, entirely constructed by Claude in TypeScript code. The game has also been enhanced with new visual polish and additional infantry units, such as troopers, rocket squads, snipers, and a Condor troop-carrying aircraft.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Battle Drones is a Command & Conquer style RTS game with flying and ground-based drones.",
    "Claude AI instructed to make game a lot more fun, resulting in significant improvements.",
    "Latest version (v7) features 3D models, new visual polish, and additional infantry units."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Leveraging coding agents to iterate on gameplay mechanics demonstrates that AI can move beyond mere functional proofs of concept to create genuinely engaging and polished digital experiences.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}