{
  "id": 2405660,
  "title": "Lone game dev builds an explorable cyberpunk city almost entirely out of ASCII characters",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lone-game-dev-builds-an-explorable-cyberpunk-city-almost-entirely-out",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-21T16:16:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/lone-game-dev-builds-an-explorable-cyberpunk-city-almost-entirely-out-of-ascii-characters/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A lone game developer from Grow Now! Games has crafted an entire cyberpunk city using only ASCII characters, an impressive feat that showcases the versatility of this seemingly simple text-based medium. Rather than relying on traditional 3D models, the developer utilized a custom ray-casting engine to render visible surfaces as ASCII art. The project, described as a \"fun little prototype,\" runs from a single HTML file, eliminating the need for Unity, Unreal, 3D models, textures, or shaders.\n\nThe ASCII city is rendered on a grid-based 3D world, with roads, buildings, trees, cars, and people all stored within the system. At a resolution of 120 x 56 ASCII characters, the prototype is not the most visually appealing, but its flickering quality has garnered over 1 million views since its upload earlier this month. In response to viewer interest, the developer has since made the prototype accessible via their Ko-Fi, offering improved resolution at 180 x 80 ASCII characters for a more detailed and smoother experience.\n\nAmong the notable updates to the prototype, the developer has added interiors and multiple floors to the buildings, allowing players to explore the ASCII city from a fresh perspective. The project is far from complete, as the developer has begun considering the implementation of a dialogue system and a more fully-featured game. While ASCII art games are not uncommon, Grow Now! Games' effort stands out as a unique and innovative approach to interactive storytelling, showcasing the potential of text-based artistry in the realm of gaming.",
  "summary": "Dot dot dot matrix.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TechSpot",
        "title": "This fully walkable 3D city was built entirely out of ASCII art",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/this-fully-walkable-3d-city-was-built-entirely-out-of-ascii-art",
        "published": "2026-08-21T17:16:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}