How to Create a Game in Under a Minute?
Here's How I Did It in 48 Seconds
Creating a fully playable game from scratch took days or weeks. However, with generative AI tools like the new o1-preview from OpenAI, you can build games in less than a minute. I recently tested this capability and created a functional game in just 48 seconds—using only five prompts. Incredibly, I even managed to survive up to level 32 while playing it!
The Future of Game Development: Fast, Cheap, and Accessible
Game development is undergoing a revolution. With AI tools like the o1-preview, you can conceptualize and design games faster. Still, the process has become so streamlined that even those with minimal coding experience (my case) can create something functional and fun. What once required an entire development team now takes only a few prompts and minor adjustments.
In this article, I’ll explain how I created my game in 48 seconds and explore why this breakthrough is relevant to businesses and industries beyond gaming.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Game in 48 Seconds
Access ChatGPT and Choose the Right Model
First, I logged into ChatGPT and selected the o1-preview model, which is optimized for code generation and reasoning. For those without access to this model, GPT-4o is a free alternative that can also generate games, but with some limitations.Generate the Game Concept via Prompting
I used a prompt to describe the game I wanted to create. Here’s an example:
"Create a JavaScript game for p5.js that runs on Open Processing, where red balls fall from the top of the screen towards a blue funnel at the bottom. Green horizontal pieces act as pathways guiding the balls into the funnel. The first level requires only one ball to reach the funnel, and there are 100 bricks available to create paths. Each new level adds one more ball to the goal and removes one brick."Because of the probabilistic nature of AI models, the results can vary each time, making each creation unique.
Submit the Code to Open Processing
After receiving the generated code from ChatGPT, I pasted it into a new sketch on Open Processing—a free platform for sharing and running creative coding projects.Test and Play
Clicking "Play" in Open Processing allowed me to instantly test the game and start playing it. Within seconds, I was navigating levels, adjusting the game's difficulty, and experimenting with different mechanics.Iterate and Improve
Naturally, the first iteration of the game had minor bugs. But with each error, I simply copied the error message and pasted it back into ChatGPT, which quickly generated fixes. This iterative process continued until the game was fully stable.
Where to play: https://openprocessing.org/sketch/2359508
Why Is This Relevant?
This development isn’t just a novelty for hobbyists—it signals a major shift in how digital products will be created. Games, animations, and interactive experiences are becoming easier and cheaper to build. Companies in industries like entertainment, education, and marketing can leverage these tools to rapidly prototype new ideas, create interactive content, and even develop personalized experiences for their audiences.
Imagine a marketing team that needs a custom, interactive game to accompany a product launch. Instead of outsourcing the task to a specialized agency—where costs and timelines might balloon—the team could create the game in-house in a matter of minutes using AI tools. The same goes for educators who want to gamify their curriculum or startups who need to quickly build and test minimum viable products.
The Business Case: Why Speed and Efficiency Matter
The ability to create games and digital experiences so quickly could give businesses a competitive edge in several ways:
Rapid Prototyping: Developers and creators can test game concepts or product ideas almost immediately, reducing development cycles from weeks to minutes.
Cost Efficiency: By cutting out the need for specialized developers, teams can reduce costs associated with game or app development.
Creative Flexibility: AI-generated games provide endless variations, allowing for rapid experimentation and the creation of unique, tailored experiences for users.
Scalability: Whether it’s for internal training, customer engagement, or marketing campaigns, businesses can easily scale up their digital offerings.
Beyond Games: The Broader Implications
It’s important to note that this process isn’t just limited to games. The same techniques can be used to create animations, visualizations, and interactive simulations across various industries. Whether it's visualizing complex mathematical functions, designing interactive art, or creating immersive training simulations, the applications are vast.
In marketing, for example, interactive experiences powered by generative AI could be used to engage customers more deeply with brand stories. In education, teachers could create custom learning tools or gamify their lessons, making learning more engaging and interactive.
The Democratization of Digital Creation
The core takeaway from this experience is the democratization of digital creation. As AI models become more powerful and accessible, anyone with a creative idea can bring it to life with minimal technical knowledge. This opens doors for creators, marketers, and businesses alike to innovate at a pace that was once unimaginable.
In just 48 seconds, I went from idea to execution. And the best part? The game, along with more of my experiments, is available to anyone who wants to use, copy, or build upon it. The future of digital creation is fast, flexible, and limitless—what will you create next?
Play the game: https://openprocessing.org/sketch/2359508
Try dozens of other sketches: https://openprocessing.org/user/392648?view=sketches&o=8