Porting a JS Game to SNES in 3 Days: AI as a Co-Pilot Under Constraints

AIandDesign · x · 2026-08-24

A developer shares the experience of porting their JavaScript game 'Deadfall' to the actual Super Nintendo (SNES) hardware in just 3 days, assisted by Claude Code. The author emphasizes that the process wasn't just 'prompt for magic' but involved deep understanding of the medium, fighting against real hardware constraints (tile maps, palettes, SPC700 music), and rigorous testing. These strict limitations forced better design decisions regarding backgrounds, transitions, and polish, resulting in a version superior to the original. This illustrates a valuable AI usage pattern: directing the AI based on expertise rather than relying on it for creativity.

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