Show HN: 90s.dev – Game maker that runs on the web

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

What 90s.dev Is (and Isn’t)

  • Several commenters say they don’t really understand what it is from the article alone.
  • The author describes it as: an API around a 320×180 web canvas, focused on building game-making tools and games, with sharing built-in.
  • It’s positioned as “like a more usable PICO‑8” for prototyping, but using TypeScript/TSX and IDE-like comforts, more a platform than a conventional engine.
  • Confusion arises because the article alternates between calling it a “game maker”, “not a game maker”, and “a platform”, which some find inconsistent.

Aesthetic and Nostalgia

  • Strong positive reaction to the 90s desktop GUI look: people mention Windows 95 vibes, mouse trails, and “simpler times.”
  • Some purists note 16:9 and 320×180 are not historically 90s; others don’t care and just enjoy the style.

Resolution and Constraints

  • 320×180 is chosen partly to mimic an existing modern game and to fit code + tools on screen.
  • The system can actually resize via a config file, but this is undocumented; debate ensues:
    • One side: constraints are powerful and shouldn’t have easy “escape hatches.”
    • Other side: hiding capabilities reduces flexibility and should at least be documented.
  • The compromise is to treat such features as “easter eggs” for power users.

Onboarding, Demos, and Docs

  • Multiple users say it’s hard to get started and the pitch is unclear.
  • People ask for: a very simple landing-page explanation, example games, and a “build a tiny game” walkthrough or video.
  • Currently, only built-in apps (e.g., fontmaker, paint) exist; no finished games yet, which some see as a weakness for a “game maker” launch.

Browser Support and Technical Issues

  • Works in Chrome; various breakages reported in Firefox ESR and a Firefox-based browser due to ServiceWorker and iterator quirks, which get quickly patched.
  • A bigger limitation: Firefox lacks showDirectoryPicker, so the fast “mount a folder” workflow is Chrome-only. A manual HTTP-server workaround is suggested.
  • Some users hit cross-origin issues when using embedded iframes; the fix is to open the OS in its own subdomain/tab.

Ecosystem, Collaboration, and Licensing

  • Strong emphasis on sharing apps, libraries, and assets to enable collaborative game development.
  • Plans to move from GitHub/npm-only imports toward direct HTTPS module imports and possibly bare-specifier support.
  • License clarified as MIT and added to source headers.

Launch Timing and Feedback Culture

  • The author feels they launched too early, without enough polished tools, games, and docs to show the power of the APIs.
  • Many commenters push back, encouraging early/iterative shipping and treating this as a solid “Show HN” stage rather than a finished product.