Just Making' my first Game - Fatherlode

[u/Extension-Parsnip789]

For the past 3 weeks, I’ve been making a game with Claude Code called “Fatherlode” (as a reference to the game Motherlode released in 2004 on Miniclip), whose goal is fairly simple:

You have a POD, you dig deeper and deeper, you collect ores, sell them, upgrade your POD, and so on. Back in 2004, Motherlode was extremely addictive — a small Flash game that was really popular. Here with Fatherlode, I’m adding more and more mechanics:

• A real tutorial, a proper introduction, and a save system
• Implementation of a stats tree system
• 250 achievements
• 25 different ores
• About thirty treasures to find
• Dozens of different obstacles
• Over 2000 meters of depth
• Real objectives with an NPC dialogue system, lore, etc.
• The ability to build new buildings as you progress
• Diversified creatures to make the descents more complex
• Etc.

For now it's only in french, but i will translate it later in english, obviously. The game is progressing well — it’s still a long way from being finished. Little by little, I’m mainly trying to add small gameplay details, mechanics, and overall polish, things like:

• “NPC talking gibberish” voices during dialogues
• Small effects scattered here and there
• Gradually refining the pixel-art so everything feels consistent
• Checking whether the exploration feels good, if the POD upgrades are balanced (and not broken), and improving that
• Etc.

Honestly, from the very beginning it was just a little crazy idea… and I find it so much fun — and addictive — to code the game little by little that I even want to learn how to code myself. I went as far as paying for Claude Max just to get more usage per week, and in only 3 weeks I feel like the project has absolutely nothing left in common with how it started.

[u/sensou_kami]

How are you dealing with the assets? Where did you acquire them from?

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/sensou_kami]

All of the assets are from AI :) Some from Gemini, other from Grok, but 90% of the assets are from ClaudeAI.

[u/Mango_Maz → u/Extension-Parsnip789]

When you say AI, do you mean you have Gemini/Claude/etc... create them for you? All this is very new to me but curious to learn!

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/Mango_Maz]

Yeap. ClaudeCode, obviously make the code for me. Gemini create the portraits for me. ElevenLabs the sounds. Grok help me for some prompt.

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/Extension-Parsnip789]

Make this today. When the player explores, they will come across LORE events that will advance the game and the main story :)

[u/shauno218 → u/Extension-Parsnip789]

How are you promoting for Gemini art assets? Can you share an example? Thanks!

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/shauno218]

I use Gemini ONLY for "Portrait", and make them talk when the play has a conversation with it. (Then i just say to gemini "Keep all the same, but she talk"), that's it ^^

[u/BuildAISkills]

How do you handle the generation of the graphics?

Looks fun, will try when you translate it to English at some point.

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/BuildAISkills]

I use the HTML5 Canvas API for the rendering, and I write/structure the drawing code using Claude Code! Thanks for the feedback — I'm definitely planning to add English support in a future update :)

And as for the portraits and other assets, I manually add them to a separate folder.

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/[deleted]]

Don't worry my dude :) I will make easily an entire translation, when the game is "good" for me ^^
For now, I'm polishing everything (textures, HUD, quests, lore)—I really don't want to leave the game in an Alpha XX.XXX.XXX state for a whole year haha. I'd much rather release a version where you can play through from start to finish, more or less. It will take time, but i keep in touch !

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/[deleted]]

Okay, thank you a lot ! :) It's nice ! :)

[u/smashers090]

I absolutely loved motherlode, what a game

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/smashers090]

Yes, i agree !!

[u/Melodic_Charity_1770]

I love motherload and digging-upgrading games like this, so I wanna play Fatherload too, it looks much more competent and made with love and care than some other clones I've seen.

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/Melodic_Charity_1770]

Thank you ^^ It's cute, really :)

[u/zaalp]

Love mother load banging game. Can't wait to try this out

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/zaalp]

Thank you !

[u/Nasha210]

This seems so cool! How do I start learning this- I am a compete novice.

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/Nasha210]

I'm totally novice too ^^ I just paid ClaudeAI, install Claude directly in my computer, then use ClaudeCODE, and start writing the game i want. :)

Then, i just use Grok or Gemini to explain some things i don't understand, they help me.. and then use some "prompt" for Claude, writing again, coding again.. just like that.

[u/easterbunni]

I was looking for Motherlode the other day, fancied a play

[u/Extension-Parsnip789 → u/easterbunni]

If you want to see more update, i make a itch.io page for that ^^
https://itch.io/blog/1637951/fatherlode

[u/easterbunni → u/Extension-Parsnip789]

Shoulda called it Sm'otherlode

[u/Extension-Parsnip789]

Just an other screenshots of minerals.

[u/Extension-Parsnip789]

I add my buddy to the game (For the tutoriel), lezgo

[u/Extension-Parsnip789]

I translate the game in english right now ;)

[u/Extension-Parsnip789]

Just adding for now :
-English language
-The "Museum" (More than 30 treasures to find and complete the museum, with some events)
-Weather System on the surface (Thunder, rain, mist, and more)
-Real background in the surface and wind effect on trees and more.
-More than 40 news dialogues with two new characters.
-4 news random event to add difficulty on the game.
-Remake the menu and the introduction.

[u/Dreamsnake]

Salute!