Make the device part of the game
Tilt applies acceleration rather than a fixed speed. Neutral input preserves momentum; counter-tilt brakes. Recenter and two steering mappings help players find a comfortable grip.
Hardware interaction design / Design & development
Sky Hamster
Tilt to build momentum, counter-tilt to brake, lift to jump, and turn the crank to reshape a route through floating roads.
Playdate hardware is required for the intended experience. The download is a .pdx package, not a Windows or browser game. Watch the film for an accessible overview.
- Built with
- Playdate · Lua
- My contribution
- Game design, gameplay systems, interaction design, course progression, and creative direction.
- Scope
- 53 courses · 8 crank-machine families
See it in motion.
Gameplay and design walkthrough · English narration
Latest portfolio film · November 2026Watch on YouTube ↗
The decisions behind the game.
Separate balancing from machinery
Dock slowly to lock the ball, then crank to rotate a bridge, raise a lift, or extend a crossing. Release with B. Lift the device or press A to jump, carrying momentum into the landing.
Build courses around recovery
Short teaching courses grow into four cumulative expeditions. Playtest feedback led to stronger opposing braking while retaining acceleration, making correction more responsive without losing the momentum challenge.
Inside the project.
Level diagrams, mechanics, and documented iterations.
Contribution & credits
What I made.
Game design, gameplay systems, interaction design, course progression, and creative direction.
AI-assisted implementation and selected artwork; synthesized audio; Panic Playdate SDK and the SquidGodDev template. Film footage is Simulator capture, with explanatory illustrations, not handheld footage.
Evidence & next steps
What the work demonstrates.
The development journal records playtest-driven control revisions and scoped hardware checks. Informal friend feedback highlighted the physical interaction. These observations are not a controlled usability study.
The playable build is the primary evidence; the portfolio explains the intent, implementation, and revisions behind it.