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artchiv

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Show HN: Game where players write real JavaScript to battle other players online

Posted by artchiv on Saturday November 01, 2025 @04:46PM
from the show-hn dept.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1137320/Screeps_Arena/

The game was released today. I’m the lead developer and game designer. This game isn’t meant for a wide audience — it’s very niche, since the programming aspect is fully real. Your JavaScript (or any language compiled to WebAssembly) runs on actual servers inside a sandboxed game environment. All language features and systems are allowed.The game provides opponents and gameplay challenges, as...

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Re:Screeps – An MMO strategy open world game for programmers on Friday August 07, 2015 @03:19PM (#10024422)
This authentication issue has been fixed already.
Re:Screeps programmable MMO RTS will go public on August 12 on Thursday August 06, 2015 @02:55PM (#10018564)
You can develop game scripts locally using Grunt task: http://support.screeps.com/hc/en-us/articles/203022512-Commi...
Re:Screeps programmable MMO RTS will go public on August 12 on Thursday August 06, 2015 @12:13PM (#10017466)
This is described here: http://support.screeps.com/hc/en-us/articles/203079471-Indie...

You can't control the entire world, there are game mechanics to prevent this.

Re:Screeps programmable MMO RTS will go public on August 12 on Thursday August 06, 2015 @10:14AM (#10016537)
It has been in Early Preview stage for 2 months, and now the public release date is revealed.
Re:Show HN: Screeps is live at Indiegogo – the world's first MMO for p... on Wednesday November 26, 2014 @06:57AM (#8661953)
And how could you stop them from allying in an open world game?
Re:Show HN: Screeps is live at Indiegogo – the world's first MMO for p... on Friday November 21, 2014 @01:35AM (#8640107)
Please keep in mind that it is still alpha development version. We are still working on it, please get back soon! :)
Re:Show HN: Screeps is live at Indiegogo – the world's first MMO for p... on Friday November 21, 2014 @01:34AM (#8640105)
Even if Screeps had one fixed plan, it would still be possible for anyone to launch "ally" programs on behalf of several users and thus get the same total CPU increase.

However, keep in mind, that Screeps is not about having many creeps but about controlling them properly. More CPU, more rooms, and more creeps often don't offer any advantage over another player if you can't manage all this.

Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @12:02PM (#8602578)
Every user script is run in isolated nodejs forked process with disabled global vars and with a limit for CPU time and memory used.
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @11:35AM (#8602414)
The good thing about Screeps is that online users counter means nothing here. You could build a large empire with a complex network of roads, sourcing, mining, manufacturing, border defense which would live on its own, while you would occasionally drop in from time to time just to check the situation and polish your scripts, if needed.
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @10:41AM (#8602045)
What do you mean by "more detail"?
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @05:05AM (#8600749)
Every MMO, regardless RPG or not, will require you to invest time to repeat some actions and pay attention to it as much often as you can. See Travian for example. Screeps will not, if you manage to write decent scripts.
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @03:53AM (#8600555)
This is where Screeps will be different. You will need to think hard how to adapt someone other's script for your landscape, game environment, creeps setup, etc.
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @03:20AM (#8600469)
Well, it is possible. You can place flags at the game field and program your creeps to move to them by a simple command.
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @01:58AM (#8600293)
It doesn't make much sense, you really will not be able to control all those hundreds of creeps on your own 24/7 :)
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @01:56AM (#8600289)
Think of it as Starcraft with code editor panel in the bottom. Your script controls everything, but you can still click at your creeps to see their info and memory.
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @01:53AM (#8600284)
Every player will have CPU limit on how much time his script can use in milliseconds. So that's the challenge to make the AI strong and not exceed the resources.
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @12:53AM (#8600135)
Sure it is. Graphics in chess are not that good also.
Re:Screeps – the world's first MMO sandbox strategy game for programmers on Thursday November 13, 2014 @12:08AM (#8600034)
Yes, Early Preview stage. Get back on November 20, there will be more info then.