Hack #6: Zed · Zed
28 Apr, 16:45
CODE RUNNER is a cyberpunk endless-runner game where you play as NEXUS, a rogue AI escaping through an infinite code editor while a hostile compiler hunts you down. I built it to solve a common issue in browser games: AI audio is often treated like a gimmick and quickly becomes repetitive. In CODE RUNNER, audio is part of the gameplay loop, so each run feels more alive and reactive. The game is built with a single-file HTML5 canvas frontend and a lightweight Node/Vercel backend for secure API proxying. ElevenLabs is central to the experience: real-time text-to-speech narration reacts to gameplay events, procedural sound effects are generated for actions like jumps and collisions, and adaptive music shifts with game intensity to create momentum and tension as difficulty increases. This week’s sponsor, Zed, shaped the project’s identity and presentation. The entire game world is styled like a living terminal with a code-native interface, scanline visuals, and a compiler-chase narrative inspired by editor workflows. The result is a fast, stylish web game where AI voice, generated sound, and dynamic music combine into a cohesive playable story.
