104 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
104 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
# AI Tycoon
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A browser-based incremental/idle game where you manage an AI company from a garage startup to building AGI. Navigate the real tensions of the AI industry: scaling compute, training frontier models, balancing safety vs capability, hiring talent, and competing with rival labs.
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**Target:** 4-8 hour single playthrough | **Platform:** Desktop browser | **Price:** Free
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## Quick Start
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```bash
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# Prerequisites: Node.js 18+, pnpm 10+
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pnpm install
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pnpm dev
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```
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The web app starts at `http://localhost:5173` (or the next available port). The backend server starts alongside it for cloud saves and leaderboards.
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## Tech Stack
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| Layer | Choice |
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|-------|--------|
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| Frontend | React 19 + TypeScript, Vite |
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| State | Zustand (slice pattern, localStorage persistence) |
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| Styling | Tailwind CSS (custom dark theme) |
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| Charts | Recharts |
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| Backend | Hono (Node.js) |
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| Database | PostgreSQL + Drizzle ORM |
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| Monorepo | Turborepo + pnpm workspaces |
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## Project Structure
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```
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ai-tycoon/
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├── apps/
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│ ├── web/ # React frontend (Vite)
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│ └── server/ # Hono API backend
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└── packages/
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├── shared/ # Types, constants, formatters
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└── game-engine/ # Pure TS simulation (no DOM dependencies)
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```
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The game engine is fully decoupled from React. It runs identically for real-time ticks, offline catch-up, and testing.
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## Game Overview
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### Four Eras
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1. **Startup** (~30 min) — First datacenter, first model, first customers
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2. **Scale-up** (~2 hr) — Growth, multiple datacenters, specializations
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3. **Big Tech** (~4 hr) — Global operations, regulation, IPO
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4. **AGI** (~8 hr) — Endgame push, AI agents, custom chips
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### Core Loop
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Buy GPUs → Allocate compute → Train models → Deploy → Earn revenue → Expand
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### Key Systems
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- **Infrastructure** — Datacenters across 7 global regions with different costs, latency, and risks
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- **Research** — Tech tree with generation upgrades and specialization branches
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- **Models** — Train, tune, and deploy models with capability scores across reasoning, coding, creative, multimodal, and agents
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- **Market** — Consumer subscriptions and B2B API with token-based pricing
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- **Talent** — Four departments (Research, Engineering, Ops, Sales) with hiring and morale
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- **Competitors** — AI rival labs with distinct personalities that react to your moves
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- **Events** — 40+ events across industry, regulatory, PR, internal, market, and geopolitical categories
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- **Safety** — Tradeoff between capability benchmarks and safety; low safety risks PR disasters
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- **Funding** — VC rounds from Seed to IPO with dilution mechanics
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- **Achievements** — 15 milestones tracking progression
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## Scripts
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```bash
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pnpm dev # Start all apps in development mode
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pnpm build # Production build
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pnpm typecheck # Type-check all packages
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pnpm lint # Lint all packages
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pnpm clean # Clean build artifacts
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```
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## Backend Setup
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The backend requires PostgreSQL for cloud saves and leaderboards. Set the connection string in `apps/server/.env`:
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```
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DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/ai_tycoon
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```
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Run migrations:
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```bash
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cd apps/server
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pnpm db:push
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```
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The game works fully offline without the backend — saves persist to localStorage.
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## Documentation
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- [Architecture Guide](docs/architecture.md) — Technical deep dive into the engine, state management, and simulation systems
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- [How to Play](docs/how-to-play.md) — Player guide with mechanics, strategies, and tips
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## License
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All rights reserved.
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