# Your first game

Start with one complete interaction: something the player can begin, play, finish and restart. A smaller first game makes it easier to understand the result and decide what to change.

## Open the creator

Open [Create](/create), enter your idea and continue into the browser workspace. A new project starts with an empty canvas. Follow any account, plan or policy steps shown before building; your idea is carried through the supported sign-in handoff.

You need a modern browser. Unreal Engine and a desktop installer are not required for this workflow.

## Choose your AI connection

Open **Connect AI** and choose an available connection. A tab-only API connection is useful for a first session; a saved connection uses the encrypted local vault. Native subscription workflows have their own setup and availability requirements. If your account offers included AI, use the allowance and conditions shown there.

Select the provider/model and review **Build options**, including the spending limit. Platform access and external model usage are separate. Connecting a key alone does not prove provider access or start a build. See [AI connections](/docs/api-keys).

## Describe a playable first version

Try a request with concrete rules:

```text
Build a one-screen game where I move a basket to catch falling stars.
Use left/right keys and touch buttons. Give one point per star.
End the game after three misses. Show the score and a restart button.
Use simple drawn shapes and a dark-blue night sky.
```

You can send a direct build request, or ask the assistant to discuss the design first. When it offers a plan, approve that current plan to begin. Asking a question does not itself approve source changes.

## Play and make one change

Watch the build status and preview. An accepted guided build saves the exact version that passed its checks and review. If the build pauses, read the explanation and use the offered continuation or repair action; do not assume a visible draft has been saved.

Play through movement, scoring, misses and restart. Try the touch controls. Then request one change in the same conversation:

```text
Keep this game. Add a gold star worth three points every ten seconds.
Show a brief +3 message when I catch one.
```

The follow-up continues the current game. Use **New game** when you want a separate project. See [how creation works](/docs/how-creation-works) for approvals, queues and manual editing.

## Keep a copy

Download the playable game and source, extract the ZIP, and test `play.html`. For a fuller private backup of decisions and history, use the project-record controls in **Memory & docs**. Browser storage can be cleared, so keep an exported copy outside the browser.

When you are ready for other people to play, follow [publishing and export](/docs/publishing-and-export). Review the source-sharing notice before publishing.