A new experiment from Google Labs now lets anyone turn written ideas into playable games. The platform, named Playground, works entirely inside a web browser.
Based in Mountain View, Google said the tool removes the need for programming skills. Instead of learning complex software, users type out what they want in plain words. A chat window is used to make changes to characters, rules, movement, and scenery.
According to a blog post from the company, Playground targets people who have never touched code or a game engine. The process works like a conversation. A user writes a request, and the game is created for them to try right away in the browser.
Games can be started from nothing, from a ready-made prompt, or with step-by-step help. Once a game exists, users can keep tweaking it by typing new instructions. Changes can cover how things move, what the rules are, who the characters are, or what the world looks like.
Because the games live online, they can be opened on both phones and computers. Players can choose to keep their creations hidden, pass them along with a link, or add them to the Playground Explore gallery. A few games also come with multiplayer options and scoreboards.
Playground is still in the testing stage. It is not intended to take the place of professional game-making software. Google is teaming up with Unity on something called Unity Spark to give creators more power. When that arrives, users will be able to go from a basic written idea to a richer, more complex game. That partnership is still under testing, and a closed beta is on the way.
For now, Playground can be used in the US by people 18 and older. A Google One subscription is needed to build games, but anyone can browse and play the game library at no cost.