get-rich-or-die-trying

Inspiration

There’s a big generational divide - while the older generation is hustling to catch up with tech trends and decode what skibidi toilet means and how much aura would give you a big W, the younger generation is drifting further from their cultural roots.
We wanted to build something that bridges this gap - educating younger players on the rich history and social values behind traditional games (like mahjong) and classic Cantonese cinema, while giving our own generation a chance to reminisce about the good old days.
Inspired by roguelike/roguelite card games and old-school Hong Kong movies, we created Get Rich or Die Trying - a game that:
Showcases the hardworking, fighting spirit of Hong Kong people.
Keeps traditional pop culture alive and relevant.

Game screenshot 2

A fun, interactive roguelite game with an integrated story that hooks players while teaching a simplified, modified version of mahjong.
The storyline and Easter eggs reference hilarious and classic Hong Kong movie moments, sparking curiosity and nostalgia.
It closes the generation gap by making mahjong more approachable and entertaining for younger audiences.

Scene screenshot 2

Built with Love2D.
None of us had prior experience in game dev or Lua - what we did have was passion for Cantonese pop culture and the drive to keep it alive.
Kiro came in clutch - letting us define specs and approach game dev from the player’s perspective.
By switching between different LLM models, Kiro gave us multiple “brains” to brainstorm with, so our design was already tested like a mini market research phase before launch.
AI-generated images helped us quickly create unique art assets.
We even borrowed music from Stephen Chow movies for that authentic Hong Kong flavor.

LLMs are trained on many programming languages, but Lua isn’t their strongest suit, so syntax was tricky.
We wanted Cantonese integration - not something current LLMs excel at.
Thankfully, Kiro’s connection to MCP servers gave us access to tools like Tavily for real-time research, expanding the knowledge base as we built.

Using LLMs, we generated graphics and dynamic elements that made our two-person, one-week project feel much, much bigger.
Creating a playable, story-driven roguelite with cultural flavor in such a short time was something we never thought possible without Kiro’s help.
AI-generated scenes with consistent characters made the whole game feel more polished and professional.

Game dev isn’t just code - it’s story flow, visuals, and countless small UI/UX details.
Tools like Kiro shine with spec-driven development, helping LLMs stick to a consistent theme (super important for games).
Our biggest takeaway: work with LLM agents by leaning on their strengths (debugging, code consistency) while we test from the player’s perspective and spot improvements. That combo let us deliver a better game faster.

Tons of potential! The core mechanics are there, but we want to:
Add polish with tighter story integration.
Create mini-game modes that simulate Hong Kong childhood games e.g., 天下太平.
Take advantage of Love2D’s multi-platform support to release on mobile.
Improve art and visuals for a more immersive experience.
Explore crossover opportunities and cultural inheritance angles to broaden the impact.
We also consider the potential of monetization, the project could sustain itself long term.
With more experience working alongside Kiro, our development will only get faster, more reliable, and more ambitious.