Inspiration
I was impressed by how Google AI Studio could turn a simple game design doc into a playable product, and inspired by a really fun-looking pocket-world terrarium made with AI Studio. Plus, I'm terrible at flags but would always love for fun facts, so why not make a game that makes it fun to learn about the countries around the world?
What it does
On the map is a spin-the-globe geography game - locate the country, catch the crate, learn something, and have some fun!
- Locate the country. From a flag, its most famous product, or even a fun fact, find the country.
- Catch the crate. Spin the globe so the right country catches the supply crate.
- Learn something. Each find gives you a fun fact about the country - the only way to win is by learning!
- Have some fun. Spin the globe, get into the top 10, challenge yourself with hard mode, and keep exploring the world even after the game.
How we built it
- Google AI Studio + Firebase Firestore: the first playable globe and the Firebase connection for the leaderboard.
- Natural Earth's map data: country border and location dataset.
- Three.js: the low-poly globe and continents, and simple game object models.
- React + Tailwind CSS: general web app implementation and styling.
- Claude: iteration and polish.
Challenges we ran into
Our hardest problem was keeping the game engaging for everyone. A flag alone is too hard for some players and too easy for others. We settled on a clue ladder, where each miss gives away a bit more. Scoring rewards you for needing fewer clues, and a find wins back a chance, so a bad streak doesn't end the fun. Random harder openers keep the Medium and Hard modes from feeling predictable.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
- A globe that's fun to spin.
- A way to learn country flags and fun facts.
What's next for On the map
- Music as clues: hear a country's music and find it on the globe.
- More AI-generated clues to keep the fun going.
