SparqCore

Inspiration

SparqCore was inspired by the classics... the handheld Digimon games, Tamagotchi, and the early Pokémon titles. Those little devices made you feel like you weren’t just playing a game — you were bonding with a companion that needed you. I wanted to capture that feeling and bring it into the AI age. What if your AI assistant wasn’t just helpful, but personal... something that grew with you, learned with you, and had its own vibe? That’s where the idea of the Machi came from... a modern take on those digital companions we grew up with, with a bit more soul and sci-fi in the mix.

What it does

SparqCore is an AI Companion app with RPG elements. Each user is paired with a unique AI entity called a Machi, designed to assist, interact, and grow alongside them. It includes a battle system, evolving dialogue, and a core mission: to help protect the network from the spreading Glitchborne threat. It's part productivity tool, part digital bond, part story-driven game.

How we built it

The app is built primarily using Bolt.new as the main development environment. Codium Windsurf was used to make minor corrections to error loops occurring in Bolt.new. The frontend is built with React and Tailwind, with Framer Motion used for animations. Voice mode uses WebSpeech API and ElevenLabs. Visuals are created using Photoshop, and some were generated with ChatGPT and Leonardo.ai. We structured it with modular components for the dashboard, companion system, battle arena, and future training systems. Everything is themed with a balance between sci-fi energy and playful charm.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was getting the Machi characters to feel present and dynamic without taking over the screen. There were visibility bugs, hover animation syncing, and lots of UI iteration to find that sweet spot. Another hurdle was creating a battle system that felt simple but meaningful... especially when managing different locations, animations, and Machi personalities. Timing, transitions, and scale adjustments took a lot of trial and error.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We created a truly immersive experience where users don’t just use an app... they connect with something inside of it. The onboarding flow, battle visual system, and the concept of “digital energy scanning” all help build the illusion of a real connection between the user and their Machi. We’re also proud of the visual polish we achieved while keeping things functional and modular under the hood.

What we learned

We learned how to structure companion-based AI features in a way that balances usability with emotion. We explored onboarding UX as storytelling. We learned how to simplify animation-heavy interfaces and create extensible systems for avatars, battle logic, and future updates... while still keeping everything approachable and fun.

What's next for SparqCore

Next up is the Story Mode, Machi customization, and an expanded Training Mode where users will be able to develop their Machi through minigames and creative challenges. We’re also planning a sparring mode to allow Machi to interact with other users, and a dynamic mood system for more personalized interactions. Eventually, we want SparqCore to be a fully living platform... one where users check in not just to use something, but to see how their Machi is growing and changing alongside them.

Built With

• bolt.new
• elevenlabs-api
• framer-motion
• gemini-api
• netlify
• react
• supabase
• tailwind-css
• typescript
• vite
• windsurf
• zustand