SYNTHWAVE STCK STALKER

A retro-futuristic trading game where you compete against time to maximize your portfolio value. Trade stocks, ETFs and crypto on REAL historical prices: Rewind and beat the market!

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Inspiration

I am an individual trader and investment strategy developer. I always wanted to create a trading simulator that can let investors ‘experience’ how it would be to run some of these strategies in the past. I found the 80s revival amusing and thought a retro aesthetic would perfectly suit a trading game targeting 'experienced' (aka older) traders.

What it does

SYNTHWAVE STOCK STALKER is a retro-futuristic trading simulator that compresses years of market action into intense, time-pressured gaming sessions. Players trade on real historical market data, managing diversified portfolios with multiple positions and leverage. The game features four difficulty levels with unique 80s-inspired scenarios – from Miami fund manager to underground crypto cowboy. Players face realistic trading challenges including margin calls, portfolio diversification requirements, and time constraints that mirror real market pressures.

How we built it

I built it solo. Despite knowing only basic Python and zero JavaScript experience, I built this entirely in TypeScript using Bolt.new and LLM assistance. Remarkably, 95% of the code was generated through AI in Bolt.new – I simply directed the development through detailed prompts. The entire application, from the synthwave UI to complex trading logic, emerged from conversational programming rather than traditional coding.

Challenges we ran into

The primary challenge was managing context as the project grew in complexity. Even minor changes required extensive background information, making each iteration expensive in terms of tokens and time. Maintaining consistency across the codebase while adding features through prompts required careful planning and clear communication with the AI.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I created a game! And a GUI! My son laughs at me but maybe he'll get to play it in 30 years :)

What we learned

Coding with AI is remarkably similar to directing films (my previous career) – you don't need to code, you need to be exceptionally specific and crystal clear in describing your vision. Success depends on "casting" the right LLM for each task and providing precise direction and context rather than technical implementation details.

What's next for SYNTHWAVE STOCK STALKER

Futures contracts trading simulation with margin etc. Automated scripts/ strategies: Buy on each month the 5 most profitable ETFs and various other momentum or mean reversion strategies. Tournaments. Serious Training Mode (Paid)

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