# Arcade Creator Studio

One wallet-owned project, three ways to build. All use the same files, version history,
Phone/Desktop previews, ZIP export and community review. You may switch modes after launch.

| Mode | Best loop | Tools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Prompt | Describe → build → play → give specific feedback | Detailed brief, starters, Arcade AI, build history, runtime errors |
| Build together | Add a system → edit code → save → request a focused change | All Prompt tools, multi-file source, module bank, API examples, restore |
| Code | Start/import → edit → save & preview → submit | Free browser-source editor, file/folder import, starter ZIPs, modules, version history |

## Start with a playable slice

Choose Blank canvas, Star Dodge, Crystal Foundry or Signal Sprint. Describe the fantasy,
player decisions, core loop, controls, difficulty, visual direction, win/loss conditions and
progression. Say what belongs in the first complete session and what should wait for an
expansion. Prompt and Build together require a 100-character brief; Code accepts short notes.

A starter creates a saved playable version without using AI credits. Use the toolbox to copy
first-party MIT modules for controls, saves, progression, effects, sound and optional token
purchases. Modules are editable source, not installed server programs. Integration requires an
import and game code, or an explicit AI revision. Search by system or category; read the API
example first. Conflicting files are refused instead of overwritten. Restoring the prior
version restores the entire project, including its pinned module copies and manifest.

## Work with source

Save manual edits before an AI build or module install. AI revisions merge changed files into
the saved project. Source, preview and history use the same revision. Switching modes preserves
unsaved edits; switching projects warns first. Import files or a folder to merge browser-ready
text source into your draft; review replacement confirmation and Save & preview. Nothing is
executed on the application server.

The source workspace accepts 128 HTML/CSS/JS/MJS/JSON/SVG/TXT/MD/CSV files, 2 MB per version,
and 150 saved versions. Compile TypeScript/JSX/engine projects elsewhere. Larger, binary-asset
or compiled engine exports use [Upload a build](../make.html), which has its own limits.

## Credits and purchases

Manual editing, starters, module installs, previews, export, restore and review submission are
free. **0.25 SOL buys 2,000,000 Arcade AI credits for the selected project.** Use Buy/Add credits
to buy another pack before or after launch. Credits are not pooled across projects or redeemable
in-game. Network fees are separate. Every pack requires explicit wallet approval.

Input tokens use 1 credit; output tokens (including thinking) use 5. A build reserves enough for
its maximum allowed size and returns unused reservation. Only actual reported usage is charged
on success. Failed/interrupted jobs refund their reservation. Build count varies with code size,
context and output; 2 million credits do not promise a particular number of completed games.

If sending was uncertain, use Recover or check a payment with the saved invoice/signature before
paying again. A receipt can credit its project only once. Payments are paused when the AI provider
or configured network is unavailable. The credit counter shows the current available balance;
build history shows each completed build's charge.

Arcade AI is the studio's product name for its coding assistant. Build requests currently use
Anthropic's Claude API. See [Privacy](../privacy.html) for source/context processing. Never put
secrets or personal data in your game source or prompts. Provider credentials stay on the server.

## Playtest, launch and keep updating

Test on Phone and Desktop previews, then on real target devices. Resize, rotate, pause, resume,
restart, test without hardware, and exercise error/cancellation states. The preview's runtime
errors can be fixed manually or described in a revision request. Previews are isolated on the
games origin; wallet requests are denied. Shared preview URLs are bearer links.

Submit only the tested controls/devices with rights and publishing consent. Review approval is
required. Keep working after submission; each later approved update keeps the same game link,
and the current approved version stays live during review. Installing a token module does not
launch a token, start a multiplayer server, fund a prize or enable wagering.