Neptune.js - The Game Engine Born from a Challenge

I've always been fascinated by the challenges of creating games within constraints as a game developer. That's why I was intrigued when I heard about the Floppy Disk Game Jam last year. The game jam compelled that the memory size of the game be just under 80kb, that seemed unimaginable at first. Instead of surrendering, I decided to take on the challenge and develop my own game engine that could work within this restrictions. That's how Neptune.js came to be.

I started developing Neptune.js on April 5, 2022, and today, almost a year later, I am proud to say that the engine has come a long way. Neptune.js is a set of JavaScript modules specifically designed for writing video games and multimedia programs using the JavaScript language. It adds functionality on top of HTML5 canvas and is highly portable, running on browsers.

What sets Neptune.js apart is its minimalist design. The core is simple, and the code is documented neatly, making it easy to use. Even kids can make a simple game in Neptune. The engine is modular, allowing developers to use specific pieces of it separately. Neptune.js is fast and handles the main loop and event cycles under the hood, providing developers with a clean yet customizable feature set.

One of the most significant advantages of Neptune.js is its entity component-based system, making it more advanced than previous versions. This system is used by many major engines and provides numerous advantages. Although the learning curve is moderate, the system is worth mastering.

During the Floppy Disk Game Jam, I used Neptune.js to create my game, and I am thrilled to say that my game, "Singularity Clicker: Birth of Infinity," made with Neptune.js, won 3rd prize. The judges were impressed with the game engine, and it even sparked some interest among other developers in the game jam.

As we approach the one-year mark of Neptune.js's development, I am excited to see what the future holds for this game engine. I am constantly working to improve Neptune.js and adding new features to make it an even more powerful tool for game developers.

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