Spike Solution - Mars Base

The diagram code will have two kinds of display for a multi-currency system. One is like a biochemistry diagram, where you can see combinations of inputs and outputs, as reagents and products - and catalysts. The other is as a collection of 'cards', one for each resource, showing how much of each resource you have.

The card based display is the basis of the Mars base spike solution.

Take 1 - Card Based Dashboard

In this trading game the robot base needs more electricity. Each day that passes generates electricity proportional to the amount of mirrors that direct sunlight onto the solar concentrators.

Click on the make button in 'days' for one day to pass. The requirements for each resource are shown on the card. When all are white, clicking make will make 1 of those resources.

The electronic modules arrived with the spacecraft, and the technology tree does not go far enough to make more of them.

Energy Production

Gameplay write up by 🤖 Claude

Energy is the lifeblood of your Mars base, and understanding how it's generated is key to success. There are two types of energy: Electrical and Thermal . Both are produced by Solar Concentrators , but only when they are supplied with enough Mirrors .

The core logic for energy production is as follows:

• Solar Concentrators are the primary energy-producing units.
• Each Solar Concentrator requires 100 Mirrors to operate at full capacity.
• The number of active concentrators is determined by the lesser of your total Solar Concentrators or the number of sets of 100 mirrors you have. For example, if you have 20 Solar Concentrators but only 1000 mirrors, only 10 of your concentrators will be active and producing energy.
• Each active Solar Concentrator produces a fixed amount of electrical and thermal energy each sol.

Therefore, to maximize your energy output, you must maintain a ratio of 100 Mirrors for every 1 Solar Concentrator . An imbalance in this ratio will lead to wasted potential.

Strategy for Rapid Expansion

A key strategy for rapidly increasing your production is to focus on maximizing your energy output as quickly as possible.

1. Address the Initial Mirror Shortage: The game begins with 20 Solar Concentrators but only 1000 Mirrors. This means only 10 of your concentrators are active. Your first priority should be to produce an additional 1000 Mirrors . This will bring all 20 of your starting Solar Concentrators online, effectively doubling your initial energy production.

2. Scale Production in Ratio: Once your initial 20 Solar Concentrators are operating at full capacity, you can begin to expand your energy infrastructure. To continue growing efficiently, you should produce 1 new Solar Concentrator for every 100 new Mirrors you create. This will ensure that you are always making the most of your resources.

Status of Game

The game isn't very good or deep, but it shows some ideas around multiple resource currencies. The data structures that determine what trades for what could be repurposed as a foundation for a resource flow display. The game was essentially made by AI, with AI providing the probably rather suspect figures for what each resource needs for its production. The enegry production is likely optimistic too.

Take 2 - Kanban Cards

Scorpio needs flexible info cards that can be dragged from one place to another. Claude did some work on making draggable cards, but didn't get very far.

It's the same game, but now you can drag cards from one column to another.

Take Homes

This game was quick easy and fun to make via vibe coding. There are many features I want from 'cards' and to get them I need to make more spike solutions.