Personal project / Game design · Art direction · AI collaboration
PRESIDENTS!
Hail to the Chiefs
PRESIDENTS! is a stylized action-platformer where American presidents become unlikely superheroes, battling enemies from across history in an increasingly absurd invasion of modern-day America. Each president has a distinct set of abilities, from George Washington’s axe throws and eagle-assisted double jump to Abraham Lincoln’s stretchy fists and grappling mechanics. The game combines Saturday-morning-cartoon energy with handcrafted levels inspired by American landmarks and historical events.
I built this project to explore a new kind of AI-assisted creative workflow. Working conversationally with Codex, we defined the game’s concept, characters, visual direction, level designs, and gameplay mechanics, then used Codex to turn those ideas into working implementations in Unity. Rather than treating AI as a one-shot generator, I used it as an iterative design and development partner—directing, testing, critiquing, and refining the results. Everything showcased here represents just a few days of work, starting from my very first conversation with AI about the game.
Washington at the gates. Screenshot from a development build.
Inside this project
01 / Game showcase
A look inside the game
Watch: Washington in motion
Walking, jumping, axe throws, and eagle jumps in the White House demo. Silent gameplay.
Watch: Lincoln in motion
Stretch punches and overhead grapples in the theatre lobby. Silent gameplay.
Recorded gameplay · Lincoln faces the walking Memorial guardian. Archived Unity build; outside the browser demos.Recorded gameplay · FDR’s rocket-flight prototype above the airship fleet. Archived Unity build; outside the browser demos.Concept art · Teddy’s planned shotgun and moose moveset. Exploratory illustration; not implemented gameplay.Level concept · Planning Lincoln’s theatre route, platforms, hazards, and landings. Design reference.Character development · Lincoln’s run poses alongside his character reference. Unity comparison render.Unity development · Reusable theatre platforms, pulley rigs, and scenery.
02 / Playable demos
Try Washington and Lincoln
Two playable development builds, each with a different way to move and fight. Choose a demo below on desktop with a keyboard and mouse. Touch controls are in development; the full campaign and final polish are unfinished.
Play this demo on a desktop with a keyboard and mouse. Touch controls are still in development.
Play this demo on a desktop with a keyboard and mouse. Touch controls are still in development.