What problem does it solve? Building games for the Playdate handheld requires mastering its unique constraints: a 400x240 1-bit display, a physical crank, limited memory, and a Lua SDK with specific APIs for sprites, timers, audio, and input. This Skill provides the complete API knowledge, design guidelines, and a starter project needed to write working Playdate games without constantly consulting scattered SDK documentation. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Complete Lua API Coverage: Game loop structure, sprite system with collision detection, button/crank/accelerometer input, graphics drawing, fonts, audio (sample players and synthesizers), timers, save data, and system menu integration. - Hardware Design Guidance: Reference notes on screen legibility, font sizes, refresh rate tradeoffs, crank accessibility, and launcher asset requirements (card, icon, pdxinfo metadata). - Starter Project Template: A ready-to-copy Lua starter with main.lua and pdxinfo that compiles with the pdc compiler into a .pdx bundle. - Use Case: Ask for a crank-driven puzzle game and receive working Lua code with proper playdate.update() structure, crank delta handling with button fallbacks, sprite updates, and correct pdxinfo metadata ready to build and test in the Simulator. ## Quick Start Use the playdate-dev skill to create a Playdate game in Lua where the crank moves a paddle and the A button launches a ball.
