Hi, and welcome to The Atomic Builder! 👋

I'll be honest - this issue was an accident.

When I impulsively entered a competition (on X) to build an AI powered game, it was purely for fun and curiosity. I never intended to spin this experiment into an Atomic Builder issue.

But as I hacked away in natural language building a basic game using Cursor (that I’d have been happy to play in the 80s….), something unexpected happened. The deeper I ventured into the process of building something, the clearer the parallels to product strategy became.

As it turns out, building neon-lit platforms, tuning pixel-perfect jumps, and refining particle trails shares a surprising amount with crafting exceptional digital products.

So, unexpectedly, here it is: the issue that wasn't meant to be, packed with 7 accidental, atomic-powered insights discovered while creating the game ‘CYBER PARKOUR’. - a neon-infused, cyberpunk inspired parkour challenge.

Ready? Let’s start...

1. Start with What Moves: The Power of an MVP

My first version of CYBER PARKOUR isn't much to look at – a basic physics engine (that AI created, not me - I’m not trying to sound clever), a single rooftop platform, and basic keyboard controls.

It’s perfect.

By focusing solely on the core mechanics – movement and physics – I validated whether the experience is working before adding in extra features. With the basic act of running and jumping right, I know I have a foundation worth building upon.

Real-World Example 🌎

Situation: Imagine you are launching an AI-powered podcast app. Instead of focusing immediately on advanced analytics or transcription, your MVP should focus only on delivering smooth playback and easy episode navigation.

Takeaway: Whatever you’re building, Identify your single critical interaction, build the SIMPLEST VERSION, validate, then expand!

2. The Power of Micro-Iterations: Small Changes, Big Impact

I never once tackled massive overhauls. Smart. Instead, each session addressed specific enhancements: "Hey AI, player movement is too slow," "Jumps need visual feedback."

The benefits of this approach:

• Clear understanding of what improvements worked

• Quick validation of ideas without extensive rework

• Steady progress that maintained momentum

Focusing on small things helped me see tangible benefits before moving on. Example, I improved a primitive early version of the character to create something that might one-day be as loveable as Mario or Sonic…well, maybe not.

Real-World Example 🌎

Situation: Let’s say you’re creating an online learning platform. Instead of completely re-filming or rewriting lessons, you introduce small iterative enhancements - like brief quizzes after videos or enhanced visuals to clarify difficult concepts. Each small iteration improves overall user satisfaction.

Takeaway: Break improvements into manageable pieces, iterating continuously to clearly track impact.

3. Prioritize User Feel: Perfecting Frequent Interactions

I repeatedly hit issues with the player "sinking" into platforms, I faced a choice: reengineer the entire physics system (not something I wanted to do, well, because I don’t know how to…) or ask AI to apply small tweaks that immediately improved the perceived experience.

Focusing on how your product feels - especially frequent interactions - consistently provides more user value than over-engineering behind-the-scenes mechanics.

Real-World Example 🌎

Situation: Consider the now over used habit-tracking app example…! Users frequently log habits, so invest heavily in the emotional reward of completing tasks - such as delightful animations (think Duolingo!).

Takeaway: Prioritize users’ experience and invest extra care into your product's most frequent actions - it will help you get returning users.

4. Visual Language Matters: Aesthetic Cohesion Creates Memorable Products

CYBER PARKOUR's distinct colour choices…the Neon Garden with its organic structures weren't just bad decorative choices. They (I think..!) create memorable spaces that give players clear mental models of the game world.

The cyberpunk aesthetic informed everything from color choices to animation style, creating a cohesive experience that was very intentional, rather than generic. Whether you like it or not is another matter... I meant every aspect of it!

Real-World Example 🌎

Situation: You’re developing a productivity tool. A cohesive visual language means consistent iconography, clear color coding for different project statuses, and unified typography across dashboards, ensuring users quickly learn and comfortably navigate your product.

Takeaway: If you establish clear visual standards early; maintain consistent, purposeful aesthetics, you help your users get a feel for your brand.

5. Prioritize Simplicity and Immediate User Value

I continuously balanced feature addition against product performance. I struggled with performance (and still do) alot. Effects remained subtle, and distant visuals simplified to maintain smooth gameplay. I removed unnecessary friction (signing in) which allowed players to experience the game's core value fast.

The goal IS fewer features - and ensuring every feature enhances immediate value.

Real-World Example 🌎

Situation: Suppose you're building a productivity tool (again) for remote teams. Rather than launching with numerous integrations, initially focus on a smooth, immediate value - like easily creating tasks and seeing quick status updates.

Takeaway: Continuously assess features against simplicity, reducing barriers and ensuring users quickly and intuitively reach the core value you think you offer.

6. Strategic Positioning: Stand Out While Belonging

I wanted CYBER PARKOUR to stand out and be both unique and recognizable as a parkour game. I achieved this by maintaining the usual genre conventions (physics-based movement, platforming challenges) while adding distinctive elements (Eg cyberpunk aesthetic).

Adding the Vibe Jam 2025 competition badge positioned the game within a larger ecosystem while my creator signature maintained my identity.

Real-World Example 🌎

Situation: If you’re creating an AI-driven email assistant, maintain familiar elements users expect (message organization, email templates), while clearly differentiating with unique capabilities - such as predictive scheduling - ensuring distinctiveness in the crowded email space.

Takeaway: By balancing clearly recognized category conventions with unique features you’ll differentiate yourself in a crowded space.

7. Create Targeted Feedback Loops and Meaningful Metrics

Throughout building CYBER PARKOUR, my feedback loops with AI were crucial. I broke down the issues I was seeing into things I could tackle with the help of AI independently - speed issues, jump height etc. Additionally, adding dual metrics (scoring and distance) visually celebrated progress, motivating users.

Real-World Example 🌎

Situation: Imagine a meditation app: instead of general user surveys ("Do you enjoy the app?"), ask targeted questions ("How easy is it to start your daily meditation?"). Complement this targeted feedback with clear metrics (daily streaks, total minutes meditated) to visibly celebrate progress.

Takeaway: Pair precise, focused user feedback with meaningful, motivational metrics to clearly highlight areas for growth. Ultimately, you’re looking for ways to boost long-term engagement (or you should be!).

Applying These Lessons to Your Projects

The beauty of these principles is their universality:

1. Start with the minimum viable version of your concept

2. Implement small, focused improvements rather than massive overhauls

3. Prioritize user feel and perfect your most frequent interactions

4. Create a consistent visual language

5. Prioritize simplicity and immediate value

6. Position your product strategically within its category

7. Create targeted feedback loops combined with meaningful metrics

Final Thoughts

Who knew my impulsive leap into cyberpunk parkour would land us squarely in the heart of product strategy?

But maybe that’s the whole point: building remarkable products - games, apps, newsletters, whatever - often starts with a leap of curiosity.

So if you're currently sitting on a half-baked idea or a playful experiment you've been hesitant to start, this is your gentle nudge to give it a shot. Jump into it - who knows what you'll uncover?

You made it to the end - I know what you’ve been thinking all along. So, what are you waiting for (play on desktop!):

***START GAME***

Until next time, keep experimenting, keep building, and as always - stay atomic. 👊

Faisal

This Week’s Build Beats 🎵

Each issue, we pair the newsletter with a track to keep you inspired while you build.

This week, because AI building is all about impulsively taking flight, experimenting boldly, and discovering brilliance in unexpected places:

🎧 “Learning to Fly” – Pink Floyd

Grab the playlist on Spotify - I add to it each week!