Matrix: Building a real-time RPG game with Convex

Problem I was trying to solve This year, I moved to a new place where people speak a different language than my mother tongue. Although English can be a common language for communication, I really wanted to learn the local language as a fun experiment. I found language learning apps too boring and soon realized that the only effective way to learn a new language is by speaking it frequently. Through conversations, we gradually build vocabulary and eventually become fluent. However, this process can be particularly challenging for introverts like me. That’s when I got the idea to create a real-time game where everyone can join a map augmenting real-world situations. Game idea Similar to Minecraft, it’s a real-time RPG game where you can talk to people you come close to on the map. This would help users talk or chat with new people or AI NPC bots in the map and, in the process, learn the language. I wanted a backend infrastructure to store the real-time locations of players and update their coordinates on all devices with the game open. Additionally, whenever two players came close, the chat interface would open quickly to enable communication between them. Features I wanted: A real-time way to store the coordinates of players No need to handle all synchronization issues manually A free tier without requiring a credit card to start Good integration with Next.js Convex for reactive DB Convex had all the features I wanted for the application, so I proceeded with Convex as the backend and Next.js for the frontend. The templates in Convex made it very easy to get started. I wanted to use Next.js, Convex, and Clerk, and the Informal template was a perfect starting point for me. Building the Frontend for the game With a basic UI idea and user flow in mind, I started with v0, using prompts to generate the frontend for the game scene and map selection scene. To my surprise, the outputs from v0 were so good that I had to write very little code for the frontend myself. For those who don’t know v0 is a frontend code generator website that works really well with shadcn , tailwindcss and Nextjs which are the exact techstack that we are currently using. Building the Backend Logic ChatGPT + Convex =

Feb 23, 2025 - 20:07

Matrix: Building a real-time RPG game with Convex

Problem I was trying to solve

This year, I moved to a new place where people speak a different language than my mother tongue. Although English can be a common language for communication, I really wanted to learn the local language as a fun experiment.

I found language learning apps too boring and soon realized that the only effective way to learn a new language is by speaking it frequently. Through conversations, we gradually build vocabulary and eventually become fluent. However, this process can be particularly challenging for introverts like me. That’s when I got the idea to create a real-time game where everyone can join a map augmenting real-world situations.

Game idea

Similar to Minecraft, it’s a real-time RPG game where you can talk to people you come close to on the map. This would help users talk or chat with new people or AI NPC bots in the map and, in the process, learn the language.

I wanted a backend infrastructure to store the real-time locations of players and update their coordinates on all devices with the game open. Additionally, whenever two players came close, the chat interface would open quickly to enable communication between them.

Features I wanted:

A real-time way to store the coordinates of players
No need to handle all synchronization issues manually
A free tier without requiring a credit card to start
Good integration with Next.js

Convex for reactive DB

Convex had all the features I wanted for the application, so I proceeded with Convex as the backend and Next.js for the frontend. The templates in Convex made it very easy to get started. I wanted to use Next.js, Convex, and Clerk, and the Informal template was a perfect starting point for me.

Building the Frontend for the game

With a basic UI idea and user flow in mind, I started with v0, using prompts to generate the frontend for the game scene and map selection scene. To my surprise, the outputs from v0 were so good that I had to write very little code for the frontend myself. For those who don’t know v0 is a frontend code generator website that works really well with shadcn , tailwindcss and Nextjs which are the exact techstack that we are currently using.

Building the Backend Logic

ChatGPT + Convex =