[kleiba]

This obvious age discrimination against non-teenagers is preposterous! Where are the lawers when you need them?

Just kidding, this is an awesome project! I wish I would have been that creative and competent in my teenage years... or even now, for that matter. Respect!

[trashfishes]

Ha! I’m also part of the Sprig team.

This project has been created by many Hack Clubbers, and not only in the development of the engine, editors, firmware and hardware. Hack Club teens handled all logistics/supply. The backings were made by a HCer that taught herself laser cutting. PRs for games are being reviewed and commented upon by 4 teenagers. All front end dev & copy was done by a HCer. The 3d model on the front page was another's first time in Blender.

Our youngest Sprig game dev right now is an 11 year old (https://github.com/hackclub/sprig/pull/443). We have a water sim built by a 13yr old (https://github.com/hackclub/sprig/pull/402). A raycast experiment by a 15yr old (https://github.com/hackclub/sprig/pull/153).

We have so many fun games built already: https://sprig.hackclub.com/gallery.

Hack Clubbers are now running Sprig workshops in their clubs and hackathons - and publishing them for others to use. Others are hosting 'Sprig Jams' to work on games together. Can't wait to see what more comes of this all.

[aliqot]

What happends to the teenagers who turn 20? Emeritus or what?

[trashfishes]

Sort of, yes! This is great question, and ties into our values and ethos. I'll try to keep it short (and note this is just my perspective as one employee).

We fully expect (and support!) our teenagers 'graduating' from Hack Club. On one hand, this presents a challenge when our most committed and experienced people age out every year. But on the other hand, there's a fresh group that arrive with new perspectives and insights, and really make the space their own.

Our hope is to honor our wonderful alumni too, and the contributions they have made. Many stay on in various ways to continue to support the community.

The cool thing about initiatives like Sprig is that while the current technical contributions will exist 'forever', it too can be enjoyed and iterated on by new young people in ways we don't know yet.

[awestroke]

They are shunned, their name blacklisted, any record of their contributions erased

[_carbyau_]

Watch Logan's run. They get a very nice ceremony and move on. :-)

[aliqot]

You're alright with me :-) Glad we don't have a carousel.

[apexedison]

Haha thanks. Hack Club certainly has adults involved (like myself) but we structure projects so teens can be core contributors (the rest of the core engineering staff on Sprig are all less than 20 years old and I'd say 95% of the games in the library are from teenagers).

As for Sprig itself the only part that is limited to teens is that we give the console away for free to teenagers who submit games to the gallery. Otherwise anyone can make games and submit them.

[invalidusernam3]

Would be nice if you sold them to us old people at a 2x cost so we can get one and pay for one for a teen

[rytor718]

I second this but mostly because I'm an unrepentant nerd who REALLY wants one of these to show off at my tech workshops for kids :D

[incanus77]

Yeah, being able to access even one to give hands-on could be pretty valuable.

[hathawsh]

It appears the project hasn't optimized for production (yet?). For now, I can't help but think it may be possible to cobble together a Sprig using inexpensive Pi Pico HATs and 3D printing. Here's the schematic:

https://github.com/hackclub/sprig/blob/main/docs/GROWING_A_S...

[incanus77]

Yeah, I'm sure it could. But even being able to buy a fabbed board (it's all through-hole components) would move things along. And I find the non-optimization pretty endearing, since it enhances the approachability and ability to understand the whole system.

[dopidopHN]

Yeah that would solve a kinda chicken and egg issue.

[cassianoleal]

> preprosperous

You mean you expect it to succeed soon? :D

[kleiba]

Haha, thanks! ;-) Fixed.