XaploreBehind the scenes: how we make our videos, games and apps
Xaplore is a tiny studio, and this is where we write down how things get made. The main thread is a six-part series on making an AI short drama solo: why a programmer started a comedy series, how each one-minute episode is written around a single joke, why the voice is recorded before any picture, how characters stay consistent from shot to shot, how episodes are edited, checked and published, and how Claude Code works as the production assistant. Alongside it are guides to the games and apps we build: how to play mahjong from scratch and win more hands at Bamboo Table, a beginner's guide to Ember Abyss, a method for solving the Black Box daily in fewer probes, and how family push-to-talk works in Buddy Duo. Read the series in order, or jump straight to the game you play. The finished episodes are on our videos page, and every game runs free in the browser.
Watch, play and try
- Watch the seriesThe finished 硅谷码农那些事儿 episodes, with links to Douyin, Xiaohongshu and WeChat Channels.
- Play our gamesEvery Xaplore game runs free in the browser, no download or account.
- Our appsBuddy Duo, the family walkie-talkie for iPhone, and our free web apps.
Start here: the most useful first
Making an AI Short Drama Solo, Part 1: Why I Started and How an Episode Comes Together
How one programmer makes a one-minute AI drama series alone: why I started, the five steps of every episode, and lessons from dozens of episodes.
Making an AI Short Drama Solo, Part 2: Script and Storyboard, One Joke per Minute
How I write a one-minute AI drama episode: one joke, a conflict in the first line, nothing after the punchline, and a shot list checked automatically before anything is generated.
Making an AI Short Drama Solo, Part 3: Dialogue and Lip Sync, Voice First and Picture Second
Why I record every line before generating a single shot: fixed character voices, comic timing, clean audio, and how the voice track drives lip sync.
Making an AI Short Drama Solo, Part 4: Keeping Characters Consistent, from 2D Stills to 3D Widescreen
How I keep AI characters looking the same in every shot: fixed character looks, empty sets, composited first frames, audio-driven video, and a first-frame gate.
Making an AI Short Drama Solo, Part 5: Editing, Quality Checks and Publishing
How a solo AI drama episode gets cut, checked and shipped: J and L cuts, subtitles and sound, layered quality checks, covers, publishing and reading the numbers.
Making an AI Short Drama Solo, Part 6: Claude Code as My Production Assistant
How I run a one-person AI drama series with Claude Code as producer: a team of specialist subagents, rules written from every mistake, and the parts that still need a human.
How to Play Mahjong: A Beginner's Guide to Tiles, Rules and Scoring
Learn Chinese mahjong from scratch: the 144 tiles, chi, peng and kong, how a turn works, how to win, simple scoring, and where to practice online.
Mahjong Strategy Tips: How to Win More Hands at Bamboo Table
Mahjong strategy for Bamboo Table: tile efficiency, what to discard, when to call, house-rule tactics and the easiest routes to Guobiao's 8-fan minimum.
Ember Abyss Beginner's Guide: Best Class, Builds and Boss Tips
New to Ember Abyss? Pick the right class, spend stat and skill points well, beat all three bosses and play online co-op with this beginner's guide.
Black Box Puzzle Guide: How to Solve the Daily in Fewer Probes
How to play Black Box, the gem reverse-engineering puzzle: a probe-by-probe method, a worked Daily example, common mistakes and tips for fewer probes.
Walkie-Talkie App for Kids: Family Push-to-Talk Without Phone Numbers
When push-to-talk beats calling for families, how FRS radios, Apple Watch and walkie-talkie apps compare, and a privacy checklist before your kid uses one.
Other topics: ImmigrationH-1B and workMoney and taxBlogs