This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Kehinde Owolabi
The Complete History of TCJSGame: From Learning Challenge to Community-Driven Engine
The Origin Story
TCJSGame has an inspiring origin story that began with its creator, Owolabi Kehinde, facing the common challenge many aspiring game developers encounter: the steep learning curve of game development.
The W3Schools Struggle (2023)
Owolabi Kehinde initially turned to W3Schools to learn JavaScript game development, but found the traditional tutorials and examples too challenging to grasp. Rather than giving up, he embraced this difficulty as motivation to create something that would help both himself and others in similar situations.
JGame: The First Iteration (2023-2024)
In 2023, Kehinde began developing his own solution – JGame (JavaScript Game). This initial version represented his learning process and his desire to simplify game development concepts. He worked on JGame throughout 2023 and completed the first stable version in 2024.
The Evolution to TCGame (2025)
As the engine grew more sophisticated, Kehinde rebranded it as TCGame in 2025. This change reflected the engine’s expanding capabilities beyond basic JavaScript game concepts.
Final Rebranding to TCJSGame (2025)
Later in 2025, the engine underwent its final name change to TCJSGame (Terra Codes JavaScript Game), which better represented its nature as a comprehensive JavaScript game development solution.
Community and Resources
TCJSGame has grown from a personal project into a community-driven engine with multiple platforms for support and learning:
Official Website
- Primary Resource: https://tcjsgame.vercel.app/
- Features: Documentation, examples, and direct download links
- Hosting: Deployed on Vercel for fast global access
Discord Community
- Join Here: https://discord.gg/j45mn75q
- Community Support: Get help, share projects, and connect with other developers
- Real-time Discussion: Chat with the creator and community members
GitHub Discussions
- Repository: https://github.com/terracodes004/tcjsgame_doc/discussions
- Technical Support: Ask questions and report issues
- Feature Requests: Suggest new features for future versions
Dev.to Tutorials
- Tutorials: https://dev.to/kehinde_owolabi_e2e54567a/
- Learning Resources: Step-by-step guides and project tutorials
- Community Articles: Written by both the creator and community members
YouTube Channel
- Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@terracodes
- Video Tutorials: Visual learning resources for different skill levels
- Project Demos: See TCJSGame in action with real project examples
Philosophical Foundation
TCJSGame was built on several core principles that emerged from Kehinde’s initial struggles:
1. Accessibility First
- Simplify complex game development concepts
- Provide intuitive APIs that beginners can understand
- Eliminate the need for complex build processes
2. Learning Through Doing
- Immediate visual feedback for code changes
- Gradual complexity progression
- Clear connection between code and game behavior
3. Community-Oriented Development
- Create tools that help others avoid similar learning struggles
- Focus on educational value
- Prioritize documentation and examples
Technical Evolution
Initial Challenges
Kehinde’s early struggles with W3Schools tutorials informed TCJSGame’s design:
- Complex syntax → Simplified, intuitive API
- Build process requirements → Zero-configuration setup
- Abstract concepts → Concrete, visual results
Key Development Milestones
- Basic rendering system (Canvas-based)
- Component architecture implementation
- Physics system development
- Input handling unification
- Camera and tilemap systems addition
Impact and Legacy
Educational Value
TCJSGame has become particularly valuable for:
- Beginners learning game development concepts
- Educators teaching programming through game development
- Prototyping quick game ideas without overhead
Community Growth
The establishment of multiple platforms has fostered:
- Active Discord community with real-time support
- GitHub discussions for technical questions
- Tutorial content on Dev.to and YouTube
- Open documentation for continuous learning
Open Source Philosophy
While specific licensing information isn’t provided, the engine’s development story suggests a focus on accessibility and community support rather than commercial interests.
Current Status
As of 2025, TCJSGame continues to evolve under Kehinde’s development, with:
- Active maintenance and updates
- Growing community adoption across multiple platforms
- Expanding feature set based on community feedback
- Continued focus on educational applications
Why This History Matters
TCJSGame’s origin story is significant because it demonstrates:
Problem-Solving Through Creation: Instead of giving up when faced with learning challenges, Kehinde built a solution.
Iterative Development: The engine evolved through multiple versions based on real usage and feedback.
Community Focus: Built by someone who understood the struggles of learning game development, for others facing similar challenges.
Practical Education: The engine embodies the “learn by doing” philosophy that many traditional tutorials lack.
Community Building: The establishment of Discord, GitHub, Dev.to, and YouTube resources shows commitment to building a supportive ecosystem.
This history makes TCJSGame more than just another game engine—it represents a solution born from genuine learning challenges and a desire to make game development more accessible to everyone, supported by a growing community across multiple platforms.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Kehinde Owolabi