GoldSrc Web
Executive Summary
Vision Statement
Democratize access to classic game mods by making them instantly playable in any modern browser while preserving the original modding ecosystem.
Problem Summary
Classic game mods (Half-Life, Counter-Strike 1.6) require complex setups, native dependencies, and specialized environments to run, creating barriers for casual users and developers. Maintaining compatibility across platforms is particularly challenging for web-based deployment.
Proposed Solution
A cloud platform providing browser-based game engines with JavaScript bindings, enabling instant execution of mods via npm packages with zero dependencies. Leverages WebAssembly-compiled engines like Xash3D FWGS for cross-platform support.
Market Analysis
Target Audience
- Nostalgic gamers seeking accessible replay of classic mods
- Indie developers creating browser-compatible mods
- Technical educators teaching game development concepts
- Mod preservationists archiving historical content
Niche Validation
Validated by 28 upvotes and 10 comments on Reddit. Top comment confirms legal viability when users provide own game files. Search results show active development of Xash3D FWGS with recent updates including Docker support and IPv6 multiplayer, confirming technical feasibility[1][2][4].
Google Trends Keywords
Market Size Estimation
~120M Half-Life franchise players
~500K active modding community members
3.2B+ gamers globally with interest in retro gaming
Competitive Landscape
- Standalone emulators (e.g., Xash3D FWGS) require local installation[2][4]
- Web ports exist but lack npm integration and JS bindings[3]
- Commercial platforms (Like Steam) don't support browser-based mod execution
Product Requirements
User Stories
As a modder, I want to publish my mod via npm so users can install it with one command
As a player, I want to load mods directly in my browser without local setup
As a developer, I need JavaScript bindings to execute engine commands programmatically
MVP Feature Set
WebAssembly build of Xash3D FWGS engine
npm package with JS bindings for engine control
Browser-based renderer with WebGL support
Game file upload/verification system
Non-Functional Requirements
Performance: 60fps rendering on mid-tier devices
Security: Sandboxed WASM execution
Compatibility: Support Chrome/Firefox/Safari latest 3 versions
Key Performance Indicators
Mod uploads/month (Target: 50+ by Month 6)
Player sessions (Target: 5,000/month by Year 1)
Engine startup time (Benchmark: <3s cold start)
Go-to-Market Strategy
Core Marketing Message
Run any Half-Life mod in your browser instantly – No downloads, no dependencies, just nostalgic gameplay.
Initial Launch Channels
- Technical communities: Reddit (r/javascript, r/gamedev), Hacker News
- Modding hubs: ModDB, Nexus Mods
- Education partnerships: Game development bootcamps, CS programs
Strategic Metrics
Problem Urgency
Medium
Solution Complexity
High
Defensibility Moat
Technical moat: WebAssembly compilation expertise + JS binding architecture. Ecosystem moat: First-mover in npm distribution for game engines. Community moat: Integration with existing modding communities[4].
Source Post Metrics
Business Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Freemium model:
- Free tier: Basic mod execution with ads
- Premium ($5/mo): Private mod hosting, enhanced API access, priority support
- Enterprise ($50/mo): White-label solutions for educators/archivists
Financial Projections
Conservative Year 1: $8k MRR (1,600 free users converting at 1% to premium) Optimistic: $25k MRR (5,000 users at 5% conversion + enterprise contracts)
Tech Stack
Node.js for API services + WebAssembly runtime
PostgreSQL for user/mod metadata
Next.js with React for documentation portal and demo player
Cloudflare Workers (edge compute), Stripe (payments), AWS S3 (WASM/game asset storage)
Risk Assessment
Identified Risks
Legal challenges regarding game IP Technical limitations in browser-based rendering Community fragmentation between native/web modding
Mitigation Strategy
Require user-provided game files (no copyright violation) Implement progressive rendering with quality scaling Build compatibility layer for existing mod formats