Kevin Payravi

Introducing WikiAsteroids, a classic arcade asteroids game powered by real-time #Wikipedia edits! ☄️

https://asteroids.wiki/

Each edit to an article on Wikipedia spawns an asteroid. The larger the edit, the larger the asteroid (and the more shots it takes to destroy). A newly created article spawns an extra life, while a newly registered user spawns a powerup.

WikiAsteroids - Real-time Wikipedia Space Shooter

A space shooter game powered by real-time Wikipedia edits. Shoot asteroids representing article changes and collect powerups from new articles and editors.

WikiAsteroids
Mar 10, 2025 at 6:21pmWeb
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 11, 2025

WikiAsteroids is now a mini arcade cabinet! 👀🕹️

I put this together during SXSW for our Wikihaus (https://www.wiki.haus/). It's been great watching people rolling through and trying it out.

WikiHaus @ SXSW 2025

All things wiki at SXSW 2025. At 811 Congress.

WikiHaus @ SXSW 2025
Show threadStefan BohacekMar 12, 2025
@kevin Nice!
Show threadGalder Gonzalez Mar 10, 2025
@kevin WOW! Can it be changed to fit other wikis? (English is too frenetical)
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 10, 2025
@theklan Yes! There's a selection of some of the top non-English wikis at the bottom, and I'm happy to add others on request.
Show threadbor[x]a 🇵🇸 ボルシャ Mar 10, 2025
@kevin Basque, please! @theklan
Show threadGalder Gonzalez Mar 10, 2025
@protoeuskaldun @kevin Basque is now working... but too peaceful!
Show threadLuistxo FernandezMar 11, 2025
@theklan @protoeuskaldun @kevin we need to do a Basque editathon + wikiasteroids event
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 10, 2025
@protoeuskaldun @theklan Added! :)
Show threadGalder Gonzalez Mar 10, 2025
@kevin thanks! This is so great!
Show threadtrillexMar 10, 2025
@kevin This plays insanely fast on my browser (firefox). Not sure if there are any other things that could affect it. Movement is impossible to control due to this.
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 10, 2025
@trillex Ah, must be a higher refresh rate on your monitor. Will get a fix in!
Show threadtrillexMar 10, 2025
@kevin Ah yeah, that makes sense. Sporting 240 hz
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 10, 2025
@trillex We can just call that Extra Difficult mode!
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 10, 2025
@trillex could you give it another try? Might need to hard refresh / clear cache. Unfortunately I'm traveling and don't have my nice fast monitor with me to test.
Show threadtrillexMar 10, 2025
@kevin Works wonders now! It did, however, freeze the entire game when I picked up a bomb (Blows up all asteroids on screen.). I could press space and make it go pew but nothing else.
Show threadFen (spooky out of spite)Mar 10, 2025
@kevin Something appears to have happened
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 10, 2025
@_luna I'd normally rush to fix it but that actually looks like a fun bug.
Show threadFen (spooky out of spite)Mar 10, 2025
@kevin It was, although it came along with a massive lag spike
Show threadmoanosMar 10, 2025
@kevin very very cool and fun to play!
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 10, 2025
@moanos thank you! cheers!
Show threadJulienMar 10, 2025
@kevin this is brilliant, thanks! 😆
Show threadScott KnowlesMar 10, 2025
@kevin Oh God. Friends & I played asteroids in their game machines in local pizza parlor in early 1970's. I loved that game.
Show threadEugene Alvin Villar 🇵🇭Mar 11, 2025
@kevin this is awesome! I wonder how the game can be adapted to @Wikidata’s much more frenetic pace of editing. 🤔
Show threadComte Eugène de PhoqueMar 11, 2025
@kevin  @WikimediaIE
Show threadAnnaMar 11, 2025
@kevin @edyssee
Show threadauserMar 13, 2025
@kevin This makes no sense but it is fun and awesome at the same time! 😂
Show threadKevin PayraviMar 13, 2025
@auser haha, I'll take that! Thank you!
Show threadRaumpatrouilleApr 27, 2025
@kevin What font did you use on your wiki page? It looks quite like the titles of our series.
Show threadKevin PayraviApr 27, 2025

@raumpatrouille Orbitron for the logo, Anta within the game!

https://github.com/KevinPayravi/WikiAsteroids?tab=readme-ov-file#fonts

GitHub - KevinPayravi/WikiAsteroids: Arcade asteroids game powered by real-time Wikipedia edits

Arcade asteroids game powered by real-time Wikipedia edits - KevinPayravi/WikiAsteroids

GitHub
Show threadKenny EarthlingApr 28, 2025
@kevin I love it x
Show threadPax Ahimsa GethenMay 30, 2025

@kevin

Just saw this thanks to the
@wikimediafoundation posting about it on LinkedIn. Great work! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wikimedia-foundation_wikiasteroids-activity-7334224035968421888-FA2m?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAFPgMMBXq2LCc7ldJshAGGcCFCX25CIo3c

WikiAsteroids | Wikimedia Foundation

What if every Wikipedia edit spawned an asteroid? At this year’s SXSW in Austin, Texas, US, visitors to the Wikihaus got to find out thanks to a playful, community-built project that turns real-time edits into an old-school arcade game. WikiAsteroids, created by Wikimedia community member Kevin Payravi, is a retro-style browser game where every asteroid represents a live Wikipedia edit. Edits that add content? Big blue asteroids. Deletions? Red ones. New article? You earn an extra life. And if a new user registers? Surprise power-up. To bring the game into the physical world, Kevin built a custom WikiAsteroids arcade cabinet complete with joystick, buttons, and a pixel-perfect display just in time for SXSW 2025. "Facts should occupy more physical space in our lives", said Kolby Webster, who helped inspire the build after seeing the Internet Archive’s Internet Arcade. The game is now playable online at asteroids.wiki, where anyone can dodge, blast, and scroll through the Wikipedia activity that shaped their gameplay session. And yes, if you lose, the game tells you exactly which article took you out. Read about the game ➡️ https://w.wiki/DgL4

Show threadKevin PayraviMay 30, 2025
@funcrunch oh awsome, I didn't know they made a post about it! Thanks for sharing!
Show threadUna tantumOct 30, 2025
@kevin WikiAsteroids was very appreciated at the Bologna Linux Day, students loved it!  🚀 💥 🪨 #linuxDay #LinuxDayBologna #linuxday2025
Show threadKevin PayraviOct 30, 2025
@una_tantum ahh, amazing! Thanks for letting me know ♥️