A FocalNull project

About the creator

DropSlate is built and maintained by me, Vic. I'm an avid gamer who is learning to code, and this app is where I put what I learn into practice. Outside of chasing down game release dates, my passions span photography, film and foreign languages. DropSlate exists to provide a clean, quiet space to discover games, free from algorithms and modern web clutter.

What is DropSlate?

DropSlate is a video game release calendar built to track past, current and upcoming games. It curates release dates, studios, trailers, platforms and critic scores into one seamless, chronological feed.

This app is a read-only archive and discovery tool. There are no user accounts, no logins, no comment sections and no community ratings.

The build

To bring this app to life, I used GitHub alongside AI coding assistants (Claude, Gemini and GitHub Copilot). They provided the essential starting point I needed to make my dream of a free app a reality. Meanwhile, I am studying and learning how to code at home, slowly applying these new skills to the codebase as I learn.

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Visuals and media

I want this app to feel crafted. No AI image generators were used. The retro pixel patterns, colours and UI windows are drawn in code, written with the help of the AI coding assistants mentioned above.

Wikidata (CC0) will be the main source for game information, which I will retain in my own database. Covers will come from official publisher press kits or press pages and be stored by me; games without a cover will use a title placeholder. I do not use the IGDB API or store IGDB data: where Wikidata provides an IGDB game ID, the game page will offer a plain View on IGDB link. YouTube trailers will load only after you press Play. Game titles, logos, artwork and videos belong to their respective owners.

Impartiality and reviews

Critic scores will name the outlet and say “via Wikidata”, or include a link to the original review. Scores are never averaged or combined. Editor's Choice picks and my personal FocalNull Reviews are clearly identified; my reviews are entirely my own opinion and are hosted on focalnull.com. I am not paid by studios, and I never accept sponsorships or paid placements.

Zero tracking, zero income

DropSlate is my free, non-commercial side project. There are no ads, tips, payments, in-app purchases, affiliate links or sponsorships.

I collect no visitor personal data. This preview stores its app shell and assets on your device for offline use. It does not yet have region or studio preferences.

Contact

DropSlate is a FocalNull project.
hello@focalnull.com