diff --git a/convex/constants.ts b/convex/constants.ts
index 4fe7db2..eb22bea 100644
--- a/convex/constants.ts
+++ b/convex/constants.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ export const AI_MODEL_IDS = AI_MODELS.map((model) => model.model);
 
 // how long between each level when the AI models start playing.
 // spacing out the levels to make it easier to watch in the games list and reduce ai token usage.
-export const PLAY_DELAY = process.env.PLAY_DELAY
-  ? parseInt(process.env.PLAY_DELAY)
-  : 10_000;
+export const PLAY_DELAY =
+  process.env.NODE_ENV === "development"
+    ? 0
+    : process.env.PLAY_DELAY
+      ? parseInt(process.env.PLAY_DELAY)
+      : 10_000;