This is a submission for the Web Game Challenge, Build a Game: Alien Edition

What I Built

I developed a classic Snake Game using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. This game replicates the nostalgic experience of the original Snake, allowing players to navigate a growing snake around the screen to collect apples while avoiding collisions with the walls or itself. The game features responsive controls for both keyboard and touch inputs, ensuring smooth gameplay across desktop and mobile devices. Additionally, it includes a scoring system that tracks the current score and high score, which is preserved using the browser's local storage. A simple yet engaging visual design is complemented by sound effects to enhance the overall user experience.

Demo

Code

Journey

Development Process

Building the Snake Game was an exciting journey that began with planning the core mechanics. I started by setting up the basic game loop using the HTML5 <canvas> element, which provided the perfect surface for rendering the game graphics. Implementing the snake's movement and growth mechanics involved managing an array of snake parts and updating their positions based on user input.

Challenges and Solutions

One of the primary challenges was ensuring smooth and responsive controls across different devices. To address this, I implemented both keyboard event listeners for desktop users and touch event handlers for mobile users, including swipe detection for intuitive directional control.

Another challenge was handling game state transitions, such as starting the game, updating scores, and displaying the game over screen. I tackled this by structuring the game logic into clear, modular functions, making it easier to manage and debug.

Achievements and Learnings

I'm particularly proud of creating a seamless user experience that works flawlessly on both desktop and mobile platforms. Another significant achievement was optimizing the game's performance to run smoothly at varying speeds as the player progresses.

Throughout this project, I deepened my understanding of JavaScript's event handling, canvas rendering, and state management. I also gained valuable insights into optimizing game performance and ensuring cross-device compatibility.

Future Enhancements

Looking ahead, I plan to introduce additional features to enhance the game, such as:

• Power-Ups: Adding special items that grant temporary abilities or bonuses.
• Levels and Obstacles: Introducing different levels with unique layouts and obstacles to increase the game's complexity.
• Enhanced Graphics and Animations: Improve visual appeal with more detailed graphics and smooth animations.
• Multiplayer Mode: Allowing multiple players to compete or collaborate in real-time.

By implementing these features, I aim to create a more engaging and dynamic gaming experience for players.

Conclusion

Creating the Snake Game was a fulfilling project that allowed me to apply and enhance my web development skills. I'm excited to continue building on this foundation, adding new features, and refining the gameplay experience. Thank you for considering my submission for the Web Game Challenge!