Building a Wheel of Fortune JavaScript Game for Zoom Calls

Bringing Fun to Virtual Meetings: A JavaScript Wheel of Fortune Game

During the pandemic, many social gatherings moved online. To combat Zoom fatigue during our Esperanto group's virtual meetings, I developed a simple JavaScript-based Wheel of Fortune game. This article details its creation, highlighting design choices and potential improvements.

The game, built as a webpage, uses basic JavaScript, canvas, and a few image and sound files. Gameplay is driven by keystrokes, with the game state (current puzzle, guessed letters, and displayed view) managed globally.

Game Design and Implementation

The core game logic revolves around a state machine, though a traditional game loop was deemed unnecessary due to the game's relatively simple nature. The game state, including the puzzle, guessed letters, and active view (wheel or board), is stored in global variables. Keypresses trigger game actions.

The Game Board: Two Approaches

The game board is a grid, with each cell representing an empty, blank, or visible letter. Two approaches were considered for rendering:

1. Array-based rendering: A JavaScript array represents the board's state, with each element corresponding to a cell's status. This method is efficient but might result in less visually appealing graphics.

2. Pre-rendered images: A static image is created for each puzzle. This approach requires more upfront work but offers potentially better aesthetics and letter placement. I opted for this method for its visual appeal.

Animating the Wheel Spin

The wheel's spin is animated by calculating a random rotation exceeding 360 degrees and incrementally rotating the wheel image. Bankruptcy is detected by checking the pixel color at the wheel's stopping point; a black pixel triggers a bankruptcy sound effect.

Code and Trade-offs

The game code is available on GitHub. The development process involved several trade-offs: simplicity versus advanced features, quick development versus polished code, and technical debt versus perfectionism. These are common considerations in software development. The game lacks features like automated scorekeeping, which would have enhanced the player experience.

Future Enhancements and Considerations

Future improvements could include:

• Automated scorekeeping: Eliminate manual score tracking.
• Multiplayer functionality: Allow multiple players to participate simultaneously using websockets.
• Improved animations: Enhance the visual appeal of the wheel spin and other animations.
• More sophisticated puzzle handling: Implement more efficient methods for managing and displaying puzzles.

This project serves as a case study in balancing development constraints with desired features. The resulting game, while simple, successfully achieved its goal of adding enjoyment to virtual meetings. The code's availability encourages reflection on similar project trade-offs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The FAQs section from the original text has been omitted as it largely repeats information already present in the revised article. The key information regarding game creation, customization, and potential improvements is already included above.

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