Snake Game

This project implements a classic Snake Game using JavaScript and the HTML5 Canvas API. Players control a snake that grows longer as it eats apples, avoiding collisions with the edges of the game area.

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Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Features
3. Controls
4. How to Run
5. Code Structure
6. Potential Improvements
7. License

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Overview

Author: Alistair Chambers
Date: 12/15/21
File: snake.js

The snake moves continuously, eating apples to grow longer. The player must guide the snake without hitting the edges of the canvas. The game includes a scoring system and supports pausing or restarting the gameplay.

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Features

• Smooth Gameplay: Continuous movement with a simple game loop.
• Apple Respawn: Apples appear at random locations, avoiding the snake’s body.
• Collision Handling: The snake wraps around the canvas edges.
• Score Tracking: Displays the player's score based on the snake's length.
• Pause/Restart: Players can pause the game or restart with a new snake.

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Controls

• Arrow Keys: Move the snake.
• Shift Key: Pause/Unpause the game.
• Spacebar: Reset the game.

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How to Run

1. Download the project files.
2. Open the index.html file in a modern browser.
3. The game will start automatically. Use the controls to play.

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Code Structure

Classes

Snake

Represents the snake, including its position, size, and movement logic.

• Attributes:

  • x, y: Starting position.
  • size: Size of each segment.
  • tail: Array storing the snake's body segments.
  • rotateX, rotateY: Direction of movement.

• Methods:

  • move(): Updates the snake's position based on its direction.

Apple

Handles the apple's random placement, ensuring it doesn't spawn on the snake's body.

• Attributes:
  • x, y: Position.
  • size: Size of the apple.
  • color: Appearance.

Core Functions

• gameLoop(): Starts the main game loop.
• update(): Updates game elements like snake movement and collision detection.
• draw(): Renders the game elements on the canvas.
• checkHitWall(): Wraps the snake around the canvas edges.
• eatApple(): Checks if the snake eats the apple and grows its tail.
• createRect(x, y, width, height, color): Draws rectangles for game elements.

Event Listeners

• keydown: Handles player input for movement, pausing, and restarting.

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Potential Improvements

1. Game Over Mechanic: End the game when the snake collides with itself.
2. Difficulty Levels: Increase speed as the score increases.
3. Graphics Enhancements: Add textures or animations.
4. High Scores: Track and display the top scores.
5. Mobile Support: Add touch controls for mobile devices.

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License

This project is open-source and can be used or modified under the terms of the MIT License.

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