feat: create a pong prototype

[a2937]

Checklist:

• I have read freeCodeCamp's contribution guidelines.
• My pull request has a descriptive title (not a vague title like Update index.md)

Closes #790

My take on the project mostly works. The computer player's paddle goes up and down unnaturally; and I'm not quite so sure how to fix it.

Additionally the ball sometimes gets stuck on the paddle; thus causing a glitch where the player scores.

[jdwilkin4]

The computer player's paddle goes up and down unnaturally; and I'm not quite so sure how to fix it.

Additionally the ball sometimes gets stuck on the paddle; thus causing a glitch where the player scores.

I would suggest taking a look at the current solution and seeing how they approached it.

[a2937]

I've not scored against the computer paddle yet. I think we're good?

[jdwilkin4]

I was able to test it out locally and play the game and here are my thoughts.

While I wasn't able to beat the computer, I feel like the computer motion is still to much. We should replicate the behavior found in the original demo project here. The original slightly adjusted its position when necessary whereas here I felt here it was constantly moving.

https://codepen.io/satyamdev/full/pdMmBp

Also we should have the ability for users to move the mouse to control the paddle like in the original. I wasn't able to do that here.

Another thing, the paddle should not be able to move completely off screen. In the original, you were able to move it partially off screen but not completely.

Lastly, there should be some better messaging for when the game resets. Right now the scores automatically reset when you click the reset button. But I feel like that could be easily missed. When I first clicked on the button I didn't notice that the game had reset but the paddle where still moving. A nicer user experience would be if there was some sort of modal that maybe asks if you are sure to reset the game. And if so, then they can start a new game or resume the one they have.

Hope all of that helps 👍🏾

[a2937]

While I wasn't able to beat the computer, I feel like the computer motion is still to much. We should replicate the behavior found in the original demo project here. The original slightly adjusted its position when necessary whereas here I felt here it was constantly moving.

I'm still having trouble figuring out what you mean. I know there's a difference. But I see the computer paddle moving near constantly like mine.

2025-07-26.15-22-49-1.webm

[jdwilkin4]

Here is what I am seeing between the current demo and your project.

The current demo is smoother is more reactionary. Here is an example where I am completely still and the computer only moves slightly into position to beat me.It moves into place but its smooth.

demo-project.mov

Whereas with yours, it is constantly moving up and down even when I am stationary. It seems more frantic than natural.

Screen.Recording.2025-08-03.at.1.22.13.PM.mov

So we want to incorperate some of that smoothess the original had. I would suggest reviewing the source code to see how they got it to be smoother. 👍🏾

Also, all of this will take a back seat for now until the TypeScript stuff is done 👍🏾

[jdwilkin4]

I spent some time playing around with it and realized the ball speed was a little fast which made it seem like the paddles were moving frantically. So I slowed that down.

I also pushed up commits for the following:

• custom reset modal
• removed instances of var
• removed unused variables

Played the game for a while and I think it looks good. Thanks for all of your hard work on this. Let's merge it in 👍🏾