JavaScript / SAMPLE ARTICLE
What rebuilding Pacman taught us about game state
Small lifecycle bugs can change the entire feel of a game.
A browser game makes state-management problems visible. An extra keyboard listener changes movement after a restart. A blocked ghost can freeze a game loop. The order of collision checks determines whether a power pellet protects the player in time.
One game, one input handler
The Pacman modernization keeps a single keyboard handler and clears the previous timer before starting another run. Restarting resets the board, score, characters, and power state together.
Finite movement choices
Instead of repeatedly guessing a direction until one works, a ghost chooses from the available directions. When none are open, it waits. That makes a blocked position a normal game state rather than an endless loop.
Order matters
Pellets are collected before collisions are resolved. A queued turn waits for an open junction, while pause preserves the remaining power duration. These small details make the controls more predictable.
Keeping the original character
The project retains its original maze and CSS characters. Native JavaScript modules replace the old bundler, and touch controls make the game usable beyond a desktop keyboard.