alison-codes / mancala-game

Responsive JavaScript-based two-player game

Mancala Project

Overview

Mancala is an ancient board game dating back to the 6th century that rewards strategic thinking. In the game, two players compete to collect as many stones as possible before one of the players clears her side of all its stones. Complete rules are listed below and accessible in live game play.

Launch the online game here.

Rules

• Set Up: Players sit across from each other with the board between them. Each player is allocated pockets closest to her and a larger scoring bin, called a mancala, to the right. Four stones are placed in each of the 12 smaller pockets.

• Play: The first player picks up all the stones in any of her six pockets. She distributes them one by one around the board in a counterclockwise motion, including her own mancala, but not the opponent’s mancala. If the player places the last stone in her own mancala, she receives an additional turn. If the last stone is placed in an empty pocket on the player’s own side, she captures that stone and all the stones in the opponent’s pocket directly across.

• Winning: The game ends when one of the players runs out of stones in her small pockets. When this happens, the other player gets to keep all remaining stones on her side. The player with the most stones in her mancala wins.

Technologies Used

• Languages - HTML5, CSS3, Javascript
• Design - Balsamiq, Google Fonts, Xoron Favicon Creator
• Editor - Visual Studio Code

Future Development

• Add AI (player vs computer)
• Add a visual representation of the game pieces corresponding to the number pieces per pocket