Kidus Mesfin

Of course. Here is a developer’s journal in Markdown format that breaks down the provided 3D Blackjack game, explaining its components and how they work together.

Developer’s Journal: 3D Blackjack Game Breakdown

This document outlines the architecture and functionality of the single-file 3D Blackjack game. The goal of this project was to create an immersive, visually appealing Blackjack experience using only standard web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) without external libraries or frameworks.

1. Game Overview: The Rules of Blackjack

Before diving into the code, it’s important to understand the game it implements. Blackjack is a card game where the player competes against the dealer.

2. Code Architecture Breakdown

The entire game is contained within a single HTML file, which is organized into three distinct parts: HTML for structure, CSS for presentation, and JavaScript for logic.

2.1. The HTML Structure (The Stage)

The HTML defines the elements of our game world. It’s built like a theater stage.

2.2. The CSS Styling (The 3D Illusion & Atmosphere)

The CSS is responsible for the game’s entire look and feel, most importantly the 3D effect.

2.3. The JavaScript Logic (The Brains)

The JavaScript orchestrates the entire game. It’s structured around a central state object and a clear sequence of functions.

a. State Management

A single state object at the top tracks everything that changes during the game:

let state = {
    turn: 'betting',      // Whose turn it is: 'betting', 'player', 'opponent', 'end'
    playerMoney: 100,     // The player's current wallet
    currentBet: 0,        // The bet for the current round
    deck: [],             // The current shuffled deck of cards
    playerHand: [],       // The player's cards
    opponentHand: []      // The dealer's cards
};

This approach makes it easy to see the game’s current status at a glance and simplifies debugging.

b. The Game Loop

The game operates in a clear cycle, managed by a series of functions.

  1. initGame(): Called at the very beginning. It resets the state object to its default values (e.g., player money to $100) and calls startBettingPhase().

  2. startBettingPhase():
    • Resets the hands, bet, and UI elements for a new round.
    • Sets state.turn = 'betting'.
    • The updateUI() function shows the betting controls and hides the game controls.
    • The game now waits for player input via the betting buttons.
  3. startRound():
    • Triggered when the player clicks “Deal”.
    • It creates and shuffles a new deck.
    • It uses async/await and a delay function to deal cards one by one (dealCard()) in the correct sequence (Player, Dealer, Player, Dealer).
    • It checks if the player got a Blackjack (21 on the first two cards). If so, it ends the round immediately. Otherwise, it sets state.turn = 'player'.
  4. Player’s Turn (Event-Driven):
    • When state.turn === 'player', the “Hit” and “Stand” buttons are enabled.
    • Hit: The player gets another card (dealCard('player', true)). The script checks if the new score is over 21. If so, the player busts, and the round ends (endRound('opponent')).
    • Stand: The player’s turn is over. The game transitions to the dealer by calling setTurn('opponent').
  5. runOpponentAI():
    • This function contains the dealer’s logic. It’s called automatically when state.turn becomes 'opponent'.
    • It first flips the dealer’s face-down card.
    • It then enters a while loop, hitting (taking a new card) as long as its score is less than 17.
    • Once the score is 17 or more, it stands.
    • Finally, it calls evaluateWinner() to compare scores.
  6. endRound():
    • This function handles the outcome. It calculates winnings or losses based on the result ('player', 'opponent', 'push', 'blackjack').
    • It updates state.playerMoney.
    • It calls showOverlay() to display a message with the result and a “Next Round” button. Clicking this button starts the cycle over again at startBettingPhase().

c. Key Helper Functions

THIS IS ALL AI!! On brand for the project!