# Super Pong Next Gen

## What This Is

A next-generation Pong game built in HTML5 — a complete browser game experience that combines stunning visuals (particles, glow, trails, screen shake) with rich gameplay mechanics (power-ups, multiple arenas/stages). Supports both solo play against an AI opponent and local 2-player on the same keyboard. The full package: title screen, mode select, settings, game over — not a demo, a real game.

## Core Value

Pong reimagined with juice and depth — it looks spectacular, plays with twists, and feels complete enough to share proudly.

## Requirements

### Validated

(None yet — ship to validate)

### Active

- [ ] Full game with title screen, mode select, settings, and game over screen
- [ ] Solo player vs AI opponent (with meaningful difficulty)
- [ ] Local 2-player on shared keyboard
- [ ] Particle effects, glow, trails, and screen shake — visually juicy
- [ ] Power-ups that change gameplay mid-match
- [ ] Multiple arenas/stages with different layouts or obstacles
- [ ] Win conditions (score-based match structure)

### Out of Scope

- Online multiplayer — complexity out of scope for v1
- Mobile touch controls — keyboard-first for v1
- Persistent leaderboards/accounts — no backend required

## Context

- Pure HTML5/CSS/JavaScript — single file or minimal files, runs in any modern browser
- No build tools or frameworks required — this is a browser game
- Target: desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
- The "next generation" bar means it should make someone say "whoa" when they first open it

## Constraints

- **Tech Stack**: HTML5 Canvas + vanilla JS — no external game engines
- **Deployment**: Must run as a static file (no server required)
- **Scope**: Single-player and local multiplayer only — no network play

## Key Decisions

| Decision | Rationale | Outcome |
|----------|-----------|---------|
| HTML5 Canvas + vanilla JS | No build toolchain, runs anywhere, full control over rendering | — Pending |
| Static single-file delivery | Maximally shareable — just send the .html file | — Pending |

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*Last updated: 2026-03-10 after initialization*