Project Overview

Katro with Soa is a modern web-based adaptation of Katro, a traditional Malagasy strategy board game similar to Mancala. Developed as a pedagogical and cultural project, it aims to introduce young generations to ancestral Malagasy games in a dynamic, playful, and immersive way. Players are guided by Soa, an anime-inspired virtual assistant who explains the rules and animates gameplay through interactive dialogue.

Technical Development

- Languages Used: The game was built entirely using native HTML5, CSS3, and vanilla JavaScript — no external libraries or frameworks — to reinforce mastery of web fundamentals.
- Interface Design: Soa’s anime-style avatar and a vibrant color scheme (purple & yellow, on dark mode) were chosen to enhance visual engagement.
- Game Structure: The project is composed of three main screens: a loading animation, a homepage, and a fully functional gameplay interface.

Features

- Intro Animation: Engaging loading screen before the game begins.
- Interactive Guide: Soa explains game mechanics, interacts with the user, and provides real-time dialogue bubbles to guide gameplay.
- Responsive Design: Optimized to work across different screen sizes and devices.
- No Dependencies: Entirely built from scratch to reflect technical autonomy and learning goals.

Highlights

- Cultural Impact: Aims to preserve and modernize a traditional Malagasy game through digital transformation.
- Anime-inspired UI: Soa gives the project a unique narrative and emotional layer, especially appealing to youth.
- Educational Purpose: Created during early university studies as a hands-on application of frontend development skills.
- Open Source: The full source code is available on GitHub.

Future Improvements

Planned upgrades include:
- Smarter AI opponent,
- Local two-player mode,
- Online multiplayer,
- Full mobile optimization,
- Voice dialogue for Soa,
- Multilingual support (FR / MG / EN).

Conclusion