# Neural Nexus Feature Roadmap

## Current Status: Prototype Stage

### ✅ Completed Features (v1.0)
- **Core Game Mechanics**
  - Node connection system with click/drag interaction
  - Level generation with progressive difficulty
  - Timer-based challenge system
  - Score calculation with time bonuses
  - Visual feedback with particle effects

- **User Interface**
  - Modern glassmorphism design
  - Responsive layout for desktop/mobile
  - Real-time stats display (level, score, timer)
  - Level completion animations

- **Performance**
  - 60fps on desktop, 30+fps on mobile
  - Efficient Canvas 2D rendering
  - Memory management with object pooling
  - Cross-browser compatibility

- **Technical Foundation**
  - Single-file deployment (index.html)
  - Vanilla JavaScript ES6+ architecture
  - Object-oriented game entities (Node, Connection classes)
  - Event-driven input system

## 🔄 Phase 1: Core Enhancement (Weeks 1-2)

### Priority 1: Audio System
**Status**: Planning
**Effort**: 8-10 hours
**Dependencies**: None

**Features**:
- Web Audio API integration
- Sound effects for core interactions:
  - Node selection/hover (subtle electronic blip)
  - Connection creation (satisfying snap sound)
  - Connection failure (gentle error tone)
  - Level completion (triumphant sequence)
- Audio volume controls
- Mute functionality for accessibility

**Technical Requirements**:
- Lightweight audio files (<50KB total)
- Mobile browser compatibility (iOS Safari, Android Chrome)
- Efficient audio context management
- Non-blocking audio loading

### Priority 2: Save System
**Status**: Planning  
**Effort**: 6-8 hours
**Dependencies**: None

**Features**:
- Progress persistence using localStorage
- High score tracking (local)
- Level unlock system
- Settings preservation (audio, difficulty preferences)
- Data compression for storage efficiency

**Technical Requirements**:
- Storage limit management (stay under 5MB)
- Data versioning for future compatibility
- Graceful fallback if localStorage unavailable
- Export/import functionality for data portability

### Priority 3: Tutorial System
**Status**: Planning
**Effort**: 8-12 hours
**Dependencies**: None

**Features**:
- Interactive first-time user onboarding
- Overlay tutorials for each game mechanic
- Progressive disclosure of advanced features
- Skip option for returning players
- Contextual help system

**Technical Requirements**:
- Non-intrusive overlay system
- Touch-friendly tutorial interactions
- Keyboard navigation support
- State management for tutorial progress

### Priority 4: Mobile Polish
**Status**: In Progress
**Effort**: 4-6 hours
**Dependencies**: None

**Features**:
- Improved touch responsiveness
- Haptic feedback (where supported)
- Better landscape/portrait orientation handling
- Optimized touch target sizes (44px minimum)
- Gesture conflict resolution

## 🚀 Phase 2: Advanced Features (Weeks 3-6)

### Power-Up System
**Status**: Concept
**Effort**: 12-16 hours
**Dependencies**: Save system

**Features**:
- Hint power-up (reveals one correct connection)
- Time extension power-up (+15 seconds)
- Pattern preview power-up (briefly shows full solution)
- Connection magnet (easier targeting)
- Power-up earn/purchase mechanics

### Achievement System  
**Status**: Concept
**Effort**: 8-10 hours
**Dependencies**: Save system

**Features**:
- Progress-based achievements (levels completed, scores achieved)
- Skill-based achievements (perfect completions, speed runs)
- Discovery achievements (hidden patterns, easter eggs)
- Achievement notifications and celebration effects
- Achievement gallery/showcase

### Visual Enhancement
**Status**: Concept
**Effort**: 10-12 hours
**Dependencies**: Performance optimization

**Features**:
- Enhanced particle systems for different events
- Node animation improvements (breathing, energy flow)
- Connection animation polish (energy traveling)
- Level transition effects
- Background animation subtleties

### Level Editor
**Status**: Research
**Effort**: 16-20 hours
**Dependencies**: Core refactoring

**Features**:
- Drag-and-drop node placement
- Connection pattern drawing
- Level validation and testing
- Community sharing capabilities (future)
- Import/export functionality

## 🌟 Phase 3: Platform Expansion (Weeks 7-12)

### Progressive Web App (PWA)
**Status**: Research
**Effort**: 12-15 hours
**Dependencies**: Service worker implementation

**Features**:
- Offline gameplay capability
- App-like installation experience
- Home screen shortcuts
- Background sync for scores/progress
- Push notifications for challenges

### Social Features
**Status**: Concept
**Effort**: 20-25 hours
**Dependencies**: Backend service

**Features**:
- Score sharing and leaderboards
- Challenge friends functionality
- Daily/weekly puzzle challenges
- Community-created level sharing
- Social achievement system

### Analytics Integration
**Status**: Planning
**Effort**: 6-8 hours
**Dependencies**: Privacy compliance

**Features**:
- Player behavior analytics (level completion rates, popular patterns)
- Performance monitoring (frame rates, crash reporting)
- A/B testing framework for UI/UX improvements
- Privacy-focused data collection

### Mobile App Distribution
**Status**: Research
**Effort**: 15-20 hours
**Dependencies**: Capacitor/Cordova setup

**Features**:
- iOS App Store distribution
- Android Play Store distribution
- Native device integrations (haptics, notifications)
- In-app purchase system (for power-ups/cosmetics)

## 🔧 Technical Debt & Refactoring

### Code Organization
**Priority**: Medium
**Effort**: 8-10 hours

**Tasks**:
- Split single-file architecture into modules
- Implement proper TypeScript for type safety
- Create build system for development vs production
- Add automated testing framework

### Performance Optimization
**Priority**: High
**Effort**: 6-8 hours

**Tasks**:
- Implement WebGL rendering for complex scenes
- Advanced object pooling for all game entities
- Render pipeline optimization
- Memory leak prevention improvements

### Accessibility Improvements
**Priority**: High
**Effort**: 10-12 hours

**Tasks**:
- Screen reader support with ARIA labels
- Keyboard navigation for all interactions
- High contrast mode support
- Reduced motion options for accessibility
- Colorblind-friendly design alternatives

## 📊 Success Metrics by Phase

### Phase 1 Success Criteria
- Audio system increases player engagement by 20%
- Save system enables 60%+ players to return for second session
- Tutorial reduces player drop-off in first 3 levels by 50%
- Mobile polish maintains 30+fps on target devices

### Phase 2 Success Criteria
- Power-ups increase average session time by 25%
- Achievement system improves player retention to 40%+
- Visual enhancements maintain performance targets
- Level editor enables community content creation

### Phase 3 Success Criteria  
- PWA installation rate >15% of players
- Social features drive viral coefficient >1.1
- Mobile app store ratings >4.0 stars
- Monthly active users >10,000

## 🎯 Current Sprint Focus

### This Week (Week of June 13, 2025)
1. **Audio System Foundation** - Web Audio API integration and basic sound effects
2. **Mobile Touch Optimization** - Improve responsiveness and gesture handling
3. **Save System Planning** - Architecture design and localStorage strategy

### Next Week  
1. **Audio System Completion** - All sound effects implemented and tested
2. **Save System Implementation** - Progress persistence and high scores
3. **Tutorial System Design** - UX flow and overlay system architecture

### Risk Assessment
- **Technical Risk**: Audio system compatibility across browsers (Medium)
- **Scope Risk**: Feature creep affecting core gameplay quality (Low - well managed)
- **Performance Risk**: New features impacting frame rate (Medium - requires monitoring)
- **User Risk**: Changes affecting existing player experience (Low - additive features)

## 📅 Release Planning

### v1.1 (Phase 1 Complete)
- Target: End of June 2025
- Features: Audio, Save System, Tutorial, Mobile Polish
- Focus: Enhanced core experience

### v1.2 (Phase 2 Complete)  
- Target: End of July 2025
- Features: Power-ups, Achievements, Visual Enhancement, Level Editor
- Focus: Extended gameplay and creativity

### v2.0 (Phase 3 Complete)
- Target: End of August 2025
- Features: PWA, Social Features, Mobile Apps
- Focus: Platform expansion and community

This roadmap is a living document and will be updated based on player feedback, technical discoveries, and changing priorities.