Othello Game

Othello is a classic strategy board game implemented using Python and Pygame. This project recreates the traditional game experience with engaging graphics and smooth gameplay mechanics.

WATCH THE OVERVIEW VIDEO

Features

• Player vs Computer Mode: Play against ai using alpha-beta pruning algorithm
• Player vs Player Mode: Play against a friend on the same machine.
• Valid Move Highlighting: Shows the possible moves for the current player.
• Score Tracking: Displays real-time scores for both players.

Technologies Used

• Python: Core programming language.
• Pygame: Game development library for rendering graphics and managing game states.

Setup Instructions

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/AhmedShaaban11/othello.git

2. Go to the game directory

   cd othello

3. Create a Virtual Environment (Recommended):

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/Scripts/activate  # On Windows with bash
   # or
   venv\Scripts\activate.bat     # On Windows with cmd

4. Install Dependencies:

   • Ensure Python 3.x is installed.

   • Install dependencies using the requirements file:

     pip install -r requirements.txt

   • If you encounter path issues, use the full Python path:

     venv/Scripts/python.exe -m pip install -r requirements.txt

5. Run the Game:

   python main.py

   • If you encounter "Unable to create process" errors, use the full Python path:

     venv/Scripts/python.exe main.py

How to Play

• Players take turns placing their pieces on the board.
• A valid move must capture at least one opponent piece.
• The game ends when neither player can make a valid move.
• The winner is the player with the most pieces on the board at the end.

Troubleshooting

Issue: "Unable to create process" or Python not found error

• Make sure you have activated your virtual environment first

• If using a virtual environment, you can also run the game directly with:

  venv/Scripts/python.exe main.py  # On Windows

Issue: ModuleNotFoundError for pygame

• Ensure you have installed the dependencies:

  pip install -r requirements.txt

• If the above fails, try using the full Python path:

  venv/Scripts/python.exe -m pip install -r requirements.txt

Issue: Virtual Environment Path Mismatch

If you encounter errors like "Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process", this usually means your virtual environment has path issues:

1. Deactivate and recreate the virtual environment:

   deactivate
   rm -rf venv  # Remove the old virtual environment
   python -m venv venv
   source venv/Scripts/activate
   pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Alternative: Use absolute paths without activating:

   # Install dependencies
   ./venv/Scripts/python.exe -m pip install -r requirements.txt
   
   # Run the game
   ./venv/Scripts/python.exe main.py

Issue: Permission Errors on Windows

If you encounter permission errors, try running your terminal as administrator or use:

python -m pip install --user -r requirements.txt