Poffer Card Game - Technical Documentation

Developed at Isfahan University of Technology (IUT)

🛠️ Software Framework

• Language: Qt (C++)
• Architecture: Client-Server

👨‍💻 Development Team

• Client Side: Masih Bagheri
• Server Side: Ali Hamzeh

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1. Introduction

Poffer is a strategic card game featuring:

• 4-player mode
• Advanced pattern recognition mechanics
• TCP/IP client-server communication
• SHA-256 password hashing

Key Technologies:

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
• Multithreading
• Polymorphism

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2. Game Flow (Step-by-Step Guide)

This section provides a visual and descriptive guide on how to navigate the application, from the initial connection to starting a game.

A. Connecting to the Server

The first step for any user is to establish a connection with the game server.

(Screenshot: Connecting to the server)

As shown in the image above, the user must enter the server's IP address into the designated field and click the "connect" button to proceed to the login/registration page.

B. User Account Management

Registration Process

New users must create an account to play. By clicking the "signup" link on the login page, they are directed to the registration form.

(Screenshot: User registration form)

The user needs to fill in all the required fields. After completing the form and clicking "signup", the user is redirected back to the sign-in page to log in with their new credentials.

Login Process

Registered users can access the game via the sign-in page.

(Screenshot: User sign-in page)

To log in, the user must enter their credentials:

• Username: Must be at least 4 characters long and contain English letters and numbers.
• Password: Must be at least 6 characters long and contain English letters and numbers.

The server validates this information against its database using a SHA-256 hash comparison for the password. The page also provides links for "password recovery" and "signup" for users who have forgotten their password or do not have an account.

C. Main Menu

Upon a successful login, the user is greeted with the Main Menu, which serves as the central hub of the application.

(Screenshot: Main menu)

The menu offers the following options:

• Start Game: This is the primary button to enter the matchmaking queue and wait for a 4-player game to begin.
• History: Users can click here to view a record of their last 3 completed matches.
• Change Info: This section allows users to update their profile information.
• Log Out: Clicking this button will sign the user out of their account and close the application.

D. The Main Game Screen

Once a match starts, the user is taken to the main game interface where the actual gameplay occurs.

(Screenshot: The main gameplay interface)

The game screen is composed of several key components:

• Card Selection Area (Top-Left): Seven cards are displayed here. The user must choose their cards from this selection to form their hand.
• Player's Hand (Bottom-Left): This area shows the five cards the user has currently selected.
• Game Controls (Top-Right): Three buttons are available for managing the game session:
  • Stop: Pauses the game.
  • Resume: Continues a paused game.
  • Exit: Allows the user to leave the current match.
• Chat Window: Located below the game controls, this feature enables real-time text communication between all players in the game.
• Guidance Panel: A dedicated section of the UI displays helpful messages and status updates to guide the player throughout the game.
• Turn Timer: A timer is visible to indicate that each player has a maximum of 30 seconds to make their move, after which an action may be automated as per the inactivity rules.

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3. Game Mechanics

Winning Patterns (Strength Order):

1. Golden Hand (Rank 10)

• Combination: 5 high-value cards of same suit (Bitcoin, King, Queen, Soldier, 10)
• Tiebreaker: Suit priority: Diamond > Gold > Dollar > Coin

2. Ordered Hand (Rank 9)

• Combination: 5 sequential cards of same suit
• Tiebreaker: Compare starting card

3. Four Plus One (Rank 8)

• Combination: 4 same-value cards from different suits + 1 random
• Tiebreaker: Compare the 4-card set

4. Penthouse (Rank 7)

• Combination: 3 same-value cards + 2 other same-value cards
• Tiebreaker: Compare the triple set

5. High-Value Mess (Rank 6)

• Combination: 5 unsorted cards of same suit
• Tiebreaker: Compare cards from highest

6. Series (Rank 5)

• Combination: 5 sequential cards from mixed suits
• Tiebreaker: Compare starting sequence

7. Three Plus Two (Rank 4)

• Combination: 3 same-value cards + 2 random
• Tiebreaker: Compare the triple set

8. Double Pair (Rank 3)

• Combination: Two pairs + 1 random card
• Tiebreaker: Compare pairs by strength

9. Single Pair (Rank 2)

• Combination: One pair + 3 random cards
• Tiebreaker: Compare pair then remaining cards

10. Messy Hand (Rank 1)

• Combination: No specific pattern
• Tiebreaker: Compare cards from highest

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4. Special Case Handling

• Disconnection: 60-second reconnection window
• Inactivity: 20s delay → 10s warning → Random card selection
• Player Exit: Instant loss in 4-player mode

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5. Technical Implementation

Class Structure:

class Card {
QString suit; // Diamond, Gold, Dollar, Coin
QString value; // Bitcoin, King, Queen, ...
};

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## 📜 Final Notes
- In complete ties, suit priority determines the winner.
- Match history is stored in JSON format.

*This document maintains all original content and pattern hierarchy while being GitHub-compatible.*

### Key Conversion Notes:
1. **Pattern Preservation:**
   - All 10 patterns kept in original strength order (Rank 10 → Rank 1)
   - Card names literally translated (e.g., "دست طلایی" → "Golden Hand")

2. **Technical Terms:**
   - "هش SHA-256" → "SHA-256 hashing"
   - "چندنخی" → "Multithreading"

3. **Game-Specific Terms:**
   - "بیت‌کوین" → "Bitcoin" (kept as-is)
   - "سرباز" → "Soldier"