Debate Duel

Inspiration

In an age of echo chambers and polarizing opinions, I was inspired to create a platform that encourages healthy, structured debates in a fun and competitive way. Debate Duel transforms online discourse into a game, promoting critical thinking, respectful arguments, and learning from diverse perspectives. I wanted to combine my passion for technology and communication to build a unique multiplayer experience that fosters meaningful discussions.

What it does

Debate Duel is a 1v1 multiplayer debate game where two players are matched in real-time to debate a randomly assigned topic. Players take turns presenting their arguments and counterarguments within a time limit.

Key Features:

Real-Time Matchmaking: Instant pairing for debate sessions powered by AWS Amplify.
Interactive Debate Duels: Real-time debates with a 100-scale score system, synchronized timers, live previews of the opponent's typing, and an engaging UI/UX for an immersive experience.
AI-Powered Assistance: Automated topic generation and judging system leveraging Amazon Bedrock.
User-Friendly Design: Intuitive and interactive interface for seamless and enjoyable gameplay.

How I Built It

The project is serverless, ensuring scalability, low latency, and efficient resource management through AWS.

React + Next.js: Frontend development for dynamic and responsive interfaces.
AWS Amplify: Backend hosting and real-time data synchronization.
AppSync: WebSocket-based GraphQL API for real-time updates.
DynamoDB: Reliable, scalable database for storing player and match data.
Amazon Bedrock: Core AI services for topic generation and judging.

Amazon Q Developer Usage

I utilized Amazon Q Developer primarily for debugging code related to AWS services and their unique syntax. The tool was incredibly easy to use as an extension in VS Code, eliminating the need to copy and paste code. It allowed me to drag and click directly within my code and to 'insert at place', making the debugging process efficient. Beyond AWS-specific tasks, Amazon Q Developer was also highly effective for debugging other code logic, providing insightful diagnostics and tailored solutions to enhance overall project performance.

Challenges

Real-Time Communication: Implementing multiplayer functionality via AWS Amplify and Amazon DynamoDB and timer synchronization between players using client-side updates and periodic server syncs.
Fair Judging: Building an AI-powered system to evaluate subjective aspects like persuasiveness and logic.
Game Logic: Designing the overarching game logic, including rules, flows, and edge cases, was challenging when balancing fairness and user experience.

Accomplishments

Implemented real-time matchmaking and debate mechanics.
Created an AI-driven judging system with actionable feedback.
Built a scalable serverless architecture using AWS.
Created a platform that fosters critical thinking and respectful discourse through gamification.

Lessons Learned

AWS Services: Gained deep insights into Amplify, AppSync, DynamoDB, and Bedrock for building scalable applications.
AI in Subjective Tasks: Tackled the complexities of training AI to assess debates fairly.
Project Management: Learned to balance technical challenges with user experience design.

What’s Next for Debate Duel

Enhanced AI Judge: Add capabilities for evaluating logical consistency and deeper argument analysis.
AI Opponent: Create an AI-powered opponent mode for practice debates.
Tournament Mode: Develop a feature for multi-player tournaments and larger-scale competitions.
Social Features: Introduce friend lists, community forums, and chat functionality to enhance user interaction.
Global Leaderboard: Add a competitive leaderboard to rank players based on debate performance