Match 3 Deep Dive

Match 3 Deep DiveKurt Bieg

Tuesday, October 22, 13

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Art by Loren Bednar sheets.LorenBednar.com


The next 2 hours of your life

• Chit chat about classic puzzles

• Learn some Corona SDK/Lua

• Daydream about grid based logic

• Code code code


Recipe for a classic

• Single step mechanic

• Exponential agency loop

• Randomization

• Completion/order


Single Step Mechanic

Do one small thing and only one small thing


Exponential Agency

Repetition of simple choices build complex outcomes


Randomization

A set of objects presented in rule based randomization


Completion/Order

A final state the player is attempting to reach


Lua is all about tables


Grid Based Logic

• Make a grid

• Swapping

• Matching

• Repopulation/Randomize


Make a grid

• Iterate through a number of columns and number of rows and insert an object at each point


block_Gp


block_Gp

j j j

j = number of columnTuesday, October 22, 13

block_Gp

j j j

i

i

i

i

i

i

i

i

i

i = number of rowTuesday, October 22, 13

block_Gp

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

((j-1) x number of rows) + i = block numberTuesday, October 22, 13

• When tapping on a tile, check the neighbor to see what it is

• Copy locations and info

• Swap

Swapping


block_Gp

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

TempBlocks


Matching

• Check above, below, left, and right

• Ensure no illegal checking (crash)

• Skip non-essential checks

• Mark matched blocks


block_Gp

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

i x j = block numberTuesday, October 22, 13

block_Gp

5

y-1

y+1

x -#rows

x +#rows


Skip non-essentials


Repopulation/Randomize

• Add physics

• Insert new blocks

• Drop them in


Design