A presentation on how to make a match 3 game using Corona SDK. For more information and source files, go to: http://www.simplemachine.co/2013/10/deep-dive-how-to-master-building-match-puzzle-games/

1. Match 3 Deep Dive
Kurt Bieg
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9. kurt@simplemachine.co
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10. Art by Loren Bednar
sheets.LorenBednar.com
Tuesday, October 22, 13

11. 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
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12. Recipe for a classic
• Single step mechanic
• Exponential agency loop
• Randomization
• Completion/order
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13. Single Step Mechanic
Do one small thing and only one small thing
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16. Exponential Agency
Repetition of simple choices build complex outcomes
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18. Randomization
A set of objects presented in rule based randomization
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21. Completion/Order
A final state the player is attempting to reach
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24. Lua is all about tables
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26. Grid Based Logic
• Make a grid
• Swapping
• Matching
• Repopulation/Randomize
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27. Make a grid
• Iterate through a number of columns and
number of rows and insert an object at
each point
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28. block_Gp
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29. block_Gp
j
j
j
j = number of column
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30. block_Gp
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
j
j
j
i = number of row
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31. block_Gp
3
6
9
2
5
8
1
4
7
((j-1) x number of rows) + i = block number
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32. Swapping
• When tapping on a tile, check the neighbor
to see what it is
• Copy locations and info
• Swap
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33. block_Gp
Temp
Blocks
3
9
2
5
8
1
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6
4
7

34. block_Gp
Temp
Blocks
3
9
2
5
8
1
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6
4
7

35. Matching
• Check above, below, left, and right
• Ensure no illegal checking (crash)
• Skip non-essential checks
• Mark matched blocks
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36. block_Gp
3
6
9
2
5
8
1
4
7
i x j = block number
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37. block_Gp
y+1
x#rows
5
y-1
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x+
#rows

38. Skip non-essentials
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39. Repopulation/
Randomize
• Add physics
• Insert new blocks
• Drop them in
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