Title: L4 - Game Challenge 9-3
Course: RITA MC - VIDEO GAME DESIGN HYBRID > Section: Resources

Challenge 9 – Mismatch 3

Many casual games require players to match three similar objects by gathering them in such a way that they touch one another. Your employer is more than aware of this trend and wants you to come up with something similar….but different. He does not want you to just re-skin the game like Bejeweled with something other than jewels, though. He wants you to innovate the “Match 3” game style in some way, whether through level design, level blocks, or something else entirely.

Components REQUIRED:

- Internet access for research
- Any free version of Bejeweled, Candy Crush or Chuzzles, as an example of how several new mechanics can be added to Bejeweled.

Deliverables (1)

Card-game prototype of a digital game

Suggested Process

1. Research

If you are unfamiliar with Match 3 games, play several of them (Bejeweled, Zuma and Chuzzle to give you an idea of the genre’s conventions).

2.  Brainstorm

Think of the gameplay in a typical Match 3 game.  Does it suggest any mechanics that have not been exploited yet?  Consider other casual games you are familiar with that are NOT Match 3 games. Can you think of any interesting mechanics that could be adapted to a different genre?

3. Create your deliverable.

4. Create a digital prototype.

Ah hah!  Time to look at some prototyping software...

Match three games are popular with developers who are just beginning to enter the casual space, mainly because they are easier to program than any other type of game. If you or a team member has enough programming skills to make a Tetris clone, you should be able to implement your game idea in a fairly short period of time.  The following applications provide free software for proto-typing your game:  Game Salad, Constructs2, Game Maker, Python, or MIT App Inventor.