Gameplay

🍱 Devlog: Smarter Matching & Dynamic Layering in FoodMatch

Over the past few development cycles, FoodMatch has taken some big steps forward in both gameplay mechanics and performance optimizations. Here’s a breakdown of what’s been cooking, backed by real progress from the Git commit history.

🔁 Queue-Based Match Checking & Event-Driven Updates

One of the biggest core changes was the shift to an event-driven match-checking system built on a queue-based approach. This not only improved responsiveness but also allowed for smoother dynamic slot interactions.

📌 Commit Highlights:

Implement SlotManager to handle matching
Do not process the slotmanager queue when game paused
MatchFinder: Find the quickest possible match out of all slot prop groups

These commits mark the moment where the old brute-force checking gave way to a smarter system—tracking and triggering updates only when relevant changes occur.

📦 Dynamic Prop Arrangement by Size & Layers

Getting props of different shapes to align cleanly inside compartments was a fun challenge. With multiple updates, the system now adjusts prop sizes, manages layers, and slots props dynamically according to compartment dimensions.

📌 Commit Highlights:

Adjust prop sizes for new compartments
Improve shelf stocking algorithm to place smaller props in between
Stacks all the extra props into layers

With these changes, the game ensures that props not only look organized but are stacked smartly—laying the groundwork for more complex puzzle structures.

🌲 WIP: Tree Data Structure for Prop Layers

I’m now in the middle of implementing a tree-based structure to store props based on their layer relationships. The idea is simple:

First-layer props are parents
Props behind them in deeper layers are children

This hierarchy means when a parent (front-facing prop) is moved, I can efficiently traverse and update only its children—a massive performance win over checking every prop every time.

📌 Commit Highlights:

Fixed improper updating of prop layers
Improve prop state update calls and scale tween issues
Made adjustments to overlap box and prop arrangements

These commits address the earlier problems that sparked the need for a more intelligent data structure.

✨ Bonus: UX & Visual Polish Along the Way

Plenty of visual and animation updates also made it in to ensure that every mechanic feels good:

Slotting tween effect for prop
Improve bonus and collect star logic
Decrease the height of the prop match anim
Disable magnet booster when there are no props in slot

From smoother animations to responsive VFX, everything works toward one goal: satisfying moment-to-moment gameplay.

That’s it for this devlog! Development is ongoing, but these recent commits reflect some of the most impactful architectural and gameplay upgrades yet. Can’t wait to share more once the tree-based layer logic goes live!