Datatype Muncher

Phou Phommavong
/
Datatype Muncher
on 6 Nov 2026
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game.m
function g = game()
  %   g - One-button MATLAB datatype munching game
  %   G = datatypeMunchers returns INIT, UPDATE and RENDER handles for
  %   the Minihack harness. Tap Space or click to start, munch or retry.
  %   The player scans automatically. Each round lasts 60 seconds.
  %   A three-second countdown precedes each round and retry.
  %
  %   The contest requires a file named game.m with a GAME entry point.
  %   Copy this file into game.m and rename the first function to game.
  %   This source returns the same three handles as the game.m template;
  %   the harness supplies the window, axes, input and frame updates.
  %
  %   See also isa, categorical
  % This will have various datatypes, so 9 levels with matrix being last
  % If going beyond 9 levels the game goes faster.

  g.init = @initState;
  g.update = @updateState;
  g.render = @renderFrame;
end

function s = initState(ax)
  % Use the supplied 800-by-600 canvas; never create a window here.
  ax.XLim = [0 800]; ax.YLim = [0 600]; ax.YDir = 'reverse';
  ax.DataAspectRatio = [1 1 1];
  s.colors.ink = [.10 .19 .28]; s.colors.muted = [.3 .4 .5];
  s.colors.blue = [0 .4 .7]; s.colors.orange = [.9 .3 .08];
  s.colors.tile = [1 1 1]; s.colors.background = [.95 .97 1];
  s.colors.hint = [1 .93 .86]; s.colors.danger = [.7 .15 .15];
  ax.Color = s.colors.background;
  pick = {'HitTest','off','PickableParts','none'};
  s.targets = {'double','logical','categorical','string','cell', ...
    'uint8','single','char','matrix'};
  s.expressions = {'42','3.14','[1 2;3 4]','true','false', ...
    sprintf('logical\n([1 0;0 1])'),sprintf('categorical\n("cat")'), ...
    sprintf('categorical\n(["a" "b"])'),'"hello"','["a" "b"]', ...
    '{1,2}','{1,2;3,4}','uint8(7)',sprintf('uint8\n([1 2;3 4])'), ...
    'single(2.5)',sprintf('single\n([1 2;3 4])'),'''cat''','''MATLAB'''};
  s.values = {42,3.14,[1 2;3 4],true,false,logical([1 0;0 1]), ...
    categorical("cat"),categorical(["a" "b"]),"hello",["a" "b"], ...
    {1,2},{1,2;3,4},uint8(7),uint8([1 2;3 4]), ...
    single(2.5),single([1 2;3 4]),'cat','MATLAB'};
  s.score = 0; s.lives = 3; s.round = 1; s.mode = 'ready';
  s.roundSeconds = 60;
  s.note = 'TAP SPACE or CLICK ANYWHERE to START';
  s.noteTime = 0;
  s.path = [1:5 10:-1:6 11:15 20:-1:16 21:25];
  s.x = zeros(1,25); s.y = s.x;
  s.gfx.tiles = gobjects(1,25);
  s.gfx.labels = gobjects(1,25);
  for k = 1:25
    s.x(k) = 112+144*mod(k-1,5);
    s.y(k) = 170+78*floor((k-1)/5);
    s.gfx.tiles(k) = rectangle(ax, ...
      'Position',[s.x(k)-69 s.y(k)-36 138 72], ...
      'FaceColor',s.colors.tile,'EdgeColor',s.colors.background*.8, ...
      pick{:});
    s.gfx.labels(k) = text(ax,s.x(k),s.y(k)+12,'', ...
      'HorizontalAlignment','center','Interpreter','none', ...
      'FontSize',11,'Color',s.colors.ink,pick{:});
  end
  s.gfx.title = text(ax,400,30,'DATATYPE MUNCHERS', ...
    'FontSize',22,'Color',s.colors.ink,'FontWeight','bold','HorizontalAlignment','center', ...
    pick{:});
  s.gfx.target = text(ax,400,68,'','FontSize',16,'Color',s.colors.orange, ...
    'FontWeight','bold','HorizontalAlignment','center', ...
    'Interpreter','none',pick{:});
  s.gfx.stats = text(ax,400,100,'','FontSize',12,'Color',s.colors.muted, ...
    'HorizontalAlignment','center',pick{:});
  s.gfx.meter = rectangle(ax,'Position',[44 118 712 6], ...
    'FaceColor',s.colors.blue,'EdgeColor','none', ...
    pick{:});
  s.gfx.highlight = rectangle(ax,'Position',[1 1 138 72], ...
    'EdgeColor',s.colors.orange,'LineWidth',3, ...
    pick{:});
  % Generate and shade the real L-shaped membrane once, without files.
  z = membrane(1,24);
  [u,v] = meshgrid(linspace(-1,1,49));
  [gx,gy] = gradient(z,1/24);
  shade = .72+.28*max(0,(-gx+gy+1)./sqrt(3*(gx.^2+gy.^2+1)));
  palette = [.26 .60 .85;.16 .20 .32;.85 .11 .06;1 .35 .12;1 .50 .23];
  % Carry the blue side up to the peak, covering roughly one third.
  tint = max(0,min(1,.9+.65*u-.8*max(0,z)));
  rgb = reshape(interp1([0 .35 .48 .67 1],palette,tint(:)),49,49,3).*shade;
  s.logoX = 22*(cosd(37.5)*u-sind(37.5)*v);
  height = .5*(sind(37.5)*u+cosd(37.5)*v)+1.3*z;
  s.logoY = -30*(height-min(height(:)))/(max(height(:))-min(height(:)));
  depth = 3-.866*(sind(37.5)*u+cosd(37.5)*v)+.5*z;
  % Hide the rear arm, retaining the front blue-and-orange silhouette.
  depth(z==0 | v>0) = NaN;
  s.gfx.logo = surface(ax,'XData',s.logoX,'YData',s.logoY, ...
    'ZData',depth,'CData',rgb,'FaceColor','interp','EdgeColor','none', ...
    pick{:});
  s.gfx.noteBox = rectangle(ax,'Position',[42 527 716 32], ...
    'FaceColor',s.colors.hint,'EdgeColor','none', ...
    pick{:});
  s.gfx.note = text(ax,400,543,'','FontSize',13, ...
    'Color',s.colors.ink,'FontWeight','bold', ...
    'HorizontalAlignment','center','Interpreter','none', ...
    pick{:});
  s.gfx.helpBox = rectangle(ax,'Position',[42 564 716 30], ...
    'FaceColor',s.colors.blue,'EdgeColor','none', ...
    pick{:});
  s.gfx.help = text(ax,400,579, ...
    'SPACE / CLICK = MUNCH     |     NO TAP = SKIP     |     Avoid BUGs', ...
    'FontSize',12,'Color',s.colors.tile,'FontWeight','bold','HorizontalAlignment','center', ...
    pick{:});
  s = newRound(s);
  renderFrame([],s);
end

function s = newRound(s)
  s.target = s.targets{mod(s.round-1,numel(s.targets))+1};
  match = cellfun(@(v) isTarget(v,s.target),s.values);
  good = find(match); bad = find(~match);
  ids = [good(randi(numel(good),1,6)),bad(randi(numel(bad),1,19))];
  s.board = ids(randperm(25));
  s.eaten = false(1,25);
  decoys = find(~match(s.board));
  s.bugs = decoys(randperm(numel(decoys),2));
  s.cursor = 1; s.scanTime = 0; s.timeLeft = s.roundSeconds;
  s.dwell = max(.8,1.2-.04*(s.round-1));
  s.countdown = 3;
end

function s = updateState(s,dt,pressed)
  % Only the harness's edge-triggered tap is accepted as player input.
  % Keep all gameplay state here and scale elapsed time by frame dt.
  if strcmp(s.mode,'ready')
    if pressed
      s.mode = 'countdown';
      s.note = 'Munch matching expressions. Each correct tile earns 10 points.';
      s.noteTime = 2;
    end
    return
  end
  if strcmp(s.mode,'countdown')
    % Ignore taps and pause the round clock until the countdown ends.
    elapsed = min(dt,s.countdown);
    s.countdown = s.countdown-elapsed;
    dt = dt-elapsed;
    if s.countdown>1e-9, return; end
    s.countdown = 0; s.mode = 'playing'; pressed = false;
    if dt<=1e-9, return; end
  end
  if strcmp(s.mode,'over')
    if pressed
      s.score = 0; s.lives = 3; s.round = 1;
      s = newRound(s); s.mode = 'countdown';
      s.note = 'Fresh game: munch matching expressions.';
      s.noteTime = 2;
    end
    return
  end
  s.timeLeft = max(0,s.timeLeft-dt);
  s.noteTime = max(0,s.noteTime-dt);
  if s.timeLeft<=0
    s.lives = s.lives-1;
    s.note = 'Time is up: one life lost. Fresh minute to finish this board.';
    s.noteTime = 3;
    s.timeLeft = s.roundSeconds; s.scanTime = 0;
    if s.lives==0
      s.timeLeft = 0; s.mode = 'over';
    else
      s.countdown = 3; s.mode = 'countdown';
    end
    return
  end
  % Process the tap on the tile shown in the previous rendered frame.
  k = s.path(s.cursor);
  if pressed && ~s.eaten(k)
    s.eaten(k) = true;
    if any(s.bugs==k)
      s.lives = s.lives-1; s.note = 'BUG bite: one life lost.';
    elseif isTarget(s.values{s.board(k)},s.target)
      s.score = s.score+10; s.note = 'Yum: +10';
    else
      s.lives = s.lives-1;
      s.note = ['Oops: that expression is ' class(s.values{s.board(k)}) '.'];
    end
    s.noteTime = 2;
    if s.lives==0
      s.mode = 'over';
      return
    end
    if countFood(s)==0
      s.score = s.score+50; s.round = s.round+1;
      s = newRound(s);
      s.mode = 'countdown';
      s.note = 'Board cleared: +50. New datatype and a fresh minute.';
      s.noteTime = 3;
      return
    end
  end
  s.scanTime = s.scanTime+dt;
  while s.scanTime>=s.dwell
    s.scanTime = s.scanTime-s.dwell;
    s.cursor = mod(s.cursor,25)+1;
  end
end

function tf = isTarget(value,target)
  if strcmp(target,'matrix')
    tf = ismatrix(value) && size(value,1)>1 && size(value,2)>1;
  else
    tf = isa(value,target);
  end
end

function n = countFood(s)
  n = sum(cellfun(@(v) isTarget(v,s.target),s.values(s.board(~s.eaten))));
end

function renderFrame(~,s)
  % Update only handles created in initState. The harness draws frames.
  heading = ['MUNCH: ' upper(s.target)];
  if strcmp(s.target,'matrix')
    heading = 'MUNCH: MATRICES (2-D with at least 2 rows AND 2 columns)';
  end
  s.gfx.target.String = heading;
  t = ceil(s.timeLeft);
  s.gfx.stats.String = sprintf( ...
    'Score: %d    Lives: %d    Round: %d    Left: %d    Time: %02d:%02d', ...
    s.score,s.lives,s.round,countFood(s),floor(t/60),mod(t,60));
  s.gfx.meter.Position = [44 118 max(.01,712*s.timeLeft/s.roundSeconds) 6];
  for k = 1:25
    label = s.expressions{s.board(k)};
    s.gfx.labels(k).Color = s.colors.ink;
    s.gfx.tiles(k).FaceColor = s.colors.tile;
    if any(s.bugs==k)
      label = 'BUG'; s.gfx.labels(k).Color = s.colors.danger;
      s.gfx.tiles(k).FaceColor = s.colors.hint;
    end
    if s.eaten(k)
      label = ''; s.gfx.tiles(k).FaceColor = s.colors.background;
    end
    s.gfx.labels(k).String = label;
  end
  k = s.path(s.cursor); x = s.x(k); y = s.y(k);
  s.gfx.highlight.Position = [x-69 y-36 138 72];
  s.gfx.logo.XData = x+s.logoX;
  s.gfx.logo.YData = y-5+s.logoY;
  note = s.note;
  s.gfx.note.FontSize = 13;
  if strcmp(s.mode,'countdown')
    note = sprintf('GET READY: %d',max(1,ceil(s.countdown-1e-9)));
    s.gfx.note.FontSize = 22;
  elseif strcmp(s.mode,'over')
    note = sprintf('GAME OVER: %d points. Tap SPACE or click to play again.',s.score);
  elseif strcmp(s.mode,'playing') && s.noteTime==0
    note = 'Tap only on matching datatypes. Let the decoys and BUGs pass.';
  end
  s.gfx.note.String = note;
end
Play Game
Preview

Play Game opens this in MATLAB Drive. Click Run this app there to play.