Create a “Match-3” style game in C++

Create a “Match-3” style game where players swap crystal positions to place like-coloured crystals together in order to destroy them and gain points. Crystals are arranged in a grid formation. The player selects a crystal to and then selects an ADJACENT crystal. If the swap would result in a string of 3 or more crystals of the same colour, the swap is considered valid. If the swap is invalid, the crystals return to their original position and the move is disregarded. If a valid swap is made, all crystals in the resultant string of crystals are destroyed. The newly formed gap in the grid is closed by all non-destroyed crystals shunting along in the grid. Once all crystals are shunted, the grid is “topped up” with new crystals of random colours. This entire process is called a “cascade”. If a cascade creates a new string of 3 or more like-coloured crystals, the string is destroyed and another cascade occurs. The cascade process repeats until no more strings are created. Project Requirements : 1. The game board is an eight-by-eight grid. 2. Crystals can be one of up to SIX colours (different characters can be used instead) – Red, Green, Yellow, Blue, White, and Purple. 3. Top-up crystals are added from the TOP edge of the board. 4. The game ends when no more valid swaps can be made. 5. An intermediate scoring system is in place: Action Points 3-string crystal destroyed 50 4 string crystal destroyed 100 5-crystal string destroyed 500 6-crystal string destroyed 2500 T-shape string + (value of largest string destroyed * 3) T-shape created from a 3-string & 3-string: +(50 * 3) = 150 points T-shape created from a 3-string & 5-string: +(2500 *3) = 7500 points. Cascade + (50 * (number of cascades to the power of 2)) Single cascade: +(50 * (1^2)) = 50 points Triple cascade: +(50 * (3^2)) = 450 points 5 x cascade: +(50 * (5^2)) = 1250 points 1. The Game Project will be written in C++ using Visual Studio 2015 as "Win32 Console Application". No additional engines or libraries. 2. The game board grid must be at least a single row of eight spaces. 3. Crystals can be any one of at least THREE colours (different characters may be used instead of colours). The following colours must be used: Red, Green, Yellow. It is recommended that if your game board is of a single row of eight spaces, you limit the number of colours to just three to allow for a playable game. 4. When a string of crystals is destroyed, the remaining crystals MUST cascade. Top-up crystals are added to the board from an edge (for basic requirements, we recommend the RIGHT edge). 5. The player must be allowed to exit the game.