Match 4 Game

A popular 2 or 4 player game from the 70's and 80's. Ages 8 and up. This classic game is also known as: Score Four, Catch 76, Connect 4 Advanced, Sogo, Tramp, Pillars of Plato, Kuatro, Kubana, Raummuhle 3d Tic Tac Toe, and many more.

Players take turns placing game beads until one player gets four beads in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, in any dimension. You can also play in 2 person teams but team players should not coach each other. Another option is to play until all beads are used, counting total number of lines made. Before starting, players should agree if allowing stacks to go above 4 high is permitted.

There are 76 different ways to win:

- 8 horizontal plus 2 diagonal for each of the 4 levels (40)
- Vertical on each stack (16)
- 2 diagonal for each of the 8 orthogonal vertical planes of 4 stacks. (16)
- 2 diagonal for each of the 2 diagonal vertical planes of 4 stacks. (4)

In other words, if you can draw an imaginary straight line across any four beads, in any dimension, you win!!

The download includes sample game rules, 1 Compact bead set (print twice), 1 Compact divided tray, and the game board (base).

The bead set files contain 1 extra bead, because stuff happens.

Also included is a set of Deluxe beads, and a Deluxe tray. These can be printed instead of the "Compact" beads and tray if you want a nicer version of the game, and you don't mind the longer print times.

The tray also serves as a storage case. However, it is not needed for actual game play, and printing it is optional.

The base size is 100mm square. You can use uniform scaling options in your slicer to make larger or smaller prints.

Free Bonus
A 3x3 tic-tac-toe sized game board is also included for younger children. BUT THIS CONTAINS SMALL PARTS, so it is not recommended for Age 3 and under.

Print settings are not critical. Use your own preference.
- Layer height .12 to .4

- Infill 15 to 25%.

- Walls .8 mm or more.

- No supports.

If using single color filament, choose contrasting colors for the base, and each bead set. The tray can be any color.

Print the base, and 2 sets of beads (in different colors). Printing the tray is optional.

A note on using larger size nozzles for faster printing
Print time can be significantly reduced by using a larger diameter nozzle. I used a 0.8 nozzle for the print used in the actual photo. Total print time for 2 sets of beads, base and tray was about 8 hours, however, the print quality is also lower. If you want to try this, just be sure to adjust your slicer settings, e.g. "line width" should match nozzle size, and wall width should be a multiple of nozzle width.

The following comments only apply if you want to use a "rainbow" style color changing filament:

I recommend printing one set of beads first, then the base, then the tray and finally the second set of beads. That way, the bead colors should be sufficiently different.

If the colors are changing too slowly for your taste, AND you intend to make more than one copy of the game, just mix and match colors from each set.

Or, if you have a large enough print bed, use this trick to actually make the colors change faster:

Arrange and print 2 bases at once, then 2 bead sets (on same plate etc.), then 2 trays, then 2 more bead sets. Use "All at once mode". This will make the colors change twice as fast, and you will end up with 2 identical sets. I have been able to arrange 4 of each print item at once on my Ender 3 print bed. The colors change 4 times as fast. The sample in the photos was NOT printed this way, thus the very gradual color change.