Since I launched the JQ99 MatchGame cheat sheet in early 2006, I've had a few people wondering how it works and why I created such a contraption.

Why I Did This

A church sermon on using one's talents to help others that was preached during one round of JQ Match Game set the wheels in motion.

Having a degree in computer science, I felt that I had a sufficent enough background in computer programming, web design and database to make it reality. By the time of the benediction, I had mentally sketched out a rough draft. A week later and version one of the cheat sheet was launched.

How It Works

The Cheat Sheet is powered by a pair of web technologies that have become very popular in the early 21st Century: PHP and MySQL.

Three database tables are used to store all relevant information. They feed data to the game board.

The board is drawn by approximately 500 lines of computer code. As it draws each square, the database is checked to determine if a prize has been revealed behind that door already and if that prize has been matched.

After the board is drawn, additional code looks for pairs where both halves have been uncovered but not in the same turn and thus still available.

Lastly, a tally of opened vs unopened doors is listed as well as the total of value of won vs not yet won prizes. These tallies are taken as the board is drawn and displayed afterward.

Reaction

Other listeners who hang out on the message board section of JQ99's website have been very appreciative. Though I do on occasion take heat for not having the board totally up to date after each play or making an occasional error. This is because I do have a day job that takes priority but the board is updated nightly at the latest.

As for the popularity of the cheat sheet, I had no idea until I added some additional code during the Spring 2010 playing that logged all visits. During the four week period the game was being played, just under four thousand hits were logged.

I did ask someone I know who works at JQ99 what the consensus was around the station concerning the cheat sheet. The station's general opinion is that since they encourage listeners to help each other out in the chat room portion of their website, the cheat sheet is basically an extension of this.