Candy Crush All-Stars is the world\u2019s biggest tournament for King\u2019s Candy Crush Saga<\/em>. In its fourth iteration, and its biggest to date, this months-long event offers a $1 million prize pool to the game\u2019s most elite players. But, you may be wondering, how does someone become a top-level Candy Crush<\/em> player? And how do you build a tournament to help them prove that?<\/p>\n With the event coming to a close last week, we caught up with some of Candy Crush<\/em>\u2019s level designers, as well as Ben Chin, who took on over 15 million competitors to become Candy Crush All-Stars 2024\u2019s overall winner. Together, they gave us a sense of how one of the world\u2019s biggest casual games, open to anyone, can offer a challenge befitting of that million-dollar prize pool.<\/p>\n For Chin, there are some key skills you need to reach the top level: \u201cYou definitely need tenacity and endurance. Getting through the different stages leading up to the All Stars finals, it requires a lot of time and effort for sure \u2013 especially once you get to those final knockout stages. The last round is 24 hours, and that\u2019s all you have. So you really need to be able to go the distance and be able to pull it out all the way through.\u201d<\/p>\n From a design perspective, the standard of the players involved meant the team needed to create something that feels familiar, but with a new level of challenge, befitting of the ten players who made it all the way through to the grand final.<\/p>\n \u201cOur inspiration for the All Stars Live Final came from a desire to create something that both honored the classic elements of Candy Crush Saga<\/em> and introduced new, exciting challenges for our finalists,\u201d explains Lead Level Designer, Therese Sander.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to celebrate the journey players have taken with us by offering levels that are visually appealing, but mechanically intriguing,\u201d added Level Designer Oksana Samsonova. \u201cWe\u2019ve created nine custom levels for our finalists [with] various challenges \u2013 different modes, the newest game mechanics and replicas of some iconic levels from the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Those nine levels required a unique design brief \u2013 the team needed to create stages that worked without the usual game economy and boosters that players have available, and each one needed to feel totally distinct, forcing new approaches out of the finalists with each new level. Through extensive manual testing on the team, the level designers emerged with a set of stages that demanded the finalists refine their approach:<\/p>\n \u201cI actually employed multiple different strategies throughout the course of the tournament as well as in the finals\u201d says Chin. \u201cThose things included just being very smart about how you use your moves \u2013 when it\u2019s proper to get through a level as quickly as possible versus sticking around a level for as long as possible just to maximise how many points you actually earn per level.\u201d<\/p>\n In a way, the finals act as a \u2018battle\u2019 between the level designers and the players themselves. With elite players taking on the challenge, the designers are free to create levels that might not feel quite as approachable if you came across them in the regular game.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the core game gradually increases in complexity, tournament levels are designed to challenge players\u2019 advanced skills right from the start,\u201d says Sander. \u201cThis means incorporating more complex mechanics, requiring quicker thinking, and often demanding a higher level of strategic planning. We aim to create levels that push players to use everything they\u2019ve learned in the game so far and think creatively to overcome new obstacles.\u201d<\/p>\n That complexity meant that Chin had to up his game, even from his own high standards: \u201cWhen it came to the competitive nature of it, you really have to take a look, observe the level and, really identify, \u2018OK, I have a limited set of time and moves and different objectives. I\u2019ve got blockers in my way. What are the blockers?\u2019 I\u2019ve never planned more than in this tournament. I think that\u2019s going to carry over into the future of me playing this game.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s exactly the goal for the designers: \u201cThe most rewarding part is seeing the joy and excitement players experience when they play the levels. Watching players discover new strategies, overcome challenges, and share their experiences is incredibly fulfilling,\u201d says Samsonova.<\/p>\n And in turn, watching the game\u2019s best players take on their levels should lead to even more exciting designs later: \u201cWatching elite-level players tackle our stages has been incredibly insightful,\u201d Samsonova continues. \u201cThese players often employ strategies and techniques that we hadn\u2019t anticipated, showcasing the depth and potential of our game mechanics.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cObserving their gameplay helps us understand how to design levels that are challenging yet fair, and it also inspires us to create new mechanics that can provide even deeper and more complex gameplay experiences,\u201d adds Sander. \u201cIt\u2019s always fascinating to see how creative and strategic players can be!\u201d<\/p>\n It makes Candy Crush All-Stars a truly unique tournament, elevating a game enjoyed by hundreds of millions \u2013 at many skill levels \u2013 into something competitive at an incredibly high standard. For Chin \u2013 who says he can\u2019t pinpoint the moment he realized he was playing at an elite level \u2013 it\u2019s been a revelation:<\/p>\n \u201cFor me personally, I\u2019ve always been a pretty competitive gamer, amongst other games as well. And originally for Candy Crush, it was kind of my time-killer game until the possibility of coming out here to compete was available. Being able to just put all the time and effort into it, and being able to play against other people who are similarly as good as each other, it was a lot of fun and it was very exciting. And I think that excitement was really what sets that apart from just playing casually.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a banner moment for Chin, who can now call himself the world\u2019s greatest Candy Crush<\/em> player: \u201cIt was such an overwhelming feeling at first just to be up there and even considered one of the top ten in the world. I was so honoured to be among them and interact with all of them. We all have the passion of playing Candy Crush<\/em> together, and being able to bond over that was absolutely incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/DSC_4583-31a88ad4ac7604c7e6a7.jpg\")
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