FindThaGame

A game discovery tool that helps users find video games based on fuzzy memories and partial details.

Powered by the IGDB API.

How the Scoring Works

The system calculates a Total Score for each game to determine its ranking. Instead of filtering games out, it adds or subtracts points based on how well they match the input.

The calculation happens in 4 steps:

1. Text Score ($S_{text}$)

Checks if the search query appears in the game's text fields.

$$S_{text} = (M_{name} \cdot 1.5 \cdot B_{exact}) + (M_{alt} \cdot 0.5) + (M_{kw} \cdot 0.8) + (M_{ctx} \cdot 0.3)$$

Variable	Definition	Points
$M_{name}$	Query found in Title	+1.5
$B_{exact}$	Exact Title Match	x2.0 multiplier
$M_{kw}$	Query found in Keywords	+0.8
$M_{alt}$	Query found in Alt Names	+0.5
$M_{ctx}$	Query found in Summary	+0.3

2. Metadata Score ($S_{meta}$)

Adds points if the game matches the selected filters (Genre, Theme, Mode, Perspective).

$$S_{meta} = \sum \frac{\text{Matching IDs}}{\text{Requested IDs}}$$

Example: If 2 genres are selected and the game has both, it gets +1.0 point.

3. Multipliers ($K_{total}$)

Boosts or reduces the score based on critical constraints.

$$K_{total} = K_{plat} \cdot K_{cat} \cdot K_{status} \cdot K_{company}$$

Filter	Logic	Multiplier	Result
Platform	Match	x1.0	Score stays same
	No Match	x0.3	Score drops 70%
Category	Main Game	x1.0	Score stays same
	DLC (Unwanted)	x0.5	Score drops 50%
Company	Developer	x2.2	Score doubles
	Publisher	x1.8	High boost
	Porting	x1.3	Medium boost
	Supporting	x1.2	Small boost
	No Match	x1.0	Score stays same

4. Final Calculation

Combines the base score with multipliers and applies final bonuses/penalties.

$$FinalScore = ((S_{text} + S_{meta}) \cdot K_{total}) + A_{bonus}$$

Where $A_{bonus}$ contains:

• Date: $-0.1$ points for every year outside the range.
• Age Rating: $+0.2$ points if it matches.
• Tie Breaker: Adds rating / 1000 to sort games with equal scores.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+
• A Twitch Developer application (for IGDB API access)

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/FindThaGame.git cd FindThaGame

2. Install dependencies

   npm install

3. Configure Environment

   Create a .env.local file with your Twitch credentials:

   TWITCH_CLIENT_ID=your_client_id

   TWITCH_CLIENT_SECRET=your_client_secret

4. Run Development Server

   npm run dev

License

MIT