I am working on a match 3 type game and am wondering is it better to hard code the levels inside the source code, so I determine where each piece goes, or do I simply randomize the placement. If I do the randomize, how do I keep it from putting 3 of a kind together from the beginning. When the level is displayed it should not already have matches to take off and give me points for when I was not even playing at that point. Any help would be appreciated.