add "void* data" to particle definition
add the following struct

struct particle_connection {
int other;
particle* pointer;
float dist;
float spring; //normally 0.1
when the particles are created and at other times (like when metal unmelts), do this

or something like this anyways. variables, functions and C syntax (no C++ or Java) may need to be fixed.

//this is run whenever the particle needs to have some bonding time with other particles
//oh it should prolly check when these particles are gonna die, shouldn't it
//otherwise major glitching... crap I can't think of a way to detect that.
parts[i].data=new particle_connection[8];
int numd=0;
for(int x=rx-1;xfor(int y=ry-1;yif(0particle p=partmap[x][y];
if(/*can connect to this, maybe check types*/){
particle_connection& newpc=(particle_connection*)parts[i].data+numd*12
/*is that necessary or does C multiply pointer offsets by type size?*/
newpc.other=p.number;
newpc.pointer=&newpc;
newpc.spring=0.3; //or some other number depending on the material
newpc.dist=//distance between myself and the other particle
}
}

//this is run whenever the particle is calculating its physics
int numpc=0;
particle_connection pclist[]=parts[i].data;
particle cp=pclist[numpc];
while(numpc<8){<br />if(cp.pointer==null){
numpc=8;
} else {
if(YOUR PARTICLE GOT PWNED BY VOID OR SOMETHING){
int tnumpc=numpc;
while(tnumpc<7)<br />pclist[tnumpc]=pclist[tnumpc+1];
pclist[7].other=0;
pclist[7].pointer=0;
pclist[7].dist=0.0;
pclist[7].spring=0.0;
} else {
float dx=cp.x-x;
float dy=cp.y-y;
float dd=cp.spring*(sqrt(dx*dx+dy*dy)/cp.dist-1.0)
vx+=dd*dx;
vy+=dd*dy;
numpc++;
cp=pclist[numpc];
}
}
}


... yes I am a programmer
no I do not eat girl scout cookies.