I was responding to the code you posted but I would still consider a two dimension array even with the null values.
I might not be thinking straight by why would it be 32*24*1000? If there are 1000 rows and each row contains 32 bricks isn't that array[32,1000]?
Somebody else might be able to say whether a tmap might help with your tilelist indexed against it's x position (can you have duplicate indexes in a tmap?) converted to a string.
You can then use your screen_pos (x value for topleft of your world map) and compare it against the indexes drawing anything that fits between screen_pos and screen_pos+max_number_per_screen.
I haven't really used tmaps but it might be possible.
This might be a bit too much for the Beginner's forum and I'm sure many people have written games which resemble you screenshots so there could be a simple answer.
I might not be thinking straight by why would it be 32*24*1000? If there are 1000 rows and each row contains 32 bricks isn't that array[32,1000]?
Somebody else might be able to say whether a tmap might help with your tilelist indexed against it's x position (can you have duplicate indexes in a tmap?) converted to a string.
You can then use your screen_pos (x value for topleft of your world map) and compare it against the indexes drawing anything that fits between screen_pos and screen_pos+max_number_per_screen.
I haven't really used tmaps but it might be possible.
This might be a bit too much for the Beginner's forum and I'm sure many people have written games which resemble you screenshots so there could be a simple answer.