Topic: Tetris? (...yes, Tetris)

[metemi]

Ok I know Tetris is a lame old game, but a co-worker is challenging us to beat their score on this one website, and they have some ridiculous high score that I couldn't even come close to beating. 

They must know some kind of strategies/tips (algorithms)? that pretty much let them play the game until they just get tired of playing.  Anyone really good at Tetris? I never did get very good at it.

[defect9]

Ok I know Tetris is a lame old game,

LIES!!!

They must know some kind of strategies/tips (algorithms)? that pretty much let them play the game until they just get tired of playing.  Anyone really good at Tetris? I never did get very good at it.

No, it doesnt take algorithms, just mental and pattern recognition.  basically, practice.  My brother and I used to go for hours at a time playing it.  I still remember some of the theory and tactics we figured out to get fat scores.  The "trick" is to be fast enough to play at the highest level for hours.  Another one is to know how to build for max points per clearing and start at the absolute lowest setting, and play all the way up through levels so that by the time you get to a level that you don't last very long at, you've already racked up such an insane amount of points it doesnt matter if you crash out there.

what's his score anyway?

[metemi]

Well there are so many different versions (this one is a Facebook app), but it was a little over 100,000.  Maybe that's not even that great of a score, I dunno....

I was looking for tips or rules about how the 7 different "tetrominoes" relate to each other.  I'm looking for an easy way here!!! 

[Toxikator]

There's an easy way for a Rubik's, and for Pac Man. But not for Tetris, as I know it.

[Ricdude]

Ricdude's Tetris strategies:

Beginning:

1) In general, keep your field flat.  If you have a choice between making a spike (e.g laying an L piece upright) or making a flat space (e.g. laying an L on its side), go with the flat space.  Flat is easier to build on than spikes.

2) Know how to dig out the holes.  If you bury a hole inside your field, figure out how you can expose it, so you can fill it with another brick.  The T bricks are usually helpful here.

Intermediate:

3) Look ahead.  The "optimal" location for your current piece affects the placement of the next piece.  Figure out if the new position for your current piece allows for decent positioning for your next piece.  For example, you might be able to place an L upright next to a small hole, and interlock an upside down L on top of it, covering the hole, and making a nice flat space out of the remaining part of the field.

Advanced:

4) Tetris Or Die!  (depends heavily on bonuses for scoring a "tetris", i.e. completing four lines with one piece, the I)  If the bonus for scoring 4 lines is significant, leave a one space wide hole on one side of the field, and wait for the I to show up.  Don't be afraid to let the rest of the field fill up, as long as you can prevent internal holes from showing up.

Keep in mind that if you're going for a record, you're going to have to take chances and capitalize on the opportunities you've created.  Maybe you'll fill up your field almost to the top, and barely have enough space to fill in your "tetris channel", and they you'll get 4 I's in a row, and be back to a flat field.  You're not going for a safe, mediocre, just keep the field in the middle, and knock out holes when you can get to them game.  You're going for a record.  That means you're going to miss that mark all but one time. 

Prepare accordingly, and be prepared to nail it when the random brick order swings in your favour.

[metemi]

  Thanks ricdude!  That's what I was looking for.  Some people also suggest building walls on each side and then filling in the "well" in the centre for mega points.  Tetris is a really good game, I'm getting into it again.

  The Tetris game I'm playing now is a "clone", rather than "pure" Tetris, apparently pure Tetris is more difficult

[metemi]

Video of Grand Master Tetris Player Stéphane Lee in action, pretty cool. He knows EXACTLY where to put each piece -  [K I think I need to get a life.]

http://www.stephanelee.com/2007/09/08/grand-master-tetris-player.html

[Ricdude]

Some people also suggest building walls on each side and then filling in the "well" in the centre for mega points.

The advantage to a single side tetris slot is that you have the whole field minus 1 column to work with.  If you have a well in the center, you have less maneuvering room for each piece.

[defect9]

I think I just peed myself

[metemi]

The advantage to a single side tetris slot is that you have the whole field minus 1 column to work with

  Yep, I think that's the way to go.  I need a few days to practice though.  Do you have a high-score ricdude?

I think I just peed myself

  Oh you stop!  This is a serious topic. 

[Ricdude]

Do you have a high-score ricdude?

Too many variations to keep track of individual high scores.  On just about every one I've played I can get to the fastest speed without too much difficulty.  Unless I'm going for broke, then sometimes I break down. =)   On head-to-head Game Boy version, I could usually beat all my friends from high school/college at the time ('88 or so?).