Stupid tetris questions that don't deserve their own thread

[an ass]

I'll get the ball rolling with this one:

Sometimes when I play TAP I have it set to where I can see the internal grade points, so I know how close I am to getting the next internal grade... is this considered cheating? I've noticed that when I've hit level 700 or so I'm not even looking at it anymore.

[jujube]

I can see the internal grade points
is this considered cheating?
umm, yes http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif

[Ai]

How do I show the internal grade points in TAP? In case this isn't the place to ask such question just ignore/pm me. ^^

[Rosti LFC]

I'll get the ball rolling with this one:

Sometimes when I play TAP I have it set to where I can see the internal grade points, so I know how close I am to getting the next internal grade... is this considered cheating? I've noticed that when I've hit level 700 or so I'm not even looking at it anymore.

I would say that any record set with it is invalid. There are many forms of "cheating", and it's a pretty subjective thing at times, but I'd class the grade points being displayed as definitely gaining an ability/advantage which players who play conventionally or on an arcade machine do not get.
If you don't actually look at it, then just get rid of it altogether and then there's no case.

To try and clarify, on Blockbox, I would say using macros isn't cheating, because there's not much you can do with a macro that can't also be done with the in-game settings. However, using one on Tetris Friends would be cheating, because you're overcoming a limit of the gameplay which regular players have to put up with.

Players of TAP were never intended to be able to see their own grade points. Therefore I would say that using a code that allows you to see it is cheating.

[tepples]

I'd class the grade points being displayed as definitely gaining an ability/advantage which players who play conventionally or on an arcade machine do not get.
As is the ability to restart the game without depositing more money.

[rednefed]

TAP Master basically boils down to playing quickly and efficiently, making tetrises (or, at least, non-singles). That's all I worry about once Im past the speedup at level 700. I combo to try to get 2-3 internal grades at once (which leads to my unnaturally high score by 999) since line clears are "free" timewise after 800. Obviously, it's not necessary to combo - the only time where I'd say it's truly worth it is S2 -> S4 - but it's fun.

[Rosti LFC]

I'd class the grade points being displayed as definitely gaining an ability/advantage which players who play conventionally or on an arcade machine do not get.
As is the ability to restart the game without depositing more money.
They could have it set to free play.

[lgb]

Do you die with Regrets?

[Xkeeper]

Do you die with Regrets?
REGRET is either too slow of a section time or bad stack condition (I don't know much info on this).

They do not kill you, but it can be used as an indication that your game will end soon. (e.g. if you are getting several of them, you will likely not hit Lv.500 in time to continue play)

[m:)]

does TAP have regrets?

[an ass]

does TAP have regrets?
nope

[Zaphod77]

TI has two types of regret.
1) Section Time REGRET. This is when you complete a section too slow. This is -1 actual grade, and getting even ONE instantly disqualifies GM.
2) Hole REGRET. Bad stacking will give you this message. It has no direct effect on your grade, and should be seen as a warning that you are badly screwing up and need to pull it together fast, or you will soon lose.

[m:)]

i know all about Ti's regrets http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cry.gif

[Rosti LFC]

I swear Ti's hole regret does have an effect on your grade for Shirase

[colour_thief]

I swear Ti's hole regret does have an effect on your grade for Shirase

It does not. Why is your opinion so strong having never played the game?

[Rosti LFC]

I swear Ti's hole regret does have an effect on your grade for Shirase

It does not. Why is your opinion so strong having never played the game?

Who says I've never played it?

Also, my memory is awful.

[colour_thief]

I swear Ti's hole regret does have an effect on your grade for Shirase

It does not. Why is your opinion so strong having never played the game?

Who says I've never played it?

Also, my memory is awful.

Well, you haven't played enough to join my leaderboard. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif

[iphys]

Why did they make the S and Z green and red when so many people are red-green colourblind? I'm not, so I don't know how different they look in brightness or whatever, but it does seem kind of strange that they wouldn't have used green and red for pieces that are less likely to be confused with each other.

[tepples]

For the mirror image pieces, TTC uses colors that are opposite on the color wheel. The primary colors of paint are red, yellow, and blue, which results in a color wheel opposing red against green and blue against orange: see pic (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File_3ARYB_color_circle_1904.png). And this pic (http://www.colblindor.com/2007/04/17/deuteranopia-red-green-color-blindness/default.htm) is what the color-blind spectrum looks like.

At least in fan games, you can often add unique textures to the blocks. I haven't seen that in an authentic Tetris game since Tetris DX.

[iphys]

And here's supposedly what the pieces look like if you're colour blind:

http://171.64.204.83/uploads/124185045918546/ (http://171.64.204.83/uploads/124185045918546/default.htm)

The S and Z look so similar that they really should have opposed red with blue and green with violet for the mirror pieces.

[Xkeeper]

And here's supposedly what the pieces look like if you're colour blind:

http://171.64.204.83/uploads/124185045918546/ (http://171.64.204.83/uploads/124185045918546/default.htm)

The S and Z look so similar that they really should have opposed red with blue and green with violet for the mirror pieces.
404, cap'n.

[iphys]

Run this: http://www.vischeck.com/vischeck/vischeckURL.php

on this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tetro ... Worlds.svg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_3ATetrominoes_IJLO_STZ_Worlds.svg)

[Ai]

What's the best way to get Gold RO in TAP Master? Will I get the medal if I excessively rotate the pieces in the last 3 sections only?

[DeHackEd]

Pretty much.

Up to 4 rotations per piece are counted. If you get an O piece, just mash rotation buttons once or twice for it. IRS even if you don't really need it.

RO is a stupid medal anyways.

[Ai]

Thanks for the ultra fast reply!! ^^

[LadyLily]

lets say i got a pcb of tgm and/or tap, what would be the best way to record video and audio from them? I know for tgm that there is a 4pin audio out that is Left + Left - Right + Right -, could i wire that to some rca jacks and just split from there or is that dangerous for the recording equipment?

[orz]

For the mirror image pieces, TTC uses colors that are opposite on the color wheel. The primary colors of paint are red, yellow, and blue, which results in a color wheel opposing red against green and blue against orange: see pic (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File_3ARYB_color_circle_1904.png). And this pic (http://www.colblindor.com/2007/04/17/deuteranopia-red-green-color-blindness/default.htm) is what the color-blind spectrum looks like.

At least in fan games, you can often add unique textures to the blocks. I haven't seen that in an authentic Tetris game since Tetris DX.

holy shit this owns

[muf]

lets say i got a pcb of tgm and/or tap, what would be the best way to record video and audio from them? I know for tgm that there is a 4pin audio out that is Left + Left - Right + Right -, could i wire that to some rca jacks and just split from there or is that dangerous for the recording equipment?

Yes, it's dangerous. JAMMA sound is balanced (+ and -) 8 ohm 5 watt audio, and line-level audio (RCA cable) is 100/10k ohm (line-out is 100 ohm and line-in is 10k ohm) unbalanced (+ and GND) audio. Placing a line-level converter between the JAMMA board and your capture device should suffice to make the signal compliant.

JAMMA video is analog RGBs at CGA signal levels (TTL), which means the signal peaks at 5 volt. VGA, SCART and all other in this context relevant video standards peak at 0.7 volt, so you need to bring that down as well if you want to capture it. Usually a JAMMA to video (http://www.jrok.com/hardware/RGB.html) converter will take care of the levels for you, so you don't have to worry about that as long as you don't tap into the RGB signals directly (CGA wired directly to SCART can damage your TV/recorder).

[colour_thief]

lets say i got a pcb of tgm and/or tap, what would be the best way to record video and audio from them? I know for tgm that there is a 4pin audio out that is Left + Left - Right + Right -, could i wire that to some rca jacks and just split from there or is that dangerous for the recording equipment?

You can buy a Sanwa VC-J2, which is a simple solution that will laglessly split off an s-video signal from most JAMMA games. It's what I use.

[Kasumi]

Reviving this topic, since I think it's a great idea.

Does TGM ACE allow for multiple rotations for the first piece like Tetris With Card Captor Sakura does? Basically, IRS but you press the rotate buttons not hold them, and you can actually get a piece to start flat side down.

[Kitaru]

If you enable ACE IRS instead of TGM IRS, yes. With ACE IRS, every piece can be tap rotated outside the field during ARE... I find it super awkward. :< But yes, you can 180 every piece with this feature enabled.

[Kasumi]

Thanks, but I have one more, then: Does ACE IRS only respond to button releases so that regular IRS works as well? Like this:

http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@7eFCJWFAMng/DOAAAACcpDAhbUBAacpWAwLlaEzoo2?Ay3WeD0488AQLOyDI/BAAacppASokrDhNVTAyE88AQ+brDu?oo2Ao3MoDFbUVEPP0dEl oo2Ayeh1DUBAAAScpmAhbMSASoj?IEkdZRASITdEJzkTASYKNE M31JEnoo2Ay3WeD0oBAAScpiA?EHlaEFb82D0oo2ATJ8nEuoo2 AseirDFbEcEoe0TAT5AAA

If so, I actually think that's really cool.

Unrelated: Has anymore found out how to play original Tetris for Electronika 60 without an Electronika 60?

[Kitaru]

I think it was just button down inputs during ARE. It also had IRS sounds for each rotation input in addition to displaying the new orientation in the preview.

[Edo]

Unrelated: Has anymore found out how to play original Tetris for Electronika 60 without an Electronika 60?

Yeah, I got it working a while back, and actually wrote an article on it (which has unfortunately been lost). I'm currently busy with work and assignments, and preparing for a chess tournament, but if you give me a few days, I'll share all the files and instructions for getting it running.

To be honest though, the original E60 version was actually more of a prototype than a finished game; you should probably regard Vadim Gerasimov's DOS version as the definitive first version of Tetris. Gerasimov took Pajitnov's E60 prototype and completely reprogrammed it; removing all the bugs, and adding many of his own design elements, such as a title screen, scoring, and piece statistics. Pajitnov subsequently went back to his prototype and attempted to add in elements from Gerasimov's version, and make the game playable on standard PDP-11's*, but the bugs still remained.

In fact, aside from the concept of falling blocks, and completed lines being cleared from the playfield, it is likely that a lot of the other design elements were Gerasimov's contributions. Noticeably, in early games - especially prior to Henk Rogers' heavy involvement - Vadim Gerasimov is credited with "Original Design & Program", whereas Alexy Pajitnov is credited with "Original Concept".

*The Elektronika60 was an unauthorized Soviet clone of a PDP-11 model, and featured a hardware switch to allow rendering of certain Cyrillic characters. In early versions of Pajitnov's prototype, the tetrominoes were rendered as solid blocks using a character that would not actually display on a standard PDP-11; later versions feature the famous square brackets [ ] instead.

[PetitPrince]

I still have the PM you sent me with all the instruction (haven't got time to test it though).

[Edo]

PetitPrince, I don't think I have that in my saved messages folder any more, so if you could send my PM back to me, that would be much appreciated :). I'd like to read over what I wrote and check for errors, etc, before sharing it here publicly.