Jeretris is now Engram

[Rezmason]

Okay, so I finished work on the visual doodads and did some major overhauling of the way the code behaves, and with the exception of audio (it always comes down to the audio!), Jeretris is done.


Except now it's called Engram. Which breaks all the links to the project I've posted. Engram's home is here:


Engram (http://www.rezmason.net/engram/default.htm)


You'll need to dig to get to the html, it's in the lab directory, but since I'm pretty much done bothering you guys with Tetris questions, I'm sure the inconvenience to you is minor. Besides, once development is done, there'll be a nice cozy website.


...and the name change wipes your scores. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif Or rather, it tosses them. If you don't like that, maybe I can add a little code to Engram to bring your old scores over. I doubt anybody minds much.


Thanks again for all your help. Tetrisconcept is and will continue to be mentioned in the About box, even when Engram starts to include non-Tetris games.

[caffeine]

I quit after three million. It's fun and good work and all, but it gets boring after playing twenty minutes on the same game. =/ Oh well, more power to the casual gamer. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cry.gif

[DIGITAL]

I was just playing a quick game to see how far the game has come along. I too gave up after realizing the difficulty didn't increase any further. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

Great work on the game though! http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[Rezmason]

http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif Aw, you champs!


The tetris module's dev cycle is pretty much wrapped up, but I can still make tweaks. I'm sure it goes to 20G, though, at 60 FPS.


If you want it to be speedier, try turning off smoothing in the settings. On my 2-year-old Mac, that makes a significant change.

[colour_thief]

I quit after three million.


I quit after 45 million, when I started to feel nautious for whatever reason. Could have played forever if I wanted to.


Bugs:


IRS wouldn't work on rare occasions.


Synchro moves don't work.


Every now and then, the piece previews would entirely disappear for several pieces. Using Hold would always fix this, but it's still annoying.


The maximum speed is nowhere near 20G. I bet it's around 1G.

[caffeine]

"I quit after 45 million." I admire your tolerance for boredom.


Let's not forget that simply upping it to 20G would not solve the problem. That has more to do with ARE and lock delay. Personally I don't recommend messing with 20G unless you first get your DAS straight.

[colour_thief]

I admire your tolerance for boredom.


It was not unlike practicing the tricky 300-500 sections in TGM Master mode, so it wasn't fruitless for me. Not that I'd play it again, mind you.


I love the style, but I still feel hella nautious. Think I'm going to go lie down now.

[tepples]

It's fun and good work and all, but it gets boring after playing twenty minutes on the same game. =/

You should look at Lumines. Its marathon speed curve is tweaked for two-hour plays.

[Pineapple]

It's fun and good work and all, but it gets boring after playing twenty minutes on the same game. =/
You should look at Lumines. Its marathon speed curve is tweaked for two-hour plays.

So is the Enduro mode in Lumines 2.

[lee n]

It's fun and good work and all, but it gets boring after playing twenty minutes on the same game. =/
You should look at Lumines. Its marathon speed curve is tweaked for two-hour plays.

Sadly, Lumines is quite broken.. the only reason I play it is because of the presentation.

[sjoecool1991]

Just a random question.

Are there any online tetris games with good 20G play?

Or even Death Mode?

I have yet to find one.

It would be awesome if this eventually had 20G.

[muf]

Just a random question.
Are there any online tetris games with good 20G play?
Or even Death Mode?
I have yet to find one.
It would be awesome if this eventually had 20G.

This one's quite okay, but to my taste the DAS is too aggressive.

http://www.gdward.plus.com/site/flash/tetris/ (http://www.gdward.plus.com/site/flash/tetris/default.htm)

[tepples]

I'd consider making one, but can Java or JavaScript environments keep up with 60 fps?

[muf]

I'd consider making one, but can Java or JavaScript environments keep up with 60 fps?

Java easily can, JavaScript I don't know. Then there's also Flash, Shockwave or writing your own ActiveX plugin.

[Rezmason]

I would recommend Flash. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif It's a highly social, community-based programming platform, so if you're stuck, there are about five thousand folks online ready to help you.


PS: Engram will have 20G. I'll figure this out. To clarify, though, is there any difference at all between 20G and instant drop? Because I'm almost certain I've implemented instant drop... http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

[herc]

"Engram"


how did you came up with that new name?

[tepples]

I would recommend Flash.
Would you recommend using Flex SDK alone? Or would I need to pay $700 for Flash?

PS: Engram will have 20G. I'll figure this out. To clarify, though, is there any difference at all between 20G and instant drop? Because I'm almost certain I've implemented instant drop... http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

20G means the piece moves down by up to 20 cells in one frame. "Instant drop" can mean one of several things:

Apply 20G all the time (like T.A. Death in TAP) "Firm drop": Apply 20G for one frame and start lock delay (like The New Tetris or TAP when you press up) "Hard drop": Apply 20G for one frame and immediately lock the piece (like TW or TDS when you press up, or Tetris 3.12 when you press 4)
In Dianetics, an "engram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engram)" is a subconscious association between something and pain.

[Rezmason]

Aaargh! You're right! The gee system never kicks in! http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_mad.gif

This will take a few minutes to fix, but my classes have begun. Check back in like a day. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif

[Rezmason]

Oh, what the hell. I'll get 20G working online in like an hour, tops.


I would recommend Flash.
Would you recommend using Flex SDK alone? Or would I need to pay $700 for Flash?


You can use the SDK, but my workflow for Engram is dependent on Flash CS3 because of all the animations. You can animate programmatically using the mx library in the SDK, but let's face it, Flash was made for animation.


If you have any buddies in college, they can get you Flash CS3 for a big discount. And they can get you Flex, for free (not just the SDK). So shop around.


And if anyone has time to program a free replacement for Flash CS3's animation system, I'd appreciate it. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif SWF is an open spec. It's only a matter of time before someone makes a free animator system.


"Engram" is a reference to the hypothetical unit of memory storage in the mind. It is a nice noun, almost a verb ("en-" prefix, sorta), and its definition has some connections with where I'm taking the project.

[Rezmason]

There we go. Twenty gee. Try it out and tell me what you think.


With this speed ramp, I doubt you'll play it for twenty minutes, ever again. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_twisted.gif

[caffeine]

is it just 20g into the system before? we'd be able to play forever for the reasons i stated in my last post.


/votes teps should work off of ward (http://www.gdward.plus.com/site/flash/tetris/default.htm) and heise's (http://www.ryanheise.com/cube/speed.html) "browser, highscore, and replay" model, but make it time attack and to TC's high standards. =] =]


actually, i count for two votes cause i'm an admin here. =]

[lee n]

Rezmason: I saw some katakana in the game, it was only visible for a second or so but I'm pretty sure it said ??????? (fureteshi karasu) - huh?

[lee n]

actually, i count for two votes cause i'm an admin here. =]

So two votes for SRS and the rest of us for ARS then? http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[caffeine]

i was voting for what i said i was voting for. for all i care, there could be an option for SRS/arika. and that was a little forward to assume the rest of TC users would prefer arika btw.

[Rezmason]

is it just 20G into the system before? we'd be able to play forever for the reasons i stated in my last post.


It works like this: there's a function that causes pieces to move down once, let's fall it shiftDown(). There's a function that calls the shiftDown() function G times, let's call it fall(). The fall() function is triggered by a timer.


When the timer ticks, the fall() function calls the shiftDown() function G times. So the rate that blocks fall is determined by the delay of the timer and the value of G.


The timer's delay starts at over a second (I think) and decreases, based on the number of pieces placed and lines cleared. When the delay is reaches 1/60th of a second (a "frame"), G starts going up. (1 ? G ? 20).


You should be able to play forever, theoretically, but can you? Huh? I dare ya!

[colour_thief]

I played to a million points again and it never hit 20G.

[lee n]

i was voting for what i said i was voting for. for all i care, there could be an option for SRS/arika. and that was a little forward to assume the rest of TC users would prefer arika btw.

It was a joke.. hence the smiley.

[caffeine]

yeah, came off harsh. sorry. internet voice is tricky sometimes.

[Rezmason]

Please refresh your browser and tell me if it still doesn't, c_t.

[colour_thief]

Clicked refresh... Got another million without 20G.


No offense intended, but that's the last time I test for that.

[tepples]

If you have already calculated where a ghost piece would be, you don't need to move the falling piece down one block at a time; you can just move it down n blocks as long as you aren't moving it past the ghost piece.

[fnord]

20G's working fine for me; it reached 20G for me at around 100K.

[caffeine]

Twenty G works, but it ain't perfect. (http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/../skipping.wmv)


What? I had some time on my hands!


Edit: Oh yeah, you should center the flash box in the browser. Also, as predicted i can still play forever.

[cdsboy]

20g worked one out of the 3 games i played. They were all around the same length in play although i have no idea how long that was. I also got the no preview bug.

[fnord]

Twenty G works, but it ain't perfect. (http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/../skipping.wmv)

What? I had some time on my hands!

Edit: Oh yeah, you should center the flash box in the browser. Also, as predicted i can still play forever.

I that's not a problem with the 20G there, just that the game has instant DAS. Which kinda breaks 20G.

[caffeine]

Yeah the same problem comes up when you use instant DAS in lockjaw. To correct it, either restrict initial sideways motion or make the program do more work and check to see if anythings in the way before moving.

[colour_thief]

To fix it all you have to do is spawn pieces before gravity is applied and after horizontal movement is applied.

[Rezmason]

Nice vid, caffeine! I think I'll keep things "broken", though – it improves my chances. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif

I'll keep debugging, but I won't bug you folks to do any testing. The next time I mention Engram on the forum, it'll have evolved quite a bit. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[Rezmason]

–By the way, the katakana in that graphic is, according to Google, the Japanese translation for "plexiglass". Kinda random.

[lee n]

–By the way, the katakana in that graphic is, according to Google, the Japanese translation for "plexiglass". Kinda random.

Ah, it should be ??????? (purekishi gurasu) then, not ??????? (furekishi karasu).


(notice that ? and ? are different characters)

[Rezmason]

Ah, it should be ??????? (purekishi gurasu) then, not ??????? (furekishi karasu).

(notice that ? and ? are different characters)


Interesting. The difference between those characters must have gotten smoothed out when I created the image.


What does it say now?

[lee n]

What does it say now?

Can you just post the image so I don't have to play the game to see it for 1 second?


It's easier to read that way.

[Rezmason]

Do I have to? http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif

Assuming the katakana read "???????", which they apparently do, does that have a meaningful translation?

[kiwibonga]

frexiglas!


Try pronouncing "purekishigurasu", without voicing the Us, you'll get it :p

[Kitaru]

Looks like frexicrass to me. You'll notice that is ka, not ga; it lacks a voiced point.

[lee n]

Do I have to? http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif

Assuming the katakana read "???????", which they apparently do, does that have a meaningful translation?

Not really.


The ? (FU) should change into a ? (PU) and the ? (KA) should change into a ? (GU)


Right now it reads FU RE KI SHI KA RA SU instead of PU RE KI SHI GU RA SU, and the only meaningful about the former (to my knowledge) is that ??? (KARASU) means "crow".


Other than that, I don't know. And no, you don't have to.. it's just that it's easier for us to help you if you help us help you.

[Needle]

why does it say plexiglass in the first place?

[colour_thief]

When you get a Tetris in this game, a random encouraging message pops up. Random as in, not always the same message, and also random as in, eccentric or bizzarre. So it's just there to be weird. Correcting the spelling is very much nitpicking. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[Rezmason]

Right on. Also, leaving it misspelled marginally emphasizes the point I made when creating that graphic – that it really doesn't matter, it looks Japanese enough to be an exploitable aesthetic. It somewhat satirizes T-shirts and tattoos that people sometimes wear "because they're made up of these awesome symbols, I can't read them, I think it's a language, lol".

[colour_thief]

It somewhat satirizes T-shirts and tattoos that people sometimes wear "because they're made up of these awesome symbols, I can't read them, I think it's a language, lol".


Hah! I sometimes joke I'll get the Chinese character for arm tatooed on my arm or somesuch for the very same reason.

[muf]

Thread necro! This has now moved to http://www.rezmason.net/engram/lab/engram.html, and it's still very playable! Definitely ranks among some of the better "casual" Tetris games out there.

[Caithness]

Interesting. It's got some kind of initial shift system. I think I heard there's something like that in Tetris Kiwamemichi for PS2.

[Kitaru]

Yep. I can't remember if it was during what would be considered ARE or if there was a delay on gravity dropping during active time proper.

[Zaphod77]

Kiwamemichi has post entry delay. Every piece hovers for a bit before dropping, allowing you to move it to the side before it enters the field and cross holes even in 20G.

[Zaphod77]

Okay I played it.

It seems to use step reset, SRS, and bag.

It does NOT provide compensation for "non-resets". example. if bottom of the piece lowers due to a rotation, but the center of rotation does not, there is NO reset.

I believe playability would be increased by tracking both the bottom AND the center of rotation, and have it so if either of them drops it causes a reset, but only if it dropped lower then it has been before.

Also, it actually buffers initial moves and applies them before gravity. So you can slam a piece all the way to the wall already rotated if you can charge the DAS first.