For Tetris experts/mega-obsessed fanatics !

GOC

A difficult question, this: does anybody know any 'strategy' for clearing the entire area, i.e. fitting the pieces in such a way, that, eventually, as lines get elliminated, the entire playing area gets cleared.

I know it all depends on what pieces you get (which is practically arbitrary), but I was wondering if there is a strategy to maximize the chances of approaching a suitable configuration.

mel the bell

i just try to fit loads in leaving 1 block width long gap and try to drop a long thin one in clearing loads of lines together

Spector

On 2004-02-17 21:07, mel the bell wrote:
i just try to fit loads in leaving 1 block width long gap and try to drop a long thin one in clearing loads of lines together

There's a sexual metaphor in there somewhere. No wonder Tetris was such a success :)

mel the bell

leaving one block in?? :p

chaosmongers

And a drug reference too...


... Clearing loads of lines togther ....

With a rolled up fiver no doubt ;)

Alex_Lux

On 2004-02-17 21:07, mel the bell wrote:
i just try to fit loads in leaving 1 block width long gap and try to drop a long thin one in clearing loads of lines together

Firstly, it's not easy to make 4 lines (with long gap) and then just in moment when you made it, to get long line to fill it.

Instead of this, try to make "2 line constellations" for filling with square (2x2) or "T" shaped element.

If you have to 'spoil' it, it's much easier to make new constelation then in 4 line case i.e. you'll be more frequently in position to 'clear screen' :)

mel the bell

I know i know im just a sex starved drug crazed sociopath please forgive me

*gets coat*

na_th_an

Well, I have several strategies. First of all, I am a "tetris" (when you clear 4 lines at a time) fanatic, so I always play to get a tetris.

Some tips:

1.- Use the "next" feature. Look at the next piece, and place it (mentally) before it comes out. As soon as it comes out, rotate and move it and leave it fall while you place (mentally) the next piece. That helps specially when the game speed increases.

2.- Long lines always to the sides.

3.- Try to avoid building three block tall sections: they are difficult to manage (most likely you will need a long piece).

In the arcade (and in some versions for the computers/consoles/handhelds/swatches/cell phones/tv sets/dildos/whatever) you cleared the level after a number of lines. I prefer "non stop tetris", where the game speed increases with time or with the amount of lines cleared. In this kind of games, it is better to always "play for a tetris" instead of "play for a line" (which works better in the former kind of tetris), 'cause your lines won't be cleared when you go to next level. More challenging :p

GOC

On 2004-02-19 04:27, na_th_an wrote:
Well, I have several strategies. First of all, I am a "tetris" (when you clear 4 lines at a time) fanatic, so I always play to get a tetris.

Some tips:

1.- Use the "next" feature. Look at the next piece, and place it (mentally) before it comes out. As soon as it comes out, rotate and move it and leave it fall while you place (mentally) the next piece. That helps specially when the game speed increases.

2.- Long lines always to the sides.

3.- Try to avoid building three block tall sections: they are difficult to manage (most likely you will need a long piece).

In the arcade (and in some versions for the computers/consoles/handhelds/swatches/cell phones/tv sets/dildos/whatever) you cleared the level after a number of lines. I prefer "non stop tetris", where the game speed increases with time or with the amount of lines cleared. In this kind of games, it is better to always "play for a tetris" instead of "play for a line" (which works better in the former kind of tetris), 'cause your lines won't be cleared when you go to next level. More challenging :p

Thanks for the tips, but, remember, what I have to do is to clear the entire screen :).

e.g.

........    ........    ........
....***.    ........    ..WELL..
....*... => ........ => ..DONE..
........    ........    ........
****...*    ********    ........
****.***    ********    ........