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Tetris Evolution video review featuring a giraffe
Gamertag Radio's Godfree put together a video review of the newly released 360 title Tetris Evolution. Their review (embedded above) features achievement talk and gameplay footage showcasing a four player showdown, beautiful clouds, and one hungry giraffe. Black tongues rock! From what we see, Tetris Evolution looks to be simple, colorful, customizable, and takes advantage of full Xbox Live integration. Is it worth $30? That's for you to decide, but this is definitely one of the prettiest Tetris games to date.
Nervous Brickdown brings sexy back to Breakout
Nervous Brickdown breathes new life into the Arkanoid-Breakout genre, updating its basic template with ten distinct gameplay modes. This might be Arkedo Studio's first game for any console, but the charming soundtrack and highly-stylized environments -- ranging from 70s mod to playful retro -- really give Nervous Brickdown a first-rate polish that other Breakout-clones usually lack. The break-a-brick game takes advantage of the Nintendo DS' hardware, making use of the system's touchscreen, microphone, and WiFi (multiplayer) features. Ecrans has a few videos showing how hectic the game can get as it forces you to dodge bullets, fight bosses, and catch items, all while keeping the ball in play. No release date has been announced yet, but we're happy to hear that Eidos has picked this title up for publishing. You will definitely be hearing more about Nervous Brickdown from us in the future. [Thanks, Sebastien!]
Phone Tetris goes multiplayer
Our high esteem for Tetris has dwindled in recent years, with it available for nearly every device made, like an ex-girlfriend showing up at each party with a new date. A gadget usually plays Tetris before it plays Doom. But mobile phone Tetris -- usually the worst kind of Tetris -- just got a little classier with EA's new multiplayer version.Tetris DS hooks us with its online multiplayer matches, and the mobile phone version holds similar appeal. Over the air matches let players compete against friends or strangers without having to be nearby, and a chat system taunts opponents from other area codes.If you think everything relates to Tetris -- even sex -- check EA Mobile or your carrier's site for more information about cost and supported phones.
Tetris Evolution dev drops Tetris XBLA hint
During an interview with Gaming Target, the developers of the upcoming Tetris Evolution outlined some of the game's key features that differentiate it from other Tetris titles. Included in the game are two new modes, "Eraser" and "Go Low." "Eraser" is fairly simple, just erase a few predetermined lines. See, easy. "Go Low" asks players to make the highest block drop as far as possible when clearing away lines. Of course, most gamers know that the extra modes don't matter too much in Tetris, so long as the game plays properly.The game promises high definition still and video backgrounds, customizable skins and player icons for your board, and 4 player Live multiplayer. 40 achievements are lined up for the game, with most of them awarded for achieving high scores in various modes. Hardcore players will be glad to hear that multiplayer matches do not allow "infinite spin," where players can constantly spin a piece, forcing it to stay in play. Single player games, however, allow you to toggle between infinite, extended, and classic spin settings. Another happy note, the game has been priced at $29.99.Finally, when questioned about the reasoning behind making Tetris Evolution a retail title instead of an XBLA title, a developer responded, "I can't really speak for the Xbox Live Arcade version. We've known for some time it was being developed, but we don't really have any visibility as to its feature set." So there you have it, a Tetris developer says an XBLA Tetris is in the works. The developers do elaborate, however, that the amount of features in Tetris Evolution -- in particular the full motion backgrounds -- would exceed the XBLA size limit.Would you bother with a retail Tetris if you knew a version was coming to Xbox Live Arcade?[Thanks, John]Update: Gave credit to our tipster.
Playing Dirty: We fit together!
Every other week, Bonnie Ruberg contributes Playing Dirty, a column on sex and gender in video games: Watching Alexey Pajitnov receive the First Penquin award at this year's Game Developer's Choice Awards, it occurred to me I'd never really thought about the face behind Tetris. Sure, I'd heard Pajitnov's name plenty of times, but the man himself, and that lovable, Santa-bought-hair-dye beard, those were off the radar. Who knows what I expected of the infamous Russian: someone stiffer, more stand-off ish, a gaming visage for the Cold War itself. Not that Tetris has much to do with politics. In fact, for me, the game has always represented something totally different. I associate Tetris with sex. At first, the idea sounds absurd. Colored blocks remind you of sex? Deprived gamer alert! But think about it: the point of Tetris is to make things fit together. Blocks float down to fit in the spaces left open by other blocks. When things fit together right, they make a solid line, a happy, unified whole. When they don't fit right, blocks leave ugly, open patches, the gaping black bane of Tetris existence. To win the game, you need to make sure every block finds its hole.
Pajitnov, with needle and thread, wins Game Design Challenge
The game design challenge is an honored tradition four years in the running at the Game Developers Conference, pushing creativity in a competitive, humorous environment. This year's winner was Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov who managed to create a viable action-puzzler using needle, thread and cloth. He bested both David Jaffe (Calling All Cars, God of War) and last year's winner Harvey Smith. The following is a pseudo-live blog of the event from earlier this afternoon. Read on for a full description of each game proposed.
Tetris Evolution is very Tetris-like
Godfree from Gamertag Radio just sent us ten new screenshots of recently announced title Tetris Evolution. And everyone will be glad to know that the game looks just like Tetris with high definition background graphics. It kind of reminds us of Lumines Live with the various themes to each level, but without the moving backgrounds (or so we think they don't move). With up to four players duking it out at once here's hoping that Tetris Evolution turns out to be a prettier version of the game we love and doesn't cost the full retail price of a Xbox 360 game. Because as we see it now, charging $60 for the game would be outrageous.
DS Daily: What's your favorite WiFi game?
According to our Game Night polls, Mario Kart DS is probably the most universally popular DS game -- or maybe it's just the one more people have. But what's your favorite? Which DS game really makes you want to get in there and fight it out online? Do you like fragging in Metroid Prime Hunters, or the versatility of Clubhouse Games? We'd love to hear about it.
Panel de Pon coming to DS
We have great news for puzzle fans! Panel de Pon, aka Tetris Attack, aka Pokémon Puzzle League, aka Puzzle League is going to get a DS release in Japan in April, according to some rumor-hounds at NeoGAF. This marks the first time we can think of that the same game has appeared on both the Game Boy Advance and the DS.We can think of one thing in particular that could elevate this new version over its predecessors: delicious online multiplayer. We're dreaming of future Game Nights already.
Tetris Evolution coming to Xbox 360
THQ has confirmed that it will be releasing Tetris Evolution on Xbox 360. In the announcement THQ also said that the title will be released next month, and will be built upon their previous title, Tetris Worlds. This is in fact the second Tetris game to be released on the Xbox 360, the first being Tetris: The Grandmaster Ace which was an Xbox 360 launch title in Japan. Tetris: The Grandmaster Ace was accused of not having enough substance to justify being a full retail game, when it should have been an Arcade title. We'll have to see if Tetris Evolution falls into the same trap in March. What do you think, can there be reason to pay fifty bucks for a Tetris game?[Via GameStooge]
THQ announces 'Tetris Evolution' for Xbox 360
We knew it was coming, today THQ gave it a name: Tetris Evolution. While it seemingly would fit just fine on Xbox Live Arcade, Evolution appears to be a boxed-retail release (listed on Gamefly); currently scheduled for March. Expect traditional Tetrimino-dropping along with new modes, headlined by "Go Low" and "Eraser" -- 4-player Xbox Live support too.True to its name, Evolution will build on recent puzzler trends (see Lumines) and feature customizable themes, skins, icons, and music. More than a dozen "HD" background videos will be available to distract your high-score efforts. Whatever, just as long as it's budget-priced.
Tetris furniture
Ordinarily when shopping from a kids' catalogue, one has the children in mind. But when it comes to Play+Soft's seemingly Tetris-inspired furniture, we suspect the order might be diverted to dad's "office."[Via Wonderland]
Hot Nintendo cross-stitching action
We have no idea how we missed this, but better late than never. See, the above was loving cross-stitched by flickr user CrystalPowell and presents just what we look for here at DS Fanboy: a rabid love of Nintendo. Proudly displaying such games as Tetris, Duck Hunt, Donkey Kong, and the Mario Bros. from Super Mario Bros. 3, with the icing on the cake being a bold red Nintendo logo dead center at the top, we find ourselves wishing that we could envelope our body in warm Nintendo love every night when we go to bed. [Via Wonderland]
DS games pepper Next-Gen's top 100 games of 2006
Where can you find Hannah Montana hanging out with FFIII? No, not on a shelf at your local GameStop -- in Next Generation's list of the top 100 best-selling games in North America in 2006. But you get more than just a regular ol' list; they also broke the games down by average critical rating, and it's pretty interesting to compare sales with review ratings. More signs that the review system could use an overhaul? Or just an indication that critics and gamers often look for different things?Some interesting things we noticed while perusing the list: Bratz outsold a lot of very good DS games, including Tetris. We can only guess that Games 4 Girls campaign worked. Also, we're now certain that Bratz dolls should be banned, due to the fact that they're obviously both evil and insidious. People really dig Cars. DS games started to get fewer and further apart as the list wound down. We suspect that's simply because there are too many great DS games for people to buy. Our wallets hurt. Really. But we're not complaining. Nintendogs barely made it into the top 50. We're surprised. The highest ranked DS exclusive: New Super Mario Bros., which came in at number 5.
Chip & PIN Tetris hackers can steal credit card info, too
Hacking into sensitive machines and playing brain games on them certainly isn't new -- and a pair of researchers at Cambridge have already done just that on a "tamper-proof chip-and-PIN payment terminal," -- but in a recent (and more serious) development, they've extended the exploit to demonstrate how they can "compromise the system by relaying information between a genuine card and a fake one." Saar Drimer and Steven Murdoch, members of the Cambridge University Computer Laboratory, have not only played Tetris on a banking machine, but have devised a scenario where a terminal is actually connected to a thief's laptop (instead of a bank, for instance), thus passing through crucial information without throwing a red flag to the now-screwed customer. Through a series of RFID, WiFi, and SMS connections, the duo even explains how something so simple could be used to steal thousands of dollars in diamonds and jewelry if working with a trained crew. Still, it's noted that this kind of stunt would be "difficult to execute in practice," and of course, whoever tries it runs the risk of being imprisoned for quite some time, but if you're interested in an eerily detailed description of just how beautiful you life can become if you actually pull this off, the read link demands your attention.
Confirmed: Tetris transforms gamers into vandals
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Confirmed_Tetris_transforms_gamers_into_vandals'; In his photo of aggressive renovations suffered by a poor building at the rock-tossing hands of vandals, Flickr user dailysnap underlines the frightening effects of unchecked Tetris exposure. Indeed, beneath the pleasantly plummeting blocks lies a slowly interlocking visage of post-apocalyptic anarchy, with the monstrous weight of each L-piece crushing the very concept of order and discipline in today's fragile youth. Rescue a window today and stop the detritus of Tetris.[Via The Next Net, thanks Mobat.]
Tetris necklace
Heads up! Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and nothing says "I love you" like odd-shaped blocks on a string. Rumor has it that the first batch of these Tetris necklaces might be ready just in time...[Thanks, laserboyjc]
DS Fanboy presents: Game Night (1/9/07) [update 1]
We've tallied up the votes and our Game Night title has been chosen. We'll be meeting up in the same room as last week, at the same time. All of the details, including the results of the poll determining what game we'll be playing tonight, are after the break.
Best of the rest: Ross' picks
Lumines Live! (XBLA) On a big screen with surround sound, Q Entertainment's Lumines Live was easily the most-played game in my library (if you stretch the definition of library to digitally distributed titles). Although I railed against how microtransactions were implemented in this title and still think the extent to which they disclosed the dearth of features was misleading, both the Basic and Advanced Pack got more than enough play time, as did the multiplayer. It is the best Xbox Live Arcade title since Geometry Wars.
Hidden games in Mac OS X
Mac OS X uses emacs as a text editor, which contains a number of hidden games including Snake, Tetris, Pong and a whole slew of others. Follow the simple steps included here, and you could be playing a boatload of games that you didn't even know were on your Mac. Granted, the games pretty much suck (the graphics make the Wii look like Super High Definition 2160iii), but if you're trying to kill 30 minutes while sitting in the library, look no further. We're still exploring these and trying to figure out what the heck some of the games are.
