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Conference rusure::nintendo

Title:Nintendo Game Systems
Notice:Please enter Super NES notes in Yuppy::Super_NES.
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Tue Oct 20 1987
Last Modified:Mon Feb 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:847
Total number of notes:11602

247.0. "Tetris (From Russia with Love)" by USAT03::GRESH (Subtle as a Brick) Sat Apr 08 1989 11:39

 -----       Nintendo offers industry's first home   
|C I S|      video game                    
 -----  
             Source : Business Wire              Date : 06-APR-89

REDMOND, Wash.--(BW)--Having negotiated the first licensing 
agreement of its kind, officials of Nintendo of America Thursday 
announced that the smash-hit, Soviet-designed computer game ``Tetris'' 
will now be offered for play on the Nintendo Entertainment System 
(NES).

Nintendo entered into a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement 
with ELORG, the Soviet Foreign Trade Association, to market the game 
created by Soviet computer wiz,, Alexey L. Pazhitnov.

In predicting that ``Tetris'' would be one of Nintendo's all time 
hits, Nintendo President Minoru Arakawa noted that Pazhitnov and 
``Tetris'' had both been receiving a great deal of publicity -- 
including a March 20 story in NEWSWEEK magazine.

Arakawa said his confidence in ``Tetris'' was also bolstered by the 
fact that the game sold more than 100,000 copies for use on home 
computers in the U.S. and garnered numerous industry awards.

Worldwide marketing rights for the NES version of the game -- which 
challenges players to race the clock to arrange falling blocks of 
various shapes and colors into neat rows -- were attained after 
whirlwind negotiations between Arakawa and senior Soviet government 
officials.  ``Tetris'' cartridges will be available from Nintendo in the 
near future.

In a signing ceremony in Moscow on March 22, Arakawa was joined by 
Mr. E.P. Maksakov, a senior Soviet government official and Deputy 
Chairman of the USSR State Committee for Computer Systems and 
Informatics.

Commenting on the importance of the agreement, Arakawa said, ``Not 
only is this relationship compatible with Soviet goals of improving 
computer literacy through the development of video game software, it is 
also a step in the development of U.S.-U.S.S.R. trade relations.''

Nintendo of America is based in Redmond and is a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Nintendo Co. Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan -- the world's largest 
manufacturer and marketer of video games.

    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
247.1Review in advance...CADSYS::DIPACEAlice DiPaceMon Apr 10 1989 00:087
We have "TETRIS" for our MacInstosh and this game is addicting!!

I hope they keep a number of features and high-score keeping -
That's one of the things that keeps the competition going in our
family - Darn - gotta go play now.  My daughter just beat my high score!

Alice
247.2I love it.TKTV05::SAKAIWed Apr 12 1989 04:1513
    We love "TETRIS" on FAMICOM and ARCADE GAME MACHINE.
    There is a little difference.
    
    FAMICOM(NES) is a 1 player game and norm is 25 line (to delete).
    There are 9 speed and 5 level.
    
    But arcade one has 2 player (in same time) game ,and endless game.
    step by step its speed is up.
    
    Many game machine will get "TETRIS".
    
    Hiro
247.3TETRIS FanCOEM::SCOPAThe MajorWed Apr 12 1989 15:496
    I have TETRIS for my //GS and it is quite addictive. My first question
    would be what kind of music will come with the game and secondly what
    kind of background scenes will we see. Also, will we be able to
    "customize" the game as you can with the PC version.
    
    Mike
247.4TETORIS great!TKTV05::SAKAIWed Apr 19 1989 00:439
   At NES(Famicom) version we can select 3 BGMs ;
    	Tecnotoris,Troica,Kalinca.
    
      There is no change on the background scenes.
                                      
   Now Tetoris is available on almost personalcomputer & NES ,MEGA drive
    	here.
    
    Hiro  
247.5where to buy???MAGIC::POLLOCKProgrammers expect the unexpected!Mon May 29 1989 23:3430
    Has anyone seen Tetris for sale in the Manchester - Nashua, NH area?
    I rented this game this past weekend and it is great!
    
    Here's a brief description.  The game has 18 levels of play.  You
    can start at any of the first 9 levels of play.  You can select
    from 4 background music selections or you can select silence.  You
    can also select a handicap from 0 thru 12.  The higher the number,
    the more lines, filled in for the most part, you start with.  The
    object of the game is to fill in lines using various shaped puzzle
    pieces.  There are several different shaped pieces, including a
    "Z", a square, an "L", and a line.  At any one time you see the
    current puzzle piece and the next one.  You use the arrow keys on
    the controller to move the puzzle piece up, down, left or right
    as it is falling down from the top of the screen.  You use the A
    or B button to rotate the piece.  You must do all of the positioning
    of the piece before it hits any of the pieces already in place.
    Once you fill in a line and leave no holes it is cleared off of
    the screen and each of the lines above it, if any, are moved down
    1 line.  You need to complete 30 lines in each level to move onto
    the next level, which starts off with whatever lines were left from
    the previous level.  I'm not too sure about how the scoring goes
    as the instructions that came with the game were incomplete.  I
    do know that you receive bonus points at the end of the level for
    each single, double, triple, or tetris lines that you succeded in
    filling in.
    
    -Paula
    
    
    
247.6Pentominoes in Tetris?CURIE::SANDLER_______________Tue May 30 1989 00:315
    
    Are the Tetris pieces pentominoes? If someone knows where to get
    it in the Marlboro/Boston area please post it here also.
    
    Kopel.
247.7ALIEN::POSTPISCHILAlways mount a scratch monkey.Tue May 30 1989 08:596
    Re .6:
    
    No, the pieces only have four squares, not five.
    
    
    				-- edp
247.84CURIE::SANDLER_______________Tue May 30 1989 11:427
                                                                     
    re .6 & .7
    
    Then they are tetraminoes (?) - still very interesting... Thanks.
    That way the name of the game makes sense.          
                                              
    Kopel.
247.10The battle for TETRIS (Tengen Vs. Nintendo)CSSE::MILLERNormal InsanityMon Jun 12 1989 10:2131
I have to agree with the previous postings, just plug it in and time vanishes!!!
It appears that there are (or soon will be) TWO versions of this game available
for Nintendo.  One is by Tengen (nonlicensed) and the Nintendo version.
The version that I got is the Tengen and there was a very clear message on the
box that this is NOT a Nintendo Licensed product (located approximately where
the license seal is normally).  I have not seen or played the Nintendo version
but Tengen is excellent.  I have attached a recent posting from Usenet stating
that there could be a battle over this game....FWIW :-)

Now where did those hours go........
Ron M.

>From: [email protected] (Kit Kimes)
>Newsgroups: rec.games.video
>Subject: Re: NES: Mega Man 2 and SMB3
>Date: 5 Jun 89 17:47:44 GMT
>Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
> 
>PS. If anyone is interested in TETRIS, I had a chance to play both Nintendo's
>    version and Tengen's version.  Tengen's version is MUCH better (IMHO).
>    Since Nintendo is going to heavily promote their version and is sueing
>    to try to stop Tengen from selling their version, I would buy it as
>    soon as I can.  You may have to special order it or get your dealer
>    to order it for you.  It is available now.  I hear Nintendo has made
>    some overt threats to any one who carries Tengen's version, so I 
>    don't think you will find it at Toy 'R Us, etc.
> 
>					Kit Kimes  
>					AT&T--Bell Laboratories
>					...att!ihlpe!kimes

247.11I have my collector's item!CSCMA::LEONGI ski. Therefore I am.Tue Jun 27 1989 12:158
    I purchased this game last nite at the new Lechmere in Cambridge.
    BTW, Lechmere had at least 20 different games for sale & most were
    cheaper than Toys R'us, Kay Bee, etc.  Among the more popular &
    elusive included Bases Loaded, Link, Blades of Steel, SMB 2.
    
    I got the Tengen version & there were several left.  Other than
    Zelda, this is the most entertaining & addictive game I've played.
    Why are there blocks tumbling down my VT?!? 8^)
247.12another addictESPN::BLAISDELLHear me now, believe me later, ya?Wed Jul 05 1989 08:4215
    Great game!  Rented this over the long weekend and enjoyed it
  immensely.  Whoever said it was addicting was understating it.
  My wife who generally despises video games (she likes Zelda,
  Q'bert and thats about all), was hooked as well.

    We accidently stumbled on a neat little feature last night. You
  can continue in a two player game after your game is over and the
  other player is still going strong.  Press A and B simultaneously
  on the control pad, and your game starts again.

    Oh, this was Tengen's version btw.  Hope there are still copies
  out there, as this game has made my short list of games to buy.

-rick
247.13Does anybody really know what time it is?MISFIT::GEMMELand now here's Mac and Tosh...Thu Jul 06 1989 17:3416
    hang on while I pry my eyelids up........
    
    I have one MAJOR complaint about this game.....I don't get enough
    sleep!!!  We rented this cursed communist plot to fatigue the free
    world by making them stay up until 2 and 3 am last Friday. I then
    had to go find a copy to buy just so I could return the rental.
    Even my 5 year old likes to "Make pretty stacks of squares" (the
    little blue blocks).  Needless to say our home has been awake for
    many a late hour with this fiendish device.  I bet Gorby has developed
    some sort of antidote for his own staff....
    
    In short - this is a perfect 10 game!!!
    
    			SGG
    
    PS. I got the TENEGEN (sp?) version
247.14Found some!SUBSYS::CHILDSThu Jul 13 1989 18:339
	If you are in the Marlboro, MA. area, you can get a Tengen
 version of "TETRIS" at ZAYRE's on rte 20 , east Marlboro.

	The price is not great, around $45, but they have plenty of them.

	Flip... Flip... Flip...

	K. C.
247.15at Lechmere tooLDP::WILLINGERFri Jul 14 1989 15:275
    I bought one on Monday at Lechmere in Framingham for $37.99.  They
    had about 20 copies.  I'll bet a number of their stores received
    shipments.
    
    Great game.  Love the music and those dancers.
247.16no luck 8^( ESPN::BLAISDELLDialing in from another planetMon Jul 17 1989 13:285
     Scouted the Zayres and Lechmere in my area (Woburn) and they didn't
   have Tetris.  Went to a Toy's r Us and the manager said that they
   should be getting the Nintendo version in a couple of weeks. 

-rick
247.17plenty of copiesISLNDS::COOKThis is PPD. This is your brain on PPDMon Jul 17 1989 14:259
    I found it out my way (Gardner, Ma).  It sells for $46.95 pls tax
    at the Music Forum. This is the tengen version.  I held out and
    bought it this weekend at our local flea market.  New, still in
    shrinkwrap $34.95.  My wife loves this game because there's no violence
    involved (except when she doesn't get the pieces that she needs)
    
    Tom
    
    P.S.  -rick send me mail if you want me to get a copy for you.
247.18Get them while you canSTORK::KIBLINGsky was yellow, sun was blueMon Jul 17 1989 17:178
    
    I bought one last Friday (7/14) an Lechmere in Framingham.  I called
    first and asked if they had any.  The clerk said yes and no.  It
    seems that they are being recalled because of the Nintendo lawsuit.
    They were not on display, you had to ask for them.  Looks like they
    amy be a collectors item soon.
    
    	Pete
247.19Desperately Seeking Tengen...DEMON::CHALMERSSki or die...Tue Jul 18 1989 18:498
    Does anyone know of anyplace in the Burlington, Woburn, Peabody or
    Nashua area where I could pick up the Tengen version? I've tried a few 
    places without success. 
    
    Thanks in advance...
    
    Freddie
    
247.20hurry, hurry...IAMOK::WOODFORDWed Jul 19 1989 11:353
    I just bought the Tengen version at Lechmere's in Framingham last night. 
    There were two left behind the counter (not on the shelves) when I left.
    I hope this helps.
247.21Does anyone else see these?ISLNDS::COOKThis is PPD. This is your brain on PPDThu Aug 03 1989 12:178
    Does anyone know what the numbers are that breifly appear in the
    center columns while the pieces are falling?  I see them once in
    a while but don't understand what they do.  It's hard enough to
    concentrate on two pieces at the same time without looking at those
    flashes of numbers!
    
    Tom
    
247.23Must be the forrest through the treesISLNDS::COOKThis is PPD. This is your brain on PPDThu Aug 03 1989 12:523
    re -1  -rjk
    
    	Thanks.  Light dawns on marble head!! 8^)
247.246 TETRIS's & counting...CSCMA::LEONGI ski. Therefore I am.Thu Aug 03 1989 13:4313
    How many TETRIS's have any of you completed in any one round?  Last
    nite my roommate & I went head-to-head.  He got SIX TETRIS's in
    one round!  My highest was 5, one single & all triples in one round.
    
    What about those lines in the castle that appear on the lower right
    of the screen?  They appear to grow vertically as you remove horizontal
    lines.  Has anybody completed this through level 9?  I've made it
    from 0 through 6 but it got very ugly...
    
    I think this is a KGB plot to subvert the productivity of American
    workers by keeping them up all nite 8^)
    
    Russ
247.26ALIEN::POSTPISCHILAlways mount a scratch monkey.Thu Aug 03 1989 14:3013
    The score for each piece is a combination of its height, the level you
    are on, and whether or not you pulled the joystick down.  Each piece is
    worth one point to start with, if it lands on the bottom.  If its
    lowest pieces lands higher than that, add another point for every level
    up it is.  If you pulled down on the joystick even once during the
    fall, double the score.  I'm not sure how your level affects the score;
    perhaps it multiplies it by level+1?
    
    After a warm-up, I start games on level 9.  Highest number of lines
    completed from 9 so far:  190 (level 15).
    
    
    				-- edp
247.278 for 60MISFIT::GEMMELand now here's Mac and Tosh...Fri Aug 04 1989 11:1510
    The other nite when my wife and I were playing I had a bad sneeze past
    level 8 and lost it real quick after that...but had gotten 214 lines
    off.  At the restart (my wife was still playing) before I even got one
    line off she got 121 and out came the annoying dancers.  By the time I
    tripped the 60 mark I had 8 Tetris and then got "crowned" with a pillow
    by my wife (who had just filled her column).  We usally don't keep
    track of the level numbers, we remember them by the colors..."that damn
    green level", or "I hate the blue levels cause I cann't see the pieces"
    
    Steve
247.28Is Tengen's TETRIS dead?LUDWIG::PHILLIPSMusic of the spheres.Fri Sep 08 1989 12:3517
    It's been a while since the last note....
    
    Having discovered the game late this summer at the arcades (and
    becoming instantly addicted), I was dismayed to learn of Nintendo's
    plan to force the Tengen "Tetris" off the market.  I fear they were
    successful, since I can't find it anywhere.  Does anyone know where
    one can be found?  
    
    I also understand that Nintendo's own version of Tetris will be
    out soon, and it is said to be inferior to Tengen's.  Has anyone
    heard or seen anything?
    
    Looks like I may have to resort to the Apple IIe version if I'm
    gonna play it at home....
    
    					--Eric--
    
247.29No...EUCLID::FRASERThe Mill = 1,000,069 ft�.Fri Sep 08 1989 14:005
        I got  Tengen's version in 'The Movie House' on Nason Street in
        Maynard - they still had about three copies last week.
        
        Andy
        
247.30BEING::POSTPISCHILAlways mount a scratch monkey.Fri Sep 08 1989 14:1710
    Re .28:
    
    > Does anyone know where one can be found?
    
    Yeah, but you can't have mine.  I doubt you'll find it in any stores.
    Your best bet is probably to try those used-cartridge places that
    advertise in the various magazines.
    
    
    				-- edp 
247.31TCC::HEFFELPigs and PoniesSat Sep 09 1989 00:186
    Has anyone played the Gameboy version of Tetris?  How does it compare
    to either the Tengen or Nintendo NES version?
    
    Gary 
    (who is intrigued by the Gameboy, but is waiting to see the Atari/Epyx 
    machine)
247.32Zayre's had it.HQPMO::BDIMBATEchos in the NightSat Sep 09 1989 18:308
    re 247.28
    
    I bought the Tengen  version at Zayre's in Marlboro, MA this past
    Tuesday.  $45. It was the last on the shelf.  Don't know if they
    re-stocked.
    
    Bill
    
247.3399 and 44/100 percent bug-freeMISFIT::GEMMELand now here's Mac and Tosh...Mon Sep 11 1989 17:3331
    I found a bug in the Tengen Tetris!!!  If you get more then 10 (yes,
    ten!) tetrises (sp??) the (adjectives deleted) game cann't add them up!
    
    The scenario : two players, player A "dies" after triggering the
    "update" screen and B is at the low end of a 30 line sequence.  Player
    B then proceeds to rack-up a good sequence and low and behold - 11
    tetrises.....but only 1990 points for them!!  12 tetrises gets you 1400
    (or something like that) points!!
    
    Well, I called Tengen and tried to get them to believe me about the
    bug.  While the "game consultant" was asking the other "consultants"
    about the problem, he left the phone connection open. The profanity and
    verbal insults directed at "the guy on the phone" (me) and what I could
    do (which I still think is physically impossible) were very rude,
    crude, lewd, and in general, not nice.  Bottom line, I got pissed and
    ended up talking to the "manager" of the group (I think it was somebody
    else and the first person was too embarased to talk with me).  The
    suggestion, write up a bug report!!
    
    I now have "documented evidence" on my VCR!!  I'm going to take a
    picture of the 11 tetrises, send a copy of the picture and a nice
    letter to El presidente de Tengen (or a resonable facsimille thereof)
    requesting some resolution.
    
    My wife and I have probably run up over 20 hours a week each on this
    game.  I would recommend this addictive game to anyone. (just don't 
    get more than 10 tetris and expect the whole credit!) It's a 9.44 in
    our book.
    
    Steve
    
247.34Choose one from column "B"...LUDWIG::PHILLIPSMusic of the spheres.Mon Oct 16 1989 11:177
    I saw an ad for Child World a few days ago; the Nintendo version
    is now out.  However, the store I went to (White City Plaza in
    Shrewsbury) didn't have any copies in.  So .... has anyone seen
    it?  Has anyone bought it?  How does it compare to the Tengen version?
    
    					
    					--Eric--
247.35Tetris by Tengen for saleNETMAN::STRINGERTue Oct 17 1989 09:379
    Anyone looking for the Tengen version Tetris? 
    
    Townsend Harbor Video, in Townsend MA, has one copy for sale. New for
    $43.00. Good buy.
    
    If Nintendo's version is simular to Game Boys version of Tetris, I
    wouldn't buy it. 
    
    Jim.
247.36Still looking for Tengen...MIDI::DANAll things are possibleSun Oct 29 1989 10:3310
	I got sick and tired of not being able to find the Tengen version
anywhere so I picked up the Nintendo version at Highland in Nashua for
$37.  They had some in Lechmere too, but for a higher price ($43?)

	My impression of the Nintendo version:  I'll be generous by giving
it a '6'.  I really wish that this version had the same two-player capabilities
as the Tengen (it has *no* two-player action).  I haven't given up my search...

Dan
247.38Thanks Jack!MIDI::DANOpen your eyes, world!Mon Nov 20 1989 08:109
Thanks Jack for the posting, but it's not necessary now.  I've been meaning to
post a note in here for the last two weeks, but kept forgetting - I got the last
Tengen copy of Tetris at Harbor video a couple weeks back.  the owner had 
originally reserved it for renting, but decided to sell it after the Nintendo
version came in (he didn't care what version he rented - he just wanted to make
a buck!).  Anyway, the Tengen version *blows* the Nintendo version out of the
water.  2 player action is a blast. :^)

Dan
247.39Still Looking AlsoLILAC::HITCHCOCKTue Nov 21 1989 10:165
    RE .37:
    I just called the Movie House in Maynard and they've sold out. I'm
    looking for the Tengen version also, so if any finds it anywhere
    else, let us know.
    /chuck
247.40Different Versions of TetrisSALEM::FERMANTue Dec 26 1989 13:2516
    Help,  I bought Tetris for my husband for Christmas at AMES, and
    when we started playing it, it is different than the version that
    we had rented once and played on our home system.  The version that
    I bought only allows one player to use it, and the music choices
    are different.  In the version that we rented you had several modes
    of play, including two-player and competitive, and the music choices
    were labeled by composer.  In the version that I bought we only
    have a one player option, and the musical choices are labeled choice
    One, Choice Two, or Choice Three.
    
    Is this a common problem, and is there a way to tell them apart
    on the box.  As far as I could see, the boxes were the same.
    
    Thank you for any help you can give me on this.
    
    				Nancy "I've been Tetrisized" Ferman
247.41Tengen vs. NintendoHBO::BLAISDELLSo much for Peace on EarthTue Dec 26 1989 13:368
    
       Nancy, you purchased the Nintendo Tetris.  The Tetris you rented
     was the Tengen version of the game.  Nintendo recently won a lawsuit
     with Tengen for the rights to the game. The Tengen version will
     now be almost impossible to find in the stores.  There are other
     notes in this conference about both versions.
    
    -rick
247.43BEING::POSTPISCHILAlways mount a scratch monkey.Tue Dec 26 1989 14:159
    Re .41:
    
    Nintendo did not win the lawsuit yet.  The Tengen Tetris games
    disappeared because of a preliminary injunction.  That's not good,
    because it means the judge thinks Nintendo's case has some merit, but
    it is not conclusive.
    
    
    				-- edp 
247.44Thanks for the info on the Tengen VersionSALEM::FERMANWed Dec 27 1989 08:137
    Thank you for the information, at least now I know that I am not
    completely crazy.  Other people I mentioned this to have not seen
    the Tengen version, and they acted like I was nuts.
    
    Thank you very much.
    
    						Nancy
247.45DPDMAI::DAVISGBGil Davis DTN 554-7245Thu Jan 11 1990 17:377
    I just called Toys R us in Albuquerque...they have 6 copies of tetris
    (nintendo I assume) in stock at $34.99.
    
    Too bad about the tengen version.  It's a shame that nintendo took them
    to court ....any news on the status?  Might be a landmark decision!
    
    
247.46Has the lawsuit been settled?ODIXIE::WITMANMickey Mouse FOREVERMon Jan 15 1990 15:184
    I was able to purcahse the TENGEN version of TETRIS this weekend at the
    AMES store here in Deland, Florida.  I was *really* suprised to see
    them.  Has the lawsuit gone in TENGEN favor and these games now
    becoming available.
247.47Please God -- Say it's so!CLT::GRUBER::RODGERSNothing is written.Mon Jan 29 1990 14:3911
Has anyone else seen the Tengen version of Tetris in the stores?  I can't 
believe how poor the Nintendo version of this game is compared to the Tengin
version.  When I learned about the lawsuit, it took every ounce of moral
strength I could muster to stop myself from telling the rental place
that I "lost" the Tengen version.  When I could no longer rent the Tengen
version, I went through withdrawal.

This could be the best news I've had in a long time.  Does anyone out there
know whether Tengen won the suit?

-- Val
247.48Doesn't look good.....CSSE::MILLERReal toys have coinslots!Tue Jan 30 1990 08:258
From the February-90 issue of "Video Review", pg. 22 (Newsbreaks):

"NINTENDO ZAPS TENGEN

NINTENDO HAS EXCLUSIVE home videogame rights to Tetris, the hot-selling
game developed in Russia, a San Francisco federal court ruled.  The
decision upheld a previous ban on sales of a competing version of Tetris 
marketed by Tengen, a subsidiary of Atari (see "Newsbreaks," Sept. '89 VR)."
247.49Tetris's creator in the USESPN::BLAISDELLRed Sox, 1999 World ChampsTue Jan 30 1990 08:4912
    
      This morning's Boston Globe had an interesting article about Tetris's 
    creator, a Soviet programmer currently visiting the US.  Some of
    the more interesting tidbits in the article were, he got -0- dollars
    from the game.  He has written a new game called Welltris which
    he hopes will be as popular as Tetris and which he has better financial
    conditions devised in case it is.  He feels that the US/Japan video
    game developers/players lean too much toward the Shoot 'em up games
    and he would like to see more games like Tetris out there. Sorry,
    I forgot his name, don't have the paper in front of me.  
    
    -rick
247.50I second the motion, more games like TetrisRCOSGG::GEMMELand now here's Mac and Tosh...Tue Jan 30 1990 11:2323
Welltris is possibly the version of Tetris which is circular and the 
pieces form a complete ring instead of a straight line.  I saw something
about it, beats me where it was.

Without our Tengen Tetris game my wife and I would probably sell the 
Nintendo.  We play about an hour a night (after the kids are asleep) and
have started variations from "I got more lines than you" and "I got
more points in less lines".  What we do is start with a handicap and
see how *few* lines we take off to clear the initial junk.  I'm just glad
we have the Tengen version.  I tried the Nintendo one and the "feel" isn't
right and it's only one player.  We need more two independent player
games.  Most of the shoot-em-up two-player games don't allow independent
action for both players, ie. if player 1 wants to go left and player 2
wants to go right they are stuck.

Tetris makes you use your brain to create stratagies and methods of
clearing the board.  It's not a test of brute strength and blind luck
like so many of the shoot-em-ups.  The adventure games like Zelda and
Link are great since you also have to solve puzzles and yes, there are
"fights" but the main "thrust" of the game is not killing 10,000 enemy
soldier/ships/planes/etc.  I haven't tried Silent Service but from the 
sounds of it the stratagy and tatics required to play should make for
a fun time (you don't just run in and blast the ships).
247.51AKOV13::SALLOWAYYou'll See Perpetual ChangeTue Jan 30 1990 11:4911
    I agree Tetris is a great game, and its a disgrace that the Tengen
    (atari) version is not widely available.  I hope they have plans to
    release Welltris for the NES, and do a better job of it than the 
    Nintendo Tetris.
    
    If you like the thinking aspect of Tetris, may I suggest a game called
    the Adventures of LOLO (see appropriate note).  It requires logic to
    figure out the puzzles, but there is no time limit, so you can study
    the puzzle as long as you want.
    
    -Brian
247.52Waiting for another....RCOSGG::GEMMELand now here's Mac and Tosh...Tue Jan 30 1990 16:509
    
>    If you like the thinking aspect of Tetris, may I suggest a game called
>    the Adventures of LOLO (see appropriate note).  It requires logic to
    
    Finished it in 1 night - waiting for LOLO 2 which is due out in March
    sometime.
    
    Steve
    
247.53Author's nameGSRC::WESTVariables don't, Constants aren'tTue Jan 30 1990 20:025
  The author of Tetris is Alexey Pazhitnov.

					-=> Jim <=-

247.54JUPITR::PORTERDWed Jan 31 1990 07:222
    There was an article in yesterday's Boston Globe about the author of
    Tetris who visiting the area.
247.55infoSALEM::KUPTONWed Feb 28 1990 13:2516
    I spoke to NES this morning and they said that TENGEN is no longer
    licensed and without the license, they can't manufacture an internal
    function that makes it compatable with the deck. He did say that
    the old versions with the seal were no problem. 
    
    After telling him that i was linked up with 125,000 others and we
    discussed the ins and outs of NES and games, he sorta took a new
    and more interested approach. 
    
    I told him that the Nintendo Tetris is unpopular with many people
    and that most like the TENGEN version. I gave him my name and he
    promised that he would forward the message to his superiors. He
    also said that Nintendo and TENGEN could well enter back into a
    licensing agreement in the future.
    
    Ken
247.56BEING::POSTPISCHILAlways mount a scratch monkey.Thu Mar 01 1990 10:287
    Re .55:
    
    Tengen's Tetris was never licensed by Nintendo.  I don't think any of
    Tengen's cartridges are, but they DO work with the Nintendo system.
    
    
    				-- edp
247.57VMSSPT::MARCOUXA bug,naaa,that&#039;s a featureThu Mar 01 1990 16:308
    
          I believe the original 3 or 4 Tengen products, RBI, Gauntlet,etc...
     all had official nintendo approval. After that Tengen(Atari)manufactu-
     red there own carts. The first Tengen releases got a fair amount of
     ink in Nintendo Power, while now nothing from Tengen is ever mentioned.
    
    
                                                                    RONM
247.58can you say BOYCOT...I knew ya couldGSRC::WESTVariables don&#039;t, Constants aren&#039;tThu Mar 01 1990 21:089
RE: .55

  ...maybe a petition...or something along those lines...

  If you need more names you can use mine !!

  Jim West
  Colorado Springs

247.59let's get creative!!!DEMON::CHALMERSSki or die...Tue Mar 13 1990 11:009
    Has anyone spoken to the folks at TENGEN lately? Is there *any*
    possible way to get a cartridge from them? Maybe something
    creative, like "buy GAUNTLET, get TETRIS free", or "make a $50 charitable
    contribution to (name your charity) in their name, and get TETRIS
    free", or "mail in 50 bazillion boxtops, get TETRIS free..."
    
    I'm at the point where I might stoop so low as to rent TETRIS from the 
    local video store, and then lose it!!!! I might even go so far as to
    trade my ARKANOID for TETRIS!!!!!!!   
247.60I called Tengen - Can't get one...BRAT::SMITHNever say never, I always say.Tue Mar 13 1990 12:2510
    	re:-.1
    
    	I called them last week in an effort to buy one directly from
    	them (Tengen).  No luck...  They gave me the story about the
    	court injuction, and that the game may become available next
    	year.  She added that they don't sell the cartridges directly
    	from there anyway.  Oh, well...
    
    								 Mike
    
247.61Try buying USED.ODIXIE::WITMANMickey Mouse FOREVERThu Mar 15 1990 16:254
    I have seen used copies of Tengens Tetris advertised in some of the
    game magazines.  They've been priced about 60.00   I haven't seen
    anymore on the shelves around here but I keep watching.
    
247.62Surprise ending in Nintendo's Tetris.....LUDWIG::PHILLIPSMusic of the spheres.Fri Apr 27 1990 10:1627
    Despite the misfortune of being too late to buy a Tengen Tetris
    (DRAT!!!! 8-( ...) I have been logging a lot of time with the Nintendo
    version.  Since I haven't even seen Tengen's, or played the arcade
    version a lot, I have little to compare it to, so I guess I can
    live with it.  
    
    Still, the Nintendo version occasionally offers some delightful
    surprise endings.  In the "A" game, a high score is rewarded by
    a screen with a small rocket blasting off.  As the scores get higher,
    the rocket gets progressively bigger.  But the other day, I was
    on a roll and pushed up to level 12 (or was it 13?) and was rewarded
    with this:    <finish screen after form feed>
    
    
    
    The ending screen flashed on, showing the Kremlin in the background;
    in the foreground, there was not a rocket on the launch pad, but
    a flying saucer!  I thought, "Aha, this should be interesting...."
    A rocket engine began to roar.......
    
    
    
    ......and the entire KREMLIN lifted off, riding into the sky on
    a trail of rocket exhaust!  I almost had hysterics!  8-)   8-)
    
    
    						--Eric--
247.63FYIJUPITR::PORTERDThu Jun 21 1990 12:393
    I was in Stop & Shop in Milford, Ma. last week and their video
    department rents Nintendo games.  They had both versions of Tetris for
    rent.  On occasion they do sell their used games.
247.65Bad idea. Please be a good citizen.EVETPU::WALSHSchedule is Job OneFri Jun 22 1990 11:5514
    re: 247.64
    
    Theft is theft, in any form.  You deprive that store owner of the
    income that he could make renting that cartridge.  And if anyone *does*
    follow this ethically quite questionable advice, I hope that the
    offended store owner charges a mighty high price - it *is*
    unreplaceable, after all.
    
    Sorry - I'm kinda grumpy today, and maybe I shouldn't be such a
    hardcase about this.  But in my own mind, this is a bit worse than
    distributing copyrighted instructions to games, and some of the other
    shady practices that we see advertised from time to time in this file.
    
    - Chris
247.67FollowupDDIF::WALSHSchedule is Job OneFri Jun 22 1990 14:2123
    re: .66
    
    I understood your intent exactly, and have no quarrel with it, or you. 
    And this isn't the first time I've seen this sentiment expressed in the
    conference, either.  But just because you wouldn't steal the cartridge,
    and you didn't explicitly say "Take the sucker!", doesn't change the
    fact that seeing the idea in print may give some less honorable person
    the impetus to actually steal something this way.
    
    I wanted to register my explicit disapproval of the idea - and my right
    to express *that* opinion is just as sacred as your rights.  I
    apologize if the way I phrased my objection offended or disturbed you,
    but I do not apologize for condemning the idea.
    
    Besides, as I said, I was a bit grumpy this morning - a long night with
    Nobunaga's Ambition had a lot to do with that....  ;-)
    
    So - now that we've got all our Rights fully exercised, let's just drop
    it, eh?  It's not like we're burning flags or anything - you expressed
    a viewpoint, I expressed disapproval, and I believe that's all the
    resolution required.
    
    - Chris
247.68Gone but not forgotten...BOBBIN::DEMON::CHALMERSSki or die...Wed Jul 11 1990 13:2315
    Re: 'losing' the video store's copy...
    
    I was lucky enough to find a local store that rented Tengen's Tetris,
    so I checked it out for a few days. At some point during the day I was
    to return it, it was stolen from my car. Now, not only have I lost the
    opportunity to get my Tetris fix locally, but I also have to pay the
    store to 'replace' the cartridge, and wind up with nothing to show for
    it but a busted car window.
    
    It's sort of funny...when I was filing the police report, the officer 
    seemed bewildered that of all the things that were ripped off (Golf
    clubs, camera, radar detector, etc.), the item that I was most upset 
    about losing was the cheapest item taken: Tetris. (Hmmm...I wonder if
    my homeowners insurance has the clout to get me a replacement cartridge
    from Tengen? :^}...) 
247.69If you don't mind telling...EVETPU::WALSHSchedule is Job OneWed Jul 11 1990 13:396
    Just for interest sake:  How much did the store charge for the
    'replacement'?
    
    - Chris
    
    
247.70Even exchange...BOBBIN::DEMON::CHALMERSSki or die...Wed Jul 11 1990 16:4620
    They were actually very nice about the whole affair, and I was able
    to negotiate a settlement. They wanted to charge me "about $40" to 
    replace Tetris, but I proposed two alternatives:
    
    	- Give up another of my games (perhaps with some cash thrown in)
    
    	- Replace the stolen game with Nintendo's version.
    
    They opted for the second choice, since to them, 'Tetris is Tetris is
    Tetris...' so I'll stop on my way home tonight to pick one up at Bradlee's 
    or Caldor's for approx $35. (and, since I've never played Nintendo's
    version before, perhaps I'll rent it from him for a few nights...:^)
    
    What surprised me was the fact that it didn't matter to them whether
    they rented out Nintendo's version or Tengen's version. I'm going to
    check with a few other stores and ask if they'd like to trade their
    'old, worn-out, etc.' Tengen version for a 'shiny, new, modern, etc.'
    Nintendo version. Who knows? Maybe someone will go for it.
    
    Freddie
247.71Tengen Tetris fading out of sightLEODLN::BLAISDELLSign up for Challenge Cup 90Wed Jul 11 1990 22:598
    
      The Tengen version really wasn't on the store shelves that long, plus
    there was absolutely no advertising to speak of.  This might explain
    why the Nintendo version is recognized as the only Tetris today.  It's too 
    bad.  I've borrowed the Nintendo version and own the Tengen, and there
    is no comparison. Tengen's version is (was) superior. 
    
    -rick
247.72DECWET::HELSELLegitimate sporting purposeFri Jul 13 1990 12:597
    An unethical person might just rent the Tengen version and return the
    Nintendo version unannounced.  
    
    Of course no one at DEC would do such a thing so I see no risk in
    entering this note.
    
    /brett
247.73News update (?)BOOKS::ANGELONELean, green, and on the screen !Mon Jul 16 1990 08:538
    
    
    Heard a good rumor the othe day.
    Tengen is coming out with a TETRIS II for the Nintendo.
    
    Anybody else hear anything ?
    
    Rick A
247.74Enough, and a warning.ASABET::CUNNIFFMon Jul 16 1990 08:559
    
    Let's end the talk on how anyone might get a copy of Tengen Tetris
    through unethical means - the notefile isn't here for that purpose.
    
    Further notes on this topic may be censored. 
    
    your (co)moderator
    
    
247.75ASABET::CUNNIFFMon Jul 16 1990 09:047
    re tetris II - 
    
    I entered note 370 a while ago - after talking with Tengen to pick up
    some rumors - glad to see the rumor becoming more substantial...
    
    jack
    (who'll buy this new cartridge as soon as it comes out!)
247.76Buy used, how muchAIMTEC::WARRENS_RVOTE! Your Community depends on it.Sat Jul 28 1990 10:509
    Someone way back mentioned the posibility of buying the TENGEN version
    through the used dealers.
    
    Are they available that way? How much?
    
    Is the quality still fairly good on any cart purchased that way?
    
    Thanks
    Randy
247.77BOOKS::ANGELONELean, green, and on the screen !Tue Jul 31 1990 12:3611
    
    
    Finally broke down and bought this sucker.
    If I had never played the arcade cocktail table ATARI
    version, I would have brought it right back. But what
    the heck this version is good enough for home use.
    
    Does anyone know if WELLTRIS will be available for the 
    NINTENDO units ?
    
    Rick A
247.78JARETH::EDPAlways mount a scratch monkey.Tue Oct 16 1990 09:1733
Article 10092 of rec.games.video:
Path: shlump.nac.dec.com!bacchus.pa.dec.com!decwrl!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ncar!gatech!rutgers!att!cbnewsc!kimes
From: [email protected] (Kit Kimes)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video
Subject: Re: Tengen's Tetris
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 12 Oct 90 18:11:58 GMT
References: <[email protected]>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 20

From article <[email protected]>, by [email protected]:
> 
> The Tengen version of Tetris is apparently no longer available in the stores
> Is there someone out there that would like to sell theirs or at least put
> me in touch with someone who sells used ones.  Price gougers need not
> respond.  I are a poor college student. Thanks

I have Tengen's version and would not part with it for any money.  I think
it is an order of magnitude better than Nintendo's.  If you look in the
back of games magazines, you will find a large selection of companies
that deal in buying and selling used cartridges for most systems.  Last
I looked, they were selling Tengen's Tetris for around $170 and paying
about $90.  That's called charging what the market will bear.  You
want to talk price gouging?  $1.59_9 for a gallon of gas, that's
price gouging!

Kit Kimes
AT&T Bell Labs
Naperville, IL
...!att!iwtsa!kimes


247.79possible 'continue' spoiler]BCSE::WEIERPatty, DTN 381-0877Wed Feb 06 1991 23:1511
    I don't know if this is in here, but we happened on it quite by mistake
    playing the game Tengen Tetris ....
    
    when playing 2-person mode, if 1 person 'dies', press the A and B
    buttons on their controller, and that side of the screen will restart
    however it was originally set (ie at that level, with that handicap
    etc).  This is GREAT for parties - you just keep passing the controller
    around and never have to re-set the game - and people don't mind
    waiting for 1 person to finish.
    
    Don't know if this works for Nintendo Tetris - we don't have that.
247.80Flying saucer?TLE::EKLUNDAlways smiling on the inside!Fri Feb 15 1991 14:448
    Re: .62
    	I laughed over the surprise ending too.  It seems to stay that way
    with scores up over 200000 (more than 180 lines) and level 18.  Is
    there a score beyond which the flying saucer does something more
    interesting?
    
    Dave Eklund
    
247.81SALEM::KUPTONSchwartzkoph for Off.CoordinatorMon Feb 25 1991 08:353
    I heard last week that the TENGEN game is selling for as high as $250.
    
    Ken
247.82Makes ya cry, don't it?LUDWIG::PHILLIPSMusic of the spheres.Mon Feb 25 1991 10:149
    Re. .81
    
   >> I heard last week that the TENGEN game is selling for as high as $250.
    
    Grrrrrrrrrrr!
    
    I wanna launch a SCUD missile at Nintendo! :^(
    
    						--Eric--
247.83wow!MIDI::DANDan Gosselin, HyperHelp developmentMon Feb 25 1991 11:456
Being one of the grateful owners of Tengen Tetris, I can understand why
everyone likes it so much, but $250?  For a game?  Incredible...

-Dan

PS.  Don't even ask - I'm not sellin' 8-)
247.84I'll sell at that priceMR4DEC::WILLINGERWed Feb 27 1991 15:033
    Anyone wanna offer me $250 for mine?  
    
    
247.85ROCK::GRONOWSKIthe dream is always the same...Wed Feb 27 1991 16:015
    
    re: .84
    
    Aren't you getting greedy?  I'd be willing to take $200 for mine... :-)
    
247.861/2 price special :-)CSSE::MILLERReal toys have coinslots!Wed Mar 06 1991 09:519
re: .81
>    I heard last week that the TENGEN game is selling for as high as $250.
>    
>    Ken

Gee, I didn't realize that I was selling mine for 1/2 price, only got
$125 for it :-)

Ron M.
247.87I want a TengenCSC32::LECOMPTEI married my sister in MontanaWed Apr 17 1991 04:5518
    
    re. .80
    
    	I got to 206000 (?lines / level 17) the other day.  I thought great 
    I get to see something other then the Kremlin taking off but much to my
    disappointment the flying saucer stayed put and the Kremlin took off.  
    
    	Nintendo Tetris is the only one that I have played.  However I
    rented it before I bought it and the box that I got had the Tengen
    instructions with the Nintendo game.  It took me a good �hour to figure 
    out that I couldn't play a 2 player game.
    
    	I do like the Game B though.  I have beat level 9 Height 5 but
    can't get any further then that.  If any body has seen the end screen
    care to guess what that green weird looking animal is?
    
    	_ed- 'sad to never have played the real thing' leCompte
    
247.88ySALEM::DILLON_MIt&#039;s never to lateMon Jul 01 1991 10:404
    	I read that they were going to allow Tengen to sell this one again.
    Anyone know where I can pick one up in the N.H. area?
    
    Mike
247.89Oh, if it were only true...DEMON::CHALMERSSki or die...Mon Jul 01 1991 11:513
    Can you tell us where you read that piece of info? Nintendo's been
    beating on Tengen pretty heavily...allowing them to remarket Tetris
    would be a complete reversal of their stance.
247.90I tried...SALEM::DILLON_MIt&#039;s never to lateMon Jul 01 1991 15:094
    	Read 370.3. Maybe I'm reading it wrong or just wishing to hard. I
    tried calling their 800 number, but all I got was a recording.
    
    Mike
247.91DEMON::CHALMERSSki or die...Mon Jul 01 1991 16:2410
    Mike,
    
    If you find out any more info, could you post it here? (especially if
    it's good news!)
    
    FWIW, the way I understand the situation is that Nintendo's beating on
    Tengen on two fronts: 1) They barred them from continuing to market Tetris
    because Nintendo had purchased the distribution rights to the game; and
    2) Nintendo is claiming proprietary infringement on other Tengen games
    (as outlined in 370.3), but this is a seperate issue from #1 above...
247.92YRDARM::finneganDo you want is done right or right now?Tue Jul 02 1991 09:423
I have not looked recently but Electronics Boutique had some about 2 weeks ago.

Neal
247.93Tengen vs. Nintendo = Big differenceCYCLPS::CHALMERSSki or die...Tue Jul 02 1991 13:103
    Re: -.1 
    
    Neal, was it the Tengen version, or was it the Nintendo version?
247.94Don't realize what topicYRDARM::finneganDo you want is done right or right now?Tue Jul 02 1991 13:406
Sorry,

EB is selling Tengen games again but I didn't see Tetris there.  Klax is pretty
good though. same style of game but definately different plus its two player.

Neal
247.95JARETH::EDPAlways mount a scratch monkey.Wed Jul 03 1991 23:109
    The news report in 370.3 is about a separate case from the Tetris suit. 
    Nintendo claimed Tengen had no right to sell Tetris because their
    license with the Soviets did not permit it.  The suit in 370.3 is about
    Nintendo claiming Tengen is violating Nintendo's copyright by using
    anti-lockout software in all the Tengen cartridges.  Even if Tengen
    wins that suit, it would not reverse the Tetris decision.
    
    
    				-- edp
247.96ROCK::GRONOWSKIthe dream is always the same...Fri Sep 13 1991 10:452
    
    Anyone know how much a Tengen Tetris can be sold for?
247.97too muchCSC32::LECOMPTEMARANATHA!Tue Sep 17 1991 04:088
    
    	More then I care to pay I'm sure.
    
    	I would not be at all surprised if someone can get in excess of
    $75 for one depending on condition.
    
    	my 2�
    	 _ed-
247.98The most expensive game of them allVISUAL::SCOPAI&#039;d rather be in OrlandoMon Mar 09 1992 15:467
    Well Gang I was in a local Video/Computer store the other day and there
    was talk that Nintendo is still on the lookout for those Tengen Tetris
    games and are offering upwards of $500 for them.
    
    Don't know if it's true.
    
    Mike
247.99CERBUS::KARLSONOnly 290 shopping days until Xmas!Tue Mar 10 1992 08:024
    
    *NINTENDO* is on the lookout for them???
    
    -rjk
247.100OR Give me their numberSALEM::KUPTONPasta MastaTue Mar 10 1992 08:468
    If anyone out there is offering $500 for Tengen Tetris....give me 
    a call ..........I have one and I'll sell it to the person paying that
    kind of money....hope the drugs don't wear off before he meets up with
    me........8^)
    
    Ken
    DTN 285-2429
    
247.101ROCK::GRONOWSKIthe dream is always the same...Tue Mar 10 1992 14:262
    
    I'll sell mine for $499!
247.102BEING::EDPAlways mount a scratch monkey.Wed Mar 11 1992 08:077
    Re .98:
    
    I called Nintendo Customer Service.  They don't know anything about
    purchases of Tengen Tetris and showed no interest in buying one.
    
    
    				-- edp
247.103Expensive but goodSWAM2::MERRICK_ELSat Dec 11 1993 16:555
    I just picked up a copy of Tengen Tetris for $150 here in Phoenix.
    I was just going to look at it, but after playing it I couldn't
    resist.  Much better than Nintendo's, and well worth the money.
    
    ellen
247.104I have a Tengen Tetris 4-saleMR1MI1::CGRADYMon Dec 13 1993 15:1311
    I have a Tengen Tetris for sale if anyone is interested.  Doesn't
    have an instruction booklet though.  Great Christmas gift.
    
    Best REASONABLE offer.
    
    Christine 
    297-3610
    MR1MI1::CGRADY
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