Can anyone give me tips for Tetris Splash?

[massi4h]

So I'm going to a big 3 day LAN in about two days for a big Guitar Hero comp and on the side they have an Xbox 360 Arcade Gaming Marathon (winning based on points) which has 4 Xbox 360 games one of them being Tetris Splash.

I like to call myself a pretty good Tetris DS player (I can play pretty fast and can do so many t-spins). So how different is this game? Are T-spins in it (how about triples)? Do I get bonuses for them etc.

So what is it really based around and would I be better off using a standard controller or grabbing an arcade pad to use?

PS. I haven't played pretty much any Tetris games on PC like TGM due to sheer laziness so I don't really have those kind of skills to work with.


Thanks for help in advance.

[DIGITAL]

This game is very similar to Tetris DS with a few enhancements and some limitations.

- No wallkick T-Spins. No TSTs. Only Imperial TSSes. Only regular and Imperial TSDs.
- Fast DAS, meaning you SHOULD hold horizontal movement rather than tap like in TDS
- Initial hold/rotation during line clear

I'd recommend you stick to a gamepad by default. A stick would not be ideal for this gameplay style. If possible, the fastest option would be a keyboard.

[massi4h]

Wow thanks for the quick reply DIGITAL.

Awesome info. With the standard Xbox 360 controller I should use the d-pad right?

Oh and so I don't have to ask on the day, does anyone know the buttons?

[DIGITAL]

Wow thanks for the quick reply DIGITAL.

Awesome info. With the standard Xbox 360 controller I should use the d-pad right?

Oh and so I don't have to ask on the day, does anyone know the buttons?
Yeah, you'll have more stable control using the d-pad.

[DIGITAL]

Oh and I almost forgot...there's a combo system as well. It's like the one implemented in Tetris Online Japan if I remember correctly. Perhaps someone still remembers the details...

[massi4h]

OK, I'll suck with that, but I'll see what happens.

Generally combo systems are where you get more points for consecutive line clears right?

Is there a back to back bonus?

Thanks for all your help DIGITAL.

[DIGITAL]

Yeah, consecutive line clears. The back to back bonus remains the same whether you perform a combo or not, which means only tetrises and T-Spins keep the bonus. If I recall accurately, the combo bonus in TOJ multiplayer punishes an opponent with one extra row of garbage for every line clear after the first. So if you cleared three doubles in a combo, your opponent would recieve 3 lines from the doubles and 2 more from the combo.

[caffeine]

Will the competition be single player? What mode? Marathon or 40 Lines? If Marathon, you need to learn the "Super Mangled F'd Up Strategy."

[jujube]

http://www.tetrisconcept.com/wiki/index ... ction=edit (http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/../wiki/index.php?title=Super_Mangled_F_2527d_Up_Strategy&action=edit)

d'oh!

[massi4h]

It will be single player. Probably marathon but it may be 40 lines.

If it's 40 lines should I just spam tetrises as fast I can?

And what would this "Super Mangled F'd Up Strategy" be. Anything uber would be cool lol.


Oh yeah what kinda points system is there? As in how much exactly are T spins worth? Would it be good to take a stab at some ST stacking?

[DIGITAL]

Copied from the Tetris Friends thread...
And here are my calculations... (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pj0DxWYO9RRPQWAt8WEzVCQ)

The current best strategy (believed optimal) is to do lots of single-single combos until your goal reaches 4 (in TZ) or 11 (in TF), adding an extra single if you are exactly one above that, then doing a single-KickTSS-TSD in TZ, and either single-tetris-TSD or single-TSS-TSD in TF. I've assumed that a tetris is done, for reasons that I will explain in a moment. The first level of TF marathon requires a slightly different strategy, which is single-single then single-single-TSD. Also note that my spreadsheet does all the multiplying of score by the current level in one place (column H "points * level") to prevent confusion.

Scoring for drops is based on an assumption by jujube: In level 1, you can drop pieces an average of 15 cells. In level 2, you can only drop them 14 cells on average, and so on, until level 15, where you can only drop them 1 cell. I haven't accounted for the fact that T-spins require a soft drop, because they also require at least one additional piece to be dropped to allow the T-spin to happen. The total of this descrepency is in the order of 300 points. It is likely that the points from drops is inaccurate, but it's hard to make an accurate estimate.

Some comments on the strategies: T-spins that don't clear a line aren't helpful, as they limit the number of extra points that can be scored from combos. The back-to-back bonus is worth 600*level points, so it is desirable to do get it. Declining it to take extra singles costs about 400*level points in TF. The third line clear in a combo subtracts from the goal, which means overall less points than stopping after the second line clear. This isn't relevant at the end of a level, as there is no carryover into the next level.

I'd like to thank jujube additionally for informing me of the current best strategies, and for helping me to see my brainfarts quickly.

[caffeine]

And in human readable form: (not totally optimal, but optimal-tournament-practical)

For the first level, make singles until you have one goal line left. Then make a T-Spin Double. All levels after that, wait until you have nine goal lines left and then do a Tetris to start B2B. You will have one goal line left and make a T-Spin Double. Do not make more than a combo 1. This means that it's okay to make a line then with the next tetromino make another line, but do not make another line with the next tetromino. That would make a combo 2, which will hurt you. Follow this through all fifteen levels very carefully, and take your time. The last levels will be difficult because of the gravity. Since it's a tournament, even if you mess up once, continue the best you can until you finish all fifteen levels--better to finish semi-perfect than to try to get all fifteen perfectly and top out accidentally because you couldn't manage it.Chances are no one else at that tournament will know about this, so even the best players who play fast as hell and make all T-Spins, Tetrises, and combos will arbitrarily hit scores between 500k to 750k.

[colour_thief]

Every time I read those tips my mind is blown by how retarded the optimal strategy is. Could someone briefly explain to me which game mechanics are responsible for this?

[DIGITAL]

Every time I read those tips my mind is blown by how retarded the optimal strategy is. Could someone briefly explain to me which game mechanics are responsible for this?
I think the exploit had to do with the bonus reward that is given for a combo. By clearing singles in pairs (combo 1), you rake in the bonus points and minimize the bonus goal lines at the same time. Goal points don't spill over so it's best to perform a TSD at the end.

[Kitaru]

Every time I read those tips my mind is blown by how retarded the optimal strategy is. Could someone briefly explain to me which game mechanics are responsible for this?
Goal deductions are normally set up so 1 goal is subtracted for every (100 pt * Level). A Single is normally worth (100 pt * Level) and subtracts 1 Goal. A Combo 1 Single is worth slightly more than (100 pt * Level), but still only deducts 1 Goal. If it weren't for the fact that Goal does not carry over between levels, Single->Single combos would be the optimal strategy.

However, -- as I hinted only moments ago -- Goal subtracted from one level will not carry over to the next. With this in mind, we can fit (2400 pt * Level + however much the Combo bonus is) into the space of 9 Goal. This nets us (~266.66 pt * Level) per 1 Goal. At the end of every level, you're setting up a clear that is worth nearly 3 times more points than would normally be allowed.

[colour_thief]

Ok, I'm sort of following, but nobody has explained why 2 single single combos are better than a tetris. T-spins are one thing, but you'd have to be clinically retarded to decide that a game called tetris should play with single single combos.

[kiwibonga]

Single player at a LAN party? Why?

[massi4h]

LOL it's just an arcade marathon where theres heaps of people playing in 4 different games. Other being Metal Slug 3, Geometry Wars and another I don't remember.

I think it's something points based overall through the 4 games.

I'm sorta with CT on this and I'm still kinda confused.

OK now I'm assuming every level takes 10 lines to break to move up. So the first level I make 9 singles (but 8 of them should be comboed together) and then a TSD which will leave the next level with 9 lines, in which I either do 8 singles again or 2 B2B tetrises and then another TSD and repeat?

Chances are no one else at that tournament will know about this, so even the best players who play fast as hell and make all T-Spins, Tetrises, and combos will arbitrarily hit scores between 500k to 750k.

I think chances are no-one there will have even heard the term t-spin before. I know all the Tetris DS players and the only ones that know anything about t-spins are my friends at school because I taught them and they only can do basic stuff. I don't think the New Zealand Tetris Splash community is very big at all. If it comes to worse I can just tetris everything fast and that should be fine anyway.

Btw guys is there infinite rotation and is level 15 20G?

[DIGITAL]

Ok, I'm sort of following, but nobody has explained why 2 single single combos are better than a tetris. T-spins are one thing, but you'd have to be clinically retarded to decide that a game called tetris should play with single single combos.
A tetris is treated as 8 lines while a single is treated as 1. The bonus you gain from the combo outweighs the gains you get from the tetris.

[jujube]

A tetris is treated as 8 lines while a single is treated as 1. The bonus you gain from the combo outweighs the gains you get from the tetris.
and also when you tetris you're reducing the number of combo 1's you can make in that level.

4 combo 1's:
(800 line clear points + 200 combo bonus points) * level
1 tetris:
800 line clear points * level

the only reason you want to make a tetris when the goal is 9 is to setup a back-to-back bonus (which trumps other piddly bonuses) at goal 1. making B2B before that would greatly decrease your goal (coincidentally enough in proportion to the points gained, just like with anything else you try to do, like a combo 2).

[Kitaru]

OK now I'm assuming every level takes 10 lines to break to move up.
Nope, each level takes a variable number of Goal to finish.
So the first level I make 9 singles (but 8 of them should be comboed together) and then a TSD which will leave the next level with 9 lines, in which I either do 8 singles again or 2 B2B tetrises and then another TSD and repeat?
Goal doesn't carry over. What makes this strategy so effective is that you're basically fitting 24 Goal worth of points into the space of 9. Single->Single->no lines until Goal == 9, Tetris->TSD. If the first level starts you with less than 9 Goal, -- Tetris Friends starts Level 1 with 5 -- Single->Single->no lines, Single->Single->no lines, TSD. Level 2 might start you with 9 Goal, so go straight into the Tetris->TSD.

[colour_thief]

Ok, I'm sort of following, but nobody has explained why 2 single single combos are better than a tetris. T-spins are one thing, but you'd have to be clinically retarded to decide that a game called tetris should play with single single combos.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the straight answer to this is that I wasn't understanding the situation... and that it's 4 single single combos that are better than a tetris (because of a tetris goal bonuses).

[caffeine]

CT, forget combos being better than Tetrises. With this strategy, goal lines = points, so the fact that you do TSD with one goal line left means you maximize your points. Combos give you bonus points, but anything over a combo 1 will take away goal lines. That means your extinguishing a goal line that would normally get you 100xlevel points just for a measly combo 2 bonus.

In other words, before you get to the B2B T-Spin double with one goal line left, all line clears are equal. It doesn't matter what you do since you get the same points per goal line no matter what. You just do the single singles because they give freebie points.

[massi4h]

OK so if you get a single->single combo that only counts as one goal break? I'm starting to get it now.

[caffeine]

No that's the point. Single singles only extinguish two (two lines cleared, two goal lines, 200 points = 100 points per goal line plus small bonus).

Single single single would extinguish four, though (three lines cleared, four goal lines, 300 points = 75 points per goal line plus small bonus). Get it?

[colour_thief]

What the block? Who authorized such shitty rules?

I mean, they've appeared in several games now right?

[massi4h]

OK caffeine gotcha.

[Udy]

Totally mad rules, still enjoy the games though. Plus just knowing the rules puts you at an advantage over roughly 95% of the population http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_twisted.gif

Control pad wise you can play Default, Advanced or set up your own Custom one.

Personally I prefer Advanced which used the shoulder (not trigger) buttons to rotate in the relevant direction and then the first thumb button to slam, with hold just above it I think. I find this faster to use than the default because your slam/hard drop button is always on your thumb rather than having to reach to press up to do it.

[Zaphod77]

There are three parts to the strategy.

1) try to get "partial goal" lines as much as possible. A single single combo is the best way to do this, because it gets 2.5 goal lines roughly, rounded down to 2. So single single combo gives you the most "points per goal line". Any line clear bigger than a single will lose out on a chance to get extra points for some lines.

2) then, exploit the fact that goal doesn't carry over to the next level by getting a b2btsd at the end of the level on your last clear. This trumps the previous advice, so the 8 goal used in setting up the B2B is not a waste.

3) get as much hard drop and/or soft drop points as you can, because those points don't count towards goal either.

Unless you exploit the system, your score will pretty much be the same no matter what you do, which is really messed up.

[Ai]

So I've been playing Tetris Evolution last week on the XBOX 360 and I saw that a lot of the players played Tetris Splash. I noticed that caffeine is one of the top players.

I wanted to buy the game, but I can't find it on the marketplace. Is this game only available in NA? By the way I'm from Belgium and my gamertag is Zenchi Zennou.

[massi4h]

OK guys this is how it went.

The Xbox 360 Arcade Gaming Marathon was the worst organised thing there and I was too busy focussing on Guitar Hero to try and chase up that tournament. So I didn't enter and found out later that Tetris Splash wasn't even used in the competition and neither was Metal Slug 3 (2 of the games I really wanted to play). I had a little play of the game on the last morning and it was quite fun and with TDS controls I could play pretty fast although the left and right on the d-pad were pretty screwed.

I don't really mind because I WON the national WCG qualifier for GH3 and I'm going to Germany!

[jujube]

wow, congrats! too bad there was no tetris tournament, but that's really cool.

[massi4h]

Thanks man, this feels so awesome.