i play tetris a lot - like, every day. usually just one round, maybe two, of this one style of game: single, marathon, 20. that means i'm just playing against the machine, and i'm playing an ended (as opposed to endless) game, and the pieces will fall at the highest speed. in the ended game, you have to eliminate 200 rows.
every eliminated row counts for some points but there are only two ways to make big points: t-spins and tetrises. t-spins are when you turn a t-bar to make it fit into a t- or cross-shaped hole. you don't have to eliminate a row to get a t-spin, but it counts for more if you do. there are a variety of ways to set up a t-spin. a tetris is a 4-row elimination and there is only one way to get a tetris: build up four rows with an aligned opening that a long-bar will fit into.
when you're not used to the game, t-spins seem like chance encounters. for a t-bar to appear just when there is a t-hole?? that seems like mere luck. however, when you've been playing for a while, you start to see the opportunities. you've got that list of upcoming bars on the right side, so you can predict a few steps ahead. if you've got a t-bar coming, and an l-bar in hand, and the existing structure is primed for an l-bar to make a t-hole... well, easy-peasy. place the l-bar, spin the t-bar into the t-hole - wah-lah! t-spin.
TETRIS IS LIFE 1: when you are experienced, you see through luck and realise there are things you can do to set up your own success.
not every game is a record-setter. i mean, sure, at first you're making lots of progress and frequently setting records, but the margins narrow after a while and it's harder and harder to have a break out game. you have to play more games, the margins are tighter, and sometimes you'll have a superior game going, but it'll still fall short of the record.
TETRIS IS LIFE 2: the closer you get to greatness, the less margin you have for error.
with tetris, how the pieces drop is out of your control, so you have to get better at knowing what to do with each piece no matter what order they fall out of the sky. you can put one aside, in the hold box, but only one. sometimes the randomness is in your favor, sometimes it's not, but the more you know about the pieces, the better off you are. whereas a certain sequence of pieces would defeat an inexperienced player, someone who plays a lot doesn't get flustered because they've seen so many scenarios that they have a pocketful of optional moves.
TETRIS IS LIFE 3: you can't control what comes your way, but you can get good at controlling the things you can control, so the stuff you can't control won't defeat you.
when i mentioned the "20", that's the speed the pieces fall. at speed 1, the pieces inch-inch-inch down the screen. when you first get started, that's all you can handle. you have to have the time to assess the piece, visualize how it will fit in the existing structure, determine if it needs to go right or left or spin. at the lower speeds, after the piece hits, you still have a second or so to adjust it. at speed 20, the piece drops directly onto the existing structure. your only chance to adjust it at all is to practically already have it moving the split-instant it appears.
TETRIS IS LIFE 4: if you want to play at the top level, you have to be quick.
like i said, not every game is a record-setter. in fact, some games are real stinkers. maybe i'm having a bad day, maybe the pieces are falling in an impossible order, maybe the DS buttons are acting up because the battery needs to be recharged. whatever the case, not only is not every game a record-setter -- some games are not even finishable. when these blow-up disaster games start to materialise, your best bet is to draw down the pieces as fast as possible, end the game, and start over.
TETRIS IS LIFE 5: know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. sometimes all you can do is cut your losses and live to fight another day.
....
this concludes the one where it seems like i am talking about a game but really i am talking about life.
thoughts? don't keep 'em all bottled up. leave a comment!
No comments:
Post a Comment