{"id":97468,"date":"2022-10-15T01:25:02","date_gmt":"2022-10-15T01:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/classic-tetris-is-at-a-crucial-crossroads\/"},"modified":"2022-10-15T01:25:02","modified_gmt":"2022-10-15T01:25:02","slug":"classic-tetris-is-at-a-crucial-crossroads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/classic-tetris-is-at-a-crucial-crossroads\/","title":{"rendered":"Classic Tetris is at a crucial crossroads."},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

When you think of esports, Tetris likely doesn’t come to mind. Let alone NES Tetris played on original hardware. Yet, this weekend at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo a new Classic Tetris World Champion (CTWC) will be crowned, and it’ll likely be the most hotly contested, highest-viewed tournament in the game’s almost 35-year history.<\/p>\n

Classic Tetris has seen an explosion of interest in the last few years but it’s fast approaching a crossroads. It needs to either professionalize or accept its destiny as a curious, if cozy, corner of the gaming world.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The trouble is, even the top players aren’t sure a professional league is realistic. \u201cDo I think this could become a viable esport? Absolutely not.\u201d Fractal161, a competitor with a very real chance of winning this weekend’s World Championships, told Engadget.<\/p>\n

The annual event in Portland remains the game’s most prestigious tournament, but for the rest of the year, Classic Tetris fans can be found at CTM \u2013 Classic Tetris Monthly \u2013 a more informal, but arguably more important competition for the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cCTM was created by a streamer called Friday Witch in December 2017, and it was more just a casual kind of community thing.\u201d Keith \u201cvandweller\u201d Didion, CTM’s current organizer and perennial host told Engadget. He took over the tournament organization in October 2018.<\/p>\n

Since then, CTM has gone from barely scraping together enough players for a bracket, to hundreds of players competing in multiple skill levels every single month. The original concept was one 16-player tournament, but that meant anyone that wasn’t good enough would never get to play. \u201cWhen I took it over my kind of pledge to the community was everybody who submitted a qualifier will get to play\u201d Didion said.<\/p>\n

Both CTWC and CTM offer prize pools but they are modest in comparison to the seven-figure worlds of something like Fortnite<\/em>. If you win CTWC outright, you’ll take home $3,000 with the rest of the $10,000 purse being divided between the next 15 placements. CTM, on the other hand, typically rewards the top eight placements, but the purse is entirely user contributed, so it varies month to month. Typically the pool reaches around $3,500 with half that going to the overall winner.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think for a lot of top players, since we’re all kids, we see this as a lot of money. Regardless of whatever it ends up being.\u201d Fractal added. This may be so, but once these players are old enough to start having to pay their own rent or insurance premiums, that perspective is likely to change.<\/p>\n

The fact that CTM’s purse relies on donations might present a problem longer term: \u201cWe have someone called ShallBeSatisfied that contributes $1,000 – $2,000 in the month. So you have this other person dogwatchingtetris, the same thing there. This individual ScottGray76, he contributes a good amount on a monthly basis.\u201d Didion said. In short, the financial incentive of playing in CTM lies broadly in the hands of a few individuals.<\/p>\n

Right now, CTM effectively runs at a loss. Didion certainly doesn’t pay himself. There is some income from Twitch and YouTube but that’s used to share community members for streaming games and other contributions they make. \u201cWe are starting to explore sponsorships and things like that. But I’m not very good at it. So I’m trying to bring in people that know more than I do, or are just better at that kind of stuff than me,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\n

Classic Monthly Tetris<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

As Didion explains, so far there’s only been one from an enthusiastic fan who reached out asking if they could sponsor last month’s tournament for $100. “Duration. Let’s do it. I’m excited by that just because that’s how I want the sponsorships to be, like something I care about, or people in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Didion obviously cares deeply about the community he’s built and competitive NES Tetris generally. Even his players think he should be more open to making it profitable. \u201cHe says that he runs this at a loss and that’s just ridiculous to me.\u201d fractal said. \u201cI think that he is entitled to a share of the prize pool, if he desired, this is standard for lots of tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is where the next, slightly more delicate issue comes in. CTWC aims for absolute authenticity: All games are played in person (bar the pandemic years) on original NES consoles plugged into CRT televisions. The game is played exactly how it was the day it launched.<\/p>\n

With CTM, Didion’s unwavering commitment to making the game accessible means he doesn’t have the luxury of making sure everyone has their own NES and CRT and copy of the game. The tournament happens exclusively online, so he has to allow competitors to play with what they have. Standardizing would be a massive expense.<\/p>\n

What’s more, In 1989, when NES Tetris was released, level 29 was most likely designed to be the end of the game. The speed increases so much it’s unplayable earning it the name \u201ckillscreen.\u201d Today’s players have mastered techniques to carry on well past level 29 and that requires light modifications to the game for the score to display correctly as the original never expected anyone to accumulate more than 999,999 and thus it cannot display a number higher than that.<\/p>\n

Likewise, CTM is where many world records are broken. With players now able to go on almost indefinitely, and new records harder to achieve, not all spectators are enjoying the marathon matches according to Fractal. \u201cI’ve heard a lot of testimonials about how they don’t really watch the killscreen anymore because it’s just not fun. I think it’s different when you catch it live personally.\u201d Didion agrees. \u201cI think for this esport to grow I don’t think that we can continue to have endless chase downs, post killscreen.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the game effectively playable forever, matches have gone from a place where records are broken to sometimes, feeling like a broken record. To address this, and make matches more exciting, CTM has modified the game for its highest bracket so that at level 49 it doubles in speed \u2013 something known as \u201cdouble killscreen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other small changes have been added too. Early matches were really just two people playing Tetris at the same time, with the victor being whoever recorded the highest score. More recently, CTM has added the ability for games to use the same random number \u201cseed.\u201d This ensures both players get the exact same pieces in the same order making it a true like-for-like showdown.<\/p>\n

It’s these modifications that could pose the real issue for CTM’s growth as an esport. The use of emulators generally has always been something of a legal gray area when using copyrighted games. Modifying and distributing ROMs is a slightly darker shade of gray (no money is changing hands for the ROMs in CTM). Nintendo is famously aggressive against any fan versions of its games being made available online, but ironically, the bigger barrier might be The Tetris Company itself.<\/p>\n

Formed by Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of Tetris, in 1996, the Tetris Company holds the worldwide rights to both the game and the brand. Didion described the company’s relationship with the community as \u201cmostly benign neglect,\u201d while Fractal is said it had a history of \u201csomewhat aggressive takedowns.\u201d The Tetris Company, for its part, is a major sponsor of CTWC and is actively encouraging new ways to play the game via Tetris Effect Connected<\/em> ten modern consoles.<\/p>\n

Ironically, a lot of the challenges competitive NES Tetris faces \u2013 clunky old hardware, glitches in the game and a true online multiplayer mode are theoretically solved by Tetris Effect Connected<\/em>‘s Classic Score Attack mode. It’s essentially a modern yet faithful reproduction of NES Tetris playable on Xbox and PC. It supports native two-player battle modes and was even developed with a player from the Classic Tetris scene – Greentea.<\/p>\n

I asked Fractal why players don’t migrate over to the \u201cofficial\u201d version that could still be used for CTM competitions. \u201cmainly we’re all comfortable with the status quo, so there’s no big incentive to change,\u201d he told me over Discord. \u201cand the negative feedback loop of nobody wanting to play because there’s nobody to play against.\u201d<\/p>\n

In many ways, this sums up the paradox neatly. Authenticity appears to be crucial to the lure of the game. Despite some practical concessions from CTM to make NES Tetris more accessible and interesting to watch, the original game with all its hidden quirks and secrets is as much a part of it as the scoring and gameplay is.<\/p>\n

But this need for authenticity is also what’s preventing Classic NES Tetris from being able to grow into itself as an evolving esport. CTM’s loyal host does see some ways around this. \u201cThere could be a team element to it in the future. If we were to continue, and this would allow the teams to market themselves or their franchises as owners of these teams, I don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

He had toyed with building \u201ccharacters\u201d around the players, similar to other sports. \u201cOne of the problems is everybody’s so young, so they haven’t been around long enough to have stories you’re just like, ‘Oh, I was born in Michigan and now I’m 16.’ Okay, all right, great.\u201d But it’s clear that whatever happens next and however it evolves, Didion will likely be the person making it happen.<\/p>\n

Right now, the community CTM has created appears to be far more special and interesting to everyone involved than any financial incentive. It’s hard not to get the feeling that it’s less about preserving the integrity of NES Tetris, as it is about keeping this collaborative, genuinely connected community as it is, without letting the pressures of professional play or the looming specter of Mountain Dew-style sponsorships from taking that away.<\/p>\n

Or in Fractal’s case, good friends and questionable fried chicken is all you need. \u201cI’m not going to CTWC to win the prize pool. I’m going to hang out with a bunch of people that I only know online. And go to Raising Cane’s with like a bunch of people who really love Raising Cane’s for some reason.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you think of esports, Tetris likely doesn’t come to mind. Let alone NES Tetris played on original hardware. Yet, this weekend at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo a new Classic Tetris World Champion (CTWC) will be crowned, and it’ll likely be the most hotly contested, highest-viewed tournament in the game’s almost 35-year history. Classic …<\/p>\n

Classic Tetris is at a crucial crossroads.<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24989,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/this-super-tiny-tetris-machine-will-be-the-best-20-distraction-youll-ever-come-across\/","url_meta":{"origin":97468,"position":0},"title":"This super tiny tetris machine will be the best $20 distraction you’ll ever come across","date":"July 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Where's the long piece? I'm looking for a long piece. hello? You might be familiar independent designers and craftspeople who make and trade wooly hats and pleated skirts, plus resin-covered succulents in different dirts. Oh yes, you've been to Etsy before. But there's also a pretty health cottage economy in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8504,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/random-talented-hackers-are-adding-vibrant-color-to-classic-game-boy-titles\/","url_meta":{"origin":97468,"position":1},"title":"Random: Talented Hackers Are Adding Vibrant Color To Classic Game Boy Titles","date":"July 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Image: Nintendo LifeThe humble Game Boy was an absolute marvel back in the day. Released prior to the SNES, the handheld system seemed positively futuristic when compared to the decidedly bulkier NES \/ Famicom. Looking at it today, however, there are plenty of noticeable drawbacks that have been ironed out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","img":{"alt_text":"IMG 9607","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/images.nintendolife.com\/14aa3b5f84bca\/img-9607.900x.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":34741,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/konami-announces-new-music-driven-bomberman-game-for-apple-arcade\/","url_meta":{"origin":97468,"position":2},"title":"Konami announces new music-driven Bomberman game for Apple Arcade","date":"August 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Konami unveiled a new take on Bomberman, the competitive blast-'em-up series that arguably peaked in 1997 with the dual release of Saturn Bomberman and Super Bomberman 64that looks quite different from recent attempts to revive the franchise. Amazing Bombermanas it's called, retains the classic top-down gameplay of the best Bomberman\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31509,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/this-working-gameboy-phone-case-is-the-ultimate-time-and-money-waster\/","url_meta":{"origin":97468,"position":3},"title":"This working GameBoy phone case is the ultimate time and money waster","date":"July 31, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Robert Triggs\/Android AuthorityYes, that's a GameBoy case. A fully functioning GameBoy case, to be precise. Well, of sorts \u2014 it's not an officially licensed Nintendo product.In fact, I doubt the manufacturer has the rights to market such a close likeness of the iconic handheld game console, let alone use the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":103271,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/new-resident-evil-4-remake-trailer-shows-updated-ashley-graham-ada-wong-and-other-familiar-faces\/","url_meta":{"origin":97468,"position":4},"title":"New Resident Evil 4 Remake Trailer Shows Updated Ashley Graham, Ada Wong, and Other Familiar Faces","date":"October 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A brand-new Resident Evil 4 Remake trailer was revealed during today's Resident Evil Showcase, showing Ashley Graham and Adam Wong, as well as providing a further glimpse of the gameplay on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.While the trailer doesn't directly spoil Resident Evil 4's reveal, it strongly hints\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22789,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/kirbys-avalanche-and-more-nes-snes-games-join-nintendo-switch-online\/","url_meta":{"origin":97468,"position":5},"title":"Kirby’s Avalanche and more NES\/SNES games join Nintendo Switch Online","date":"July 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Nintendo is continuing to add classic, as well as obscure, NES and Super NES games from its back catalog to Nintendo Switch Online, bringing Kirby's Avalanche, Fighter's Historyand Daiva Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia to the Switch subscription service. This gives new audiences the chance to play these old games\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2022-10\/7006daf0-4bd8-11ed-bfcf-f851f23dcae6","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97468"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97468"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97468\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}