New Tetris, Guild Wars Announced

Announcements have been made for new titles that are likely to get some folks excited. An online-enabled version of Tetris for the Nintendo DS is slated to come out this March, and the first add-on to the online RPG Guild Wars is due out sometime in the second Quarter. From the Tetris article: "After long dismissing online play as not being central to gaming, Nintendo is fast becoming one of Web-enabled multiplayer's biggest boosters ... Tetris DS, a reworked edition of the 1985 Soviet puzzle game. It will add six new modes to Tetris' classic block-combination gameplay, all of which will incorporate the DS's second, touch-sensitive screen. "

Comments

TetriNET

[porksoda]

I remember a few years back, sitting in #oldwarez on efnet, i stumbled upon a multiplayer remake of the classic Tetris by channel regular St0rmCat. Snag it here and say hello to your new addiction.

Best. Multiplayer. Tetris. Ever.

Re:TetriNET

[Anonymous Coward]

And once you get thoroughly addicted to that, check out the modified TetriFAST version from there. The analogy would be tetrinet:tetrifast as cocaine:crack.

Re:TetriNET

[drinkypoo]

Tetrinet has one problem though, that updates only occur on time clicks. The Tetrinet+FAST patched/edited version is far superior. Make sure whatever client you get supports fast mode.

Guild Wars

[ShadowMarth]

This article isn't entirely accurate. The first add-on was a free streamed expansion. It was pretty nice. They promised all updates as such as episodic content... so what happened? I'm hearing about having to pay. Also, the new GW units are Ritualist and Assassain.

Re:Guild Wars

[Masami Eiri]

This is exactly what they were promising. From the start the business model was that you can buy expansions instead of a monthly fee. Minor additions would be made via streaming, in addition to gameplay tweaks and patches. The Sorrow's Furnace update was really just an oddity... my guess is that they meant to have it in the original release, but it was behind.

Re:Guild Wars

[ReverendLoki]

Actually, part of the Sorrows Furnace update was a result of the fact that they developed some new content-development tools near their release date, and felt they never really had a chance to fully utilize them. That update included some nifty things they couldn't do during their initial development.

That, and part of it is just a free update. They have also been adding content specific to two holiday events (Halloween and Christmas), as well as adding random content alongside bug fixes and balance updates. I fully expect to see more such free updates come around every now and then - maybe not on the same scale as Sorrow's Furnace, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another free content update similar to it. No idea if it would be chapter specific though.

Re:Guild Wars

[obeythefist]

I read an old interview with Gail, basically they plan on doing a free content release with every chapter (to keep the game fresh inbetween chapters).

Otherwise, all content is designed to be paid for in the game by purchasing chapters.

However, all interface and game mechanic tweaks and updates are free, and based on the first year of GW, there were a lot of changes and improvements.

Still no auction houses or shared guild storage yet, but they will most likely be in chapter 2.

Re:Guild Wars

[ClamIAm]

The first add-on was a free streamed expansion.

Yes, but Guild Wars doesn't have a monthly access fee. How will ArenaNet employ people to make new content if there isn't an influx of cash/new players? Also, this expansion will probably add much more content than the Sorrow's Furnace update did, hopefully it'll be about the same amount as the original release was.

Tetris Guild Wars?

[InsaneLampshade]

Aww... damn. After reading the title, i was expecting news about a new game called Tetris Guild Wars. :(

Re:Tetris Guild Wars?

[Anonymous Coward]

You and me both.

If this image is real --

[goodenoughnickname]

If this image is real, then this could end up being very fun. 10 player Tetris? Come on now.

Let's just hope they have a lobby or post-game chat feature, unlike another game of theirs.

Re:If this image is real --

[GigsVT]

gtetrinet/tetrinet/bloktrix is 6 player free internet tetris, pretty fun.

Re:If this image is real --

[Erioll]

I doubt that they'll have a post-game thing. I wish they would, but it would cause the complications like flaming, bad manners, etc. While it'd be great, I think they're just trying to avoid all the OTHER crap that can happen on the 'net in their games.

Re:If this image is real --

[Southpaw018]

MOAN!

That is all.

Biggest boosters??

[Wisgary]

After long dismissing online play as not being central to gaming, Nintendo is fast becoming one of Web-enabled multiplayer's biggest boosters

Sorry, but a racing game and a puzzle game for a handheld do not make a company that erroneously decided that "customers do not want online games" one of Web-enabled multiplayer's biggest boosters".

Re:Biggest boosters??

[HarvardFrankenstein]

Ahem, and a Tony Hawk game, and a first-person shooter, and a practically unclassifiable game that still manages to suck your life away through a crazy straw.

Re:Biggest boosters??

[Wisgary]

Yes, all on a recently released handheld. I was playing online on the PC maybe a decade ago.

Re:Biggest boosters??

[Fred Or Alive]

... and people could play online on a games console over five years ago.

Nintendo haven't exactly been fast to get to the online party, and it's not like Microsoft and Sony hadn't had a chance to learn from Sega and PC online gaming when they started their online stuff. I hope that people don't try to make Nintendo out as some kind of online pioneer in the future. This DS online stuff does sound good, but it's not like we haven't had Xbox Live, and their Gamecube online support was crap.

Those new professions sound familiar...

[0xdeadbeef]

Nerf Ritualists!

Re:Those new professions sound familiar...

[ClamIAm]

Um, perhaps you haven't played GW...

Currently there is only one true melee profession, and one real healing profession. Hopfully these new professions will allow for more variations in builds, rather than having monk secondaries become some sort of weird "default" to boost your ability of grouping/not dying in PvE.

3D Baby!

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not playing the "new" Tetris unless it is in mind-blowing 3d AND in hi def!

Re:3D Baby!

[chrismcdirty]

Here is half of your requirements

Guild Wars Factions Stand Alone

[Anonymous Coward]

Guild Wars Factions (Chapter 2) is also stand alone so people can buy it even if they dont have GW Chapter 1, but if they do its added onto their GW account. Best of both worlds.

Re:Guild Wars Factions Stand Alone

[djsmiley]

Well, i've had the first one from a few weeks after it came out...

its been awesome, i've completed the missions, and still i go back for more, im not sure what it is but there something about hte game which makes me want to go back and randomly play, even with no set "aim"... The fact the world is SO large and i can still explore with over 500hrs play time is amazing really, there isn't many games which can claim this, and they gave me free LARGE updates!

I'll be buying the new chapter, if not to keep playing but to support something which i belive can go very far, plus... imagine if they added crafting :o

Re:Guild Wars Factions Stand Alone

[obeythefist]

Crafting is a direct contradiction of the Guild Wars business model. Unlike WoW, where the game is designed to keep you logged in for as long as you can be (and making you want to be logged in), Guild Wars is designed to keep you off.

Since they aren't making money off players, players are a liability. All you need is for players to want to buy the next chapter. Play for a bit, log on every now and then, but no grinding or reward for persistent playing.

Crafting would make players want to stay online. This would cost AreaNet money. So it won't happen. PvP is all you get to do once you finish the "single player" game.

Re:Guild Wars Factions Stand Alone

[Aranth Brainfire]

"...but no grinding or reward for persistent playing."

Yeah, since things like the fissure armor in the game don't take any grind or buildup of loads of cash in order to buy.

I do think that ANet's strategies are, to some degree, determined by server load (resistance to a fullblown in-game auction house, for example), but how do you explain the Sorrow's Furnace expansion through the view that they won't add things that cause players to log on more and thus kick up their operating cost?

Blizzard doesn't want you online in WoW any more than ANet does- they don't make more money if you log on every day of the month rather than twice for an hour each time.

Re:Guild Wars Factions Stand Alone

[tepp]

You don't need Fissure Armor. It has the same stats as the regular Droknars armor that anyone can get for a fraction of the cost.

The only people who get Fissure armor are those who want to spend the time to get it. The only reward is the looks. There is no stat advantage.

Re:Guild Wars Factions Stand Alone

[obeythefist]

There's certainly grind for fissure armour, but given that some of the fissure armour looks the same as 15K armour, and has exactly the same stats, I really really wouldn't class it as much of a reward.

Original Tetris GB Music?

[TheLoneDanger]

I don't give a crap about online, I'm just hoping that Tetris DS will have the option to have that insanely catchy original GB Tetris music. Hum it now, you know you know it.

Re:Original Tetris GB Music?

[earthbound kid]

Quoth Wikipedia:

The theme tune used in the Game Boy and NES editions of Tetris (Music A) has become very widely known. It is a Russian folk tune called "Korobeyniki" or "Korobeiniki."

Music C is an arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach's Suite No. 3 In B Minor, BWV 814, IV. Menuett - Trio.

Re:Original Tetris GB Music?

[oldwolf13]

I don't know if the music is the same, but from the second I saw the word "Tetris" in the summary, I have been humming it.

Damn it's a catchy tune..

kind of like if someone starts humming that crazy circus music

do do doodle do do doo doo doo...

or something like that.

So close.

[cornface]

I was just about to sell my DS do to ergo issues (which I've griped about enough).

I may have to keep it, now. I wish they'd bundle Tetris Attack with it. It was the superior game.

(And _not_ just because I'm actually good at it. Seriously! Shut up!)

Puzzle Games with Competitive Modes

[rubberbando]

These types of games are excellent for some casual multplayer gaming and Tetris is no exception.

I hope Nintendo (or at least some 3rd parties) continue(s) to add to the DS lineup these types of games.

I would really like to see a new (not another straight port)Puzzle Bobble/Bust-a-Move for the DS.

However, I really would love a new Magical Drop for the DS. There hasn't been a US version out since the GBC which obviously won't work on the DS. I think the stylus would be the perfect controller for it too. Use it to grab the row of bubbles and pull them down and then use it again to shove them back up.

Re:Puzzle Games with Competitive Modes

[KDR_11k]

Have you played the Pokemon Trozei demo? Seems to fit your description.

Korobeiniki

[tepples]

If you like the Tetris theme, go ahead and leech this folder.

Go play Meteos

[tepples]

I may have to keep it, now. I wish they'd bundle Tetris Attack with it. It was the superior game.

Tetris Attack is now available for Game Boy Advance under the title Dr. Mario and Puzzle League. Or you can try a spiritual sequel to TA, which is called Meteos.

Re:Go play Meteos

[cornface]

Tetris Attack is now available for Game Boy Advance under the title Dr. Mario and Puzzle League. Or you can try a spiritual sequel to TA, which is called Meteos.

Hi there.

I have seen the GBA version at Gamestop, but it doesn't have internet play. My original post wasn't very clear.

I bought Meteos with my DS, but I thought the blocks were a little too small for the stylus and overall speed of the game. It was frustrating rather than challenging on the harder levels. A cool concept, though. A PC version would probably be a lot of fun.

"Crack Attack" is a good PC version of Tetris Attack. It's not head to head, but there's an online scoreboard. I don't play it at work, despite unfortunate rumors to the contrary.

Re:Go play Meteos

[tepples]

I bought Meteos with my DS, but I thought the blocks were a little too small for the stylus

The blocks in Tetris Attack wouldn't be any bigger. You can only make blocks so big before a 12-block-tall playfield won't fit in a 192-pixel-tall screen.

Re:Go play Meteos

[cornface]

The blocks in Tetris Attack wouldn't be any bigger. You can only make blocks so big before a 12-block-tall playfield won't fit in a 192-pixel-tall screen.

Right, but Tetris Attack was designed to be played with a D-pad, so the lack of accuracy of the stylus in the heat of the moment is irrelevant.

Meteos is pretty much impossible to play without the stylus. There is a setting, but really, there's no way you could successfully play with the D-pad.

Re:Ahhh Zonk?

[skreeech]

heh yeah. Although I noticed it. It'll probably get own post treatment closer to the faction weekend.

Too bad it's not Grandmaster

[Anonymous Coward]

As much as I love Tetris and will probably buy this game, I suspect that I will be disappointed by it. The reason is that I have been playing the wonderful Tetris the Grandmaster series of arcade games, and they are vastly superior Tetris games. They do this by giving the player better control over the pieces and using a nicer random piece choosing algorithm. Because of the better control, they are able to increase the speed significantly, to the point of instant piece drop. The end result is a wonderful tetris game, although probably not for casual gamers.

Unfortunately it has never been released outside of Japan, due in part to The Tetris Company's desire to have only one Tetris game in each region, and we get Tetris Worlds in North America. At least for DS, we will get something from Nintendo rather than from THQ.

Re:Ahhh Zonk?

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey Zonk, mind puting the Tetris info in its own post? Putting this major Tetris release next to a shitty MMO is kind of insane. Other tasteless gamer gamming news sites are treating the lame GW info as the major news of the week and you dumped it in as a side note. Bad zonk, bad! You souldn't have posted about a charge-for ho-hum GW expansion upgrade patch at all, only 3 slashdotters care. Anyone agree?

PLEASE!!!.. .Meteos Online!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I got a DS this christmas and have been playing mario kart DS up until Sunday when I got Meteos. The good reviews got my attention and I decided to lay down the cash, am I glad I did! It's a great game solo or ad hoc for a total of 4 players. If only this had been a wifi title.

I do hope that Nintendo at some point in the future lets Meteos be re-released as a wifi game, I would pay for it a second time if I knew it would be wifi. That goes for Advance Wars DS as well.

Give us WIFI versions of these games!!!

Nexpert