The latest installment of my favorite flavor of Tetris finally have a Steam page and is scheduled to release either this month or the next ! I talk a lot about Tetris (see my comment history), and...
The latest installment of my favorite flavor of Tetris finally have a Steam page and is scheduled to release either this month or the next !
I talk a lot about Tetris (see my comment history), and seeing a Steam page for TGM4 is a little miracle by itself, as an earlier version of this game was announced, cancelled, re-announced and re-cancelled (there's a lot of drama and politics around Arika (developers) and The Tetris Company (rightsholder)).
The TGM series is dear to my heart because of its meticulous game design (see the video I made (and discussion on Tildes)). TLDW: it's the Dark Souls of TetrisDark Souls is the TGM of third person action adventure RPG1 !
1 TGM predates Demon Souls by 10 years
I'll probably continue to spam you post in this thread when the game actually releases.
Wow, this looks so exciting! I haven't really followed TGM much in the past but I just watched your video and I slightly wish I hadn't as I foresee the rabbit hole approaching quickly. You sell...
Wow, this looks so exciting! I haven't really followed TGM much in the past but I just watched your video and I slightly wish I hadn't as I foresee the rabbit hole approaching quickly. You sell its heart so well, especially in the conclusion section of your video!
You mentioned near the end the tendency for the series with each additional entry to have extra features mandated by The Tetris Company, bringing it further from the purity of the first TGM. Do you think that this applies to TGM4? What are your thoughts on the new entry from what we know so far?
I gasped at the realisation that the piece preview is off to the edge in this entry instead of directly over the spawn point! The Asuka mode looks interesting for players like me totally new to 20G play.
I'd like to address that first. While I get what you're saying, I don't think that TGM1 is the purest of the bunch (and there's next to no Tetris Company influence in TGM2). While the latter...
the purity of the first TGM.
I'd like to address that first. While I get what you're saying, I don't think that TGM1 is the purest of the bunch (and there's next to no Tetris Company influence in TGM2). While the latter installment have a bunch of mechanical changes and/or addition that enables an even faster gameplay, all three games are valid in their own rights. Bicycle race doesn't invalid long distance running, after all. In fact, all three games are still actively played and most world records are from the last 4 years1.
1 Ok the WR for TGM1 is from 2010, but that's more a proof of 777's monstruous skill than lack of activity
Do you think that [Tetris Company Influence on TGM] this applies to TGM4?
I'd like to preface the rest by stating that there's a tendency for the community in putting all the blame for the bad stuff that happens to TGM to The Tetris Company (henceforth referred as "TTC" or "guidelines", because the TTC publish a guideline document that all Tetris games has to follow). While there's definitely some precedent (TGM:ACE being the most egregious2, but the gameplay stagnation of the whole genre for 15 years is another one...), I have to force myself to remind my that some of the questionable decision may in fact comes from the dev.
2: TGM Ace was an Xbox 360 version of TGM. Putting aside the fact that putting a Japanese-only game on Xbox is suicide, TGM:Ace had to use a frankensteinian version of the TGM ruleset with some of the features from the Tetris guidelines overwriting some of the decision made by TGM (one of those being included in TGM4, see below). It was so bad that most people in the community act as if it doesn't exist. I certainly didn't even mention it in my video explained.
That being said: Yes, absolutely, and not for the bestL
As you have notice, that frigging next box. 'll run a virtual monitor app just to clone my screen to it, crop it and put it over the game window just to have it in the proper position. It's absolutely a TTC decision, not an Arika one and it makes no sense. I'm on the fence in just creating a thread in the Steam forum and encouraging people to voice their discontent repeatably. If there's a giga thread that keep saying that's a stupid position, maybe TTC will budge.
They changed the historical naming scheme of the modes for no good reason. Master mode was always the main mode of TGM. It's a mode where you start at low gravity, then it progressively speeds up the game. But now you need to follow the TTC guideline, and that include the naming scheme With that, "Master" is analogous to "starts at 20G" (see: Tetris Party, Tetris Effect Connected. It's thus all confusing and weird. And doubly so because what used to be "Master" is now "Normal", but there was already a "Normal" mode in TGM2! As a I said, confusing and weird. Here's a table that clarify the situation
Purpose
TGM1
TGM2
TGM3
TGM4
Score attack
N/A
Normal
Easy
Marathon
Main game
"Press start"
Master
Master
Normal
Start at 20G, survive past ludicrous speed
N/A
Death
N/A
Asuka
Start at ludicrous speed , survive past the insane speed and the some weird gimmick with the playfield
N/A
N/A
Shirase
Master
The marathon game mode exists. Maybe I'm too quick to dismiss this game mode (and I even haven't actually played the game), but I feel that keeping this old mode (make X lines to gain a level, the game gets faster with the level) is kinda useless because the rest of the game fills a better role than that. Causal and survival games are perfectly serviced by Master (now called Normal") mode, and since T-spin is worth more point than Tetris, the game becomes a race to make as most crazy T-spin as possible (which you cannot do if you play with TGM rotation anyway), and at that point you're better be playing multiplayer versus. As a sidenote it's interesting that the common decision for the score attack mode in both TGM2 ("Normal mode") and TGM3 ("Easy mode") was to make the game shorter. It's true it's also a bait for casual players since the game is shorter, but ultimately it also limit the ressource you have at your disposal (you're pressured to make the most of your pieces)
Simplified grade system ? This may be an actually good news, but it's a change nonetheless. According to this comment by Mihara in the Steam forum , the grade system was overhauled and simplified. While I agree that the COOL/REGRET system is overly complex in TGM3, but I'm convinced it's more a problem of transparency and communication rather than a of the system itself. Because the grade system is really Devil May Cry stylish gauge, except not all ranks are displayed (several ranks make one grade if you will), and you cannot reset the rank. Here's hoping the spirit is still there .
No online: I will just paste the content of this tweet. Keep in mind that Arika is also the developper of Tetris 99, one of the best and smartest multiplayer Tetris I know of.
Thank you for all the positive comments regarding the offline feature in yesterday’s TGM4
These days, « online-only » seems to be the norm, but obtaining a license that includes online functionality is extremely challenging due to conflicts with other content. As a result, we decided to move forward with an offline-focused release for Steam, where we could secure a license.
While it’s true that having online support for TGM4’s versus mode would be ideal, we want to start by releasing it as a content-rich offline
We appreciate your continued support!
Thank you so much for your thorough response, this made my morning to read! Wow, so many changes already visible. The TTC/Arika politics run so deep I hope we get a second Tetris film about this...
Thank you so much for your thorough response, this made my morning to read! Wow, so many changes already visible. The TTC/Arika politics run so deep I hope we get a second Tetris film about this saga instead!
I get the impression from your comparisons that if it wasn't for the oddly positioned next box, it would still be a relatively faithful successor with some changes and tweaks to modes and grades. I really hope your efforts and those of other fans make a difference and potentially see an option added!
I'll definitely be picking this up if I can just to support this series (I can't imagine what it was like for dedicated fans to wait all of this time since TGM3...) but in the meantime stick with practicing with other variants. This post has revived an old Tetris kick in me with new spice, and I've had such a great time this week learning pyramid technique and planning ahead—thank you so much! I'm enjoying playing Heboris for now in lieu of any feasible legal ways to play the official series; just praying I don't get hooked enough to end up plunging my savings in a year's time into a JAMMA PCB...
There's the Switch and PS4/5 port by Hamster? I assume you're a pc gamer? There's one change in the core gameplay that were lost in the draft of what I wrote that's controversial, maybe mandated...
I'm enjoying playing Heboris for now in lieu of any feasible legal ways to play the official series
There's the Switch and PS4/5 port by Hamster? I assume you're a pc gamer?
I get the impression from your comparisons that if it wasn't for the oddly positioned next box, it would still be a relatively faithful successor with some changes and tweaks to modes and grades
There's one change in the core gameplay that were lost in the draft of what I wrote that's controversial, maybe mandated maybe willed into being by Arika. I'll write about it later because it may be actually good or at least in agreement in what TGM4 wants to be. But uh... I'm at work at the moment.
Haha, no rush! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts whenever you write them. And good shout with the port, thank you! Shame it's not on physical cartridge so will die with the respective...
Haha, no rush! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts whenever you write them.
And good shout with the port, thank you! Shame it's not on physical cartridge so will die with the respective online shops, but beggars can't be choosers, I'll nab it. It would be really cool if it supports TATE mode for a portable vertical screen, but I can't find much information on that so I'll be finding out!
I hope it's like TGM3 with more. There's a cabinet I found of Terror Instinct in Portland that takes a bunch of my credits in that arcade. I've never been able to get it running at home but will...
I hope it's like TGM3 with more. There's a cabinet I found of Terror Instinct in Portland that takes a bunch of my credits in that arcade. I've never been able to get it running at home but will gladly support ARIKA with this port. I wish they'd bring TGM Classic over like they did on Switch.
I'm sure that it's a fine rendition of Tetris but all the gameplay videos I've seen of TGM 1 through 3 have been people doing split second block placement with total invisibility of the board near...
I'm sure that it's a fine rendition of Tetris but all the gameplay videos I've seen of TGM 1 through 3 have been people doing split second block placement with total invisibility of the board near the end of their run and I just think it's too hardcore for me.
Total invisibility is a challenge that you have to unlock through your gameplay. When you launch the main mode it actually starts the same as all other Tetris with low gravity. Split second...
Total invisibility is a challenge that you have to unlock through your gameplay. When you launch the main mode it actually starts the same as all other Tetris with low gravity. Split second decision is something you learn to do and definitely are not expected to master (eh.) from day one.
Also coincidentally, according to the press release the tagline for this version of TGM is "Tetris that makes you good at Tetris" so presumably there's more pedagogical and lenient element to the game (we already know there's a tutorial mode).
"NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 2GB, GTX 750Ti 2GB, or equivalent" A Tetris game should run on integrated GPU as well. GPU requirement for GPU is too high for this kind of game :( I only have Intel HD 4000 :(
"NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 2GB, GTX 750Ti 2GB, or equivalent"
A Tetris game should run on integrated GPU as well. GPU requirement for GPU is too high for this kind of game :( I only have Intel HD 4000 :(
Fun fact: I think that more or less correspond to what's inside the arcade machine (which is really a desktop PC with some Jamma arcade connector) TGM4 was initially developed for: a Sega RIngwide...
Fun fact: I think that more or less correspond to what's inside the arcade machine (which is really a desktop PC with some Jamma arcade connector) TGM4 was initially developed for: a Sega RIngwide 2. But I wouldn't be surprised if the min spec ends up lower than that.
Ya, tetris should be doable on today's equivalent of a potato and the videos on steam look pretty basic except for maybe the stuff happening the the background. I have Tetris Effect currently and...
Ya, tetris should be doable on today's equivalent of a potato and the videos on steam look pretty basic except for maybe the stuff happening the the background.
I have Tetris Effect currently and all the fancier graphics and 3d bs just makes it worse IMO.
The latest installment of my favorite flavor of Tetris finally have a Steam page and is scheduled to release either this month or the next !
I talk a lot about Tetris (see my comment history), and seeing a Steam page for TGM4 is a little miracle by itself, as an earlier version of this game was announced, cancelled, re-announced and re-cancelled (there's a lot of drama and politics around Arika (developers) and The Tetris Company (rightsholder)).
The TGM series is dear to my heart because of its meticulous game design (see the video I made (and discussion on Tildes)). TLDW:
it's the Dark Souls of TetrisDark Souls is the TGM of third person action adventure RPG1 !1 TGM predates Demon Souls by 10 years
I'll probably continue to
spam youpost in this thread when the game actually releases.Oh and yes, it's going to be Steam Deck verified
Wow, this looks so exciting! I haven't really followed TGM much in the past but I just watched your video and I slightly wish I hadn't as I foresee the rabbit hole approaching quickly. You sell its heart so well, especially in the conclusion section of your video!
You mentioned near the end the tendency for the series with each additional entry to have extra features mandated by The Tetris Company, bringing it further from the purity of the first TGM. Do you think that this applies to TGM4? What are your thoughts on the new entry from what we know so far?
I gasped at the realisation that the piece preview is off to the edge in this entry instead of directly over the spawn point! The Asuka mode looks interesting for players like me totally new to 20G play.
I'd like to address that first. While I get what you're saying, I don't think that TGM1 is the purest of the bunch (and there's next to no Tetris Company influence in TGM2). While the latter installment have a bunch of mechanical changes and/or addition that enables an even faster gameplay, all three games are valid in their own rights. Bicycle race doesn't invalid long distance running, after all. In fact, all three games are still actively played and most world records are from the last 4 years1.
1 Ok the WR for TGM1 is from 2010, but that's more a proof of 777's monstruous skill than lack of activity
I'd like to preface the rest by stating that there's a tendency for the community in putting all the blame for the bad stuff that happens to TGM to The Tetris Company (henceforth referred as "TTC" or "guidelines", because the TTC publish a guideline document that all Tetris games has to follow). While there's definitely some precedent (TGM:ACE being the most egregious2, but the gameplay stagnation of the whole genre for 15 years is another one...), I have to force myself to remind my that some of the questionable decision may in fact comes from the dev.
2: TGM Ace was an Xbox 360 version of TGM. Putting aside the fact that putting a Japanese-only game on Xbox is suicide, TGM:Ace had to use a frankensteinian version of the TGM ruleset with some of the features from the Tetris guidelines overwriting some of the decision made by TGM (one of those being included in TGM4, see below). It was so bad that most people in the community act as if it doesn't exist. I certainly didn't even mention it in my video explained.
That being said: Yes, absolutely, and not for the bestL
Thank you so much for your thorough response, this made my morning to read! Wow, so many changes already visible. The TTC/Arika politics run so deep I hope we get a second Tetris film about this saga instead!
I get the impression from your comparisons that if it wasn't for the oddly positioned next box, it would still be a relatively faithful successor with some changes and tweaks to modes and grades. I really hope your efforts and those of other fans make a difference and potentially see an option added!
I'll definitely be picking this up if I can just to support this series (I can't imagine what it was like for dedicated fans to wait all of this time since TGM3...) but in the meantime stick with practicing with other variants. This post has revived an old Tetris kick in me with new spice, and I've had such a great time this week learning pyramid technique and planning ahead—thank you so much! I'm enjoying playing Heboris for now in lieu of any feasible legal ways to play the official series; just praying I don't get hooked enough to end up plunging my savings in a year's time into a JAMMA PCB...
There's the Switch and PS4/5 port by Hamster? I assume you're a pc gamer?
There's one change in the core gameplay that were lost in the draft of what I wrote that's controversial, maybe mandated maybe willed into being by Arika. I'll write about it later because it may be actually good or at least in agreement in what TGM4 wants to be. But uh... I'm at work at the moment.
Haha, no rush! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts whenever you write them.
And good shout with the port, thank you! Shame it's not on physical cartridge so will die with the respective online shops, but beggars can't be choosers, I'll nab it. It would be really cool if it supports TATE mode for a portable vertical screen, but I can't find much information on that so I'll be finding out!
This looks awesome, I know I will be spending a lot of time on this game. Tetris is so real because it is always there for you. Gotta love it
I hope it's like TGM3 with more. There's a cabinet I found of Terror Instinct in Portland that takes a bunch of my credits in that arcade. I've never been able to get it running at home but will gladly support ARIKA with this port. I wish they'd bring TGM Classic over like they did on Switch.
Whereabouts is that? That's a cabinet I'd like to try sometime.
Ground Kontrol. It's this great barcade in downtown I visit when I'm visiting the area.
Love that place. It's been a whole since I've gone, so, I must have forgotten it was there.
I'm sure that it's a fine rendition of Tetris but all the gameplay videos I've seen of TGM 1 through 3 have been people doing split second block placement with total invisibility of the board near the end of their run and I just think it's too hardcore for me.
Total invisibility is a challenge that you have to unlock through your gameplay. When you launch the main mode it actually starts the same as all other Tetris with low gravity. Split second decision is something you learn to do and definitely are not expected to master (eh.) from day one.
Also coincidentally, according to the press release the tagline for this version of TGM is "Tetris that makes you good at Tetris" so presumably there's more pedagogical and lenient element to the game (we already know there's a tutorial mode).
"NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 2GB, GTX 750Ti 2GB, or equivalent"
A Tetris game should run on integrated GPU as well. GPU requirement for GPU is too high for this kind of game :( I only have Intel HD 4000 :(
Fun fact: I think that more or less correspond to what's inside the arcade machine (which is really a desktop PC with some Jamma arcade connector) TGM4 was initially developed for: a Sega RIngwide 2. But I wouldn't be surprised if the min spec ends up lower than that.
Ya, tetris should be doable on today's equivalent of a potato and the videos on steam look pretty basic except for maybe the stuff happening the the background.
I have Tetris Effect currently and all the fancier graphics and 3d bs just makes it worse IMO.