| TetriNET | |
|---|---|
 GTetrinet, client for Linux | |
| Developer | Various |
| Designer | St0rmCat |
| Platforms | Windows,Unix,Mac OS X,BeOS,Haiku[1] |
| Release | 1997 |
| Genre | Puzzle |
| Mode | Multiplayer |
TetriNET is a multiplayer onlineTetris game for up to six people that supports team play.[2]
TetriNET was originally developed by St0rmCat in 1997,[2] with its last official version as 1.13. The game was originally developed for Windows and was laterported to other systems.
St0rmCat releasedTetriNET2 in 2000, which features improved graphics, more types of special blocks, additional features (such as hold piece and block shadows), and a master server.[3]
TetriNET plays like standard multiplayerTetris but with a twist: clearing rows will cause special blocks to appear in the player's field. If a line containing a special block is cleared, then that special block is added to the player's inventory. Clearing multiple lines at once increases the number of special blocks received.
At any point, a player may use the special block at the beginning of their inventory on one of the six fields (either their own or an opponent's). The effect depends on the type of special block:
The last player still able to place pieces in their field is the winner.
Depending on the server used, some alternative rules may be available.
The classicTetriNET download came with a singleMIDI file that plays during game. This music is known as "The Dance of the Spheres" and its authorship is claimed by David Lilja,[4][5] who was known as Davie M. Karlsson when he wrote the MIDI file.
In addition to the rules implemented by the standardTetriNET 1.13 client, there are a number of variants available.
TetriFast removes the one-second delay between pieces found in standardTetriNET gameplay. As the piece delay is implemented client-side, a trivial modification was made to the network protocol to prevent TetriFast clients connecting to standardTetriNET games.
The 1.14 protocol is another variant, where every player will receive the same sequence of pieces.[6]
Blocktrix is an alternativeTetriNET client for Windows.[7] In addition to supporting traditionalTetriNET and TetriFast protocols, it has a newer Blocktrix mode that includes a number of additional special block types:
TetriNET2 is a multiplayerTetris game by the original creator ofTetriNET.[3] In addition to the special blocks found in the originalTetriNET, it has five new ones:[8]
In late 2007, like other clones,TetriNET2 was shut down viacease and desist per the request ofThe Tetris Company.[9] TheTetriNET2 website and servers became unavailable for several years. As of early 2010,TetriNET2 is back up per request of fans that weren't satisfied with the lack of game development by The Tetris Company. TheTetriNET2 website and servers have been recovered, relocated, and restored.
With clients forvarious platforms available,[10] the game was also well received in the Linux community.[11] TheLinux conferencelinux.conf.au included a programming contest where contestants tried to programTetriNET-playing bots, who could connect to the game server and play the game.[12] The prize for the best bot was a A$40,000IBM pSeries server.[13] The game was also played inLAN parties.[14]Game Revolution namedTetriNET as affordable alternative toTetris.[15]In a 1999 review ofThe Next Tetris,Game Revolution namedTetriNET as "truer to its Tetris roots" and "If you want multi-player Tetris, the network based Tetrinet is much more fun.".[16]
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