Tetris

If you don’t know what it is, don’t bother to read on or you’ll be terminally bored.

I’m not a computer games kind of person. Really, I’m not. I probably could be if I made an effort but I’m not sufficiently competitive to be gripped while there are other things to be done – cycling, writing, brushing duckweed off the pond  and stuff.

But Tetris.   Well… Tetris is the exception. I do get hooked on Tetris. I used to be an addict and Tetris has come in handy in times of dire trouble to empty my brain and provide sweet relief from pressing troubles.

You can easily lose an hour of your life playing Tetris without even noticing.

No 1 son introduced me, knowing full well that where Sim City failed, Tetris would steal my soul. But I was able to get off it. I hardly play at all these days. Not for six months or more, honest – and then it was in the loo, which doesn’t count as life-wasting.   Then this morning, I came across this

http://firstpersontetris.com/

It made me laugh because it’s so tricky, yet you really want to be able to do it.  So you try and try again.  Sort of addictive.

I Skyped it to the boy in “hey, look what I’ve found”  terms.

I could practically hear the yawn in reply “Oh that. Saw that years ago. It’s impossible. But try this…”

And he gave me a link to something dangerous and fascinating and potentially criminally addictive.

http://www.tetrisfriends.com/index.php

For here is a site where you can play Tetris against other people in a kind of theatre of war.  It starts off all friendly-like but there’s sure to be blood before bedtime.

This is a big step for me.  I don’t usually sign up for anything on the grounds that I’m not a games nerd.

“Don’t use your real name,” said son.

“Use a screen name.”

“But I don’t go for those pathetic fantasy names.”

“OK How about ‘Itsonlyafleshwound’

‘Anyonegotaplaster?’

or

‘Ilovethesmellofpixelsinthemorning’?”

Oh har har, I said. Har being the sarcastic version of “ha ha” which might have a whiff of cynicism about it but is not openly sarcastic.

Anyway, if you happen to be playing Tetris Arena, have a heart and just go easy on that novice  “Pleasedonthurtme.”

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Author: janh1

Part-time hedonist.

9 thoughts on “Tetris”

  3. Uh oh. I’m a bit of a computer game freak myself. But I won’t sign up for that trap. Here’s one of those interesting factoids. According to computer game marketing info, Tetris is a game favored by, as James Fenimore Cooper delicately put it, the female of the species. Boys favor the smashing/slashing/shooting games. I’m not sure who the smashing/slashing/shooting of Tetris would attract: everyone?

  4. Ta, bearsy. I chickened out of playing against someone else in favour of having a quiet practise. One game went on for 15 minutes and at the end, I had to switch off and leave the room. I’d forgotten how much time it takes!

    Hmm interesting about the female thing, Jaime. A male doctor at work used to be heavily addicted and none of the females I know are even aware of Tetris. They think I’m a freak. 😉 Could be right, obviously. I’ve yet to try the ultra-competitive version. I’ll report back.

  5. I am male and was once addicted – there is something about the simplicity of the game that sucks you in… and then wastes your whole day! I dare not click the link.

  7. Hi Darrel. Yep, it’s got to be simple for people like me. Son no 1 used to try to explain the rules of adventure-style computer games but they were very involved and tedious. The only computer game we used to play competitively was Worms and I used to play both boys on Sega mega-drive games. Outrun. Loved the cheesy toon and it used to irritate them if I managed to beat em.

    V sensible, Pseu. 🙂

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