psp731
Inactive account
Posts: 260
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Post by psp731 on Jul 12, 2005 16:14:28 GMT 2
Actually someone has already done his homework for us three years ago: www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ua4s-njm/gw/gw.htmlNote that G&Ws which were released in Japan have [Japan] printed after the date of release. An interesting thing is the author actually list TR-66 Tetris Jr among the Multi-screens. Has he actually seen one?
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Post by mpanayiotakis on Jul 13, 2005 2:28:19 GMT 2
It's a well known fact that Tetris Jr would be a multi-screen game Alvin. I tried a translator and although I couldn't make much sense of the most part it seems that Nintendo indeed developed the game but they couldn't acquire a license to sell it! This guy says something about a Russian company (that probably had the rights of the game) and then goes on explaining how the game looked like. He says that the game was a bit different than regular tetris but I don't understand the rest.
He also mentions gameboy gallery so I suppose some of this information can be found there.. ? Anyone care to translate this japanese text ?
Michael
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Post by Br3nd4N on Jul 13, 2005 4:58:30 GMT 2
That does not make much since russia stole just about every other game they produced. lol
well technically thats not true, it was just one or 2 companys...
-B
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Post by andycole on Jul 13, 2005 10:05:47 GMT 2
OK, here's a theory....... Nintendo obviously knew the potential of Tetris which is why they designed the TR-66. We all know it would have been a massive hit, after all, excluding the gameboy, how many LCD tetris clones have been sold? I own at least 3 and I don't even like Tetris! Anyway, they were in negotiations for the license from the 'russian ministry for the export of software' These took a long time and meanwhile Nintendo completed their development of the gameboy, The TR-66 was cancelled and the rest is history. An interesting article hereAndy
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Post by mpanayiotakis on Jul 13, 2005 19:34:27 GMT 2
Problem with that theory is that the Tetris multiscreen must have been designed and prepared for launch before Zelda and mario the juggler since the gameboy was released in 1989.
I think the truth must be elsewhere. I thought about this and I don't understand why licensing was a problem. Nintendo did release gameboy with a tetris cartridge so it's obvious they managed to get the license. How the TR-66 is any different ? Unless they had to pay an additional amount to the Russian state and they decided not to in favor of gameboy's tetris.
Michael
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Post by Br3nd4N on Jul 14, 2005 7:05:29 GMT 2
It's possible that Tetris was developed before other games but could not be released and had to be shelved until all the legal issues were fixed... by the time the issues were fixed it was more in Nintendo's interest to release it as a Gameboy game rather than a Multiscreen. I think that article posted by Andy highlights the fantastic system of communism. -B
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Post by andycole on Jul 14, 2005 10:00:01 GMT 2
Yeah, Slash, that's exactly what I meant. The G&W was probably designed and ready for production, and could have been that way for ages, but the license was obviously an issue - i.e. everyone wanted it and it took Nintendo a long time to get it. Once they did, the gameboy was ready so there was more money to be made from that and they cancelled the G&W. I think there would have been no difference for them regarding the license, Mike, to release both games, but they may have decided one was enough. Which takes us back to the original explanation that it was cancelled 'so not to harm sales of the gameboy', but I think the licensing issue fits in there as well.
Andy.
p.s. we know that Zelda was released in August 89 and the Zelda flyer from July 1989 mentions the new game but I don't know the exact release date for the gameboy. I'd take a guess at close to christmas which would tie in nicely with the theory. It's still only a theory so it could be full of holes, of course.
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Post by mpanayiotakis on Jul 14, 2005 12:51:58 GMT 2
I suppose this is possible but then Tetris' model number shouldn't have been TR-66. If your theory is true then Tetris must have been TR-65 and then dished for Zelda.
Michael
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Post by andycole on Jul 15, 2005 9:50:27 GMT 2
Yes, well we're all calling it TR-66 for convenience. I've never seen any official evidence to support that model number. It's one of those things that get's written somewhere, a few people copy it, and before long, it's just accepted as the truth. I expect the model numbers actually get finalised when a release date is confirmed. If THAT theory is correct, then Tetris would never have had one! I don't suppose we'll ever know an accurate story about tetris, but it's fun to talk about it.
Andy.
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Post by mpanayiotakis on Jul 16, 2005 0:49:33 GMT 2
Hmm.. I don't know, I mean I know that all the above might be science fiction but this guy that seems to know so much about Tetris is quoting TR-66 as its model number. The problem is that we've read in so many sites and magazines that Tetris was supposed to be the last game&watch game so I'm not sure about anything.. Anyway, I'm for this theory that model numbers were appointed as soon as Nintendo decided to go on with production. Why come up with model numbers for a game which is depicted only on a drawing board ?
Michael
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