Game Boy
The original Game Boy was often bundled with Tetris and we know why. In fact – so did all of the world. This 8-bit regionfree monochrome version of Tetris has sold 35 million copies! With some players given a head start with the release back in ’89 we still ask: Who is the best Tetris player on the original Game Boy? Grab four double A’s and see if you can bring it when it is all portable.
CTEC has been competing on the classic Game Boy since our first Championship in 2015.
In the beginning there was no way of displaying the game to the audience, so commentators did it radio-style.
Soon after, Les Railtons did a VGA mod which worked for many years. In 2023 it was possible for players to stream with the “GB Interceptor” using USB.
WINNERS
| Year | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Linus | Sweden |
| 2016 | FLIBBEN | Sweden |
| 2017 | -JJ | Finland |
| 2018 | Jani | Finland |
| 2019 | Alex H | Great Britain |
| 2020 | C-19 | |
| 2021 | C-19 | |
| 2022 | Alex H | Great Britain |
| 2023 | Alex H | Great Britain |
| Year | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Linus | Sweden |
| 2016 | FLIBBEN | Sweden |
| 2017 | -JJ | Finland |
| 2018 | Jani | Finland |
| 2019 | Alex H | Great Britain |
| 2020 | C-19 | |
| 2021 | C-19 | |
| 2022 | Alex H | Great Britain |
| 2023 | Alex H | Great Britain |
Controls:
D-Pad (Directional Pad):
- Use the D-Pad to control the movement of the falling tetrominoes.
- Press left or right on the D-Pad to move the tetromino horizontally.
- Press down on the D-Pad to make the tetromino fall faster (soft drop).
A and B Buttons:
- Press the A button to rotate the tetromino clockwise.
- Use it to adjust the tetromino’s orientation to fit into tight spaces.
- The tetromino will instantly drop to the lowest possible position when you press the B button.
This section has expired. Please look for this info at GameBoy where a .pdf can be downloaded.
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Announcements in relation with Game Boy will often be styled in GREEN.
GAME BOY RULESET
To access the current official set of rules please use .pdf link in this block below. The rules will be downloaded or shown as a .pdf files. The latest .pdf version will always represent the official CTEC rules. If informations, paragraph, rules or definition, which is found elsewhere, differs from the .pdf then follow what is stated in the .pdf.
How to Play (1-Player)
Multiplayer VS Mode
How to Play with Link Cable
Setup: Connect two Game Boy systems using a link cable.
Game Mode: Both players start their respective Game Boy’s Tetris game in “Game B” mode, which is the multiplayer mode. In this mode, the goal is to complete a certain number of lines before your opponent does.
Line Clearing: As both players clear lines, a certain number of lines will be sent to their opponent’s screen as “garbage lines.” These garbage lines appear at the bottom of the opponent’s screen and can hinder their progress by taking up valuable space.
Winning: The first player to reach 30 cleared lines (a predetermined number) is declared the winner. This player has successfully outlasted their opponent by clearing lines more efficiently and avoiding getting overwhelmed by garbage lines. If a player tops out, the other player wins the round.
Tips to Win:
Efficient Clearing: Focus on clearing lines as quickly as possible. Forming Tetrises (clearing four lines at once) is especially effective.
Counter Garbage Lines: If your opponent sends you garbage lines, try to clear lines quickly to prevent the garbage from building up.
Stay Alert: Pay attention to your own screen and your opponent’s screen. React quickly to the blocks you receive and adjust your strategy as needed.
Blocking Strategies: Consider sending garbage lines to your opponent strategically. For example, if you notice your opponent’s screen is close to the top, sending garbage lines might push them over the edge.
Practice: Like any game, practice is key. The more you play, the better you’ll become at recognizing patterns, clearing lines efficiently, and countering garbage lines.
- Find the well: At the beginning of each round a random column is selected as the garbage well for each player. You only get to know where the well is, once the opponent sends you garbage. And the absolute pro tip: The garbage well will always be in even columns. This means, the well will never be on the left!
Remember that the multiplayer mode of Game Boy Tetris is sometimes about outlasting your opponent rather than achieving a “winning” condition in the traditional sense. It’s a game of skill, strategy, and quick decision-making. As a versus game players also tend to strategies according to opponents style of play. Have fun competing against your friends in this classic and intense multiplayer mode!
Qualification
- See Game Boy Ruleset.
- When all seats is occupied the next player who wants to qualify will form a queue. Every seated player gets one qualification try per seating.
- If there is no queue the player may try again until queue is formed and the player must go to the back of the queue for next qualification try.
- When a player want a qualification score submitted, the player must stay seated and raise player’s hand to communicate are score has been made. A CTEC referee will go to player, note player’s name and score and player is then ready to leave the seat with an official CTEC qualification submitted.
- Whether or not a player is competing on CTECs Game Boys or on Player’s own Game Boy, the qualification score is only valid when the requirements from above are met.
Game Boy Bug
When playing on original Game Boys the hardware has a challenge. It is not the CTEC equipment, it is how the Game Boy is build.
Problem occurs on the 2nd brick when pressing the D-pad to either side and then down. In that case the tetromino is not moving down.
Please note that the video refers to past CTEC ruleset.
