Complete Tengen Tetris

[SegaAges]

here you go you crazy collectors. it is crazy, just crazy (not really, but i do like the word crazy).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=62053&item=8127780179&rd=1

[-hellvin-]

I can't ever really see myself paying a lot of money for one of these but if I ever happened to see it in the wild I'd grab it up of course.

[MarioAllStar2600]

It's in my watch list. :D Even has a great condition poster.

Is there a difference between this one and the licensed one?

[Ninja Blacksox]

Is there a difference between this one and the licensed one?

Big time.

Totally different games, it would seem.

The Tengen version appears to be a near-exact port of the arcade game that was around in the 80's.

The licensed version doesn't include the greatness that is 2-player vs. Tetris. I believe the Tengen version DOES inlcude it.

Anybody with more experience want to back me up? Or ridicule me for getting it wrong?

-A Boy

[SegaAges]

i know that the nintendo version does include 2-player. i don't know if it is different than the tengen version just because i haven't ever played the tengen version

[SoulBlazer]

There's a great and detailed story behind the two different versions of Tetris -- I'll let someone else post a link with information about it. :) Suffice it to say it's one of the few times Nintendo was in the right, but almost everyone agrees the Tengen one is the better game.

And Tengen Tetris really is'nt rare -- I'd say at best it's a uncommon.

[Ninja Blacksox]

i know that the nintendo version does include 2-player.

Um.

Are you sure?

I remember the Nintendo-published version of "Tetris" being only 1-Player.

-A Boy

[grimbal]

And Tengen Tetris really is'nt rare -- I'd say at best it's a uncommon.

I wish someone would tell that to the flea market down the road from me. They have a complete copy but they want $149.95 for it and WILL not budge from that price. :angry:

[boatofcar]

i know that the nintendo version does include 2-player. i don't know if it is different than the tengen version just because i haven't ever played the tengen version

The Nintendo version does not include 2 Player mode. The big N's Tetris 2 does, however. As the previous post stated, Tengen Tetris is more or less the same as the arcade game, which I think was published by Atari @_@ The legalities of Tetris could be the subject of an entire book. In the Nintendo history book "Game Over," the whole story is presented very well.

[SoulBlazer]

Yes, it could be a entire book. LOL

In very simple terms -- Tetris was produced by a citizen of the USSR, so the game right away automaticaly became the rights of the Soviet Union. They licenced the game to a European company (I think it was Bullet Proof Software) who then proceed to sub-licence the arcade and home console rights to Atari. Under their Tengen brand, they produced very good arcade and NES versions.

Meanwhile, Nintendo was interested in getting Tetris for their new Game Boy and they sent someone to the USSR to get the portable rights. They were surprised when they were offered the home console rights as well! Aperently, BPS had misread their contarct and they never HAD the home version rights to start with!

Nintendo quickly snapped up the home rights for Tetris and then sued Atari in court. Atari was forced to stop selling Tengen Tetris and remaining copies were recalled and destroyed. But enough of the game was sold that it's not really uncommon.

Nintendo then produced their own NES version of Tetris, but it was hastily put together, with no two player mode and IMHO is not as good as the Tengen version. The Game Boy version, however, was a killer reason for the success of the Game Boy when it was launched n 1989.

Several years ago the creator of Tetris got the rights of the game back when BPS's contract ran out. Now he's finally making money of his game. ;)

Does that help? :D

[The_EniGma]

there was a program about the history of tetris on BBC4 *looks thru his video tapes*

[Griking]

The guide rates Tengen's Tetris as R6/$25 for a loose copy.

[captain nintendo]

Gonna have to get a complete copy eventually :o

[thehistorian]

The Nintendo version is single player...

I last purchased a loose copy for 5 and a boxed for 8. Box was missing the poster though and the loose cart was in better shape..

Long story short, I used the lesser copy as trade bait and did very well with it..

[MegaDrive20XX]

TEH TENGEN!!! woot!

[rbudrick]

R6 seems about right, though I have only seen 3 or 4 in the wild in the last 15 years. I've always personally thought it was more or an R7 or 7.5, but not quite an 8....not that DP recognizes half points, heh heh.

-Rob

[Kid Ice]

I'll be surprised of this doesn't fetch around $100. The cart is only a bit uncommon, but I haven't seen one complete like this before.

[charitycasegreg]

I'll be surprised of this doesn't fetch around $100. The cart is only a bit uncommon, but I haven't seen one complete like this before.

I remember an auction when I was running out aof money that was at about 50 bucks. It came with about 10 complete games including a mint tengen tetris and a system (boxed?). I bid 73 max snipe bid (about 3 seconds left). Auction ended at like 93 bucks. It was sorta hidden though.

Im guessing this will end at about 60 bucks.

[boatofcar]

I paid around $90 including shipping for both these together, took a picture before relisting them both seperately to finance my complete black box NES collection :) Tengen Tetris is one of those few rare NES games that is actually tons more fun than the licensed common version.

http://homepage.mac.com/johnshawler/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-09-01%2020.01.30%20-0700/Image-D5C6063AFC8C11D8.jpg

[Qixmaster]

you'll have a harder time finding qix for the nes then you will tengen tetris. not a rare game by any means. it is all hype. the box and instructions aren't exactly rare either, but just a little more harder to come by then the cart.

tough to find? no. it is definately out there.

also... qix is a better game ;)

-Josh

[Kid Ice]

I'll be surprised of this doesn't fetch around $100. The cart is only a bit uncommon, but I haven't seen one complete like this before.

Wow, I was way off. If I had suspected it would go for that little, I probably would have bid myself.

[Nesmaster]

i stumbled upon a better condition one about a month ago, complete too, with little time left. it was at $20, so i bid $25.01. in the last seconds i was outbid and it ended for 26.01. damn snipers! :bad-words: .

[captain nintendo]

Forgot to bid :o


Oh well :roll:

[SoulBlazer]

$52 -- good price. Right about what I expected to see. :D

[Adonick]

Like I said in another thread, I sold my CIB tengen tetris for 19.99 USD BIN.

I'm an idiot I guess. I got it for $3 at a yard sale so I guess me and buddy who won the auction both win tho.

[SegaAges]

i know that the nintendo version does include 2-player.

Um.

Are you sure?

I remember the Nintendo-published version of "Tetris" being only 1-Player.

-A Boy

unless i have been tricked from my childhood playing the tengen version. but i do remember as a kid playing 2 player tetris on nes. i know little to nothing about the tengen version, but i remember the 2-player looked identical to the nes version.