Expect more NSLU2 posts as I start to do things again with it!

Download TetWiis

This release contains the following changes:

• Improved Block graphics
• Addition of ‘changing’ background depending on progression through the game
• Reset/Power button callbacks now implemented
• Menu options now rumble when you point at them.
• Minor bug fixes.

To start with, I’ve changed the blocks to now use a graphic rather than simply drawing sqaures. This has made it look so much better!

Next up, I’ve started to add backgrounds into the main game. I’m going to make the background images change at various level changes. A quick sample of what the first level screen looks like is shown below.

Download TetWiis

Please note: this is a beta release so that I can get the game tested by more than just me! and also gather feedback!

TetWiis is freeware, can be distributed freely and should never be charged for. If you distribute this elsewhere I’d appreciate being informed

This has taken a considerable amount of time to create. If you would like to give something back, you’ll find a donate link below

After downloading, unzip straight into the apps folder on your SD card.  The zip already contains a ‘tetwiis’ folder so there is no need to create one.  Once unzipped, either take a look at the Wiibrew page for TetWiis, or the readme.txt file for more details about the controls.

Below you’ll find a youtube video of TetWiis in action!

I was aware that there may be some frailties with the rand() function, but I didn’t expect to come across what I found!

My original code did the following to determine the next block

return (rand()%7) +1;

Which all seemed good and well.  I understood that it was only pseudo random, though what I didn’t expect was if I called it consecutively within quick succession of each other, that it would suddenly start returning the same number!  I noticed that if I dropped the blocks quick enough, that I could get 2 or 3 of the same type to appear in the list!  It took me a few goes to test this and make sure it wasn’t just chance, but sure enough, I could recreate it!

The solution – I decided to implement a mersenne twister random number generator!  I’d read about these types of generators before and searching the interweb, I came across http://www.bedaux.net/mtrand/ where sure enough, a simple enough implementation of it exists that I could pretty much take as a whole (Thanks Jasper!)

My randoms now really are random no matter how quickly I do it which obviously makes for a much better game of TetWiis

Screen shot below todo list!

• Increase drop speed with level increase
• Fast drop of piece (rather than having to hold down)
• Hold piece
  
• Pretty up the blocks so they are not a solid lump of colour (in progress!)
• Preview of piece where it will drop
• Animate and ‘graphicalise ‘ the game over and pause text
• Make the start screen so you can click on the menu items
• Add an options screen where you can set the following (and maybe more):
  • ingame BGM
  • ingame BGM volume
• Score board (maybe online!)
• Sound effects
• Test, test, test!
• Support for classic controller/GameCube Pad

I’ve also finally coded the scoring and levels/number of lines counts.

Next to do is following:

• Increase drop speed with level increase
• Fast drop of piece (rather than having to hold down)
• Preview of piece where it will drop
• Animate and ‘graphicalise ‘ the game over and pause text
• Make the start screen so you can click on the menu items
• Add an options screen where you can set the following (and maybe more):
  • ingame BGM
  • ingame BGM volume
• Test, test, test!

This doesn’t signal and end to development on it, but now feels like a good time to release the source as it’s been pretty static for a good while now, plus I’m concentrating on TetWiis right now!

The source is available here http://code.google.com/p/bootmiiconfigurationeditor/
and is released with an LGPL licence.

All as I ask is that if you do use any of this or make any changes to any of it, please credit me in the readme somewhere and let me know.

I’m happy to include and take on board any changes which better and improve the product, and to include these in the SVN repository!

Still loads to do though wanted to get a video out there just to show progress!