I need some advice.

[NRJ]

I want to make a clone of Tetris game, I will not make the exact clone of Tetris, only the game mechanics and the shape of the pieces will be the same but not the color of the shape, line cutting effect, game background and fonts will be different.

The scoring system will be different from the original Tetris, some particle effects and some extra features and options ...

The game will be available free for download on my website , I will not even use the word Tetris anywhere in my game description and game title.

The only things that are same is the game mechanics, shape of the blocks, the display of next block (can be changed to display 2 next blocks) and the grid size 10*20 (can be changed to 12*20)

I am asking this because of these :-


https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/06/defining-tetris-how-courts-judge-gaming-clones


https://www.webpronews.com/tetris-clones-beware-you-may-be-held-accountable-for-copyright-infringement/amp/

[iWasAdam]

in light of the court ruling - you said it yourself:

I want to make a clone of Tetris game

Clone it for fun and learning, but don't ever release it into the wild.

The mechanics and shapes are Tetris. mix up those and you're free to do other things
Changing colors and scoring is not really mixing things up.

[Henri]

Hi,

web is full of Tetris how-do's , but here is a good example:

https://www.gamedev.net/articles/programming/general-and-gameplay-programming/retro-games-how-to-make-a-tetris-like-game-r2965/


-Henri

[NRJ]

@Henri 

I have already done the logic myself and the graphics, I am stucked in the middle. 

[NRJ]

The mechanics and shapes are Tetris. mix up
those and you're free to do other things

what if I use these type of shapes...

[iWasAdam]

the diagonal ones ( n,v,w,x,y) would definitely make something new and different.

[col]

The letter of the alphabet seem to be a good idea... they're not just 'shapes' and as far as I know no one has patented the alphabet itself.

[NRJ]

OK, if I use the shapes in the above image then everything will be fine???

[col]

I'm no lawyer and wouldn't want to say yes or no.

The diagonal shapes look really cool though

[MikeHart]

Just heads up. The right holders of Tetris are pretty hard on protecting their ip. Read a lot of stories where devs got sued left and right.


Even if you are not violating their IP, do you have the funds to go to court with them?

[NRJ]

I think, I have to contact Tetris ltd, but wait I will not .

I don't have million of dollars to pay them as licensing fees. 


I decided that I will complete the game for my own fun, but will not put it to my website .
By doing this I will learn some new things,gain some more experience and nothing get wasted...

[NRJ]

I have seen the Google playstore is full of Tetris games having the same game logic as the original Tetris have , do they all have paid licensing fees/royalty to Tetris company?

[Steve Elliott]

It's getting a bit silly when you can't produce a version of a very old game simply as a learning exercise for you or others.

[meems]

the diagonal ones ( n,v,w,x,y) would definitely make something new and different.

just thinking the same thing. diagonal tetris, don't think its ever been done, yet to my imagination is should be good. and stick with 4-blocks, 5-blocks have been done to death and its known they aren't as fun as 4-blocks.