N-Blox
| N-Blox | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Paul Neave |
| Publisher(s) | Paul Neave The Tetris Company |
| Platform(s) | Web |
| Release | April 28, 2001 |
| Gameplay info | |
| Next pieces | 1 |
| Playfield size | 10 × 18 |
| Hold piece | No |
| Hard drop | Yes (in later versions) |
| Rotation system | Original Rotation System |
  | |
N-Blox is a web-based fan game developed by Paul Neave in 2001, which then became an official Tetris product in 2009.
Gameplay
N-Blox used basic gameplay controls and mechanics: There are no wall kicks present, the level cap is unlimited, and gravity caps at Level 10. Hard drop was later included in newer versions of the game, as well as the ability to switch to a faster DAS rate. An arrangement of Korobeiniki can be played by pressing a designated hotkey.
The original version of N-Blox used a memoryless randomizer to draw pieces, while later versions, particularly those by The Tetris Company, use a variation of the Random Generator that draws pieces from an 8-piece bag algorithm instead.
Tetromino colors also vary depending on the hosting website: most versions use Neave's own color scheme, while the Tetris.com version from 2014 to 2019 uses standard Guideline colors and spawning orientations.
Development
N-Blox was launched on April 28, 2001, when it was originally called Tetris. It would later receive its current name on December 7, 2005 due to legal action from The Tetris Company.
On May 13, 2009, N-Blox was fully acquired by The Tetris Company and the game itself was added to Tetris Friends' website.
The game was also present in Tetris.com until 2015, when it was replaced by the current Guideline-based online game.
N-Blox originally ran on Adobe Flash Player before switching to HTML5 on February 3, 2020. The current HTML5 version also adds the DAS and auto-repeat rate settings, local leaderboards, and two other arrangements of Korobeiniki from the main Tetris.com game.