Tetris Printer Algorithm

By rotating, positioning and dropping a predetermined sequence of pieces, the Tetris Printer Algorithm exploits the mechanics of Tetris to generate arbitrary bitmap images.
For a full discussion of the algorithm, see the link below.
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Kick Shock Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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Royalty Free Music
Padanaya Blokov Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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[@kriszangli5174]

When you wanna make sprites but you only have Tetris

[@madamada5293]

Voltres ice coald pepissss

[@antoniojoaquinruizalfonso4232]

It's hard to pay the squares, look the amounts.

[@NecroTitan]

so you use hax to do it

[@Dj3ntpickle]

Paint.net

[@rainy8695]

Kris Zangli wow

[@keelinwheeler3444]

I read quite a few comments already, and I just want to inform everyone that this is not some guy playing Tetris who is doing this with random pieces. If you read the description you will see there was a computer algorithm using predetermined pieces that did it. But it doesn't make it any less impressive.

[@georgem.7785]

Keelin Wheeler It makes it way less impressive lol.

[@keelinwheeler3444]

George M. Fair. I only mean that as a computer programmer I appreciate the complexity involved in writing such a program.

[@benhaw9678]

I must say that this must've taken a very long time to program due to the way that TETRIS works.

[@thefakepie1126]

or you could read the title ...

[@admin-zt4xh]

George M. YOU DID NOT JUST FUCKING SAY THAT

[@kyleorwin2854]

Bloody hell, I can't even play Tetris on Tetris

[@Spiggo97]

That Joke

[@superinvinciblebrothers9137]

I tried playing Tetris on Tetris on Tetris before, I don't even know how to use the block that says "Tap to play"

[@rileystewart855]

Kyi Irwin haha you can't wait I can't play Tetris either :(

[@NikodAnimations]

Daniel Sandvik fmwkz

[@goldhallow]

i agree

[@morshuthemerchant5558]

wow I can't believe this..... this is over 3 years old and it just got recommended for me

[@thedogiestgamerz1069]

Spartan 44 is it a bad video?

[@timothychung797]

the dogiest gamerz no, this is AMAZING PROGRAMMING

[@AnksDilxMC]

Spartan 44 same

[@DaDerpyBro]

I think recommending old ones brings a newer community in to talk in the comments. So it's kewl.

[@heyyou8915]

Spartan Buzz 44 omg it got recommended to me about ten times!

[@AmyraCarter]

Anyone else try to guess what was being printed line by line as the video went along? That was the most fun part, I think. :)

[@RarefoilB]

Amy Carter | Pictionary for the lonely soul.

[@hekirb3382]

3:32 it's koopa! 3:47 NO I MEAN PARATROOPA (damnit)

[@alexandergraham9171]

felix lenoel i literally said the exact thing then looked down and saw your comment

[@thecelestialstarship]

Amy Carter I was!

[@kellymountain]

Me

[@hyliangirl7214]

I like the way the pieces at the top almost look like an equalizer for the chip tune music hehehe

[@kougaon8513]

Casey Roleplays *visualizer

[@shelbyyang]

Didn't notice that, that's pretty cool :P

[@ChocoPelaakanava]

Casey Roleplays equalizer hahaha

[@Buckets616]

WilyTooSimple rhuehwhwhej

[@DIYDamian]

That would actually make for a good idea for an audio visualizer

[@iceypumpkinhead]

It amazes me how the NES only supported 3 colors per Sprite yet the games still had so much detail to them.

[@SkullZNTH]

Iceypumpkin head Dror

[@Guinea.Pig-Gaming]

Big Mario is made up of 8 sprites, each with a defined palette of colors. Kinda like 11001100111111 11001100001100 11111100001100 11001100001100 11001100111111 One is on amd 0 is off, that's kinda like a sprite, but in the NES, you have 3 colors, the fourth is the background. 0 = background 1 = color 1 in palette 2 = color 2 in palette 3 = color 3 in palette 11111111 12222221 12211221 12122121 12222121 12221221 12222221 12221221 11111111 That was the question block in one sprite. Made up of 4 elements normally, at least as I call them. In the 8k of vrom on the nes games, you have raw bytes of data that hold elements, like mario's face and a pipe block. 11111111 11111111 12222222 22222221 12222111 11122221 12221111 11112221 12221122 22112221 12222222 22112221 12222222 21112221 12222222 21122221 12222222 21122221 12222222 11122221 12222222 11222221 12222222 11222221 12222222 22222221 12222222 11222221 12222222 22222221 11111111 11111111

[@The_Deep_Blue]

Why are you everywhere?

[@official-obama]

the 3 colors apply to tetris printer too

[@ThereminHero]

Amazing. I tried to do this exact thing back in 2012 using canvas and javascript, but only got as far as drawing the animations. I might need to re-visit it.

[@l.ronhoyabembe3557]

Theremin Hero ITS YOU

[@luckyroo8483]

O shit you’re the guy that made the laser harp Tetris theme

[@JorgetePanete]

aNd PEgGy It's*

[@encryptedmaze]

also... no enums.... unless you want to use JSON, which is an awful idea

[@JmKirbyiou]

Theremin Hero i

[@RazzlePANDAzzle]

This video is over 6 years old and it just got recommended for me

[@blizerystorm6701]

Me too 😋

[@hotdogsinmymouth43]

Same

[@dimensional7794]

Also me

[@PrincessRosalinaNumberOneFan]

same here lmaooo

[@erich_ika]

Same

[@AlatusSz]

*God joined the server*

[@completelyaverageviewer]

*God: yo waddup my dudes wanna play some minecraft later?*

[@rightyloosey8554]

zKillerMurder ✓ Your profile picture perfectly reflects your comment.

[@ev2828]

DootTheScoot982's Pointless Content I thought the same lmaooo

[@ev2828]

**pain joined the server*

[@ale-ik2ep]

Thanks god,because this is a *C R I S T I A N S E R V E R*

[@saucebou1069]

When you're on puyo puyo Tetris online and the guy starts building a middle finger and immediately your screen fills with junk blocks

[@VestedUTuber]

You mean the four-wide strategy?

[@perpetuator3252]

@@VestedUTuber you made my day

[@zigmazero2879]

@@VestedUTuber more like the pillar of hope lmao

[@VestedUTuber]

@@zigmazero2879 Yeah, 3-wide is more reliable.

[@zigmazero2879]

@@VestedUTuber I actually mean when your stack is so heavy on the middle because of bad stacking lel

[@funkinfunkhead]

Imagine getting wrecked by some advanced Tetris player who does this.

[@firstdibs6790]

It would take hours just to get the correct color on each layer

[@Ardenzard]

That would be so lit, I would try to stay in the game long enough to see what they were making

[@stephenmills8779]

*tetris artist just makes a huge dick in the middle of their screen. Lmaoo

[@Actiomedey]

Considering it uses a specific pattern the odds of that happening are probably astronomical

[@chrispham6599]

I honestly wouldn't be mad!

[@rogermichou8654]

you have great skills at programming , cong

[@giantdad1661]

Shadow Mario This should not expand dong. But it does.

[@Ze_eT]

T H I C C

[@albasong3495]

no no. you're doing it wrong it's like this... *T H I C C*

[@syko396]

ThePrimalHoovy do you want sandvich?

[@albasong3495]

Nu, I haz already had sandvich. I now have chocolate for no reason.... Yey

[@Pixelcraftian]

Honestly this is so awesome, I like the one with Mario in it 👀

[@nicthecat]

famous youtuber has a comment with less than 1k likes

[@girres43]

@@nicthecat and only 2 replies

[@mohamedhamis853]

I'm a big fan of you!

[@agentmooka3138]

Oh cool! I wanna try this in tetris 99 so people can see a little character while they pla- *GOSH DARNIT GARBAGE BLOCKS!!!!*

[@sweetcherrie215]

Yes those, that people don't like

[@skippymcflippynipsoldchann9983]

Guys even if this is just a computer doing this still it took a lot of time probably.

[@3lH4ck3rC0mf0r7]

Bastion sperl Any computer today can also run NES much, much faster than realtime.

[@timothychung797]

Bastion sperl Definitely, I'm guessing around 5 days to program

[@3lH4ck3rC0mf0r7]

*****​ Maybe. But recording the bot playing would also take time, which could be shaved off simply by running the NES at max processor speed, and not limit the internal timing.

[@danielbueno8474]

Zario Super LOL you're kidding right

[@DaDerpyBro]

I think he means the large amount of time spent programming the thing.

[@user-rp1ko7ky9h]

I could do that, hold my pepsi

[@r8_the_moo]

nice stolen meme

[@flophawk]

PEPSI MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArio

[@x.a.k]

not a sylveon I like Pepsi.

[@itsUnDWear]

Bepis

[@2startbuttons820]

I cOuLd Do ThAt, HoLd My BePiS

[@sweatypepito3545]

Friend: hey i bet i can make better pixel art than you. Guy in vid: Hold my beer

[@superbowserlogan515]

Omar Luna it's a computer so it makes it more funny "Hey look no hands"

[@lillie3029]

Pretends to play as the computer

[@gabby_5820]

Friend: You know, I'm better than you in Tetris This guy: Make a sprite on tetris

[@JustAthel]

Now do that in Tetris 99 with 6 attackers locked on to you

[@dwaynethecumjohnson3911]

What about 20?

[@mush1438]

78

[@JustAthel]

Guys I'm not THAT cruel, damn-

[@dame-e-in1258]

@@JustAthel You only had to have 1 attacker and these guys ramped it to 78.

[@justsomerandomasian408]

Shit i wish i could just reach to round 20 legitly

[@tapulele1804]

SHADYBOY 215 Same

[@Penguin_Spy]

i wish i could get to level 2.

[@starstrike7062]

My highest level was 19. I threw my controller across the room.

[@TGAK72]

SHADYBOY 215 I got to 23 once

[@Andrzej-ev4ez]

I got 26... ;_;

[@justcoolbunny]

This might be the coolest thing I've seen on Tetris

[@Kabedox2]

Now THIS is art!

[@comradeweeble5317]

NOW THIS IS PODRAC- *SHIT WRONG FANDOM*

[@kloof5988]

Animatedzombiemango gaming XD

[@Luffi98]

BOOM!, Tetris for Michael!

[@jpmasento]

BOOM! Tetris for Jeff!

[@simset5875]

jpmasento BOOM! tetris for jonas

[@lapelotacuadradavevooffici112]

@Unvexxenated BOOM!, Tetris por Joseph!

[@mapcreu]

@@lapelotacuadradavevooffici112 BOOM!, Tetris for Jake!

[@User09902]

Roses are red Violets are blue This video is from 2013, And i've got this in my recommended, and you?

[@zedigamer]

I?i want you to stop commenting this shit

[@superawesomebros3084]

0:58 is mario flipping us off

[@SalutanisOrkonus]

SuperAwesomeBros: xD

[@dr.challenge4155]

your channel is dead

[@grieferjones2237]

SuperAwesomeBros a

[@chocolatecheesecake4821]

THAT'S NOT EVEN MARIO! But he is

[@catsuuuu1427]

Chocolate Cheesecake that is fire mario?

[@CrannBethadh]

This is so many kinds of awesome I don't even know where to begin.

[@underthependulum3484]

This is actually how every game made after Tetris was designed

[@mr.hoovy6948]

When someone beats your highscore, while making a sprite

[@jehadgh6930]

KZbin 2013 : nope 2014 : nope 2015 : nope 2016 : nope 2017 : nope 2018 : nope 2019 : let's just add this to everyone recommanded

[@all3324]

Ikr

[@HectorCartoons]

No lines were cleared in the making of Tetris.

[@flameblade3]

I honestly thought the blooper was going to be a top down on the ship from gradius

[@SuperJustinChannel]

I noticed that when supposedly the pieces are dropped faster (like when Down is being held) the score doesn't increase; only when it clears lines does the score go up.

[@over_loadcode]

In Tetris Friends, it is significantly easier to get points than Tetris on the NES.

[@traininggrounds9450]

What's important is that it is using predetermined pieces. That makes this a relatively easy algorithm. I would be seriously impressed and I'd want the algorithm if it was doing this with random pieces.

[@samuelsanz1450]

Therapist: Blue goomba isn’t real, he can’t hurt you Blue Goomba: Say sike right now

[@FazedNebulix]

Wow I know these pixle arts so well that I guessed each one within the first 3-6 pixels visible

[@radniktheaxolotl4245]

Even Underground Goomba?

[@JorgetePanete]

Chase Riddler pixle?

[@anotherinternetuser6781]

*draws a single line* "SPIKES!"

[@Christopher-dg9wb]

misses long piece...clears Marios bottom.

[@d.t.simonbelmont]

3:01 Simon Belmont!! Oh yeeeaah!! 🔗💥

[@rareegg1201]

After many years this is on my recommendations. I gotta say it's awesome!

[@donutbandit]

6 years later and this is in my recommend

[@Lana-qp9qv]

Where tf is Arthur from Ghost and goblins

[@mypenisisunbelievablysmall960]

Nice tetris art

[@St4r_Str1ker]

How was Samus even possible!?

[@deffdefying4803]

Ian Harris How was any of these possible? Simple: coding.

[@beetrootsoup3130]

MAGIKK

[@alexli6935]

It's a nice algorithm, but the description of it in the video is what makes this so great, a very well explained description that shows a lot of time put into it

[@radniktheaxolotl4245]

I officially love you for having printed Bubblan.

[@nuclearsu]

Almost exactly 10 years ago!!

[@jcompad641]

テトリスの正しい(?)遊び方

[@aqsem9073]

Tetris 99 pixel art *Who's with me*

[@timmmybrowwn2831]

I like the creativity that you used the cave goomba since normal wouldn’t have the colors

[@DearDeerRyone]

I love how it even gets the exact colors.

[@usernuv3118]

*_leaving a like..._*

[@dot_Connection]

can this be done without a predetermined set of blocks?

[@bengreene5105]

its not predetermined, the thing on the left is just a counter.

[@dot_Connection]

Ben Greene cmon man, use the eyes your parents gave you... >By rotating, positioning and dropping a predetermined sequence of pieces, the Tetris Printer Algorithm exploits the mechanics of Tetris to generate arbitrary bitmap images.

[@bengreene5105]

+ReX0und .......... Its not preditermined, it uses an algerithm to align the blocks.

[@dot_Connection]

+Ben Greene read the description. it's fucking says predetermined in it!

[@benleonard36]

+ReX0und it means he studied the paterns and using the sequince that's always the same he could make these pixel arts

[@waffledoctor87]

Didn't SethBling use this song in his Snoo fight video?

[@bggamingdeluxe5658]

idk

[@drumlindrums7913]

I do not have the patience for something like this and so my hat goes off to you sir

[@lankyboi2521]

game: *makes sprite* me: “koopa troopa” game: *makes lakitu* me: ... me: a game I’ve played for so long stumped me

[@CalebCraft10]

T'would be cool if there was an actual Tetris mode where you were supposed to do this.

[@supermarioglitchy321]

That would be literally impossibld to do normally

[@CalebCraft10]

supermarioglitchy321 Well the pieces would be pre-set. You would just have to figure out how to arrange them.

[@theshoppinglollisquad7720]

Ha I saw this in 2019 on my suggested

[@RinOtonashi]

Why's there no Splatoon? (Sees Upload Date) Oh...

[@doomcannon4653]

When people are too boring and they use this method to do pixelarts... *NICE JOB. I APPRECIATE THIS.*

[@nanashin8696]

Lucky how he got all those shapes and colors in just the right order

[@cometflamer]

It was a computer program read description

[@neptvnian4600]

The music in this video sounds just like kahoot xD

[@Dankster84]

yoshilover man OMG 😂😂😂

[@missingno2401]

I don’t recognize shit from this video to be like kahoot. Maybe it’s the style of the theme that’s similar or I just haven’t played kahoot in 2 years for losing my account.

[@cherry988]

Neptvnian theres is a part which its from the game 'Papers please'

[@emiaguilar2611]

SteamEnder how can you lose an account on kahoot if you don't even need one?wtf?

[@thesoyismilk4580]

Real time version???

[@yossarian7420]

@XXX_MRSWAGBALLZ91_XXX MSB91 spam.mp3

[@denelson83]

Someone has **WAY** too much time on their hands.

[@JorgetePanete]

denelson83 and a pc to do this...

[@halfyou]

lol it’s an ai

[@someone2427]

denelson83 no i dont

[@joaovmlg]

Bubble bobble was one of the games of my childhood 😍

[@alelafloolf817]

WOAH! i can't believe you can make pixel arts with tetris. that. is. AWESOME!

[@typhusthenewbie1561]

who clicked because of the toad?

[@remedynoneofyourbusiness6]

IcariW me

[@shokobab5803]

GRGRGHHHRRUUUHHHGH HHHEEEYYYYY

[@comradeweeble5317]

MAMA F###ER

[@radniktheaxolotl4245]

I clicked because I already saw the video long ago.

[@theophilecaceres5855]

SPAGHETIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

[@canaldescontinuado7152]

muy creativo

[@santinodimaria4253]

EL WEY Gamer Tutos sip, tienes razon

[@RJ-vu9iv]

How long did it take you to do this

[@coolcole3730]

43 years each... read the description

[@Sutobuto]

Consoles never fucking existed the last 100 years

[@JorgetePanete]

RJ_Chain you forgot the question mark

[@sheeple_bleeple9259]

Wow this took dedication. I love it so much. If only they kept these colors so you could make more in the newer games.

[@bigchungus3895]

Aive seen people create amazing things but you showed math can create some pretty awesome stuff! Thanks for the awesome video!

[@stan3715]

this video is not even funny, I only watched it 8 times.

[@supermarioglitchy321]

It's not supposed to be funny. It's supposed to be impressive.

[@stan3715]

supermarioglitchy321 you dont even get the joke

[@arielespoir8612]

Zachary Fry I get it, but not very funny and hard to see, it easily makes people misunderstand

[@masomirmanic3771]

Arie Lespoir This is the easiest joke ever to understand. :I

[@joteck9664]

Miriya Dekker :3 what's the joke

[@SmuggyLeaf]

TheOdd1sout? *pffft* maybe

[@lisaknott6286]

JosephToZorua & Boss Garchomp a computer did this

[@chill7925]

Lisa Knott yea they do that

[@dudeidk5498]

Lol

[@smarty1natsknees]

**that moment you make amazing art on tetris but you accidentally make a row and it all falls apart**

[@jamcat3824]

This is 5 years old but was just recommended to me. What the hell

[@memeart5987]

The heck even u recomended this day ok ,

[@xavierrodriguez8178]

There was full of nostalgia in some of those pictures...

[@NugrohoPangestu08122002]

this is the slowest printer i've ever seen

[@lai33nyukchew44]

0:30 Bub from Bubble Bobble 0:56 Mario from Super Mario Bros 1:15 Link From The Legends Of Zelda 1:43 Samus Aran from Metroid 2:09 Toad from Super Mario Bros 2 2:30 Ms.Pac Man from Ms.Pac Man 3:01 Simon Belmont from Castlevania 3:21 Squid from Super Mario Bros Mario Enemies 3:48 Red Koopa Troopa with Wings from Super Mario Bros Mario Enemies 4:12 Lakitu from Super Mario Bros and Mario Kart 4:29 Fish from Super Mario Bros Mario Enemies 4:55 Green Petey Piranha from Super Mario Bros 5:15 Boo from Super Mario World 5:31 Goomba from Super Mario Bros

[@irgendwerausbayern1999]

Link is a legend!

[@lai33nyukchew44]

@@irgendwerausbayern1999 I know

[@brasher5733]

I can't even start to imagine how long that took, and all the planning!!!

[@adjmoo]

5 minutes of awesomeness for us, but 5 hours of suffering for you.

[@sitinurhasanah2344]

In the mood of SMB and later games that involves mario in the title name and also old school games, then this video shows up on my recomendation screen! WHAT AN AWESOME COINCIDENCE

[@Cramslor]

*Sal doesn't have editing software, so he has to make pictures using tetris, making him tonight's biggest loser.*

[@blueberrymilk]

I zoned out while watching this and realized that any character ever has been someone's OC, even if they are on the design team

[@vii2773]

Oh Jesus just imagine if this happened: Creator: okay, last block, gotta just position it upside down and I am good to go! *flips it sideways and it drops on the masterpiece before he had the chance to flip it upside down, ending the game*

[@deffdefying4803]

Princess MoonDust Please refer to the description.

[@darkviking7135]

The images always consist of the T, J and L pieces

[@aurafox1]

You could make a gameshow out of this about two people racing to see who can guess what sprite it is first.

[@ferryoctavian4247]

this is some kind of dope algorithm programming

[@johngreen7799]

I loved when you did link right in between Mario and samus

[@JOJORlUS]

0:31 Bub 0:56 Mario 1:15 Link 1:43 Samus 2:08 Blue Toad 2:30 мs. ᴘᴀᴄ-мᴀɴ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ɢʜᴏsᴛ 3:01 I don’t know who it is but sorry guys (°~°) 3:22 Blooper 3:48 Koopa Paratroopa 4:12 Lakitu 4:30 Cheep Cheep 4:55 Piranha Plant 5:15 Boo 5:30 Goomba

[@fake1hotmailcom]

Simon Belmont from the original Castlevania.

[@honor_gamer]

@@fake1hotmailcom Broof, i though your channel is dead... xd

[@deadly_golem]

This algorithm passes my high score almost every time

[@Ff_Ww]

this is one of my favorite videos

[@yojeffrow5505]

I've seen some really cool stuff on KZbin, but this takes the cake

[@gayfurry5287]

He is speaking the language of the gods.

[@LX9702]

The bgm is Kick Shock, which is really famous in TOH

[@TheLetterJ10]

Note: The Board is a 20×40

[@joyfullpuns1593]

Impressive I must say, must of taken for ever to get this code to work.

[@theamazingtacocat4292]

wait, when you get a point the whole line dissapears... TacoCat.exe has stopped working

[@lukineo2329]

man i cant even draw one block of pixel and see this guy

[@calakipmar5351]

i screamed out of the top of my lungs when i saw toad i also had no reason to do so

[@CindytheRedScout]

BLOODY HECK BUBBLAN YOU DID ME A FRIGHTEN

[@yami5099]

Its very hard for a person to do that but if u have patience, and u can think fast and if u have a nonstop imagination, you can do this too