This submission is a TAS aimed on achieving the score 999999 on the PAL version of NES Tetris. Exclusive to the PAL version, holding Select as a tetromino locks into place awards 10000 points. This is likely a testing feature that was not removed rather than an intentional reward given its absence in the NTSC version. Regardless, this method was used to reach the goal as fast as possible.
Darkman425: Claiming for judging.
Darkman425: Hello NotMuch, and welcome to TASVideos!
First thing to get out of the way is how to categorize this due to what you've described as what I believe is a testing feature. At best I feel like the use of this debug input means that this would go to Playground as a "maximum score, debug code" run which is how I have currently set the branch name. That part I don't have a problem with.
What I do have a problem with is the optimization issues. As I have posted on the forum over 2 weeks ago, I noticed a couple of problems. The first one was not utilizing the top screen Tetris glitch to get Tetrises without the need of I-blocks. I made a BizHawk 2.11 input file for Tetris (E) that shows it's possible to pull off in the PAL version. I also noticed that you didn't have your stack closer to the top of the screen. I saw your post about the speed differences between the NTSC and PAL versions in terms of input windows wich makes sense why you'd select a lower level to reach the goal. However, since the debug code is the majority of the points, I believe a lower speed alongside the implementation of the Tetris glitch would let you have pieces locked in at the top screen for longer to max out the score faster.
There's definitely a fair bit of time being left on the table and I want to see you push the time lower. For now, I'm rejecting this for suboptimal play.