Are there any rules regarding the Tetris version played? There seems to be a mechanical difference between 1.0 and 1.1 regarding directional input during a line clear, where 1.0 lets you setup for the next block slightly earlier as it doesn't stop directional inputs during it. Seems minor so wasn't sure if it's considered a big deal or not, was considering picking up a copy eventually but didn't know if it would affect a run.

I'm going to guess no as the speed gaming community accepts any version of an official game release. If one version is better than another you may see people try to speed run that version more often. An example is how some people will play a Japanese version of the game because the text scrolls faster or something. I'm not a moderator though so someone more distinguished will have to answer but that's my understanding of the topic.

I just noticed you appear to be some form of new here with one title under your belt from five months ago. I understand they also have a Discord here but the link says it's expired when I try to put it in. I just joined in the last week. It sounds like you are doing off-screen recording instead of emulation? Let me know when you do as I'd like to find out what version you got and watch your submissions so I can see for myself for study what kind of effect these version difference can have on game play. I also plan on releasing a mini tutorial on off-screen recording but that's a different topic.

Re: 1st post, good to know.
Re: New, yep, I am. Just submitted my first runs for Tetris today so I'm new to this game in a speedrunning sense.
Re: Off-screen, no, used Gambatte in Linux, recorded via OBS. I may do capture card recording though once I get a SGB2/SNES/1.0. And will do regardless. 🙂

For those who want more information on this topic, I found a link here:

https://tcrf.net/Tetris_(Game_Boy)

There's only 25,000 copies of version 1.0 so it might be very hard to find and possibly expensive and I've yet to tell the difference between the two versions externally. In any regards, this version sounds like it could give a very competitive advanced to high level players. It's my understanding that the Game Boy version of Tetris (1.1) doesn't let you charge DAS so you have to exclusively use hypertapping in the later levels while the NES version has both DAS and hypertapping as viable options in the higher levels although hypertapping is allegedly more effective if you want to survive Level 29 "killscreen".

I'm still wrapping my head around all of this but this is how I understand it.

Here's is my advice you won't read anywhere but it's what I will be doing for any emulator video recording I do:

If you are using emulators I would not only buy the physical copy of the game but I'd wear it around your neck with a lanyard. Lanyards with clips hold the Game Boy Game Pak well and there are even ID badge holders that will fit a Game Boy Game Pak. Why do I recommend this? Nintendo has been getting nasty with the ROM sites as you know and while they are leaving the streamers alone for the moment I would not rely on that. It took them 10 years to take action against AM2R (Another Metroid 2 Remake) and streamers are submitting video evidence of not just their runs but piracy everyday.

I wouldn't wait for the hammer to fall. I would always have my Game Pak in frame during recording as proof of ownership of the Game Pak to exempt me from lawsuits from Nintendo if they turn on their fans (like they regularly do) as you are legally allowed to have backup copies of software you own. I even own two Game Paks for any games I plan to play in multiplayer. Two Tetris. Two Yoshi's Cookie. That way every instance of multiplayer game has a legitimately owned copy.

Again, Nintendo hasn't attacked streamers using emulators yet but I wouldn't wait for the hurricane to make landfall.

I did a bit more research and telling the difference externally should be easy. I'm sure you already know this since you created the post but in case someone else is wondering . . .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Game-Boy-Tetris-version-1-0-Alternate-A-TYPE-song-Minuet-/153115800077?oid=142962498010

nintendo doesn't even own the rights to tetris gb anymore LOL, a lawsuit would never happen

"nintendo doesn't even own the rights to tetris gb anymore LOL, a lawsuit would never happen"

You are thinking too small. The rights are owned by the Tetris Holding company and Tetris isn't the only game that is someone else's intellectual property right. The advice applies to any game. Don't forget there are games where the owner is unclear and those individuals can come out of the woodwork at any time. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and you have no idea how many compliments I get for wearing a Tetris Game Pak around my neck like a nerdy Flava-Flav (spelling?).

Even if Nintendo DID go after streamers emulating games (which is hyper unlikely), wearing a cartridge around your neck wouldn't save you from legal action. It doesn't matter if you own the game, if you download the ROM from the internet it's piracy. The ONLY legal way to emulate (and it's more of a gray area than explicitly legal) is to dump the ROM from your own cartridge yourself, and play that ROM. Not that they'd know the difference necessarily, but semantics.

I'm pretty sure Nintendo is even against dumping your own ROMs, actually. But they would never pursue legal action for it.

Good attention to detail coolestto but I've got that covered. I also wouldn't say it's a gray area either unless DRM is involved. The law explicitly states people are entitled to having a copy of the software unless they are leasing the software instead of purchasing it.

It doesn't matter if Nintendo is against dumping your own ROMs or not as the law forbids them from taking legal action, cros107, provided the smaller details are observed as coolestto pointed out.

There's also the matter of legality of having a company backup your software for you as a service - now that is a true gray area and one that hasn't been sufficiently challenged.