A new blockchain-based gaming platform called Yetris has launched competitive Tetris gameplay that uses Yellow SDK state channels to create verifiable high scores and maintain an on-chain leaderboard with NFT prizes. The platform addresses the challenge of proving gaming skills in a decentralized, accessible manner without requiring physical tournament attendance.
What to Know:
- Yetris uses Yellow state channels to facilitate fair, verifiable Tetris scoring recorded directly on the blockchain
- Players compete for a Crown NFT deployed on Polygon that transfers to whoever achieves the highest verified score
- The platform combines traditional gaming with blockchain technology to create proof-of-skill competitions accessible to global players
The game operates through a structured user flow that begins when players initiate games by signing digital messages. Players then establish websocket connections with servers that manage connections to Yellow's Clearnet system, enabling fast, low-latency on-chain transactions for generating game pieces.
During gameplay, players accumulate points by clearing lines until they lose when incoming pieces exceed the board height.
Upon game completion, state channels record final scores on-chain, automatically transferring the Crown NFT to players who achieve new high scores.
Yetris represents an abbreviated form of "Yellow Powered Tetris" and stems from addressing limitations in proving arbitrary skills through public, verifiable means. The concept capitalizes on blockchain advances that make public gaming competitions more accessible while reducing barriers to entry.
The platform's technical architecture centers on Yellow state channels but incorporates multiple components. The frontend application, built with NextJS and deployed on Vercel, features game code adapted from existing tutorials with enhanced visual design and additional functionality including "harddrop" controls.
Frontend systems receive next-block information through socket connections from state-channel applications. These applications, built using ExpressJS, manage game logic and connections to Yellow clearnode applications that handle off-chain computation and end-game score settlement. Current implementation maintains minimal clearnode functionality with most game logic residing in the Express application. Development complexity arose from both frontend game logic creation and implementing socket connections for next-block generation rather than client-side generation.
The existing Express application handles most operations when it should focus primarily on game board state validation and sending state summaries to Yellow for off-chain transaction recording. Current state channel game state validation remains minimal, presenting ongoing development challenges.
The Crown Contract represents the developer's first project using Hardhat version 3, which provided ease of use despite missing some production features. The Crown NFT currently operates on Polygon network and can be tracked through blockchain explorers.
Closing Thoughts
Yetris demonstrates how blockchain technology can transform traditional gaming by providing verifiable skill proof through state channel implementation. The platform combines classic Tetris gameplay with modern blockchain infrastructure to create accessible, fair competition environments that eliminate geographic barriers while maintaining score integrity through cryptographic verification.