"The Game of Blocks: Tetris" - The vibrant cubes celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Tetris stresses our nerves, consumes our time, and grants us brief moments of success. For the past 40 years, people of all ages have been arranging the vibrant Tetris blocks. Currently, the game has been sold 520 million times and made available on all popular gaming platforms, computers, and smartphones. This is the captivating tale of the game - from the political aspects of the Cold War to the universally loved gaming phenomenon.
Nearly "Pentris"
On June 6, 1984, the game "Tetris" was born in Moscow. Its creator: the Russian programmer Alexei Pazhitnov (69). As a child, the young Pazhitnov greatly enjoyed the puzzle game "Pentomino," in which you had to arrange 12 Pentomino pieces (the Pentominos) into different shapes. While the Pentominos consisted of five (Greek: penta) squares, the "Tetris" shapes are made up of four (Greek: tetra) components. It is said that initially, the "Tetris" shapes were supposed to consist of five squares. IT genius Pazhitnov considered programming such a vast undertaking. Hence, "Tetris" instead of "Pentris."
Fighting for Rights: Even "Gorbi" Was Involved
Henk Rogers (70) is considered the second father of the global "Tetris" craze. The Dutchman established his initial software company in Japan in 1983. In 1988, he discovered the unassuming "Tetris" game at a computer fair - and engaged in a legendary battle for the worldwide licensing rights. These were held by the Russian state-owned company ELORG. Rogers saw himself as a competitor for Robert Maxwell (1923-1991), one of the wealthiest businessmen of the time with strong connections to President Mikhail Gorbachev (1931-2022). Rogers befriended Pazhitnov and assisted him in his emigration to the United States. Consequently, the first "Game Boy" with "Tetris" from Nintendo was released in April 1989. Lesson: Life punishes those who come too late.
Classic Tune for Falling Blocks
The iconic "Tetris" melody from the original Nintendo version, which accompanies the falling of the Tetris shapes, is based on the Russian song "Korobeiniki." The melody has the character of a Russian dance and is played with consistent tempo acceleration. For classical music lovers among the gamers, the song has also been performed as an orchestral version by the WDR Funkhausorchester.
A Film-Worthy Thriller Story
Movie adaptations of video games are now commonplace. The gripping story of the "Tetris" game is depicted in the 2023 film "Tetris," a political thriller. "Rocketman" Taron Egerton (34) portrayed Henk Rogers, Nikita Yefremov (36) played the role of "Tetris" developer Pazhitnov. Interestingly, at the US film premiere in 2023, the two real "Tetris" fathers, Pazhitnov and Rogers, were present.
"Tetris" has been sold over 520 million times, making it the most popular game of all time. The game serves as a source of entertainment for a brief break or amusement with Tetris videos on social media. The first individual to ever beat the "Tetris" game was a 13-year-old boy from Oklahoma, USA named Willis Gibson on December 21, 2023. The professional "Tetris" player achieved level 157, thereby triggering a so-called "Kill Screen." Late in the year, he had the privilege of meeting the "Tetris" fathers Paschitnow and Rogers in a video call. The circle of gaming generations connected.
From shapes to barcodes
The Tetris amusement also has significant implications. In 2002, the British Faiz Chopdat discovered this the hard way. While playing "Tetris" on a plane, he was repeatedly told not to, but he couldn't resist. During landing in Manchester, he was apprehended for "endangering the safety of an aircraft" and spent four months in prison. It remains a mystery if he was allowed to use his phone and pass the time with "Tetris" in prison.
