Tetris

Overview

Tetris, originally known by its Russian name Тетрис, is a falling-block puzzle game developed by Alexey Pajitnov for the Electronika 60 in 1984-1985, with a later IBM PC release (co-developed by Vadim Gerasimov) in 1985-1986.

Considered the progenitor of the "falling block" style of action-puzzle games, Tetris tasks players with manipulating four-block pieces of seven edge-connected shapes (known as "tetrominos") falling into a 10×20 playfield (sometimes known as the "well" or, in later releases, the "matrix") in order to form full rows of blocks (which clears them and extends play).

The game was originally conceived by Pajitnov in 1984-1985, who developed a prototype for the Electronika 60 PDP-11-based computer while working at the Dorodnicyn Computing Centre at the Academy of Sciences in Moscow. After noticing its popularity with his colleagues, he adapted the game to IBM PCs (with the help of student Gerasimov) in 1985-1986, where it received a wider release from the Academy (as AcademySoft). Due to Soviet copyright law, this led to a complicated series of licensing agreements with the Soviet organization on software exports ("Elektronorgtechnica", or "ELORG") and countries outside of Russia, including European companies Mirrorsoft and Andromeda, American companies Spectrum HoloByte and Atari Games, and Japanese companies Bullet-Proof Software, Sega, and Nintendo. Several of it resulted in legal disputes, which were expanded in multiple books and documentaries (including the 2004 documentary Tetris: From Russia with Love and the 2023 biopic Tetris).

Along with several different licensed ports, the game spawned a long-running series by multiple developers and publishers (with several of them having their own gameplay tweaks and variations). Most of the series' earlier adaptations and releases play on the fact that it is "brought over" from Soviet Russia, and features an abundance of Russian iconography, including misuse of Cyrillic typography and multiple arrangements of the 19th century Russian folk song Korobeiniki (which is still widely known as the "Tetris theme", and of which the Tetris Company holds a sound trademark on for video game use).

After an extensive legal history with the IP, Pajitnov regained the rights to the game in 1996 and formed a new company with Henk Rogers of Bullet-Proof Software, known as the Tetris Company, to manage the rights, branding, and official game specifications from then-on.

Gameplay

Tetris challenges the player's spatial relation abilities by presenting them with tetrominos: seven shapes of pieces comprising of four blocks, each block connected edge-wise. These shapes are often named by their relation to the Latin alphabet and include the "S" and "Z" pieces (which are mirrored from each-other), the "L" and "J" pieces (which are also mirrored from each-other), the "T" piece, the "O" piece, and the "I" piece.

These pieces are presented one-at-a-time from the top of the 10×20 playfield and fall over time, with players able to move them horizontally and rotate their shapes before they can no longer move down (and "lock down" onto the playfield). If the player can make a complete row of blocks, these blocks clear from the playfield and all rows above them shift down. In its original form, the game was an endurance test, as the game speeds up over time and ends if a piece can no longer enter the playfield.

In its original form, players are only scored for each piece locked, with the amount of points based on the current Level, by how far the piece has dropped on its own, and whether or not the Next Piece is displayed. This was changed in most adaptations so that score is also granted on line clears, with bonus points for larger line clears (with the largest being a four-clear "Tetris").

Ports & Adaptations

Mirrorsoft

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Spectrum HoloByte

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Bullet-Proof Software

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Sega

Japanese developer Sega received a license by Mirrorsoft to produce and release an arcade game adaptation of Tetris for Japanese markets in December 1988. It is sometimes informally known as "Sega Tetris" and was originally released for Sega's System 16 hardware.

The game later received two sequels with Flash Point and Bloxeed, each with their own unique gameplay mechanics and changes. Due to its popularity and hardware shortage, versions were also made for Sega' SMS-based System E hardware and Taito's B System hardware. The game, along with its two sequels, were later bundled in the 2007 Japan-only PlayStation 2 compilation Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 28: Tetris Collection. The release includes both the System 16 and System E versions, an unreleased Sega Mega Drive version, and a new remixed version updating the gameplay to match the Tetris Company's official specifications at the time.

Atari & Tengen

North American developer Atari Games received a license by Mirrorsoft to produce and release an arcade game adaptation of Tetris for North American markets in 1988-1989. This version is sometimes known as "Tetris: The Soviet Mind Game".

The arcade version is best known for its round-based system where, instead of simply speeding the game up in one continuous stage, clearing a certain amount of lines instead completes the "round", which resets the board with a new starting pattern and adds new obstacles (including single garbage blocks and rising rows of garbage blocks). Players are also given bonus score after each round based on how low they can make the puzzle, and can compete one-on-one to see who can clear the round the fastest (with the faster player getting bonus points). It also features its own scoring system (with both line clear scoring and drop scoring, the latter utilizing use of manual drops, the row it landed on, and a special meter that builds up over the credit).

Under the false belief that they can also make home console adaptations of Tetris (due to a faulty agreement between Mirrorsoft and ELORG), they later ported their arcade release to the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America under their home video game division Tengen. Released on May 1989, this version is best known for being permanently recalled shortly after release due to Nintendo gaining legitimate console rights to adapting Tetris.

The NES version is also notable for including multiple two-player modes (including co-operative and competitive modes, with either a second human player or a computer-controlled one). While it reverts back to the level-based "Marathon" system of other Tetris games, the game still pauses between levels (and grants bonus points between levels based on the type of line clears). The game also received a limited arcade release for Nintendo's NES-based VS. System hardware, which is sometimes known as VS. Tetris.

These versions include four musical tunes, each based on different Russian folk songs: Loginska, Bradinsky, Karinka, and Troika.

Nintendo

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