Tetris

Overview

Tetris, sometimes 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 Russian iconography, some including misuse of Cyrillic typography and some featuring an arrangement 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). It has also been the subject of several aspects of academic research due to its cognitive effects (known informally as the "Tetris effect").

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 and sequels 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

European developer Mirrorsoft received a sub-license to release computer adaptations of Tetris for European markets on January 1988, most of which were converted by Rowan Software. This includes releases for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MSX, and ZX Spectrum.

Some releases have their own unique themes and differences. The Commodore 64 version is notable for its unorthodox 25-minute soundtrack and bizarre sci-fi/fantasy theme.

Spectrum HoloByte

North American publisher Spectrum HoloByte received a sub-license to release computer adaptations of Tetris for American markets, starting with a DOS PC release by Sphere, Inc. on January 1988. This version is sometimes known as "Tetris: The Soviet Challenge".

This version received ports to the Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and Macintosh computers throughout the year. It also received a re-release for DOS PCs to remove certain cosmetic elements (such as military-themed backgrounds), had numerous sequels (including Welltris, Faces ... tris III, Super Tetris, Wordtris, and Tetris Classic), and was later bundled in the 1993 compilation Tetris Gold.

Bullet-Proof Software

Japanese publisher Bullet-Proof Software received a sub-license to release computer adaptations of Tetris for Japanese markets on November 1988, including the Fujitsu FM-7, MSX, NEC PC-88, NEC PC-98, Sharp X1, and Sharp X68000.

It is one of the few adaptations at the time to include a stage-based system where, instead of one continuous game, players complete "stages" by clearing a certain amount of lines. At the end of each stage, the game pauses, the player receives bonus points based on the complexity of line clears, and the playfield resets with a faster game speed. It also features a unique "lives" system, where topping out with lives remaining resets the current stage (while still treating it like the end of the stage). The game includes 60 stages in total, split into six starting patterns (or "rounds").

This version later received a console port for the Family Computer on December 22, 1988. It is notable for its unusual control scheme, with the rotation and hard-drop controls swapped. Despite being the game's first console adaptation, it was originally published with faulty licensing (due to a misunderstood agreement between Andromeda and ELORG). This led to the BPS CEO, Henk Rogers, to renegotiate licensing agreements with ELORG themselves, leading to Nintendo owning console and handheld rights. This version was later re-released with the proper licensing, with all NES releases outside of Japan being Nintendo's own adaptation.

BPS produced several sequels to the game, most of which remained in the Japanese market. Its CEO later formed The Tetris Company with the game's original designer.

Sega

Japanese developer Sega received a sub-license 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 sub-license 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".

Similar to the BPS version, the arcade release uses a 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, utilizing the depth of the rows each piece lands on and a special meter that builds up over each credit.

Under the false belief that they can also make home console adaptations of Tetris (due to a faulty agreement between Andromeda 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.

Nintendo

After the licensing deal with Andromeda fell through, ELORG ended up granting console and handheld rights to the series to Nintendo (with Bullet-Proof Software as a sub-licensor), who used it to develop a handheld game release for the Game Boy. This version was originally released in Japan on June 14, 1989, and then released overseas as both a launch title and a pack-in title.

One of the most well-known versions of the game, the Game Boy version is known for its monochromatic theme, its musical score (including the most well-known arrangement of Korobeiniki), its alternate quick-play "B-Type" mode, and its linked multiplayer. It later received a release in Japan for the Nintendo Power cart-writing service on September 1, 2000, received a digital release for the Nintendo 3DS (as a Virtual Console title) on December 22, 2011, and was included in the Nintendo Switch Online service for the Nintendo Switch on February 8, 2023.

Nintendo also developed a console port for the Nintendo Entertainment System for overseas markets, with BPS's Famicom release remaining for the Japanese market. Released on November 1989 in North America and February 1990 in Europe, this version was later known for its competitive play (with the most well known competition being the Classic Tetris World Championship). It is also known for its character cameos from other Nintendo games (including Super Mario Bros., Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Kid Icarus, and Donkey Kong). Unlike the Game Boy version, this version has not received any re-releases.

Music

While the original release did not include any music due to hardware limitations, several adaptations added their own soundtrack, some of which were brought into other adaptations.

• Loginska (Atari)
• Bradinsky (Atari)
• Karinka (BPS/Atari)
• Troika (BPS/Atari)
• Technotris (BPS)
• "A-Type" (GB) - Based on the the 19th century Russian folk song Korobeiniki. Also used as the title theme in some versions of the BPS adaptations, and is used for most of the game's sequels. It is notable for being widely known as the "Tetris theme", and also of which the Tetris Company holds a sound trademark on for video game use.
• "A-Type" (GB, early version)
• "Music-1" (Nintendo NES) - Based on the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from the classical Tchaikovsky ballad The Nutcracker.
• "B-Type" (GB) / "Music-2" (Nintendo NES)
• "C-Type" (GB) - Based on the fifth movement (the Menuet) of the classical Bach suite French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814.
• "Music-3" (Nintendo NES)