Since its creation in 1984, the iconic videogame Tetris has become a global phenomenon. Known for its mesmerizing graphics and challenging gameplay, Tetris has been recognized and beloved by video-gamers, tech enthusiasts, and all shades of puzzle-makers alike. But how did this classic game of blocks come to be?
Tetris was born in 1984, after a Cold War-era Russian programmer called Alexey Pajitnov conceived the idea of a puzzle game using spinning shapes. Working from his office at Moscow’s prestigious Soviet Academy of Science, Pajitnov drew inspiration from logical mathematical puzzles and ancient variants of Tetris-like games. His idea quickly blossomed into the core concept for the beloved game we know today as Tetris.
Soon after, Pajitnov presented the game to multiple computer programming competitions, and it began to gain notoriety for its unique play style. Interest in the game grew until it eventually gained the attention of British companies, which licensed Tetris from the Soviet Union and made it available to the worldwide home-computer market. From then on, the increase in demand for computing technology, both domestically and professionally, meant that eventually Tetris was released on a wide range of new platforms.
By 1989, Nintendo had bought a version of the game that could be played on the Game Boy platform and Tetris was soon being enjoyed by millions around the globe. This sparked a new wave of commercial success and the start of Tetris’ long-lasting legacy. With ever-evolving graphics and detailed customization features, the video game has long been considered a global classic.
From its humble beginnings in a Moscow lab to a well-known and wildly popular video game, Tetris has enjoyed an impressive history of success. With its current fanbase growing larger than ever, Tetris looks to continue its legacy for years to come.
