The Fascinating History of Tetris: From Soviet Roots to Global Phenomenon
Tetris is one of the most iconic and enduring video games in history. With its deceptively simple mechanics, mesmerizing gameplay, and cultural significance, Tetris has captivated millions across generations. Its journey from a Soviet computer lab to a worldwide sensation is as remarkable as the game itself.
The Birth of Tetris
A Soviet Creation
Tetris was conceived in 1984 by Alexey Pajitnov, a Russian computer engineer and mathematician. Working at the Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre of the Soviet Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Pajitnov sought to create a game that combined logic and entertainment. He drew inspiration from pentominoes, a mathematical puzzle involving the arrangement of shapes.
To simplify the concept, Pajitnov reduced the pieces to tetrominoes—shapes made of four connected squares. These tetrominoes would fall into a rectangular playing field, where players could rotate and arrange them to form horizontal lines. When a line was completed, it disappeared, earning points … Read more