Unsolved Tetris Mysteries With Creator Alexy Pajitnov & Designer Henk Rogers | Ars Technica

[@ceryneianhinds]

I am so pleased Alexey is getting the recognition he so rightfully deserves

[@Fukthm-ir3zs]

When did he not?!🤣

[@Fukthm-ir3zs]

Dudes been banging around for decades

[@somecallmesean_]

Back in the eighties until Henk Rogers and Nintendo got the rights

[@arfi19x]

This is a Soviet game, more precisely, a Russian game that conquered the world

[@redracer2004]

The Russians did conquer the world one way or another@@arfi19x

[@Str0b0]

Gotta love Alexey Pajitnov. Such a sympathetic character.

[@arfi19x]

This is a Soviet game, more precisely, a Russian game that conquered the world

[@leociresi4292]

The most Russian thing in the world is Tetris Effect

[@Exigentable]

​@19x51 relax there, Kafka. It's just a hunk of code.

[@nnaheim.]

He is KGB, he is spy

[@diasporadica]

I am happy to see their real-life friendship depicted so well in the recent movie.

[@MrYogurcik77]

Yes, very nice movie 💪

[@arfi19x]

This is a Soviet game, more precisely, a Russian game that conquered the world

[@ahuachapan2]

Yes. They are married and expecting their second child: Tatiana Russova.

[@WhatAboutZoidberg]

So happy Alexy is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He made one of, if not the greatest game of all time. He basically made chess in the modern era.

[@arfi19x]

This is a Soviet game, more precisely, a Russian game that conquered the world

[@urielperez4101]

@@arfi19x ok buddy we get it🤣no need to repeat yourself under every comment you see

[@arfi19x]

@@urielperez4101 Est-ce que je répète?

[@ryoukaip]

​@@arfi19xyes you do, stop spamming

[@EvidentlyFire]

​@@arfi19xare Russia paying you? lol. btw soccer is an english game, its a little more popular

[@Projectz1122]

The movie on Apple+ was really good. Very cool to see the creators in the flesh and their thoughts about the game, thanks.

[@MuscarV2]

The creator* They say right in the video who they are, yet you somehow failed to understand any of that... how?

[@Projectz1122]

@@MuscarV2 Creators as in one who invented the game, one who brought it to mainstream audiences and who both founded the Tetris Company. Why I specifically said creators and not inventors. I see what you're meaning, possible poor word usage on my part.

[@HandleToBeDetermined]

Tetris is a timeless masterpiece not only in gaming, but for humanity as a whole. Long live the Tetrimino!

[@leociresi4292]

I remember learning how to play Tetris on the Game Boy, gosh the memories

[@fistsop]

That man right there made the greatest video game of all time.

[@LordmonkeyTRM]

Wait he's not Sid Meier...

[@Larryboy2701]

One of the greatest for sure. It may not be the greatest for me, but Tetris is one of the few video games I would label as “perfect”

[@V3ntilator]

It's so perfect Nintendo bundled it with Gameboy instead of Super Mario.

[@yekker2245]

I play it everyday ✌️

[@canofnothing]

It's great to hear these two talk about things like the rotation system, randomization and a bit of the programming involved. Usually in interviews we just hear them talk about the history and legacy of the game. There's a different kind of enthusiasm that seems to come out when they discuss the smaller details.

[@deadfr0g]

There’s an important idea in game design that complexity is like a resource or currency (debt the player is asked to take on) that the designer uses to generate or “buy” depth: in general, you need to add complexity to a game to create more depth in it. Within this framework, the elegance of a game’s design is often thought of as the abstract ratio of how much depth you’ve been able to squeeze out of how little complexity. It is by this measure that Tetris is frequently cited as being perhaps the most elegant video game ever made.

[@justcuz8202]

If I may, what are some examples of both "depth" and "complexity" in the concept you've described, here? It was a lot of language, but not a lot of description, haha.

[@chupasaurus]

​@@justcuz8202 I'll to rephrase the OP and add examples (using board games). Complexity is basically amount of rules, while depth is how much knowledge, specific techniques and so on those generate. Clear example is chess vs checkers: same board, the former has 6 distinct pieces and a dozen of rules, the latter has 2 pieces and like 3 rules; if compare them, chess has more depth because it has complexity which enables it. The whole another story is go/baduk/weiqi: a different board, one piece, 6 rules of what to do with them, and a depth that doesn't end in this galaxy because it's so abstract.

[@charlottearanea7507]

0:20 What at the first version of Tetris like? 1:20 What is the origin of the name "Tetris"? 1:50 What programming language was Tetris originally made in? 3:09 How did Tetris make the best song in gaming ever? 4:23 What do the dancer and space shuttle endings mean? 5:17 How does the game decide which piece to give you? 7:37 How many lines of code is used to make Tetris? 8:55 Do the pieces have official names? 9:57 Do the creators of Tetris get the Tetris Effect? 10:18 Is tucking a bug or a feature? 11:14 What is Pajitnov and Rogers' biggest disagreement? 12:48 What is the definitive version of Tetris? 13:59 What is your preferred strategy, cascade, Tetris, or T-spin? 15:18 Do you use the Hold piece? 15:48 What is the story of the creators of Tetris? 16:50 What role did Tetris have in ending the Cold War?

[@TonyTheTGR]

BUMP

[@zeyy84]

@@TonyTheTGRup up up

[@Tackleqb]

I love how Alexey calls the game his baby. It sure is and he should be proud. The game is addicting as addicting as f!

[@maxheedrum100]

This is the best example of synchronicity; the look of the blocks they chose for the second version of Tetris fit in with the 'Memphis aesthetic' of the 1980s perfectly. The game could not have come into being at any other time.

[@lonewolf36s]

"People attribute intelligence to randomness" - @7:30 That was profound. Such an awesome self coop interview here. As a programmer I very much enjoyed this in all regards.

[@ADreamingTraveler]

The ending is really great. At the end of the day we're all humans that love playing and experiencing the same things in life and shouldn't let things like politics dehumanize others.

[@themilkmaiden]

This is one of the best game dev Q&As I have ever seen, informative, likeable relatable devs, no bs

[@pomettini]

Never thought that Henk Rogers was such a programming language nerd

[@RyanVentura604]

All respect to both men! Love to see they still love this game so much.

[@tamertamertamer4874]

It’s really nice to see how far programming has come. Now a lot of programmers can easily code a basic version of Tetris really fast with all the tools we have today

[@potterinhe11]

For me, the 'Tetris Effect' transpires as a complete version of the game that I can play in my mind, where I remember where every piece is and they are even randomized properly.

[@leociresi4292]

IKR. I can look at a tiled wall or floor and instantly know hoe to set up a C-Spin

[@mickeymaus1]

Very nice and likeable interview - thank you both for that. 😊 I personally never really liked Tetris very much but I absolutely see the impact and importance of Tetris had to the gaming industry at all. And it’s very nice to see that the creator itself now become the credits.

[@The_Cadaver]

Legends. Hexic HD is one of my favorite puzzle games of all time too.

[@C.I...]

He designed Hexic too? I love playing Hexic on my Zune with my own music as the soundtrack! I suppose it is a bit like Tetris with a more strategic flavour - so strategic that I am yet to win lol.

[@MarinM87]

Hexic is a prime example of how someone who did something so beautiful as is Tetris can still bring more to videogames. Truly another masterpiece but not as known.

[@PedroSilvahf]

If Hexic is still the same game i played a lot of years ago then it is kinda hard to beat it. You have to make 3 black pieces and put them together to eliminate the set and its done. It took me way too much time to make it happen but when i saw some guy playing on youtube and filling the screen with black pieces. That was the moment i stopped, it just doesn't get inside my head how this is possible.

[@LeesReviews69]

I didn’t know the history of Tetris was so extravagant until this movie, and I was one of the Gameboy/Tetris buyers. You guys rock!

[@macidraws1705]

The fact that Alexy calls Tetris his baby❤❤ 17:28

[@sancho0813]

I get the vibe these guys really are best friends. Awesome interview.

[@SavvySavant]

The first time I played tetris on gameboy, it was like a sneak peak into another world... An utterly unique puzzler with Russian culture sprinkled throughout.. I knew nothing of Russia as a kid (it was an enigma).. Finding out about it in the music and iconography was a really memorable experience as child.. Brilliant game.. 👍

[@leociresi4292]

In the Nintendo version of Tetris, when you beat the hardest level, a cartoon plays with fiddlers, dancers, and the tops of the Kremlin take off like rockets

[@losalfajoresok]

This was so wholesome!

[@dosnostalgic]

13:18 When Alexey mentions the version "ported to PC", I have a feeling that he didn't mean the Spectrum Holobyte 1988 PC version, which is the one shown, but probably the 1986 Academysoft version he himself co-created with Vadim Gerasimov.

[@sabrinadoesmagic]

Okay now I need to go suit shopping

[@shepherdsgamingrun]

4:40 The version of Tetris shown is not the one Henk Rogers worked on. That one was programmed by rival Tengen, who thought they had the rights for Tetris at the time.

[@medicalwei]

And tetrio screenshot around 9:48 I hope they don't take down this video though

[@fixedfunshow]

@@medicalwei yep triggered me lol

[@iamnotmcm]

@@fixedfunshowtetrio is so fun though play it i promise it wont ruin your life

[@kelownatechkid]

I will never give up my game boy color specifically because of Tetris! Thank you Alexey and Henk!

[@FlameMage2]

Henk seems like a really swell dude! Great at explanations and these were some pretty well picked out questions.

[@hemmojito]

You just feel that he looks over the rim of his teacup. Love people like that

[@ICONmachines]

Absolutely LEGENDS! ❤

[@rizalukman7982]

Thank you Alexei Pajitnov for creating tetris

[@Protofall]

Alexy was the first world champ. I love you, you comedian! Really enjoyed the movie too!

[@BdR76]

Tetris is such classic game, the story about how it was first programmed to where Nintendo first published their version is just fascinating, and it's great to see Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers are still friends after all these years. 😃 I wonder though, if they ever heard of the msdos game *Shariki* ? That game has a similar story, it's an endless puzzle action game created by a Russian student (Yevgeny Alemzhin) but that game was later just copied as *Bejeweled* and ultimately he never became as rich and famous, even though match3 games are also played everywhere today.

[@UmbrellaSound]

I'd say he didn't become famous or influential as Alexey because similar games were made since 1985. SameGame was first of the bunch. Shariki was too late to the party to claim proper originality. Although I agree that Bejeweled just straight up copy pasted Shariki. :(

[@martin0499]

I'd like to hear if Alexey seen the video "Complete History Of The Soviet Union, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris", it's an incredible piece of internet and video game history.

[@TheVeryGenericUsername]

Oh look, Tetrio!

[@boxboy7999]

Yeah someone at ars technica is getting in trouble

[@kaleygoode1681]

Great to see you both! I like to judge new programmers on whether they have written their own version of Tetris and see how they personalised it; it's a great benchmark!

[@vksasdgaming9472]

Alexei Pajitnov definitely earned his money. It woukd still be awesome to see how well can he play Tetris on NES. World's best players go to about two million points. World Champion got nicely gold-colored T-piece until death of heptuple-champion Jonas Neubauer and after that it's been J-piece.

[@iamnotmcm]

WR is well over 6 million depending on whether or not you’re talking about NTSC or PAL versions

[@dontomaso11]

Love the look of these two dudes :)

[@brianbjur4796]

It’s like if George Carlin was two people

[@Walter_P_Bear]

Alexy is rocking that tetris shirt for sure

[@DavinciWhite]

I think the best part of the movie is all these videos we are getting to know better the "behind the iron curtain" / making of the game

[@leociresi4292]

Original Tetris 4 lines was a big deal Tetris Effect, Octoris, Dodecatris, Decahextris, Perfectris, Ultimatris, Kirbtris, Impossibilitris, Possibly Infinitris

[@GameplayandTalk]

That was a really fun Q&A session. Thanks, Ars!

[@AbstraktNG]

The 2 greatest minds who made the most popular and addictive game in history

[@Mackaber]

Thank you Ars for this. This was really heartwarming. I was smiling the whole way

[@charlibiris]

Guys lets not forget that this guy invented one of the best ganes ever. Like chess, crosswords etc… hes a leyend

[@Err_InvalidName]

When a movie about your game also serves as a bio pic. Now that’s a T spin … or Tetris

[@eurapeon]

That was wonderful. Thank you

[@estusflask982]

2 legends. Great game. Great movie too.

[@CoachCraigKenneth]

I would love to see their reaction to playing Tetris Effect in VR

[@elrincondedynemarkis8214]

Alexy smile is one of the best things in all universe... thanks

[@danmozartino2864]

wooooo thank you guys !!!

[@UXXV]

Well does Ars! This was gold!

[@OGYouTubeEnjoyer]

It's amazing what Rogers did for Pajitnov and his family.

[@mudden]

Since I got the Nintendo Switch I've been playing more Tetris than ever due to the Tetris 99 included in the console! What a great game it is!

[@IceKoldKilla]

I've been obsessed lately. Playing the Game Boy version on Switch, Tetris 99 and on my PS5 been playing Tetris Effect: Connected.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

Alexy is cool. Such an inspiration.

[@GoGoGadgetAsh]

I have loved Tetris since I first time I played it on a demo Nintendo Game Boy in a Target store back in 1989! Now, I play as many versions of Tetris as I can get my hands on. It is my favorite game of all time. Thank you so much for Tetris! I wish I could give this video more than one thumbs up! I will do it here in the comments. 👍👍👍👍

[@hurricanexanax]

As Sid Meyer once said, 'a game is a series of interesting choices.'

[@BangkokZed]

I first saw programmers at the Minsk University playing a Tetris-like game in 1983. The game was played on a green screen, with shapes denoted by 'X' symbols. According to Wikipedia, AP released the game in 1985. This story is similar to the lightbulb, prior to Edison, numerous other innovators had similar ideas, which he perfected and commercialized.

[@Sctn187]

They both seem so cool glad I got to see this.

[@kuztomix]

"People attribute intelligence to randomness." Printing and sending this on a t-shirt to everyone who's into religion, astrology and conspiracy.

[@CrazyHomelessWeirdo]

The key to a successful video game is that it is fun and easy for anyone regardless of skill at video games to pick up and play but hard to master. These are the hardest kind of game to make.

[@LalitoTV]

Surprised the subtitles messed up, it's katyusha at 3:53 if anyone was wondering

[@redgamer821]

The subtitles were manually created so I'm assuming that whoever typed it out didn't know what he said or whatever software they used to automate it didn't understand it.

[@Swanseaguy1979]

Brilliant interview, thanks for posting

[@joshuabergin3087]

A game that has stood the test of time and will continue to

[@hhhcirA]

9:52 LOL DID THEY JUST PUT TETRIO GAMEPLAY THERE WHY NOT THEIR "AUTHENTIC TETRIS PRODUCT" GAME

[@Spheraz]

lmao yeah it's so stupid

[@Vospi]

Plz help, what is that version of the game at 14:40, where the cascade keeps imploding?

[@bar10dr]

I just watched the Tetris movie, you guys are awesome

[@DeborahAbelha]

Lovely seeing both ❤just watched the movie thrilling

[@tec5x5]

I adore Tetris on the NES with "C" music its such a vibe

[@SlyHikari03]

Alexey! What a legend.

[@BambooShadow]

Nicest guys in the video game biz since the 80s!

[@danielkeo7928]

I absolutely love your game and your story is even more inspiring. I am very glad your both getting the recognition you deserve.

[@an3582]

Alexey seems like such a loveable fella!

[@dirkniblickable]

What versions of Tetris are at 6:21 and 14:40 ? I’ve never seen those. My favorite is The New Tetris for the N64.

[@gfdggdfgdgf]

"I was the world champion when nobody else had the game" well he's not wrong.

[@sohamachrekar8779]

Both are true GEM ... Thanks Rogers for always keeping promise to Alexey

[@deviandrianto]

I think _Tetris_ in _GameBoy_ still the best version, I like it

[@NinjaRunningWild]

Apotris is a great GBA homebrew version of Tetris with a ton of features for anyone looking to get their fix.

[@SnacksMpls]

Tetris Effect in VR is epic!

[@leociresi4292]

Funfact Tetrimdion was once Hadar 4 the Sun of planet Mino

[@SnacksMpls]

@@leociresi4292 That is fun!

[@ilnasyah]

lol surprised that henk rogers actually know how to play tetris. also, i love how this video is about Tetris yet they showed this particular non tetris game couple of times

[@jesmarlesmar]

I LOVE THIS! thanx for this!

[@dcstanda]

I love Tetris and I remember playing it on Game Boy first (even though I never owned one) and still to this day despite other games I love Tetris will always be my number one. Also I remember an online website called Tetris friends and you could play different games and against other players which I loved then a few years ago it was gone, love now you can play again online whenever and wherever. Finally Tetris Blitz on mobile (iOS and Android) I loved as it was a race against time in 2 minutes to get the best score you could get.

[@castries]

Tetris Battle was fire!!!!!

[@meikollekschn6470]

Super Beitrag! Spannende Geschichte, ich liebe Tetris. LG

[@grimTales1]

This is the first time I've seen the real Pajitnov and Rogers! I'd often assumed the video game Tetris was him trying to make a video game version of the board game - in the movie (and as he also says here), it's said to be a portmanteau of Tetra and Tennis - I didn't know that was the reason it was called that, the game isn't really like Tennis, Pong is more like Tennis?

[@LaepsynPaepsyn]

He says he just likes the game of tennis a lot, and wanted to put the "-is" in the name because of that. It was simply a question of coming up with a cool name for the game.

[@Tocinos]

Tucks and Tspins came naturally for me as a kid playing gameboy Tetris.

[@rockoorbe2002]

Henk Rogers looks like a gaming Messiah with that sweet look.

[@CallMeJoy_wastaken]

I love that Alexey has a Russian account!

[@fotografick]

I wish the talked about Tetris Effect. Not that it's the definitive version, but it is a masterpiece.

[@saicoromero1180]

My favorite game forever ! thanks kings of tetris

[@thrillhouse4151]

1:47, now that’s a usable soundbite.

[@rutabaga9863]

tetrio jumpscare

[@gregmartin5221]

At 0:55 they say that a board width of 13 would be easy. But you would end up with twice as many long bars as you could use. You need a width of 14 to do what he suggests

[@spikerthedragonbear]

Seems like the Rotation debate was even spicy in development. (I'm personally a fan of SRS-X with the wacky 180 rotations)

[@joewatts2940]

Really cool to see the real guys after the movie

[@PhiLudo]

haha such a cool dude. what a legend

[@diskoBonez]

Really insightful interview!