It's not often a 40-year-old video game makes the news.
However, there it was on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, on the front page of the N.Y. Times website.
"Boy, 13, is believed to be the first to beat Tetris."
Personally, I never knew you COULD beat Tetris.
But Willis Gibson from Oklahoma did.
So, as we celebrate his accomplishment and prepare for a yearlong celebration of the game's 40-year run, we wanted to dig into the various technologies that the pioneering game used to move video game tech-forward when it launched in 1984.
Tetris was a pioneer in the use of several technologies that helped move video game technology forward.
These include:
- Tetris technology #1 - Random generation: Tetris uses random generation to create the falling blocks. This means that no two games are ever the same, which keeps players engaged and coming back for more. The random generation creates unpredictable outcomes. Players cannot simply memorize the patterns and always know where to place the blocks. This makes the game more challenging and unpredictable, which keeps players engaged.
- Tetris technology #2 - Color graphics: Tetris was one of the first games to use color graphics. This made the game more visually appealing and immersive. Color graphics were a new technology at the time Tetris was released. They made the game more visually appealing and immersive, which helped make it more enjoyable to play.
- Tetris technology #3 - Sound effects: Tetris also uses sound effects to create a sense of excitement and suspense. The sound effects helped to make the game more engaging and enjoyable. Sound effects can be used to create a sense of atmosphere, excitement, or suspense. In Tetris, the sound effects help to create a sense of urgency and excitement, which keeps players engaged.
- Tetris technology #4 - Portability: Tetris was one of the first games to be ported to multiple platforms. This helped to make the game more accessible to players around the world. Portability refers to the ability to move a game from one platform to another.
- Tetris technology #5 - Multiplayer: Tetris was one of the first games to offer multiplayer mode. This allowed players to compete against each other or cooperate to solve puzzles. Multiplayer mode allows two or more players to compete against each other or cooperate to solve puzzles. Tetris was one of the first games to offer multiplayer mode, which helped to make the game more social.
These technologies helped make Tetris a groundbreaking game that changed the way video games were designed and played. They also helped to popularize video games and make them more accessible to a wider audience. It remains one of the most popular and beloved video games of all time.
