Unsolved Tetris Mysteries With Creator Alexy Pajitnov & Designer Henk Rogers | Ars Technica
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- čas přidán 3. 06. 2024
- Today Ars Technica welcomes Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov and Managing Director of The Tetris Company Henk Rogers to answer some burning questions about the origins of the iconic puzzle game and its deceptive complexity. What programming language was the first-ever version of the game written in? How did they create the iconic Tetris music? What’s the real best strategy? Get answers to these questions and more directly from the minds behind the game.
Tetris is available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+.
Director: Lisandro Perez-Rey
Director of Photography: Brad Wickham
Editor: Shandor Garrison
Talent: Alexy Pajitnov, Henk Rogers
Line Producer: Joe Buscemi
Associate Producer: Paul Gulyas
Associate Producer: Samantha Vélez
Production Manager: Eric Martinez
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Camera Operator: Brittany Berger
Audio:Gabe Quiroga
Production Assistant: Ryan Coppola
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
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I am so pleased Alexey is getting the recognition he so rightfully deserves
When did he not?!🤣
Dudes been banging around for decades
Back in the eighties until Henk Rogers and Nintendo got the rights
This is a Soviet game, more precisely, a Russian game that conquered the world
The Russians did conquer the world one way or another@@19x51
I am happy to see their real-life friendship depicted so well in the recent movie.
Yes, very nice movie 💪
This is a Soviet game, more precisely, a Russian game that conquered the world
Yes. They are married and expecting their second child: Tatiana Russova.
Gotta love Alexey Pajitnov. Such a sympathetic character.
This is a Soviet game, more precisely, a Russian game that conquered the world
The most Russian thing in the world is Tetris Effect
@19x51 relax there, Kafka. It's just a hunk of code.
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.
This is a Soviet game, more precisely, a Russian game that conquered the world
@@19x51 ok buddy we get it🤣no need to repeat yourself under every comment you see
@@urielperez4101 Est-ce que je répète?
@@19x51yes you do, stop spamming
@@19x51are Russia paying you? lol. btw soccer is an english game, its a little more popular
That man right there made the greatest video game of all time.
Wait he's not Sid Meier...
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”
It's so perfect Nintendo bundled it with Gameboy instead of Super Mario.
I play it everyday ✌️
The movie on Apple+ was really good. Very cool to see the creators in the flesh and their thoughts about the game, thanks.
The creator*
They say right in the video who they are, yet you somehow failed to understand any of that... how?
@@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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
Tetris is a timeless masterpiece not only in gaming, but for humanity as a whole. Long live the Tetrimino!
I remember learning how to play Tetris on the Game Boy, gosh the memories
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!
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?
BUMP
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.
"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.
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.
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.
IKR. I can look at a tiled wall or floor and instantly know hoe to set up a C-Spin
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.
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.
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.
Never thought that Henk Rogers was such a programming language nerd
This is one of the best game dev Q&As I have ever seen, informative, likeable relatable devs, no bs
This was so wholesome!
Okay now I need to go suit shopping
Legends. Hexic HD is one of my favorite puzzle games of all time too.
Oh look, Tetrio!
Yeah someone at ars technica is getting in trouble
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
All respect to both men! Love to see they still love this game so much.
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.
I get the vibe these guys really are best friends. Awesome interview.
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.. 👍
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
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.
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.
And tetrio screenshot around 9:48
I hope they don't take down this video though
@@medicalwei yep triggered me lol
@@fixedfunshowtetrio is so fun though play it i promise it wont ruin your life
The fact that Alexy calls Tetris his baby❤❤ 17:28
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.
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. :(
Henk seems like a really swell dude! Great at explanations and these were some pretty well picked out questions.
You just feel that he looks over the rim of his teacup. Love people like that
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.
I will never give up my game boy color specifically because of Tetris! Thank you Alexey and Henk!
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!
Absolutely LEGENDS! ❤
Love the look of these two dudes :)
It’s like if George Carlin was two people
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.
WR is well over 6 million depending on whether or not you’re talking about NTSC or PAL versions
Alexy was the first world champ. I love you, you comedian!
Really enjoyed the movie too!
Alexy is rocking that tetris shirt for sure
Thank you Alexei Pajitnov for creating tetris
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. 👍👍👍👍
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.
Thank you Ars for this. This was really heartwarming. I was smiling the whole way
That was a really fun Q&A session. Thanks, Ars!
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
Original Tetris 4 lines was a big deal
Tetris Effect, Octoris, Dodecatris, Decahextris, Perfectris, Ultimatris, Kirbtris, Impossibilitris,
Possibly Infinitris
That was really awesome, thanks. I really enjoyed the movie too.
When a movie about your game also serves as a bio pic. Now that’s a T spin … or Tetris
Well does Ars! This was gold!
That was wonderful. Thank you
They both seem so cool glad I got to see this.
The 2 greatest minds who made the most popular and addictive game in history
2 legends. Great game. Great movie too.
Guys lets not forget that this guy invented one of the best ganes ever. Like chess, crosswords etc… hes a leyend
Brilliant interview, thanks for posting
Lovely seeing both ❤just watched the movie thrilling
I've been obsessed lately. Playing the Game Boy version on Switch, Tetris 99 and on my PS5 been playing Tetris Effect: Connected.
Alexy is cool. Such an inspiration.
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!
tetrio jumpscare
I just watched the Tetris movie, you guys are awesome
I LOVE THIS! thanx for this!
Its amazing. Without both of these guys, the world wouldnt know tetris 😮
bruh these those tetris game is legendary
Alexy smile is one of the best things in all universe... thanks
Really insightful interview!
Bro Alexey so wholesome with his tetris jackets so fcking cool
Seems like the Rotation debate was even spicy in development.
(I'm personally a fan of SRS-X with the wacky 180 rotations)
Nicest guys in the video game biz since the 80s!
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
9:48 i didn't expect to see TETRIO in this video!
so good!!! 🩵💙❤️💜🧡💛💚
My favorite game forever ! thanks kings of tetris
Some great guys!
As Sid Meyer once said, 'a game is a series of interesting choices.'
Tetris Battle was fire!!!!!
Alexey!
What a legend.
I adore Tetris on the NES with "C" music its such a vibe
I would love to see their reaction to playing Tetris Effect in VR
NES version is perfect for tournament play but casually I wanna say effect is the best, not cause its relatively new but because the Zone mechanic just compliments the guideline ruleset so well
THIS is the kind of stuff i Love
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?
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.
incredible story ! :D love the movie
I think _Tetris_ in _GameBoy_ still the best version, I like it
"People attribute intelligence to randomness."
Printing and sending this on a t-shirt to everyone who's into religion, astrology and conspiracy.
wooooo thank you guys !!!
Surprised the subtitles messed up, it's katyusha at 3:53 if anyone was wondering
Alexey seems like such a loveable fella!
Apotris is a great GBA homebrew version of Tetris with a ton of features for anyone looking to get their fix.
I wish the talked about Tetris Effect. Not that it's the definitive version, but it is a masterpiece.
I absolutely love your game and your story is even more inspiring. I am very glad your both getting the recognition you deserve.
haha such a cool dude. what a legend
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.
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.
how wonderful
I love that Alexey has a Russian account!
1:47, now that’s a usable soundbite.
At 03:56 Aleksei says "Katyusha", it's a name of song and also a female name. Like "Katya", "Katerina" or "Catherine" as English equivalent of this name
Really cool to see the real guys after the movie
SO GOOD