If you were brought up in the 1980s, you probably played Tetris, a video game released about the same decade. It is probable you still vividly remember the game.
Though only the best games can have such an effect, there was something about Tetris simplicity that made it addictive. Tetris has been the inspiration for other game creations that follow the same simplicity and engagement, such as Blockudoku and Pixel Art among many others.
Let’s explore some of the facts you didn’t know about your favorite childhood video game.
1. Tetris IS an Amalgamation
Most players initially thought the name ‘Tetris’ was uncanny. It must have sounded like a stern Russian to a majority of audiences. Notably, the term is perfect, thanks to its ubiquity.
The creator, Alexey Pajitnov, revealed he came up with the game’s name by combining a popular Greek prefix ‘tetra’ with the term ‘tennis.’ Tetra refers to the four squares present in every block in the game.
2. Theme Song Was a Love Song
That catchy tune that entertains players as they spin and drop their tiles is more than 100 years old. ‘Korobeiniki‘ was a folk song from the 19th century about the love affair between a peddler and a peasant girl.
So how did a love song end up becoming the theme song to a game with no romance whatsoever? In the 1980s, few people knew about USSR’s art, music, and culture, as it was not widely exported.
Tetris, which was originally from Moscow, became the ambassador for this region. Therefore, once the game was licensed and packaged, the designers added Russian touches, including the song.
3. Can Cause Hallucinations
In his graphic novel, ‘Tetris: The Games People Play,’ Box Brown, a famous cartoonist and author, argued that people were spending too much time playing Tetris. Consequently, most players were now complaining of a peculiar side effect – seeing images of falling objects long after they stopped playing.
It came to be known as the ‘Tetris Effect’ and is being observed even with modern games with extended play.
4. Pentominoes Inspired it
Pentominoes is one of the oldest wooden puzzle game. The puzzle’s objective was to fill the little wooden box by correctly placing the tiny wooden blocks. It was playing the game that Brown realized that the concept was quite familiar.
5. It Can Influence Your Brain’s Shape
According to research carried out in 2009, playing Tetris can thicken your brain’s cortex, resulting in enhanced cognitive abilities. Brain imaging studies performed on 26 participants after three months of playing Tetris daily for 30 minutes show three brain regions’ thickening. There were no significant changes in the brains of subjects who did not play Tetris.
6. First Video Game in Space
In 1993, Aleksandr, a Russian cosmonaut, brought along his Tetris game as he went on a space mission to Russia’s space station, Mir. That was the very first time a video game was setting foot into space. Tetris spent 196 days in space and orbited the Earth 3,000+ times.
Conclusion
More than three decades after Tetris made its debut, players and experts continue to wonder about the game’s marvelousness and addictive nature. Now you know some of the facts that made it unique and probably contributed to its greatness.
