The puzzle game Tetris is a global phenomenon, cherished by players for its simple yet challenging gameplay. However, there has been recent confusion regarding the true age of this iconic game. While some sources and celebrations suggest that Tetris has turned 40 years old in 2023, a deeper dive into its history reveals a discrepancy in the reported release date.
The debate centers around the official release year of Tetris. Commonly, key databases like Wikipedia and MobyGames, along with various historical accounts, list 1985 as the year Tetris was launched. This widely-accepted date aligns with many publications and the memories of video game historians. However, in 2009, a shift occurred where several publications began to cite June 6, 1984, as the release date, a change that notably coincided with the 25th anniversary celebrations organized by a public relations campaign.
The story took an interesting turn in September 2014 when a forum post by a user named Necrosaro highlighted the potential alteration of Tetris's birthdate. According to Necrosaro, the revised date of June 6, 1984, appeared to have no record or mention before a notable public relations effort in 2009 by the firm Grayling Connecting Point, which was hired by Blue Planet Software with a substantial budget dedicated to enhancing the Tetris brand's public image. The timing of this campaign matched perfectly with the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) of 2009, suggesting that adjusting the date to a round number like 1984 could have been a strategic move to generate more significant attention and celebration for what would have been a 25th anniversary, rather than a 24th.
Further complicating the narrative is the involvement of The Tetris Company, founded by the game's original creator, Alexey Pajitnov. As the official bearer of the Tetris brand, the company’s endorsement of the 1984 date adds weight to the claim, leading some to accept it without question. Yet, an overwhelming amount of evidence, including interviews and copyright registrations, still points to 1985 as the more plausible release year.
Despite the confusion, there’s a consensus that Alexey Pajitnov began working on Tetris in 1984, inspired by a traditional puzzle named Pentomino. The development of the game likely took several months, with a more feasible completion and distribution timeline stretching into 1985. Traditional anniversaries are usually celebrated based on release dates rather than the inception of development, further supporting the notion that the real anniversary might not arrive until 2025.
This discrepancy has sparked debate among gaming enthusiasts and historians alike. While some remain indifferent, happy to celebrate Tetris regardless of the exact date, others call for accuracy and transparency in historical documentation. This situation underscores the challenges in the video game industry where documentation can be sparse, and organizational changes can lead to conflicting accounts.
As the discussion continues, it serves as a reminder of the complexities behind documenting the history of video games, an industry often characterized by rapid changes and technological advancements. The debate over Tetris’s real age remains unresolved, but it highlights the enduring impact and popularity of the game that fundamentally shaped puzzle gaming. Whether Tetris is celebrating its 38th or 39th year, its status as a cultural icon remains uncontested, continuing to engage players across generations and around the world.
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