Tetris: A short history and stategy guide

____________________________________

History:

Introduction:

The instant rise and continued success of Tetris has had profound and virtually incalculable impact on the video game industry. It is typically listed as one of the top 5 video games of all time in magazine and Internet panels every year as much for its influence as for its gameplay.

Though its immediate success was clear, its prolonged success was in the beginning anything but sure. Behind the scenes were dramatic last second negotiations for rights, ruthless legal battles spanning years, strange coincidences, and the largely ignored personal property rights of its creator - all in an epic struggle for Tetris exclusivity, which was as elusive as the game was successful. Today it remains - by far - the most widely played electronic game in history, with no signs of slowing down.

1984: The Birth of Tetris:

Borne from his fondness for the classic geometric puzzle board game “Pentominos”, an innovative Russian computer programmer named Alexey Pajitnov develops an electronic variant using just four building blocks (Tetris from Greek “Tetra” meaning four) for the computers at his workplace, the Academy of Sciences in Moscow.

When he gives it to colleagues, it becomes an instant, hugely addictive hit, and shortly thereafter spreads like wildfire via floppy disk throughout the Soviet Bloc’s computer literate.

1986: Foreign Interest:

Two years later, Robert Stein, head of London-based Andromeda, has since played the game and contacts Pajitnov with a licensing deal. However, they were unable to reach an agreement.

Stein then travels to Moscow, yet after several days’ negotiations, fails to leave with a signed contract with Elorg (short for Elektronorgtechnica), the Russian ministry in charge of the import and export of hardware and software.

1987: The Unofficial Licensing of Tetris:

Despite the lack of a signed contract, Stein sells the Tetris rights to media mogul Robert Maxwell’s British-based software company, Mirrorsoft, and its American counterpart, Spectrum Holobyte. In addition, he continues to press Elorg for a contract.

1988: The First release of Tetris:

In January, after procuring the rights to Tetris the previous year, Mirrorsoft and Spectrum Holobyte release the first PC-compatible version to wide critical and commercial success in both Europe and North America, effectively setting the scene for worldwide interest.
____________________________________

Strategy:

Score & Level:

The key essentials to most Tetris variants are your score and your level. To obtain the highest scores and fastest possible levels, one should create a "Tetris." A Tetris is the clearing of four lines at once using the I-shaped Tetrimino, or “I-Tetrimino.”

Create a Tetris:

To create a Tetris, the player should leave one of the 10 columns open (preferably the first or last), build up the remaining 9 columns with at least 4 solid rows of Tetriminos, and when the I-Tetrimino comes, drop it into the empty column for a huge “Tetris” bonus. Of course, for the biggest bonus, complete two or more Tetrises in a row, or a “Back-to-Back”! The only way to do this is without having any Single, Double or Triple line clears until your next Tetris.

Tetris Cascade:

To get the most Cascades at once, there is a special method, and this is an advanced trick! Using either (or both) S- or Z-Tetriminos, stack them up horizontally (that is, with the flat part facing down) against the right or left side of the playfield, right on top of each other, until they reach about 4 pieces high (or 8 rows). Use the remaining 7 columns to build an absolute solid layer of rows using the other Tetriminos (including leftover S- and Z-Tetriminos), with no holes. This layer can go as high as you like.

Once you have roughly four S- or Z-Tetriminos stacked on top of one another (but could be less or more), and a solid layer of rows beside them, place a vertical I-Tetrimino on the outer highest point of the topmost S- or Z-Tetrimino. If it was an S-Tetrimino, it would be the right side, and if the Z-Tetrimino, it would be the left side. Then when another I-Tetrimino comes into play, place that vertically on the other end of the Z- or S-Tetrimino – or onto its lowest point, thus creating your first “line” – and viola, a 7 row Cascade will occur for a huge bonus!
____________________________________

News:

Tetris Helps reduce Trauma

From the BBC:

Here is a fascinating study from Oxford University where volunteers were shown distressing images and then given Tetris to play 30 minutes later. Players had fewer "flashbacks" than non-players. Researcher Dr. Emily Holmes claims, "it might produce a 'viable approach' to PTSD treatment."
____________________________________

Play:

http://www.tetrisfriends.com/
____________________________________

More Tips:

Appendix of Tips
____________________________________

Source: http://www.tetris.com