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Product Description
The definitive story of a game so great, even the Cold War couldn't stop it
Tetris is perhaps the most instantly recognizable, popular video game ever made. But how did an obscure Soviet programmer, working on frail, antiquated computers, create a product which has now earned nearly 1 billion in sales? How did a makeshift game turn into a worldwide sensation, which has been displayed at the Museum of Modern Art, inspired a big-budget sci-fi movie, and been played in outer space?
A quiet but brilliant young man, Alexey Pajitnov had long nurtured a love for the obscure puzzle game pentominoes, and became obsessed with turning it into a computer game. Little did he know that the project that he labored on alone, hour after hour, would soon become the most addictive game ever made.
In this fast-paced business story, reporter Dan Ackerman reveals how Tetris became one of the world's first viral hits, passed from player to player, eventually breaking through the Iron Curtain into the West. British, American, and Japanese moguls waged a bitter fight over the rights, sending their fixers racing around the globe to secure backroom deals, while a secretive Soviet organization named ELORG chased down the game's growing global profits.
The Tetris Effect is an homage to both creator and creation, and a must-read for anyone who's ever played the game-which is to say everyone.
Tetris is perhaps the most instantly recognizable, popular video game ever made. But how did an obscure Soviet programmer, working on frail, antiquated computers, create a product which has now earned nearly 1 billion in sales? How did a makeshift game turn into a worldwide sensation, which has been displayed at the Museum of Modern Art, inspired a big-budget sci-fi movie, and been played in outer space?
A quiet but brilliant young man, Alexey Pajitnov had long nurtured a love for the obscure puzzle game pentominoes, and became obsessed with turning it into a computer game. Little did he know that the project that he labored on alone, hour after hour, would soon become the most addictive game ever made.
In this fast-paced business story, reporter Dan Ackerman reveals how Tetris became one of the world's first viral hits, passed from player to player, eventually breaking through the Iron Curtain into the West. British, American, and Japanese moguls waged a bitter fight over the rights, sending their fixers racing around the globe to secure backroom deals, while a secretive Soviet organization named ELORG chased down the game's growing global profits.
The Tetris Effect is an homage to both creator and creation, and a must-read for anyone who's ever played the game-which is to say everyone.
Top Reviews
More than just a video game bioby Amazon Customer (5 out of 5 stars)
October 4, 2016
Found this book to be extremely interesting. It is more than just a book for the niche video game fan. It spans across a variety of topics discussing Tetris through the lenses of Cold War politics, international business deals, intellectual properly laws, psychological experiments, and even philosophical musings. The stories are broad enough to show off the large global landscape of the time period, but personal enough to give you intimate details about the lives of key players. Could not put it down, read it in two weekends, and would highly recommend.
Fascinating and enlightening
by NCH (5 out of 5 stars)
November 30, 2016
Full disclosure: I know the author, but I paid my own money for this book and it was worth every penny.
This is such a wonderful story, taking in globe-trotting deal makers, cloistered Soviet academics, the weird beginnings of the global video games industry, the psychological effects of games and so much more. There was tonnes of stuff I didn't know about Nintendo, about the tabloid tycoon Robert Maxwell, about the end of communism, about scientific research into games. The best bits though are about Henk Rogers, the game design pioneer who gave Japan RPGs and who found a kindred spirit in Tetris designer Alexey Pajitnov. His charm and enthusiasm crossed so many cultural boundaries and brought us all so much joy, and this book is a fantastic tribute to him.
Non -gamer look see
by Nick S. Goad (5 out of 5 stars)
January 18, 2017
A most interesting look at a new entertainment world . Great description of the major players and the old Soviet Union and the failure of the Communist business model Ackerman hit a home run weaving together the various parts and players by doing extensive research world wide . GREAT JOB
Recommended for a good read
by Brian Weaver (5 out of 5 stars)
August 9, 2017
Great insight into the history of the game and how it shaped the thinking of its users.
Game Over!
by Jim P. (5 out of 5 stars)
November 11, 2016
A thorough and fast-paced narrative of the Tetris story, and more interestingly, the back-story that created it. This is the definitive overview, combining elements of technology, culture, politics and cut-throat business practices. Plus, a very fun read. I highly recommend it!
Five Stars
by Diana (5 out of 5 stars)
September 28, 2017
As advertised.
Five Stars
by Eileen (5 out of 5 stars)
December 7, 2017
Exactly as described.
An Epic Tale of the Unexpectedly Immortal and Legendary Game
by Charlie Gooding (4 out of 5 stars)
February 9, 2017
The true and incredible story of how Tetris went from a mere side project of a Moscow programmer using an obsolete computer to one of the greatest video games ever made. As amazing as that feat was the epic odyssey of Nintendo coming to license it was just as nail biting and unbelievable. The book is a fun, tense, and exhilarating journey back to the late 80s and the end of the Cold War.
A fascinating book
by Samuel Green (5 out of 5 stars)
September 18, 2018
I enjoyed this a great deal. Interesting look at the Soviet technology sphere and the video game industry in the mid 80s.
The Tetris Effect - The Book that Hypnotized Me
by james redner (5 out of 5 stars)
January 26, 2017
I never knew the story behind one of the world's most popular video games ever, Tetris. I am glad I picked up this book. It reads like a fictional thriller, which makes for best kind of non-fiction. Highly recommended.
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Details were last updated on Dec 8, 2024 15:51 +08.
