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IT’S one of the best-loved video games of all time – and now Tetris’s 40th anniversary is set to be celebrated with the largest interactive multiplayer version of the game ever.
From next Monday, fans of the world famous block-stacking game can join up to six others for a supersized match at London’s Outernet, Europe’s largest digital exhibition space.
The Sun has been given exclusive access to Outernet London where visitors will be able to join in the massive game of Tetris from Monday 28th October[/caption]
Tetris has been transformed into a multiplayer game, allowing up to seven people at a time to work together to beat the game[/caption]
All you need to do to join in is scan the QR code found on the screens with your phone[/caption]
The Sun was given exclusive early access to Outernet London, just a short hop from Tottenham Court Road station, where next week visitors will be able to play for free in 360-degrees across five colossal 26k resolution screens.
Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris, said: “We haven’t done anything like this before, so I’m so excited to be able to bring Tetris to people in this way.
“This extraordinary installation is a testament to the timeless appeal of Tetris and our commitment to creating experiences that bring joy to the Tetris community.
Joining in is easy – all you need is a smartphone to join the free Wi-Fi and scan a QR code, at which point you are assigned your colour and blocks will start to appear and drop.
Tetris is usually one player but to celebrate the decades it has spent bringing people together over their love of gaming, the developers have made it so that up to seven people can join in and work together to beat the game.
Maya said to The Sun: “I hope this experience will be a bonding experience for people.
“It’s really a game that has no boundaries, that has no cultural barriers – and the idea of you being able to walk into the space and then start playing with other people, I think is the perfect way to showcase that.”
As the daughter of Henk Rogers, the man who helped bring Tetris out of the Soviet Union and onto games consoles worldwide, it’s no wonder the game is so close to her heart.
“I’ve talked to so many people around the world and every single person that I’ve talked to that has played the game can tell me a story, a fond memory of playing Tetris,” Maya added.
“And I feel the same way when I play the game. It’s as simple as that for me, Tetris is joy.
“As long as people are playing games, Tetris will be around. There’s a little bit of Tetris in everything that people play.”
Tetris’s origins can be traced back to 1984, when programmer Alexey Pajitnov developed the game at the Soviet Academy of Sciences.
The game was so addictive, it had to be banned from the Moscow Medical Institute because of the impact it was having on productivity.
Western computer developers were keen to get their hands on it and it soon became caught up in a complex dispute over who owned the rights.
But over a session playing a classic Japanese board game, Henk and Alexey formed a bond that secured the rights to Tetris for the Nintendo Gameboy and NES console.
Even Sun reporter Tom was able to get a hang of landing the blocks[/caption]
Tetris was created 40 years ago by Alexey Pajitnov, and it soon spread around the Soviet Union – and proved notoriously addictive[/caption]
The Tetris Company has partnered with Outernet London to celebrate the game’s anniversary in spectacular fashion[/caption]
Joining in is easy – the attraction is completely free of charge, and Wi-Fi is provided[/caption]
Soon, millions were clicking away and, in the four decades since its birth, Tetris has sold more than 520 million units and had more than 615 million downloads onto mobile devices.
Bringing the game to the big screen was no mean feat, and Outernet’s team have been working hard to make sure every single visitor throughout October, November and December will be able to have as much fun as possible.
Alexandra Payne, Director of Creative at Outernet, said: “We’re thrilled to host the 40th anniversary of Tetris – it really goes to the core of what Outernet is all about.
“It’s about immersive experiences, about community. It’s about creating events that people can come together and enjoy as a group.
Jad Zouein, Outernet’s creative technology director, explained that their giant interactive version of the game “wouldn’t have been possible” even just five years ago, due to the cutting-edge tech that’s built into it.
He added: “We kind-of democratised Tetris in a way. And with the help of Tetris themselves, we were able to create this concept.”
Play the biggest interactive game of Tetris ever at Outernet for free from Monday 28th October.
Be warned – blocks can sometimes appear in unexpected places[/caption]
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