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Tetris Movie Inspired Henk Rogers to Pen Autobiographical Account of Game’s Origins
Game industry veteran Henk Rogers, instrumental in the global success of Tetris, initially reacted with astonishment upon reading the screenplay for the Tetris movie. “There was so much Hollywood in the movie,” Rogers disclosed in an interview. “It just drove me nuts.” The film centers on a critical chapter in Rogers’ life, his journey to the Soviet Union to resolve the intricate licensing challenges surrounding Tetris for platforms like the Game Boy. During this period, he forged a lasting bond with Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov and propelled the puzzle game into a worldwide phenomenon.
The cinematic adaptation transformed these actual events into a high-tension espionage narrative. While Rogers ultimately appreciated the finished film, his first encounter with the script galvanized him to present a factual rendition of his experiences. “While reading the script I said, ‘I have to set the record straight,’” he stated.
From Script to Self-Account: The Genesis of “The Perfect Game”
This narrative has now materialized as “The Perfect Game,” a newly published book. Rogers initially intended to document the incidents depicted in the Tetris movie, but he soon recognized the scope of the story extended far beyond those events. “I started writing it, and somebody looked at it and said, ‘That could be a book, it’s just not big enough,’” he recounted. “I didn’t want to rewrite that part and add water, so to speak, so I added the before and after. So it ended up being about my game career.”
Early Days of Game Development: A Journey Before Tetris
The Perfect Game commences by exploring Rogers’ formative years, moving from the Netherlands to New York City and Hawaii, before his establishment in Japan. There, he founded Bullet-Proof Software and launched the influential role-playing game (RPG) The Black Onyx. Even prior to the Tetris saga, the book provides compelling insights into the nascent era of game development. Rogers elaborates on the numerous complexities of publisher interactions, financing, and the intricacies of releasing and marketing a game in Japan without fluency in Japanese.
Discovering Tetris: A Puzzle Game with Global Impact
The narrative gains momentum at CES 1988, where Rogers journeyed to Las Vegas seeking a novel game for publishing and encountered a captivating puzzle game featuring falling blocks. He recalls an instant recognition of its exceptional nature. “I left the Consumer Electronics Show with a sense of purpose,” Rogers penned in his book. “I was determined to publish Tetris in Japan.” This endeavor proved challenging, primarily due to the convoluted copyright regulations within the Soviet Union at that time. Rogers embarked on numerous trips between the Soviet Union and Japan, engaging with figures ranging from Nintendo executives, including the renowned Shigeru Miyamoto, to authoritative representatives of Soviet trade organizations.
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“There’s times when my memory is a little shady, but it was such an exciting time that I pretty much remember.”
A Collaborative Memoir: Pajitnov’s Perspective
Rogers’ account is richly detailed, derived entirely from his recollection. He did, however, consult with his friend Pajitnov on specific details, resulting in one of the book’s more engaging characteristics. Throughout the text, Pajitnov’s perspectives are interwoven, often presenting mild disagreements with Rogers on minor points, such as his level of admiration for the Famicom version of Tetris or the quality of his apartment building’s elevator.
“Alexei read my manuscript and was writing in the margins where his memory is different, so I decided to keep those and put them in the book,” Rogers clarified. “There’s times when my memory is a little shady, but it was such an exciting time that I pretty much remember.”
The Enduring Legacy of Tetris and Game Industry Insights
Despite lacking the Hollywood-style thrills of the script that initiated Rogers’ writing endeavor, The Perfect Game offers a compelling narrative, particularly for those interested in game development anecdotes. Covering Rogers’ entire career to date, including the establishment of The Tetris Company and the game’s distribution across nearly every conceivable platform, the book recounts numerous crucial junctures in the medium’s evolution, from the launch of the Game Boy to the rise of mobile gaming.
Tetris’s Continued Relevance and Rogers’ Perspective Today
The story’s significance is amplified by Tetris‘s ongoing success. Beyond the movie and book, Rogers was also a featured figure in Digital Eclipse’s interactive documentary Tetris Forever, and the game frequently reappears in venues like Nintendo’s latest music application. Having largely retired from active involvement in the business, now managed by his daughter Maya, Rogers experiences a different sentiment when he encounters the game unexpectedly. “It feels like success,” he reflects. “Every time Tetris pops up somewhere, or a new deal comes down the pike, it’s like, ‘Wow, she’s killing it.‘”
From Skeptic to Supporter: Rogers’ Final Thoughts on the Tetris Film
Regarding the Tetris movie, Rogers revised his initial opinion upon viewing it, describing the final product as “emotionally correct,” even with factual deviations. “The first time I saw it I cried about things that never actually happened,” he admitted.