Still Puzzling
By Tina Benitez -- Playthings, 5/1/2007
Since it first hit computer screens in 1985, Tetris has been puzzling fans with its simply shaped blocks that cascade down the screen as players try to create a horizontal line of blocks without gaps on the playing board. Already available on handhelds, Xbox and PC with more than 70 million units sold to date, a next-gen Tetris is now available for the Xbox 360 as Tetris: Evolution. It offers traditional Tetris play as well as new features like customizable themes, backgrounds, skins and icons. New modes include "Go Low," "Eraser" and a multiplayer mode, "Hotseat," which allows up to four players to compete at once.
Rob Shepard, associate product manager for Calabasas, Calif.-based THQ, the company behind the next-gen version, tells Playthings that Evolution was developed for die-hard Tetris fans, casual gamers and players who want to take full advantage of the Xbox 360 hardware to develop an identity on Xbox Live.
Tetris continues to have appeal because it is a quick, simple game, Shepard says. "In the fast-paced world we live in, sometimes you just want a quick game you can pick up and play without having to think about or remember complex game rules and controller moves," he explains. "Everyone can play Tetris, and its appeal knows no bounds. There's not a single age group that doesn't enjoy playing the game. Did I mention it's just plain fun?"
