'Tetris': The NES Edition Trivia Quiz

Answer: Alexey Pajitnov

'Tetris' was created by Soviet computer engineer and game designer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984. The game was originally developed on a Soviet computer called the Elektronika 60 before spreading to other platforms. Nintendo later released its own version of Tetris for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1989.

Answer: Tetriminos

The falling pieces in the game are made up of four square blocks and are commonly known as Tetriminos. There are seven basic shapes, each formed from four squares. Players manipulate these pieces as they descend so they can be fit together within the playing field.

Answer: Complete horizontal lines of blocks

The goal is to arrange the falling pieces to create complete horizontal lines. Once a line is completely filled with blocks, it is cleared from the playing field and the blocks above it move downward. Clearing multiple lines at once produces a higher score.

Answer: It disappears

When a horizontal line becomes completely filled, it disappears from the playing field. This creates empty space for more pieces and allows the player to continue building their stack. Clearing lines is therefore essential to keeping the game going.

Answer: Rotate and move them

Players have two important ways of controlling the falling pieces in the game. They can move them horizontally and rotate them. Deciding where and how to position each piece is central to building complete lines while avoiding a stack that reaches the top of the playing field.

Answer: I piece

Among the seven Tetriminos is the long, straight piece known as the I Tetrimino. It consists of four blocks arranged in a straight line and can be rotated to fit into different spaces. It is particularly useful for completing four lines simultaneously when the board position allows it.

Answer: The game ends

There is only so much room on the game's playing field. If the pieces continue stacking upward and eventually reach the top, there is no longer enough space for new pieces to enter. At that point, the game ends.

Answer: Pentominoes

Alexey Pajitnov drew inspiration from the puzzle game Pentominoes when designing 'Tetris'. Pentomino puzzles use shapes made from five connected squares, whereas the pieces in 'Tetris' use four. Pajitnov adapted the basic idea of manipulating geometric shapes into a falling-block video game.

Answer: Twenty-five

Unlike A-Type, which continues until the player reaches the top of the playing field, B-Type has a fixed line-clear objective.

Answer: They fall faster

As a game progresses, the falling pieces generally descend more quickly. This gives the player less time to decide where to place each piece and makes the game increasingly challenging. Keeping the stack under control becomes progressively more difficult as the speed increases.