Tetris (NES, Tengen) (history and reception)

Computer Entertainer reported in December 1988 that Atari Games had announced a way around the Nintendo technology that kept unlicensed companies from making NES cartridges, and that the first such games would be its subsidiary Tengen's. tengen-tetris-history/unlicensed

MagazineComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 7 no. 9 (December 1988) · PDF p. 11, "Atari Games Plans Non-Licensed Games for NES"Games announced that it had found a way around the NintendoComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 7 no. 9 (December 1988) · PDF p. 11, "Atari Games Plans Non-Licensed Games for NES"(to be made in the U.S.) will be those of its subsidiary, Tengen:

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

Computer Entertainer's January 1989 issue named Tetris as Tengen's first NES release of 1989, a puzzle game by two Soviet programmers that had been a hit on computers. tengen-tetris-history/announced

MagazineComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 10 (January 1989) · PDF p. 11, "Tengen Shows Four New Games for NES"Tengen`s first 1989 release for the Nintendo system will be TETRIS,Computer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 10 (January 1989) · PDF p. 11, "Tengen Shows Four New Games for NES"puzzle game developed by two Soviet programmers that has been a

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

Michael Birken writes that Andromeda, a British software company, sublicensed Tetris to vendors such as Mirrorsoft before completing its own deal for the rights; that Mirrorsoft sublicensed it to Tengen; and that ELORG later clarified that Andromeda had acquired computer and arcade rights only, so that the rights Bullet-Proof Software got from Tengen for the Famicom were bogus. tengen-tetris-history/rights

WebApplying Artificial Intelligence to Nintendo Tetris · section on the legal screen, paragraph beginning "A British software company"A British software company called Andromeda attempted to secure the rights to Tetris and before completing the deal, they sublicensed the game to other vendors, such as the United Kingdom computer game publisher Mirrorsoft.Applying Artificial Intelligence to Nintendo Tetris · section on the legal screen, paragraph beginning "A British software company"Mirrorsoft, in turn, sublicensed it further to Tengen, a subsidiary of Atari Games.Applying Artificial Intelligence to Nintendo Tetris · section on the legal screen, paragraph beginning "In seeking the handheld rights"clarifying that Andromeda acquired computer and arcade rights onlyApplying Artificial Intelligence to Nintendo Tetris · section on the legal screen, paragraph beginning "In seeking the handheld rights"since the rights they got from Tengen were bogus

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

Electronic Gaming Monthly's second issue, in 1989, reported in its Quartermann gossip column that Nintendo had gone directly to Russia to try to take the rights to make Tetris for the NES, and that Tengen, unfazed, planned to start shipping its version in late May. tengen-tetris-history/egm-rights

MagazineElectronic Gaming Monthly, vol. 1, no. 2 (display until August 31, 1989) · PDF p. 26, Quartermann columnNintendo has gone directly to Russia in an effort to snatch away the rights to produce the award-Electronic Gaming Monthly, vol. 1, no. 2 (display until August 31, 1989) · PDF p. 26, Quartermann columnTengen scems unfazed, however, and plans to start shipping the exceptional puz-Electronic Gaming Monthly, vol. 1, no. 2 (display until August 31, 1989) · PDF p. 26, Quartermann columnzle game (Game of the Month in the May issue) in late May

The cover prints "VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2" and "DISPLAY UNTIL AUGUST 31, 1989" but no month of issue, and the masthead gives none (both read on the page images), so the statement gives only the issue number. The column looks ahead to late May and calls the May issue past.

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

Computer Entertainer's June 1989 issue called Tengen's Tetris for the NES newly released, at a suggested retail price of $39.95, and one of the highlights of Tengen's booth at the Consumer Electronics Show; it is based on Atari Games' arcade version, with Russian folk tunes, for one or two players. tengen-tetris-history/release

MagazineComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 10, "Tengen Shows New Games for NES"The newly released TETR1S (MSR $39.95) for the NES was oneComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 10, "Tengen Shows New Games for NES"the highlights of Tengen's CES booth. Based on the Atari GamesComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 10, "Tengen Shows New Games for NES"sparkling graphics, Russian folk tunes and totally addictive playComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 10, "Tengen Shows New Games for NES"for one or two

The scan's right margin is cut, so the sentence ending "for one or two" loses its last letters.

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

At the same show Nintendo showed its own Tetris for the NES, which Computer Entertainer thought may have been put together hastily for the show, as it did not look nearly as good as Tengen's. tengen-tetris-history/nintendo-version

MagazineComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 9, "Nintendo Showcases New Games, Accessories"RIS, which may have been put together a bit hastily for the show since it

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

Computer Entertainer, having played both versions before reviewing them, judged that Tengen's unlicensed version won "hands-down": its graphics were far superior, with shading that gave the pieces a 3D feel, it had more choice of music, and it had a two-player mode played side by side. The newsletter thought Nintendo's version nowhere near as good. tengen-tetris-history/ce-verdict

MagazineComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 12, "And Then, There's Tetris Vs. Tetris"version, of course, is not licensed (again, the lawsuit) so it won'tComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 12, "And Then, There's Tetris Vs. Tetris"Tengen version wins hands-down in our opinion.Computer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 12, "And Then, There's Tetris Vs. Tetris"graphics far superior with shading giving the objects a nice 3D feelComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 12, "And Then, There's Tetris Vs. Tetris"there is more choice of music and a unique 2-player versionComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 3 (June 1989) · PDF p. 12, "And Then, There's Tetris Vs. Tetris"The Nintendo version was nowhere near as

The newsletter promised full reviews on release; this is its impression from playing both.

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

Computer Entertainer's July 1989 issue reported that Nintendo had been granted a temporary injunction against Tengen's Tetris, so that Tengen could not ship the game until the two went to court. tengen-tetris-history/injunction

MagazineComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 4 (July 1989) · PDF p. 9, "Nintendo Gets Temporary Injunction Against Tengen's Tetris"injunction against Tengen's version of the game, Tetris. What thisComputer Entertainer: the newsletter, vol. 8, no. 4 (July 1989) · PDF p. 9, "Nintendo Gets Temporary Injunction Against Tengen's Tetris"means is that until the two go to court Tengen cannot ship their version

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

Michael Birken writes that Nintendo prevailed in the legal battle, and that hundreds of thousands of Tengen Tetris cartridges still in their boxes were scrapped. tengen-tetris-history/scrapped

WebApplying Artificial Intelligence to Nintendo Tetris · section on the legal screen, paragraph beginning "A complex legal battle ensued"Nintendo ultimately prevailed and hundreds of thousands of Tengen Tetris cartridges still in their boxes were scrapped.

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)

IGN ranked Tengen's Tetris 48th among NES games; it says the game was pulled from shelves almost immediately, included a two-player mode that Nintendo's version lacked, and is now a rare cartridge. tengen-tetris-history/ign-top-100

WebTop 100 NES Games: 1, Super Mario Bros. 3 · entry 48, Tetris (Tengen)Tetris (Tengen) Developer Tengen Released 1988 48Top 100 NES Games: 1, Super Mario Bros. 3 · entry 48, Tetris (Tengen)Tengen's tetris was pulled from shelves almost immediatelyTop 100 NES Games: 1, Super Mario Bros. 3 · entry 48, Tetris (Tengen)even including a two-player mode which Nintendo's version sorely lackedTop 100 NES Games: 1, Super Mario Bros. 3 · entry 48, Tetris (Tengen)Today, the game known as Tengen Tetris is a rare title to have in your collection

The rank is the number the page prints with the entry, after its developer and year.

Cited by: Tetris (NES, Tengen)