Business Wars Business Battles | Tetris: Soviet Blocks | 4
May 20, 2020
In 1988, Tetris emerges as the first Soviet video game, igniting a fierce competition for ownership rights. A British media mogul faces off against a Russian programmer amid Cold War tensions, leading to a chaotic battle in Moscow. The fallout from this clash reveals the complexities of cultural exchange and corporate ambition. The episode also teases the remarkable success of Tetris over the years and hints at the intriguing dynamics of the toilet paper industry during the pandemic, showcasing unexpected social implications.
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Maxwell's Kremlin Visit
- Robert Maxwell, a powerful media tycoon, sought Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's support in a business deal.
- Maxwell wanted Gorbachev to intervene in a dispute over Tetris rights, favoring Maxwell's Mirrorsoft over Nintendo.
Tetris's Origins
- In 1986, Alexey Pajitnov created Tetris at the Dora Nitsin Computing Center in Moscow.
- Robert Stein, a middleman, contacted Pajitnov about acquiring the rights after seeing the game in Budapest.
Tetris Goes West
- Robert Stein, a Hungarian middleman in London, secured a deal to sell Tetris to Mirrorsoft.
- Mirrorsoft marketed Tetris as the first Soviet game, adding Russian cultural elements to its packaging.