Henk Rogers, the man behind many of Tetris’s successes, recently shared his memories about the game and its journey to global acclaim.

His memoir, The Perfect Game: Tetris - From Russia With Love, recounts his significant contributions to the video gaming world, particularly his work with Nintendo.

Rogers elaborated on his relationship with Nintendo’s former president, Hiroshi Yamauchi, noting that their mutual interest in the game of Go helped build a solid foundation for collaboration. During this period, Yamauchi played an instrumental part in influencing the company’s commitment to innovation and quality.

One memorable anecdote involved Rogers seeking assistance from Yamauchi to secure a larger initial order for Tetris cartridges, showing the strong bond and trust between them.

During their discussion, Rogers recalls telling Yamauchi, “I believe I have one of the greatest games of all time… Our sales guys have managed only 40,000 units as an initial order. What can I do to fix this?” This confession led to an unexpected consultation with Shigeru Miyamoto, who, based on his observations, confirmed the game’s potential for success.

Rogers proudly states, “Miyamoto recognized that even the secretaries and accountants at Nintendo were playing Tetris during breaks, which was unprecedented.” This pivotal moment ultimately led to increased orders and the famous Nintendo Seal of Approval being placed on the game.

The article dives deeper into the dynamic world of early gaming and the innovation brought forth by the early relationships forged within the industry.