> In 1984, which popular video game did Russian computer programmer AlexeiPajitnov invent, as a way to test a new type of computer?And the answer: Tetris. Photo credit: Arcadeclassics.net[https://www.arcadeclassics.net/blog/the-original-tetris-video-game/]At theSoviet Academy of Sciences, software engineer Alexei Pajitnov created a simplegame to assess how powerful a new computer was. Known as Tetris, the game soonbecame popular throughout the Soviet Union and, in 1988, became one of thefeatured games on Nintendo's Game Boy.Tetris could not have entered the global climate at a more opportune time. In1984, the Cold War raged between the United States and the Soviet Union. Lockedin tension, the quality of life soared in the U.S. while government regulationbegan to intensify under Communism in Soviet Russia. What neither side expected,however, would be the unsuspecting force that helped break the boundariesbetween the United States and the Soviet Union: Tetris.Soviet-born Alexei Pajitnov had always been interested in puzzles. From a youngage, his favorite game was Pentominoes: a puzzle game that was won by arranging12 unique pieces into a rectangle with no gaps (sound familiar?). What's more:young Pajitnov was introduced to the wonders of technology from an early age.The Space Race of the 1960s lead to an outpouring of effort to recruit youngadults and adolescents into the field of astrophysics. As a result, Pajitnovexperienced his first computer at just 17 years old. After earning a degree in mathematics, Pajitnov joined the renowned SovietAcademy of Sciences. It was there, after long hours working nearly identicaldays on archaic technology, that Pajitnov began devising a side project:Pajitnov was convinced he could translate the experience of Pentominoes onto thecomputer. After several weeks of work, and after necessarily adapting the numberof pieces to fit the outdated software, Pajitnov released the first version ofwhat would later become Tetris. Naturally addictive, and simple enough to not require any sort of tutorial orexplanation, Pajitnov became enamored with his new game. After introducing it tohis colleagues and peers, Tetris began to spread like wildfire. By 1986, anyonein the Soviet Union that had access to a personal computer could play the game. However, the Iron Curtain between the Soviet Union and the rest of the Westernworld inhibited the spread and popularity of Tetris. It wasn't until students atthe Institute of Technology in Hungary got ahold of the game that it began itsspread to the rest of the world. Once Robert Stein of Andromeda Software caughtwind of Tetris, arrangements for selling the game were underway. This marked amonumental step in the changing relations between Communist Soviet Russia andthe rest of the world. Eventually, Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi caughtword, and Tetris became an official Nintendo license. Today, Tetris is one oftwo mobile video games to have sold over 100 million copiesTo learn more about the extensive history of this global game, check out thevideo below.