Tetris (Mirrorsoft)

Tetris
Developer(s)	Mirrorsoft, Rowan Software
Publisher(s)	Mirrorsoft
Platform(s)	Various
Release	First released for IBM PC on 27th Jan 1988.

Mirrorsoft's version was the very first commercial release of Tetris in the world. It was unveiled at the Jan 1988 Which Computer? Show and hit the shelves in the UK on the 27th of that month. During the following three weeks, it was also released for the following home computer platforms: Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, BBC Micro/Acorn Electron, MSX, Atari ST, and Amiga.

Along with the version developed by Mirrorsoft's American sister company, Spectrum Holobyte, it was originally released under bogus licensing. However, contracts were later made between Andromeda Software (the sublicensing party), and Elorg, which secured the legality of the products.

IBM PC Version

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(Yet to be researched.)

Commodore 64 Version

Memorable for its stirring and epic 25 minute long soundtrack composed by Wally Beben, and also for the title artwork by Stephen Thomson, featuring two naked figures in monochrome. Option to choose either music or FX, but not both.

ZX Spectrum Version

The 48k version has title music only, and sound effects during gameplay. Lines are cleared sequentially, and play a tone with pitch determined by the height.

The 128k version had different title music, and also a tune that played during gameplay. Options allowed for either tune or effects, but not both at the same time. Lines cleared all at once, and only one sound effect was used.

Amstrad CPC Version

Amstrad PCW Version

BBC Micro/Acorn Electron Version

Features a dire warning at the start mentioning how the game has been banned in its native Russia due to it being dangerously addictive. No music is present, but a tone plays when pieces lock in place, and the tone's pitch is determined by the height when the piece locks.

MSX Version

Atari ST Version

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Amiga Version

Featured same title screen music and in-game music as Spectrum 128 version, composed by David Whittaker. Background "fuzzy yellow static" animation could be frozen to enhance visibility. Default "Hall of Fame" scores were set exceptionally high - the player would almost invariably reach the maximum level, (at which point the unresponsive controls and slow DAS would render the game very difficult to play), before beating the top score of 3000. The lines counter maxed out at 99. Six digits were provided for counting score, which would presumably max out at 999999, however, it is estimated that at least 300,000 lines would be required to reach this score.