Have you ever played Tetris? I bet you have, at least once. Or maybe thousands of times. Because Tetris is highly addictive. It appeals to a wide spectrum of consumers. Even people who don't like computer games. Even me! I do like Tetris, I have to admit it. I don't like ANY other computer game. But I like Tetris. I could play for hours and hours and not get bored. There's more. I have even dreamt Tetris! I thought that was pretty strange but recently I read that lots of people report having had recurring dreams where they spend the whole night playing Tetris.


Tetris, what a strange and simple game at the same time. Just as Tetris'story. Did you know that Tetris was created in the Soviet Union? Yep. The creator's name is Alexey Pajitnov and he did not receive any money for his very successful game. Because he worked at the Moscow Academy of Science's Computer Centre and in the USSR you would not receive any royalties for creating anything. They would go to the State. Alexey now lives in the US, working as a game designer for...Microsoft! All the fascinating story of how Tetris was created and how it fuelled the war between Atari and Nintendo was broadcasted yesterday in BBC4's documentary Tetris : From Russia with Love.
What struck me as amazing was Alexey Pajinov's character. Here you have a man who, being born in a capitalist country, would be now incredibly wealthy. A Bill Gates, maybe. But no. He has not received any money, as I said. And how does he react? You would think he would be embittered, angry, frustrated...Not Alexey. He is most friendly and kind. He is happy with his job and his life and has never felt as if he had been stolen the right of being wealthy, famous, honoured and recognised. Amazing. I wish there were to be more Alexeys in this world, a selfless genius.



Have you ever played Tetris? Alguna vez habeis jugado al Tetris? Seguro que si, aunque solo sea una vez. O quiza miles de veces. Porque Tetris es altamente adictivo. Gusta a un amplio espectro de consumidores. Incluso a los que no les gustan los videojuegos. Pero si hasta me gusta a mi! No me gusta NINGUN OTRO videojuego y, sin embargo, me atrae Tetris. Podria jugar durante horas y horas sin aburrrirme. Y hay mas. Hasta he soniado que jugaba al Tetris! Cuando ocurrio pense que era rarisimo, pero recientemente he leido que otra mucha gente ha confirmado que han tenido suenios parecidos, donde se pasaban toda la santa noche jugando a Tetris sin parar.


Tetris, un extranio y, a la vez, simple juego. Exactamente como la historia de Tetris. Sabiais que Tetris fue creado en la Union Sovietica? Pues si. El creador fue Alexey Pajitnov, que por entonces trabajaba en el Departamento de Informatica de la Academia de la Ciencia de Moscu. Y en la Union Sovietica nadie cobraba derechos de autor por crear algo. Todo era de todos, asi que los derechos de autor iban al Estado. Alexey vive, hoy en dia, en los Estados Unidos, donde tiene un puesto de trabajo normal y corriente como diseniador de videojuegos para….Microsoft!!
La fascinante historia de la creacion de Tetris y su ‘invasion’ del mundo capitalista hasta el punto en que abrio la guerra entre Atari y Nintendo la vimos ayer en BBC4 en el documental Tetris : From Russia with Love.
Lo que realmente me maravillo fue la persona de Alexey Pajinov. Aqui teneis a un hombre que, si hubiera nacido en un pais capitalista, ahora seria enormemente rico. Un Bill Gates, quiza. Pero no. No ha recibido ningun derecho de autor, como dije. Y como se lo toma? Cualquiera diria que Alexey seria un hombre amargado, enfadado, frustrado. Alexey no. Te impacta por ser una persona amable y amistosa. Es feliz consu trabajo y su vida nunca ha sentido como si le hubiesen robado el derecho a ser rico, famoso, con reconocimiento y prestigio a nivel internacional. Sorprendente, este Alexey. Ya me gustaria que hubiera mas Alexeys en este planeta, un genio altruista.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
7C
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: From the West Southwest at 7 mph
Dew Point: 4C
Humidity: 84%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,031.8 mb