Tetris (Electronic Arts)
Tetris is a puzzle video game developed by EA Mobile and published by Electronic Arts for iOS, Android, BlackBerry OS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and Windows Phone. The game featured gameplay like other Tetris titles, with a new soundtrack.
Tetris | |
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Developer(s) | EA Mobile |
Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
Series | Tetris |
Platform(s) | iOS, Android, BlackBerry OS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Windows Phone |
Release | iPod September 12, 2006 iPhone July 9, 2008 BlackBerry OS August 24, 2009 PlayStation Portable Windows Phone October 21, 2010 PlayStation 3Android September 1, 2011 iOS
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Genre(s) | Puzzle |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
The game reached 100 million paid downloads by 2010,[1][2] making it the best-selling paid mobile game of all time, and third best-selling game of all time altogether.
Gameplay
![](../I/Tetris_eamobile_magic.png.webp)
Gameplay was nearly identical in gameplay to other Tetris titles, but with a new soundtrack. Players also had the ability to create their own soundtrack for the game using the music library of the iPhone or iPod Touch device in which the game is being played on. The game offered two modes of play dubbed "Marathon" mode and "Magic" mode.[3]
Marathon
Marathon mode played as a more classic version of Tetris, where a point system along with number of lines cleared were kept as indicators of progress.[4] The level of speed was chosen prior to starting the mode of gameplay. There were 15 levels total, and like Magic mode, this mode ends after all 15 levels have been completed. Unlike the original version of Tetris, Marathon mode ends after clearing 150 lines. Once Marathon mode ends, the Endless feature becomes unlocked.
Magic
Magic mode was an enhanced version of gameplay, where there are fifteen levels of difficulty.[5] Each level of difficulty is incremented by speed and number of lines required to clear the level. Once the number of lines required to clear the level are met, the next level is presented. Upon failure of a level, the game offers players to retry an unlimited number of times. The game allows for pausing of gameplay, which is automatic when a player receives a phone call on an iPhone device. Another element of gameplay in Magic mode is the addition of helper objects that are retrieved throughout levels, which allow players to make minor edits to the puzzle. The special objects become available in the first five levels, and then remain generating upon lines completed and tetriminos placed. There are five special objects, ranging from a magic crayon to blocks converting to bubble popping status.
History
On November 30, 2011, the game was relaunched and replaced with a paid new version, which comes with an additional "Marathon One Touch Mode" as well as a paid subscription which comes with discounts and premium content.[6]
Discontinuation and Relaunch
In January 2020, EA announced that they would retire their mobile version of the game on April 21, 2020, and the game became unplayable after this date.[7] The Tetris Company, however, licensed the rights to N3TWORK to create a new mobile version.[8] The new version features online compatibility, as well as a knockout and battle royale mode.[9]
References
- "Tetris Game Surpasses 100 Million Paid Mobile Downloads, Was the Best-Selling Mobile Phone Game of All Time". January 21, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
- EA Launches New Tetris® Game on the App Store Today, EA (December 1, 2011)
- "EA's 'Tetris' for iPhone "Works"". Touch Arcade. July 14, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
- Cohen, Peter (July 30, 2008). "Review: Tetris for iPhone". Macworld. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
- Buchanan, Levi (July 10, 2008). "iPhone Game Launch Center". IGN. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
- Caoili, Eric (December 1, 2011). "Tetris Enters The Subscription Age". Gamasutra. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- Fisher, Christine (January 22, 2020). "EA is shutting down its mobile 'Tetris' games".
- Mehta, Ivan. "EA's Tetris mobile game is dead, but an alternative is already here". TNW.
- "'Tetris Royale' goes global as the new mobile 'Tetris'". yahoo!.