Tetris (Electronic Arts)
{{short description|2008 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Tetris
| image = Tetris (iPhone) cover art.png
| caption = iOS icon
| developer = EA Mobile
| publisher = Electronic Arts
| series = Tetris
| platforms = iOS, Android, BlackBerry OS, Windows Phone
| released = iOS
July 11, 2008{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2008 |title=EA Mobile's iPhone/iPod line-up |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-mobile-s-iphone-ipod-line-up-at-it-too-with-scrabble-sudoku-and-tetris |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=GamesIndustry}}
BlackBerry OS
August 24, 2009
Windows Phone
October 21, 2010
Android
September 1, 2011
| genre = Puzzle
| modes = Single-player
}}
Tetris was a puzzle video game developed by EA Mobile and published by Electronic Arts for iOS, Android, BlackBerry OS, and Windows Phone. The game featured gameplay like other Tetris titles, with a new soundtrack. It was discontinued and rendered inoperative in 2020 after EA's license expired.
Gameplay
{{see also|Tetris}}
File:Tetris eamobile magic.png
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 on which the game is being played. The game offered two modes of play dubbed "Marathon" mode and "Magic" mode.{{cite web |url=http://toucharcade.com/2008/07/14/eas-tetris-for-iphone-works/ |title=EA's 'Tetris' for iPhone "Works" |date=July 14, 2008 |publisher=Touch Arcade |access-date=July 25, 2009 |archive-date=May 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525034018/http://toucharcade.com/2008/07/14/eas-tetris-for-iphone-works/ |url-status=live }}
=Marathon=
Marathon mode is the classic version of Tetris, where a point system along with number of lines cleared were kept as indicators of progress.{{cite web |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/134737/2008/07/tetris.html |title=Review: Tetris for iPhone |author=Cohen, Peter |date=July 30, 2008 |publisher=Macworld |access-date=July 25, 2009 |archive-date=July 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714085457/http://www.macworld.com/article/134737/2008/07/tetris.html |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://wireless.ign.com/articles/887/887914p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080713093000/http://wireless.ign.com/articles/887/887914p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2008 |title=iPhone Game Launch Center |date=July 10, 2008 |author=Buchanan, Levi |publisher=IGN |access-date=July 25, 2009}} 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 December 1, 2011, the iOS version of the game was replaced with a new version, which came with an additional "Marathon One Touch Mode" as well as a paid subscription which comes with discounts and premium content.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38900/Tetris_Enters_The_Subscription_Age_With_New_iOS_Version.php |title=Tetris Enters The Subscription Age |date=December 1, 2011 |author=Caoili, Eric |publisher=Gamasutra |access-date=February 22, 2015 |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509081921/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38900/Tetris_Enters_The_Subscription_Age_With_New_iOS_Version.php |url-status=dead }}
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, even if the full version was purchased.{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2020-01-22-ea-tetris-mobile-game.html|title=EA is shutting down its mobile 'Tetris' games|date=2020-01-22|last=Fisher|first=Christine|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=January 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123144654/https://www.engadget.com/2020-01-22-ea-tetris-mobile-game.html|url-status=live}} The Tetris Company instead licensed the rights to N3TWORK to create a new mobile version.{{Cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/gaming/2020/01/24/eas-tetris-mobile-game-is-dead-but-an-alternative-is-already-here/|title=EA's Tetris mobile game is dead, but an alternative is already here|website=TNW|last=Mehta|first=Ivan|date=January 24, 2020|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918175259/https://thenextweb.com/gaming/2020/01/24/eas-tetris-mobile-game-is-dead-but-an-alternative-is-already-here/|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = iOS: 69%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/951161-tetris/index.html |title=Tetris for iOS (iPhone/iPad) |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209015323/https://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/951161-tetris/index.html |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |url-status=dead}}
| MC = iOS (2011): 65/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tetris-2011/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Tetris (2011) for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712185721/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/tetris-2011 |url-status=live }}
iOS (iPad): 76/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/tetris-for-ipad |title=Tetris for iPad for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016012207/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/tetris-for-ipad |url-status=dead }}
}}
EA Mobile's 2011 release of Tetris received heavy criticism for being "needlessly cumbersome" in terms of touch controls, and missing (online) multiplayer options were seen as no longer up to current times.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-26 |title=The 10 Worst Versions Of Tetris, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-10-worst-versions-of-tetris-ranked/ |access-date=2022-05-09 |website=CBR |language=en-US |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509062603/https://www.cbr.com/the-10-worst-versions-of-tetris-ranked/ |url-status=live }}
By 2010, the game, along with other Tetris mobile versions, reached 100 million paid downloads.{{cite web |date=January 21, 2010 |title=Tetris Game Surpasses 100 Million Paid Mobile Downloads, Was the Best-Selling Mobile Phone Game of All Time |url=http://www.ea.com/news/tetris-game-surpasses-100-million-mobile-downloads |access-date=December 10, 2010 |archive-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316160204/http://www.ea.com/news/tetris-game-surpasses-100-million-mobile-downloads |url-status=live }} The number increased to 132 million a year later.[http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=629335 EA Launches New Tetris® Game on the App Store Today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215203454/http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=629335 |date=February 15, 2016 }}, EA (December 1, 2011)
References
{{reflist}}