Editing Tetris (section)

===The Tetris Company and Blue Planet Software (1996–2014)===
[[File:Tetris on an iPod.jpg|250px|thumb|A [[iPod classic|5th generation]] [[iPod]] running ''Tetris'' (2006)]]
The Academy of Sciences' rights to ''Tetris'' expired at the end of 1995, reverting back to Pajitnov. Worried that Elorg, which had become a private company under Belikov following the 1991 [[collapse of the Soviet Union]],{{sfn|Ackerman|2016|p=241}} would try to claim the rights, Pajitnov recruited Rogers to secure them. Rogers formed [[the Tetris Company]] as an equal partnership between Elorg and Rogers' new company, [[Blue Planet Software]]. Rogers acquired Elorg and renamed it [[Tetris Holding]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite interview |url=https://time.com/2837390/tetris-at-30-pajitnov-interview/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606141137/https://time.com/2837390/tetris-at-30-pajitnov-interview/ |last=Rogers |first=Henk |author-link=Henk Rogers |interviewer=Matt Peckham |title=Tetris at 30: An Interview with the Historic Puzzle Game's Creator |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=June 6, 2014 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-man-who-won-tetris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830150307/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-man-who-won-tetris |last=Rogers |first=Henk |author-link=Henk Rogers |title=The Man Who Won ''Tetris'' |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |date=September 9, 2009 |archive-date=August 30, 2021 |access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref> Since formation, the Tetris Company has maintained guidelines for authorized versions of ''Tetris'', and Blue Planet Software has served as an agent for the ''Tetris'' brand.<ref name=retrogamer/> The Tetris Company has also enforced its copyright of ''Tetris'' against unauthorized clones,<ref name="iphonePurge">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/10/tetris-co-strikes-again-another-iphone-app-clone-is-pulled/ |title=Tetris Co. Strikes Again: Another iPhone App Clone is Pulled |website=[[Ars Technica]] |last=Chartier |first=David |date=October 8, 2008 |access-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808232640/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/10/tetris-co-strikes-again-another-iphone-app-clone-is-pulled/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="androidPurge">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/06/google-blocks-tetris-clones-from-android-market/ |title=Google Blocks ''Tetris'' Clones from Android Market |website=[[Ars Technica]] |last=Ryan |first=Paul |date=June 2, 2010 |access-date=June 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202210616/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/06/google-blocks-tetris-clones-from-android-market/ |archive-date=December 2, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> such as the 2012 case, ''[[Tetris Holding, LLC v. Xio Interactive, Inc.]]'', where a judge ruled that ''Mino'' violated ''Tetris''{{'s}} copyright based on [[look and feel]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Brown |first=Mark |author-link=Game Maker's Toolkit |date=June 21, 2012 |title=Judge Declares iOS Tetris Clone 'Infringing' |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/06/wireduk-tetris-clone/ |access-date=January 19, 2021 |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019163633/https://www.wired.com/2012/06/wireduk-tetris-clone/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pajitnov and Rogers sought to keep ''Tetris'' fresh and innovated in new directions. ''[[Tetrisphere]]'', developed by H2O Entertainment and released on August 11, 1997 was an example of this innovation.<ref name=retrogamer/><ref>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Helen |date=July 2, 1997 |title=''Tetrisphere'' Gets Rolling |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/02_tetris/index.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990504104718/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/02_tetris/index.html |archivedate=May 4, 1999 |accessdate=February 8, 2025 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> Gameplay involved rotating a three-dimensional sphere to place pieces on its surface. It was the first puzzle video game on the [[Nintendo 64]] and garnered a [[cult following]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/22/the-3dss-n64-encores |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |title=The 3DS's N64 Encores |website=[[IGN]] |date=September 21, 2010 |access-date=February 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/tetris-game-spin-offs |last=Scullion |first=Chris |title=The ''Tetris'' Games No One Remembers |website=[[Red Bull Games]] |date=October 12, 2016 |access-date=February 10, 2025}}</ref> David Crookes of ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' called ''Tetrisphere'' "proof that the concept could be modernised and tweaked, while still being faithful to the original".<ref name=retrogamer/> Another game on the Nintendo 64, the Japan-exclusive ''[[Tetris 64]]'' (1998), allowed for four players and was the only game to utilize the Nintendo 64's Bio Sensor, which detected a player's pulse.<ref name=retrogamer/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/06/nintendo-vitality-sensor/ |last=Kohler |first=Chris |title=Nintendo 'Vitality Sensor' Already Appeared on N64 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=February 10, 2025 |archive-date=March 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324012445/https://www.wired.com/2009/06/nintendo-vitality-sensor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On other platforms around this time, ''[[Tetris Plus]]'' (1996), ''[[Tetris DX]]'' (1998), and ''[[The Next Tetris]]'' added new game modes, and ''[[Tetris: The Grand Master]]'' (1998) was an arcade game targeted toward experienced players.<ref name=retrogamer/> 

According to Rogers, in order to appeal to beginner players, the Tetris Company started to standardize features that were not in the original game.<ref name="tftt"/> These features included the hold feature in ''[[The New Tetris]]'' in 1999, the easy spin and the super rotation system in ''[[Tetris Worlds]]'' in 2001, and the scoring system introduced in ''Tetris DS'' in 2006.''<ref name="polygon-tips" />'' Critics panned ''Tetris Worlds'' for the easy spin mechanic, which allowed players to delay a piece's descent by continually rotating it. Despite the controversy and Pajitnov's reluctance, the mechanic was implemented into the ''Tetris'' guidelines.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Grannel |first=Craig |date=2021 |title=Queasy Spin |url=https://archive.org/details/retro-gamer-100-playstation-games-to-play-before-you-die-3nd-edition/page/78/mode/2up |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |via=[[Internet Archive]] |page=78}}</ref><ref name="tftt" /> Alongside the easy spin, ''Tetris Worlds'' introduced the super rotation system which defines how pieces rotate,{{sfn|Linneman|2018|loc=37:42–38:07}} which most versions have used since.<ref name="polygon-tips" />

''Tetris'' was first ported to mobile devices in 2001 by [[G-Mode]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2010/jan/21/games-casual-gaming |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110013147/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2010/jan/21/games-casual-gaming |last=Stuart |first=Keith |title=Tetris and Snake - The Biggest Games in the World |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=January 21, 2010 |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref> In 2002, Rogers formed Blue Lava Wireless to develop ''Tetris'' games for mobile platforms.<ref name="retrogamer" /> JAMDAT acquired Blue Lava Wireless in April 2005, granting them a 15-year license of ''Tetris'' for mobile platforms.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jamdat-acquires-blue-lava-wireless |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525145218/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jamdat-acquires-blue-lava-wireless |last=Gibson |first=Ellie |title=Jamdat Acquires Blue Lava Wireless |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |date=April 22, 2005 |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> By December 2005 when [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) started its acquisition of JAMDAT, ''Tetris'' had been consistently selling well on American carrier phones.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/08/ea-buys-jamdat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201043628/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/08/ea-buys-jamdat |last=Buchanan |first=Levi |title=EA Buys JAMDAT |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 8, 2005 |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> EA completed its acquisition in February 2006, granting it the mobile license for ''Tetris''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/ea-officially-completes-jamdat-acquisition |last=Carless |first=Simon |title=EA Officially Completes Jamdat Acquisition |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |date=February 14, 2006 |access-date=September 25, 2024 |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926062612/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/ea-officially-completes-jamdat-acquisition |url-status=live }}</ref> [[EA Mobile]] released their first Tetris game as a launch game for the [[iTunes store]] on [[iPod 5G]] on September 11, 2006,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/16/ipod-game-review-central |last=Buchanan |first=Levi |title=iPod Game Review Central |website=[[IGN]] |date=September 15, 2006 |access-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923064816/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/16/ipod-game-review-central |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/185577/ea-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610075859/https://www.macworld.com/article/185577/ea-2.html |last=Cohen |first=Peter |title=EA Has Four New iPod Games in the Pipeline |magazine=[[MacWorld]] |date=May 8, 2007 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> and then [[Tetris (Electronic Arts)|their version of ''Tetris'']] on the [[Apple App Store]] on [[iOS]] on July 10, 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/191429/eagames-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205233221/https://www.macworld.com/article/191429/eagames-2.html |last=Cohen |first=Peter |title=EA announces iPhone game lineup |website=[[MacWorld]] |date=July 10, 2008 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> By January 2010, EA's mobile versions reached 100 million paid downloads, making ''Tetris'' the most popular mobile game of all time.<ref name="wired-ea" /> EA's license expired on April 21, 2020, and the game became inoperable.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2020-01-22-ea-tetris-mobile-game.html |title=EA is Shutting Down its Mobile ''Tetris'' Games |last=Fisher |first=Christine |website=[[Engadget]] |date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=April 29, 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 }}</ref>