Cubic Planet

A strange little side quest

The next time Cubic Planet asks for one more try, remember that game ideas rarely appear from nowhere. The name Tetris combines a reference to four-square pieces with Pajitnov's interest in tennis. The broader history adds one more wrinkle. Nintendo's Donkey Kong arrived in 1981 and introduced the character first known as Jumpman, who later became Mario. It is a good reminder that simple game mechanics can carry a surprising amount of history.