A strange little side quest
The next time World of Alice: Uppercase and Lowercase 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. A second detail makes the picture even better: The Oregon Trail began in 1971 when three student teachers created a computer simulation to help Minnesota schoolchildren learn American history. It is a good reminder that simple game mechanics can carry a surprising amount of history.
