‘It was just the perfect game’: Henk Rogers on buying Tetris and foiling the KGB
‘It was just the perfect game’: Henk Rogers on buying Tetris and foiling the KGB
‘It was just the perfect game’: Henk Rogers on buying Tetris and foiling the KGB
Tom Regan
May, 12, 2025
Summary
Game designer Henk Rogers discovered Tetris in 1988 and played a pivotal role in bringing it to the world, navigating Soviet bureaucracy and KGB surveillance to secure its rights. Although the Apple TV+ film about his story took creative liberties, Rogers appreciated the recognition it brought. He co-founded the Tetris Company with creator Alexey Pajitnov, who had never profited from the game until then. Beyond gaming, Rogers developed influential titles like The Black Onyx and inspired Nintendo's Zelda. After a heart attack, he shifted focus to climate activism, founding the Blue Planet Foundation to champion clean energy in Hawaii and beyond.
Reference
Regan, T. (2025, May 12). ‘It was just the perfect game’: Henk Rogers on buying Tetris and foiling the KGB. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/may/12/henk-rogers-interview-tetris-kgb