Tetris and Mario: Henk Rogers Reveals Iconic Exchange With Nintendo’s Hiroshi Yamauchi

Tetris and Mario are two of the most recognizable franchises in gaming history, and few moments in Nintendo's storied past highlight their cultural impact quite like the business negotiations between Henk Rogers and former Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi.

Rogers, the entrepreneur instrumental in bringing Alexey Pajitnov’s Tetris to a global audience, has chronicled these pivotal encounters in his new book, 'The Perfect Game - Tetris: From Russia With Love'. According to details reported in a recent feature by Video Games Chronicle (VGC), Rogers recounts his interactions with Yamauchi—a man known for his commanding leadership at Nintendo from 1949 to 2002.

Yamauchi was famous for his uncompromising expectations and legendary status within the gaming industry.

Despite this, Rogers managed to foster a unique partnership with the Nintendo executive, shaped by mutual respect, boldness, and successful business ventures. In one memorable exchange, Rogers recalls Yamauchi expressing interest in acquiring Tetris for Nintendo.

Rogers responded with a daring counterproposal: he would only consider trading Tetris for Super Mario, effectively placing both titles on the same level of importance.

"I told him that Tetris meant as much to me as Mario did to Nintendo.

In this business, you respond to bold offers with bold responses," Rogers reflected.

This statement captures the extraordinary influence both games have had, not only for their companies but for the entire video game industry. Their relationship deepened over a shared love of the strategic board game Go, granting Rogers rare privileges with Nintendo, including early access to game cartridges—a testament to the mutual trust they cultivated. The results speak for themselves: Tetris, launched for the Game Boy in 1989, became a global phenomenon, cementing the handheld console as a must-have platform and selling over 35 million units.

Tetris's enduring legacy continues on modern Nintendo platforms, such as Nintendo Switch, where players can experience curated releases like 'Tetris Effect: Connected' and revisit the series' history with 'Tetris Forever', an interactive documentary developed by Digital Eclipse and available on the eShop today. Henk Rogers’s account not only highlights the significance of Tetris alongside Super Mario but also offers insight into Nintendo’s legacy of innovation and strategic partnership.

For readers interested in the origins and continued success of one of gaming’s most iconic titles, 'Tetris Forever' on the Nintendo Switch serves as an essential, interactive deep dive into both its historic roots and ongoing relevance. For more insights on classic Nintendo titles and the stories behind their greatest successes, stay tuned to our coverage of all things Nintendo and the legendary figures shaping its narrative.

Tetris Nintendo Super Mario Henk Rogers Hiroshi Yamauchi Mario Switch