The simple gameplay, as surely everyone knows, involves moving and turning falling blocks so that they form gap-free lines, which are removed preventing the blocks building all the way up to the top of the screen.
The design and the music has been copied, pastiched and spoofed many times in everything from artworks to music videos, though the creator never made much money out of it himself. Most mobile phones will have a version of it on.
So what's the value of the game? Well somewhere between free and a handful of change, usually. So it's a surprise to see a version on offer for a Doctor Evil-style $1m.
The version in question is the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version, and the reason its eBay consignor thinks it's so valuable is that Sega's great rival Nintendo blocked the release of the cartridge (that's blocked legally, rather than with an awkwardly placed 'T-block').
So hardly any were released. The consignor believes there to be between three and eight in existence, with this one being supposedly unique as it was signed by Pajitnov himself.
 Mega Drive Tetris - worth mega bucks? |
As the description puts it:
"This is truly a rare, exclusive, elusive, obscure and desirable centerpiece grial [sic] for any collection, it has all: great franchise (Tetris), great history (Sega vs Nintendo, you can google that), scarcity (very few copies) and exclusivity (signed by Alexei). You can expect no more."
We would have to join with others in raising an eyebrow to the $1m figure. (What is it with gamers and ridiculous prices?) In fairness, the consignor has indicated that he will consider serious offers below that figure.
Nevertheless, as he has supposedly already turned down a $20,000 offer, it may be stay a while in 'easy spin' before it sells.
- Click here to view our Unique items stock items for sale
- Learn how you can get pleasure and profit from unique items
- Read all the latest Unique items and Autographs news
Join our readers in over_200_countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today
