In a remarkable achievement, 13-year-old Willis Gibson, also known as "blue scuti," has become the first player to "beat" the original Nintendo version of Tetris. Gibson reached the 157th level of the game before the code started glitching and crashed it. While some may argue that crashing the game doesn't constitute a victory, in the world of video games, reaching a "kill screen" is a highly coveted achievement that pushes the game's hardware and software to its limits.
Tetris has long been considered unbeatable due to its lack of a scripted ending. However, top players have continuously found ways to extend their winning streaks by reaching higher levels. Gibson's achievement is significant because it defies the preconceived limits of this legendary game.
Tetris CEO Maya Rogers congratulated Gibson on his extraordinary accomplishment and described it as a monumental achievement that surpasses the expectations of the game's limits. The makers of Tetris recognize the significance of Gibson's victory and celebrate his achievement as the game approaches its 40th anniversary.
The road to reaching the kill screen has been a challenging one. Early on, players were stuck in the 20s and 30s levels because they lacked the techniques to progress further. However, over the years, players developed strategies like hypertapping and rolling to increase their level progression. As players pushed the game's limits, new obstacles arose, such as color palette issues that made it harder to distinguish blocks from the background.
To break through these obstacles, a Tetris-playing AI program called StackRabbit was created. StackRabbit managed to reach Level 237 before crashing the game. Its runs helped identify specific events that could trigger game-ending glitches. Human players then used this information to map out all possible scenarios that could cause crashes in the original game.
Gibson's record-breaking run was inspired by this effort, and he crashed the game at Level 157. In a livestream video, Gibson is visibly shocked by his accomplishment and even expresses concern for his well-being. While some may argue that crashing the game may not be a traditional victory, Gibson's achievement is a testament to his skill and determination.
Overall, Gibson's feat in beating Tetris is an extraordinary accomplishment that challenges the game's limits and showcases the dedication and talent of the gaming community.