Original Tetris creators believed it was unbeatable, designed to continue indefinitely until overwhelmed by falling pieces.
To conquer it, players must achieve such high scores that the game crashes due to memory overload.
This seemingly impossible feat became a reality when a 13-year-old, Gibson, defied the odds.
His accomplishment sheds light on evolving human capabilities in the digital age.
In 2021, only AI had triumphed over Tetris, displaying unparalleled game mastery.
The AI player, with lightning-fast reactions, navigated the game flawlessly, seemingly surpassing human limitations.
At level 29, the game’s pace doubled, and beyond a million points, the display transformed into letters and Tetris symbols, accompanied by a surreal alteration of block colors.
Gibson’s groundbreaking achievement unfolded during a streamed game on December 21, 2023.
Playing at increasingly frenetic speeds for 40 minutes, he set new records for high scores, levels played, and lines cleared.
Eventually, he achieved the coveted crash, signifying the seemingly unattainable – beating the game.
Beyond the realm of arcade games, Gibson’s accomplishment holds broader significance.
His success offers insights into learning and pushing the boundaries of human performance.
Tetris, beyond being a game, is a thriving community.
Joining this tradition, Gibson became part of a network comprising players, streamers, bloggers, and record-chasers, fostering inspiration and experimentation.
Communities serve as catalysts for human potential, providing encouragement and a platform for cultural evolution.
Like the Fosbury Flop in high jumping, innovative techniques emerge within these communities, spreading through shared learning.
The internet and AI amplify this process, propelling cultural transmission and skill acquisition to unprecedented heights.
In Tetris, a recent innovation called “rolling” transformed gameplay.
This technique, involving drumming the controller against a hovering finger or thumb, facilitates faster input.
Despite the game’s long history, rolling gained popularity in recent years, propagated by the Tetris community, with younger members often at the forefront of recognizing and adopting useful innovations.
Contrary to concerns about AI rendering human skills obsolete, Gibson’s achievement underscores that human performance is not static.
Continuous collective innovation and the pursuit of extraordinary achievements define our species.
In the digital age, there is immense potential to explore uncharted territories in art, science, and culture, exemplified by Gibson’s mastery of Tetris.
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