As mentioned last week, my commentary as part of the Vilcek Foundation's article on Tetris and its creator, Alexey Pajitnov, was published. As also mentioned - and something that I typically like to do anyway - I said I would publish the extended commentary that did not fit in the article. Check it out below, where the questioner is Joyce Li and the answers were supplied by me, Bill Loguidice:

OK, maybe not, but I still had the distinct pleasure of providing some commentary for a wonderful new feature article featuring Tetris creator, Alexey Pajitnov, entitled, Alexey Pajitnov's Tetris Plays It Forward-Now an App Fave. The article was written by Joyce Li for the Vilcek Foundation's Fall 2010 newsletter. At some point soon I'll release the rest of the commentary I provided that didn't make it into the article. Enjoy!

Back by popular demand here at Armchair Arcade, we have Neave Frogger, Neave Asteroids, Neave Pacman, and Neave Tetris N-Blox for play directly in your Web browser! Just click on Games on the left-hand menu. All we ask in return is that you provide feedback and comments for the great content we provide, like Armchair Arcade Radio, and occasionally click on an ad or two (also see our special offers). Have fun!

Please enjoy these free games, courtesy of Armchair Arcade and Neave Games:

Thrust LifterThrust Lifter is a game of timing and precision. Guide your lander into narrow tunnels, avoiding collisions with walls, fires, lava, electricity, and all manner of aliens. Get to the Chilenoids before they run out of oxygen and bring them back to the home pad before taking off to your next destination. Features 15 beautiful levels and an original soundtrack, available as a separate download. If you like the game, purchase a registered copy.


Jeepney JeepersJeepney Jeepers is an homage to classics block-busting games like Arkanoid and Breakout but with a crazy twist! Blow up blocks, roast the invaders, rescue your fellow humans and--above all else--get to the last level and take on the awesome might of THE GORFINATOR. Collect upgrades and unleash the unbelievable block-busting power of the five-pronged MULTIBALL. Bust that crit bubble for the amazing SUPERBALL. Bounce up them balls as much as YOU want, no more, no less! If you have trouble downloading the game, try right-clicking on the link and use "save as." See the original announcement page for the game here.


MayhemMayhem is a combination platform and shoot'em up game that is playable in your browser. Shoot the aliens, snatch the power-ups, but don't fall to your death! Features destructible terrain, lots of power-ups, a variety of aliens, and of course, a menacing end-game boss. This game was made with Gamemaker HTML 5 edition. If you have issues with Firefox, try using a different browser or hit enter or space after clicking on the game window.

Neave Frogger | Neave Asteroids | Neave Pacman | Neave Tetris N-Blox

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What are your thoughts on Tetris? Is it one of the world's greatest games? Why or why not?

Beeslife is making available the new Moon Patrol take-off, Space Patrol, for the Mattel Intellivision, along with an updated version of the Tetris take-off, 4-Tris. I've been anticipating the release of Space Patrol for some time, so this is welcome news.

A copy and paste from the release:

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Neave tetris

Fossil Atari Centipede Animation WatchThe last "fun" watch I got, save for a relatively recent MP3/WMA/Voice Recorder/FM Radio/512MB Storage/USB watch, was a Nintendo Tetris watch, which I believe I got around 1998. I just found out about this new watch from Fossil, based around Atari's Centipede (and here are the others). Unfortunately, unlike the classic watches of old - like the ones from the early 80's based around Pac-Man and Space Invaders - you can't actually play this one. That and the high price make this a bit of a dissapointment, despite being well designed and in color. I'll take a classic 70's/80's computer, red LED or playable game watch any day over this, though if I ever saw it cheap enough...