In the realm of gaming legends, where high scores and unbeatable challenges reign supreme, there's a new star on the rise: 13-year-old Willis Gibson, also known by his gaming moniker 'blue scuti.' While countless players have attempted to conquer the iconic falling-block game Tetris, none have truly succeeded. That is, until Willis came along and shattered all expectations by 'beating' the original Nintendo version of the game. Well, technically, he didn't just beat it; he broke it.
Reaching what the gaming community refers to as a 'kill screen,' Willis accomplished something that many thought was unattainable. You see, Tetris doesn't have an ending scripted into its code. The four-block shapes never stop falling, no matter how skillfully you stack them to eliminate rows. Top players have found ways to extend their winning streaks by pushing to higher and higher levels, only to eventually be defeated by the game itself.
But Willis defied the odds on December 21st, triggering a kill screen on Level 157. This remarkable achievement proudly flaunts his victory over Tetris, a triumph akin to pushing the boundaries of the game's software and hardware. Tetris CEO Maya Rogers couldn't contain her excitement and congratulated Willis, acknowledging the monumental nature of his accomplishment. As Tetris marks its 40th anniversary this year, Willis has indisputably left his mark on the game's storied history.
It's been quite a journey to reach this point. In the early days, the Tetris community struggled to climb beyond the lower levels, stuck in the 20s and 30s due to their limited knowledge of advanced techniques. Level 29 proved particularly daunting, with the blocks falling too quickly for the in-game controller to respond effectively. However, players eventually uncovered new strategies, aided by the tireless documentation of gaming YouTuber David Macdonald.
In 2011, a technique called 'hypertapping' emerged, allowing players to rhythmically vibrate their fingers and move the controller faster than the game's built-in speed. This breakthrough propelled players to Level 35 by 2018, but progress eventually hit a wall. Then, in 2020, a gamer ingeniously combined a multifinger technique from arcade games with a strategic finger placement on the controller. Dubbed 'rolling,' this lightning-fast approach propelled one player all the way to Level 95 in 2022.
However, as players pushed the game's limits beyond what the developers had anticipated, new challenges arose. Quirks and glitches manifested at higher levels, catching players off guard. The color palette, which usually cycled through ten distinct patterns, began to throw random combinations, making it harder to differentiate blocks from the black background. Two particularly treacherous patterns, nicknamed 'Dusk' and 'Charcoal,' posed additional obstacles.
To break through this impasse, a Tetris-playing AI program named StackRabbit took the reins. It reached an unbelievable Level 237 before crashing the game, shedding light on the possibility of triggering kill screens through specific gameplay events. While StackRabbit's run was not directly comparable to human players, it sparked a collective effort to map out all possible scenarios leading to game-ending crashes. The culmination of this endeavor was a comprehensive spreadsheet highlighting the precise conditions and levels most likely to result in a crash.
Armed with this knowledge, Willis embarked on his record-breaking run. Even he was taken aback when he crash-landed at Level 157. In his livestream, we can witness his disbelief, as he hyperventilates, clutches his temples, and exclaims, 'I can't feel my fingers.' The magnitude of his achievement weighs heavily upon him, and rightfully so.
Willis Gibson, the teenage prodigy, has secured his place in gaming history. By shattering the limits of Tetris, he has demonstrated that perseverance and creativity can overcome even the most formidable challenges. As we celebrate Tetris' four decades of existence, Willis stands as the conquering hero of this timeless game. His feat proves that in a world of falling blocks, the greatest power lies within the human spirit.
