United Kingdom

Lore & Background

In the film *Tetris*, the United Kingdom serves as the operational base for two key players in the battle over the game's rights. British entrepreneur Robert Stein, who first acquired the worldwide licensing rights from ELORG, operates from London, sublicensing them to Robert Maxwell's Mirrorsoft. The Maxwells, father and son, use their British corporate and political connections to try to control Tetris, even personally warning Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev against selling to capitalist interests. The film shows London as a place of aggressive deal-making: Rogers negotiates with Stein there, offering $25,000 for handheld rights, but Stein later promises those same rights to Atari Games for $100,000. The city is also where Kevin Maxwell informs Rogers that Sega has already been promised arcade rights, complicating Rogers's plans. The United Kingdom's role in the story highlights the Western side of the Cold War-era legal and corporate conflict over Tetris.

In Their Own Story

In London, Henk Rogers meets with Robert Stein in a tense negotiation. Rogers offers $25,000 for the handheld rights to Tetris. Stein appears to agree, but later secretly promises those rights to Atari Games for $100,000. Meanwhile, Kevin Maxwell of Mirrorsoft informs Rogers that Sega has already been promised arcade rights, blocking Rogers's plans for a Famicom version. The Maxwells, wielding their political influence, attempt to pressure the Soviet government, but their efforts ultimately fail when ELORG accepts Nintendo's $5 million offer. London is depicted as a city of backroom deals and broken promises, where the fate of Tetris hangs on the whims of powerful businessmen.

Reader's Guide

In the film *Tetris*, the United Kingdom is not a playable stage but a narrative setting. Key scenes set in London include: Rogers's negotiation with Stein at an electronics show, where he acquires Japanese distribution rights; Rogers's later meeting with Stein to offer $25,000 for handheld rights; and the Maxwells' attempt to use their political connections to block the deal. The film shows London as a contrast to Moscow—a place of capitalist competition where deals are made and broken quickly. For viewers, understanding the UK's role helps clarify the complex web of rights and betrayals that drove the real-life battle over Tetris. The film emphasizes that the United Kingdom was a crucial battleground in the Cold War-era struggle for control of the game.

Did You Know?

• The film *Tetris* was shot in Scotland, not the UK's actual locations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting planned Moscow filming.
• Director Jon S. Baird, a native of Aberdeen, described filming in his hometown as a special experience.
• The University of Aberdeen's Zoology Building was used as the headquarters of Soviet firm ELORG in the film.
• Filming took place for 7 days at the former RAF military base at Balado in Perth & Kinross.
• The production was supported by £500,000 from Screen Scotland's production growth fund.