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Tetris Makers and Techno Source Introduce New Tabletop Strategy Game: Tetris Link

Now, Tetris fans can experience the Tetris effect in a whole new way with Tetris Link, a new tabletop, family strategy game from Techno Source. (Photo: Business Wire)

In the Tetris Link game, players battle to score the most points by linking colored Tetriminos, the iconic Tetris playing pieces, into an upright game tower while attempting to block competitors from linking their game pieces. The game will make its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City February 13-16, 2011 (booth #3151) and will be available for purchase at mass market and specialty retailers in spring of 2011.

"Tetris is one of the most recognized, most played, and most loved games in the world," says Eric Levin, president, Techno Source. "We are thrilled to be partnering with the Tetris brand to offer a new tabletop strategy game that can be enjoyed by the entire family. If you love playing the Tetris video game, you will love this new strategy game!"

"Techno Source is a true game trendsetter, so we're excited to be partnering with them to create a new spin-off game that incorporates core Tetris brand elements that we know our fans will love," says Henk Rogers, president and CEO, Blue Planet Software, Inc. "Tetris Link is an exciting extension to the Tetris brand and we know our fans won't be able to stop playing it!"

The Tetris Link game is a strategy game that takes just minutes to learn and that the whole family can play together. Each player begins by choosing a color and collecting all of the Tetriminos in that color. Players then take turns rolling the die and dropping their color Tetriminos into the game tower, attempting to link Tetriminos of the same color to earn points while blocking opponents from scoring. Earn three points for the first three Tetriminos linked, and score one point for each additional Tetrimino linked. But, be careful! Players can lose points for any holes that are left in the game tower. Players track their points in real-time with the built-in scoring markers and, when the tower is full, the player with the highest score wins the game! Average play time is 15-20 minutes - play just once, or again and again. The retail game includes the game tower, 100 Tetrimino playing pieces in four different colors, playing die and instructions. For 2 to 4 players. Appropriate for players ages 6 and up. MSRP: $19.99.

Created in 1984 by Russian-born mathematician Alexey Pajitnov, the Tetris game revolutionized puzzle games with its distinctive "falling" blocks, called Tetriminos, that players could arrange in real time along the bottom of the rectangular playing field, or "matrix," in order to clear lines. Since then, the game has been translated into more than 50 languages and it is played in more than 50 countries worldwide. The game has been developed for more than 30 different gaming platforms with hundreds of millions of units sold.

About the Tetris Brand

The Tetris brand is one of the leading and most distinctive video game brands and franchises in the world. In the game's 25-year history, hundreds of millions of players have experienced the Tetris effect. Over 100 million mobile download games have been sold. Loved globally by people of all ages and all cultures, the Tetris game continues to be one of the most widely recognized video games of all time. Tetris Holding, LLC is the owner of Tetris rights worldwide and The Tetris Company, LLC is its exclusive licensee. The Tetris Company, through its agent Blue Planet Software, Inc., licenses and manages the Tetris intellectual property and franchise worldwide. Today, Blue Planet Software continues to work with licensees to deliver top quality Tetris products that are relevant, fun and challenging for its millions of players. For the latest information about the Tetris brand and Tetris products, please visit www.tetris.com.

About Techno Source

One of the fastest growing companies in the toy business, Techno Source is a privately held toy company headquartered in Hong Kong and with offices in New York. The company is committed to delivering high-quality toys and games featuring top-tier licensed brands at aggressive price points. Its award-winning branded product portfolio includes 20Q, Tetris, Disney^®, Rubik's^®, Nickelodeon, Bicycle (The United States Playing Card Company), Intellivision , Guess What I Am! , and Electronic Touch-Screen Sudoku . For more information, visit www.technosourceusa.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6601496&lang=en

Media:
For Techno Source
G.S. Schwartz & Co.
Linda Krebs, 212-725-4500 ext. 312
cell: 646-824-5186
lkrebs@schwartz.com
or
Grayling Connecting Point for the Tetris Brand
Victoria Krammen, 415-442-4033
victoria.krammen@graylingcp.com