Maya Rogers, the current president and CEO of The Tetris Company, shares insights from her unique upbringing enriched by the legacy of Tetris, a video game that transformed the gaming industry. As the daughter of Henk Rogers, who played a pivotal role in securing Tetris’s rights for Nintendo’s Game Boy in the late 1980s, her childhood memories are entwined with family competitions over high scores. She recalls thinking of Tetris as a mere game until she recognized its monumental impact years later.
Henk Rogers, alongside Tetris’s creator Alexey Pajitnov, co-founded The Tetris Company, focusing on the game’s licensing and global distribution. Maya attributes her career ambitions to her mother, Akemi Rogers, who urged her to pursue corporate success. After initial experience at American Honda, Maya found her calling at Sony Computer Entertainment, where she contributed to the Gran Turismo franchise. This role felt like a perfect fit, exemplifying her passion for both the automotive and gaming industries.
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In 2005, Maya’s life took a dramatic turn when her father experienced a severe heart attack. This close call prompted her to join The Tetris Company, eager to learn from him while he was still around. Despite her accomplishments, Maya is aware of the continuing underrepresentation of women in executive roles within the gaming sector. According to Women in Games, women account for only about 22% of the global workforce and hold a mere 16% of executive positions in the top 15 gaming companies.
“It shouldn’t be that way,” Maya asserts, emphasizing the necessity for opportunities for women in gaming. She pointed out the disproportion between the number of female gamers and female game developers, urging young women not to shy away from pursuing careers in the field due to feelings of inadequacy.
“Men show up to the table and they’re kind of winging it, right?”
Maya Rogers, The Tetris Company
Addressing her personal experiences within the industry, Maya acknowledges encountering sexism. “Of course,” she replies when asked about it, sharing how some individuals doubt her authority based on her appearance. Nevertheless, she sees a unique advantage in being a woman in a predominantly male industry, asserting that her visibility grants her a distinctive reputation.
At The Tetris Company, she has made efforts to diversify the workforce, shifting from a predominantly male team to one that includes significantly more women. The change reflects the belief that women can excel in all industry facets. Maya firmly believes that enhancing gender representation in leadership roles is crucial and credits diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for making strides in creating a more balanced workplace.
“There needs to be something that is almost enforced to make sure that there are enough women in the industry,” she states, advocating for women in power to inspire and motivate others to assert their rights.
Mental Health and Tetris
Maya is keen to highlight the mental health benefits linked to Tetris, citing research by Professor Emily Holmes from Uppsala University. Over the past 15 years, Holmes has explored Tetris’s potential to aid individuals coping with trauma and PTSD. “When she was at Oxford University, she began this research to see if Tetris could assist with trauma and PTSD – and now she’s proven that it can,” Maya explains.
Furthermore, feedback from individuals with ADHD highlights how Tetris aids concentration before important tasks like exams. This accumulation of stories underscores the potential of video games, specifically Tetris, in promoting mental wellness—a vital counterpoint to the often negative perceptions surrounding gaming.
Commitment to Sustainability
Maya also shares her commitment to environmental sustainability, a passion she shares with her father. Together they established Blue Startups in Honolulu, supporting entrepreneurs focused on sustainability initiatives, such as electric charging stations for vehicles.
The Future of Tetris
While The Tetris Company has spent years defending its intellectual property by sending cease-and-desist letters to imitators, Maya stresses the complexity and significance of protecting creative works in today’s rapidly evolving landscape, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence and the creator economy. It’s crucial, she notes, to safeguard and honor established brands.
She celebrates Tetris’s ability to adapt over the decades through innovations like Tetris Effect and Tetris 99. Maya sees ample possibilities for brand engagement beyond traditional gaming, such as the recent Tetris film produced for Apple TV. Although attempts to create a Tetris movie date back over a decade, the success of recent adaptations underscores the game’s timeless appeal.
Maya remains optimistic about future iterations of Tetris, asserting that even decades since its inception, the game continues to evolve. “Tetris Effect is a perfect example of how you can iterate on a game that’s 40 years old, and make it cool, and connect with a new audience,” she explains. With Alexey Pajitnov actively involved in game design decisions, Maya believes that Tetris will remain a vital fixture in gaming culture across generations.
In conclusion, the success of Tetris embodies an enduring partnership and mutual respect between Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov. Their unique collaboration, rooted in a shared passion for gaming and programming, demonstrates the significance of trust and friendship in pioneering an iconic gaming franchise. As Maya aptly states, they are, “two people that are as different as can be,” yet their bond continues to drive the legacy of Tetris into the future.
