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Tetris Company Denies Role in White House Arcade Games
The Tetris Company has stated it did not authorize the White House to use its imagery in a new arcade, which included a game called 'Build the Wall.' The company said it is reviewing the matter.
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The Tetris Company said it did not give permission for the White House to use its iconic imagery for a controversial online arcade that the Trump administration released on Thursday.
The White House opened an 'Arcade' section on its official website and released five web games, including a title called "Build the Wall." A block-stacking game called "Build the Wall" included instructions to "protect the border from the coming horde." The arcade-style games and promotional content used by the Trump administration contain images that resemble games created by Tetris and other major game developers including Sega, Microsoft-owned Xbox and the Flappy Bird Foundation.
The Tetris Company reiterated on its official X account that it was not involved in the creation of "Build the Wall" and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game. Emphasizing that Tetris has brought generations and cultures together through play and joy for over 40 years, the company added, "We are currently reviewing the matter."
Trump campaigned on a promise to expel millions of undocumented migrants and has taken actions to speed up deportations. The White House is trying to convince voters that Trump's second presidential term has been successful ahead of the midterm election in November. The White House has used social media stunts and has faced backlash from artists over unauthorized music use.
In one clip, the letters from the Sega logo transform into MAGA, a term that stands for Make America Great Again, which President Donald Trump turned into his campaign slogan during his first presidential run for the 2016 election. The games, which were published on the official White House website under a new page called "arcade," sparked condemnation for racist themes and prompted questions about potential copyright violations.
How each outlet told it
A framing line is our reading of that outlet's own text — an interpretation, not a quotation and not a fact we assert. Check it against what the outlet published.
Framing: Emphasizes that the games are retro arcade style and promote Trump's agenda
Facts Included:
The White House website on Thursday unveiled Arcade, a collection of five low-resolution video games that promote different aspects of President Donald Trump's agenda.
"Build the Wall" is a "Tetris" knockoff that transforms the classic game into an effort to "Protect the border from the coming horde."
In "Rio Run," which resembles the mobile favorite "Snake," an icon resembling Trump runs around gathering potential border crossers.
In "Supply Line," which looks like a condensed version of the arcade game "Tapper," food moves along an assembly line and you must reject items that don't meet "Make America Healthy Again" standards.
In "Trump Savings Tycoon," your goal is to collect money flying through the air to "Fill your kids' Trump Accounts," the administration savings plan that offers $1,000 to every child born during Trump's term.
In a statement Friday, The Tetris Company said it "was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall' and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game."
Pointing out that the object of the original game is to avoid building a wall, the company said, "For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy."
The White House announced Arcade on social media with a series of animations parodying Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo loading screens.
In one such post, the Sega logo turns into "MAGA," as in Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.
Framing: Highlights the company's condemnation of the White House game, framing it as a dispute over use of the game's imagery. — Measured, reporting the statements and reactions without overt editorializing.
Facts Included:
Tetris said on Friday that it did not give permission for the White House to use the game’s iconic imagery for a controversial online arcade released on Thursday.
The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’ and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game.
A block-stacking game called Build the Wall included instructions to 'protect the border from the coming horde.'
The arcade-style games and promotional content contain images resembling games by Tetris, Sega, Microsoft-owned Xbox, and Flappy Bird Foundation.
Tetris said in a social media post that it believes in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them.
The White House released several games Thursday, with a placeholder that teased another one 'coming soon.'
The White House said it is focused on ways to innovate and tell the president’s accomplishments.
Trump campaigned on a promise to expel millions of undocumented migrants and has taken actions to speed up deportations.
The White House is trying to convince voters of Trump’s success ahead of the midterm election in November.
Framing: Highlights the Tetris Company's disassociation from the White House's new game, framing it as a copycat.
Facts Included:
The Tetris Company had no hand in the Trump administration's new immigration-themed Build the Wall game, according to a post on the Tetris Instagram account.
The game is one of six new arcade titles released by the White House on Thursday.
The Tetris Company's post says: "At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together."
The Tetris Company's post says: "To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we're grateful to have you in our community."
The Tetris Company notes in the Instagram post description that it "was not involved in the creation of Build the Wall" and that it "takes copyright infringement very seriously."
Build the Wall tasks players with stacking and slotting falling bricks into a slowly growing wall, not unlike Tetris.
Build the Wall's anti-immigration stance is made explicit by the wall's placement near an ill-defined "Southern Border."
Building a wall across the entire US-Mexico border is a policy goal shared across Trump's two terms and still in the works.
When Engadget asked The Tetris Company to comment, it reiterated that it wasn't involved and "did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property" for Build the Wall.
The Tetris Company said: "For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy."
The Tetris Company said: "The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible."
The Tetris Company said: "We are currently reviewing the matter."
Framing: The headline emphasizes the White House unveiling the game 'Build the Wall' and Tetris's denial of authorization.
Facts Included:
The Tetris Company stated that it was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall', a web game unveiled by the White House.
The Tetris Company stated it has never permitted the use of the Tetris brand or intellectual property.
The Tetris Company is currently reviewing the matter.
On September 3 (local time), the White House opened an 'Arcade' section on its official website and released five web games, including 'Build the Wall'.
According to AP and EFE, this section features content that adapts President Donald Trump's key policies into game formats.
'Build the Wall' is a falling-block game that runs in a web browser.
Unlike 'Tetris', where players clear completed horizontal lines to prevent blocks from reaching the top, 'Build the Wall' focuses on building a high wall with the blocks.
On September 4 (local time), The Tetris Company told AP: "The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall' and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game."
The Tetris Company added: "We are currently reviewing the matter."
The company reiterated on its official X account that it had no relation to the game's creation, stating, "We take copyright infringement very seriously."
Framing: Headline emphasizes Tetris's demand for answers over the White House's 'Build the Wall' game.
Facts Included:
Tetris said it did not give permission for the White House to use the game's iconic imagery for a controversial online arcade released on Thursday.
The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall' and did not authorise or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property.
Build the Wall included instructions to 'protect the border from the coming horde.'
The arcade-style games and promotional content used by the Trump administration contain images resembling games by Tetris, Sega, Microsoft-owned Xbox, and Flappy Bird Foundation.
The White House said Thursday in a statement: 'This administration is laser focused on ways to innovate and tell the story of the President’s many accomplishments in a way that resonates with every American.'
Amerika Garcia Grewal, co-director of the Frontera Federation in Eagle Pass, Texas, criticized the games, saying, 'Makes me sick. They’ve been playing games with people’s lives for years, now they’ve made a video game of what they’re doing.'
Trump campaigned on a promise to expel millions of undocumented migrants and has taken actions to speed up deportations.
The web-only games were published on the official White House website under a page called 'arcade.'
Framing: Contrast between a White House video game launch and a major games company's disapproval.
Facts Included:
The White House released a selection of video games in an attempt at youth outreach.
The Tetris Company said it did not give permission for the White House to use the game's iconic imagery for an online arcade released on Friday.
Tetris told AFP: "The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall' and did not authorise or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game."
Tetris said: "We are currently reviewing the matter."
A game called Build the Wall included instructions to "protect the border from the coming horde."
The White House arcade includes games resembling those from Tetris, Sega, Microsoft-owned Xbox, and the Flappy Bird Foundation.
Tetris said in a social media post: "At Tetris, we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them."
The White House released several games Friday with a teaser for another "coming soon."
The games were published on the White House website under a page called "arcade," sparking condemnation for racist themes and copyright questions.
In one clip, Sega logo letters transform into MAGA, a term President Trump used as a campaign slogan for the 2016 election.
The White House said Thursday: "This administration is laser focused on ways to innovate and tell the story of the President's many accomplishments in a way that resonates with every American."
Trump campaigned on a promise to expel millions of undocumented migrants.
The White House has used social media stunts and has faced backlash from artists over unauthorized music use.
Framing: Tetris distancing itself from controversial White House arcade games
Facts Included:
Tetris said on Sept 4 that it did not give permission for the White House to use the game’s iconic imagery for a controversial online arcade that the Trump administration released on Sept 3.
Tetris told AFP in a statement: 'The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall' and did not authorise or licence the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game.'
A block-stacking game called Build the Wall included instructions to 'protect the border from the coming horde.'
Tetris said in a social media post: 'We take copyright infringement very seriously.'
Promotional content posted by the White House on social media also included images that resemble trademarks and designs from Microsoft-owned Xbox.
The White House released several games on Sept 3, with a placeholder that teased another one 'coming soon.'
The web-only games, which were published on the official White House website under a new page called 'arcade,' sparked condemnation for racist themes and prompted questions about potential copyright violations.
The White House said Sept 3 in a statement to AFP: 'This administration is laser focused on ways to innovate and tell the story of the President’s many accomplishments in a way that resonates with every American.'
Amerika Garcia Grewal, co-director of the Frontera Federation in Eagle Pass, Texas, told AFP: 'Makes me sick. They’ve been playing games with people’s lives for years, now they’ve made a video game of what they’re doing.'
Trump campaigned on a promise to expel millions of undocumented migrants and has taken several actions since returning to power aimed at speeding up deportations and reducing border crossings.
The White House is trying to convince voters that Trump’s second presidential term has been successful ahead of the midterm election in November.
Framing: Highlights Tetris's denial of permission for the White House game, emphasizing the company's disavowal.
Facts Included:
Tetris said on Friday that it did not give permission for the White House to use the game’s iconic imagery for a controversial online arcade released on Thursday.
The Tetris Company stated it was not involved in the creation of Build the Wall and did not authorise or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property.
Tetris said it is currently reviewing the matter.
Build the Wall included instructions to 'protect the border from the coming horde.'
Games used by the Trump administration contain images resembling games by Tetris, Sega, Microsoft-owned Xbox, and the Flappy Bird Foundation.
Tetris said in a social media post that it believes in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them.
Tetris said it takes copyright infringement very seriously.
ClaimThe Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall' and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game.
ClaimThe arcade-style games and promotional content used by the Trump administration contain images that resemble games created by Tetris, Sega, Microsoft-owned Xbox, and the Flappy Bird Foundation.
ClaimThe Tetris Company said in a social media post: 'At Tetris, we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them.'
ClaimThe web-only games were published on the official White House website under a new page called 'arcade,' sparking condemnation for racist themes and prompting questions about potential copyright violations.
ClaimIn one clip, the letters from the Sega logo transform into MAGA, a term that stands for Make America Great Again, which President Trump turned into his campaign slogan during his first presidential run for the 2016 election.
ClaimThe White House said Thursday in a statement to AFP: 'This administration is laser focused on ways to innovate and tell the story of the President’s many accomplishments in a way that resonates with every American.'
ClaimAmerika Garcia Grewal, co-director of the Frontera Federation in Eagle Pass, Texas, told AFP: 'Makes me sick. They’ve been playing games with people’s lives for years, now they’ve made a video game of what they’re doing.'
ClaimTrump campaigned on a promise to expel millions of undocumented migrants and has taken several actions since returning to power aimed at speeding up deportations and reducing border crossings.
ClaimThe Tetris Company said: 'For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy. The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible.'
ClaimThe White House website on Thursday unveiled Arcade, a collection of five low-resolution video games that promote different aspects of President Donald Trump's agenda.
ClaimIn 'Supply Line,' which looks like a condensed version of the arcade game 'Tapper,' food moves along an assembly line and you must reject items that don't meet 'Make America Healthy Again' standards.
ClaimIn 'Trump Savings Tycoon,' your goal is to collect money flying through the air to 'Fill your kids' Trump Accounts,' the administration savings plan that offers $1,000 to every child born during Trump's term.