Apple constructed a Tetris clone for the iPod however by no means launched it

Apple as soon as designed a Tetris clone that has been discovered on a prototype model of the third-generation iPod, indicating the corporate was experimenting with releasing the sport on the music participant. It’s referred to as Stacker and, clearly, is managed through the iPod’s scroll wheel. The software program was noticed by , who is thought for locating uncommon prototype units.

The prototype iPod is a “DVT” system, which means it was a mid-stage system that was nonetheless in “Design Validation Testing.” It has a mannequin variety of A1023, which isn’t a identified mannequin variety of any iPod model.

The system runs a prototype model of iPodOS 2.0, which is the place Stacker comes from. The items are moved from left to proper utilizing the scroll wheel they usually fall when the center button is pressed. The objective is to clear traces and rating factors. You realize the deal. It’s Tetris.

It’s not the one sport discovered on the prototype iPod. There’s one thing referred to as Block0, which is probably going an early model of Brick. The system additionally includes a sport referred to as Klondike, which is probably going an early model of Solitaire. The music participant did ultimately get some video games, together with the aforementioned Solitaire and Brick. AppleDemoYT requested former Apple VP Tony Fadell why Stacker was by no means launched and he mentioned it was as a result of video games didn’t present up till a “later software program launch.”

Later variations of the iPod received an official model of Tetris, along with video games like Bejeweled, Mini Golf, Mahjong, Zuma, Cubis 2, and Pac-Man. All of those releases predate the App Retailer. The iPod Basic was discontinued in 2014 and the iPod Contact in 2022, ending the period of the standalone music participant.