The Black Onyx, released in the early 1980s, established Henk Rogers as a significant figure in Japan’s emerging video game industry as the nation's first major turn-based role-playing title. Born in Amsterdam in 1953, the Dutch entrepreneur later bridged international markets by securing the global console rights for the Soviet-designed puzzle game Tetris.
Early Development and Tetris
Rogers graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan in 1972 before moving to Hawaii to study computer science at the University of Hawaii in Manoa. He married Akemi in 1977 after relocating to Japan, where he founded Bullet-Proof Software. Recognizing the market potential of Tetris, Rogers traveled to the Soviet Union to negotiate directly with Elektronorgtechnica. His deal secured the rights for Nintendo's Game Boy system, transforming the puzzle game into a global hit and leading to his role as co-founder of The Tetris Company alongside Alexey Pajitnov.
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Take the IQ test →Sustainability and Clean Energy
In 2007, Rogers established the Blue Planet Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity in Hawaii dedicated to clean energy advocacy. This initiative proved influential in 2015 when Hawaii became the first state in the United States to pass a 100% renewable energy law. Building on this, he founded Blue Planet Energy, a company specializing in lithium-ion battery storage. Rogers specifically implemented a lithium ferrous phosphate chemistry for these systems, citing the noncombustible nature of the components and the elimination of rare earth elements as significant safety and environmental advantages.
Aerospace and Business Acceleration
Rogers expanded his activities into the aerospace sector as chairman of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems. He also founded the International MoonBase Alliance, which created the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation habitat on Mauna Loa. Additionally, he co-founded the Honolulu-based accelerator Blue Startups alongside Maya Rogers and Chenoa Farnsworth to support technology ventures in the cross-Pacific region.
Fast facts
- Born: 1953, Amsterdam
- Education: University of Hawaii in Manoa
- Key Venture: The Tetris Company
- Energy Initiative: Blue Planet Foundation
- Aerospace Role: Chairman, PISCES
- Nationality: Netherlands; United States
- Pop Culture Representation: Portrayed by Taron Egerton in the 2023 film Tetris
Questions readers ask
What role did Henk Rogers play in the distribution of Tetris?
He negotiated the international rights for home gaming systems with the Soviet organization ELORG, which allowed the game to be bundled with Nintendo’s Game Boy.
What is the primary focus of Blue Planet Energy?
The company provides energy storage systems using lithium ferrous phosphate batteries, which Rogers promotes for their noncombustible properties.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Hawaiʻi System
- Worked as programmer, entrepreneur and video game developer
