On second look - it's extremely obviously Photoshopped.

However, I have heard rumors that where are 'licensed' Tengen Tetris carts out there - any substance to these rumors?

I actually have 2 different ones. One is very different as Mr. Mark said, and one is similar to this but the title screen has animation of pieces falling to spell out Tetris.

I wouldn't see how, check out any of the History of Tetris documentaries and you'll see how the whole fiasco got started.  Nintendo secured the rights for a console based version, Tengen thought they had which is why they came out with the unlicensed version, and then they were sued by Nintendo.  

Right, it wouldn't make any sense. In fact, if they did exist we would all know about them and they would probably be about $1000 a cart.

There are several nes Tetris protos floating around, but only 3 licensed Tengen copies. Your other proto is the most interesting imo, but it isnt a Tengen proto.

I second this post outside of top 5 nes games ever, but it's in there as my favorite Tetris along with the GB one.  Great game and an amazing prototype find.  Is this thing 100% normal otherwise?

Yes, I see you are right. It plays alot like Tengen Tetris, One Screen says copyright 1987 Academysoft Licnesed to Nintendo. Another Screen says Andromeda Software SubLicesned to Mirrosoft LTD, & Sphare Inc. The Tengen Tetris Proto I have sas Copyright 1987 Academysoft, 1988 Tengen. So I am thinking Tengen bougt it from Academysoft maybe? Ahh the mysteries of protos.

Tell me about it. Protos alone are confusing. You toss in the odd history of Tetris and things get thrown completely out the window.

It's pretty awesome the evolution of tetris protos. I know that the roms are dumped but not public. So there is a record. Maybe one day we will have public roms of them but thats up to the owners to share.

A multicart with the different versions from oldest to newest would be REALLY cool :-)

My old Tetrises!

Now that very interesting.

Yep, actually playing them right now with friends

The history of tetris, is a puzzle. Ironic

As for the copy in this thread, I have no doubt that it's legitimate.  The price is impossible to pin down, but it will easily net four figures without much effort.

Congrats on the find and please feel free to let us know if you unearth any other gems from your EGM days!

That day is closer than most people realize. 

Thank you to everyone for your input and expertise.

I am fortunate to still have this treasure as it is the only prototype I own.

Believe it or not we were not given review copies in those early EGM days.
Occasionally Ed Semrad(EIC)and I would take games home for Review Crew
but were expected to bring them back the next day.

I honestly don't recall how this came into my collection, must have been a fluke.
I must have asked Ed to take it home because Tetris was and is one of my favorite games of all time.

I was recently cleaning my basement and found this "Duck Hunt" cart in my crate of NES games.
Who knew it was a piece of gaming history that would be well preserved over 20 years later.

wow this is awesome. And nice to have an old EGMer here. Probably my favorite gaming mag of all time.

The history of tetris isn't a puzzle, it's cornerstone lesson of the history of the everything.. Some guy made something awesome, then some useless jerk beat him up and took credit for it along with his lunch money.

Really awesome find, by the way!  Are you going to sell it?