Space Invaders

Space Invaders is a classic shooter game first released in arcades in 1978. The game was programmed by Toshihiro Nishikado for the Japanese corporation Taito, but is now owned by the Japanese video games company Square Enix. Because of its simplistic, yet addictive, game design Space Invaders is hailed as one of the most influential games in video game history. As the game surged in popularity, non-arcade outlets such as grocery stores and hotels started to stock the game. Space Invaders is modeled after a previous Taito video game, called Space Monsters, as well as elements from the H.G. Wells science fiction novel War of the Worlds. Since the game's release, it has spawned more than 50 re-incarnations on various consoles, but was perhaps made most popular for the 1980 Atari 2600 home version.

Fast Facts

1. Developer: TAITO
2. Publisher: Midway
3. Platforms: Atari 2600, Atari 8-Bit, Atari 5200, J2ME, MSX, NES
4. Mode: Single-player, Multiplayer
5. Genre: Shooter
6. Trivia: In Japanese, the game title actually reads "Space Invader," singular
7. Trivia: Space Invaders was the first non-Atari game licensed by Atari for conversion on one of their systems
8. Release Date: 1978

Gameplay Description

Space Invaders gameplay is fairly simple. You control a small, green spaceship, shifting it left and right across the bottom of the screen, firing bullets up at descending rows of aliens. The aliens fire back down at you, and as time goes on they inch closer and closer to the bottom of the screen. Occasionally, a red "bonus" spaceship flies across the top of the screen, which if destroyed awards extra points. The goal of the game is to eliminate all of the aliens before they reach the bottom of the screen without getting hit. To help you, there are four green barricades above your spaceship which buffer incoming alien fire.

Sequels and Spinoffs

1. Space Invaders Part II (1979)
2. Return of the Invaders (1985)
3. Space Invaders Deluxe (1994)
4. Super Space Invaders 91

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