Space Invaders is a 1978 shoot ’em up arcade game developed by Tomohiro Nishikado. It was manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan, and licensed to the Midway division of Bally for overseas distribution. Space Invaders was the first fixed shooter and set the template for the shoot ’em up genre. The goal is to defeat wave after wave of descending aliens with a horizontally moving laser to earn as many points as possible.
Tomohiro Nishikado (西角 友宏, Nishikado Tomohiro, born March 31, 1944 in Osaka) is a Japanese video game developer and engineer. He is the creator of the arcade shoot ’em up game Space Invaders, released to the public in 1978 by the Taito of Japan, often credited as the first shoot ’em up and for beginning the golden age of video arcade games. Prior to Space Invaders, he also designed other earlier Taito arcade games, including the shooting electro-mechanical games Sky Fighter (1971) and Sky Fighter II, the sports video game TV Basketball in 1974, the vertical scrolling racing video game Speed Race (also known as Wheels) in 1974, the multi-directional shooter Western Gun (also known as Gun Fight) in 1975, and the first-person combat flight simulator Interceptor (1975).
space invaders (1978)
Space Invaders is a fixed shooter in which the player moves a laser cannon horizontally across the bottom of the screen and fires at aliens overhead. The aliens begin as five rows of eleven that move left and right as a group, shifting downward each time they reach a screen edge. The goal is to eliminate all of the aliens by shooting them. While the player has three lives, the game ends immediately if the invaders reach the bottom of the screen. The aliens attempt to destroy the player’s cannon by firing projectiles. The laser cannon is partially protected by stationary defense bunkers which are gradually destroyed from the top by the aliens and, if the player fires when beneath one, the bottom.
As aliens are defeated, their movement and the game’s music both speed up. Defeating all the aliens brings another wave which starts lower, a loop which can continue endlessly. A special “mystery ship” will occasionally move across the top of the screen and award bonus points if destroyed.
space invaders (1978)
Space Invaders is a fixed shooter in which the player moves a laser cannon horizontally across the bottom of the screen and fires at aliens overhead. The aliens begin as five rows of eleven that move left and right as a group, shifting downward each time they reach a screen edge. The goal is to eliminate all of the aliens by shooting them. While the player has three lives, the game ends immediately if the invaders reach the bottom of the screen. The aliens attempt to destroy the player’s cannon by firing projectiles. The laser cannon is partially protected by stationary defense bunkers which are gradually destroyed from the top by the aliens and, if the player fires when beneath one, the bottom.
As aliens are defeated, their movement and the game’s music both speed up. Defeating all the aliens brings another wave which starts lower, a loop which can continue endlessly. A special “mystery ship” will occasionally move across the top of the screen and award bonus points if destroyed.
Space Invaders Extreme
Space Invaders Extreme has arrived to invade consoles with greatly improved graphics and interactive sound to deliver a new immersive experience! Packed with vibrant visuals and a pulsing soundtrack. Space Invaders Extreme comes with 16 stages, packed with devious Invaders and fiendish boss fights. Practice individual stages in Free Play, then boost your high score to new heights in Arcade Mode!
Can you find all the countless, hidden bonuses?
Welcome to the new invasion!
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Space Invaders Gigamax 4 SE
Team up with up to 3 friends to shoot down the Invaders to clear the stages as fast as possible. This brand new 4-player-coop-experience offers new stages, gimmicks and new music written by TAITO’s in-house sound team ‘ZUNTATA’.
Arkanoid vs Space Invaders
Arkanoid vs Space Invaders is the perfect union of two arcade kings. Two of TAITO’s most iconic and beloved video game series clash on console and combine elements from both arcade classics. Players are controlling the Arkanoid Vaus paddle ship to defeat waves of Space Invaders.
Space Invaders Invincible Collection (2020)
Space Invaders Invincible Collection is a compilation of various Space Invaders titles developed by Taito and Gotch Technology. It was released in Japan for the Nintendo Switch on March 26, 2020.
