Space Invaders

Space Invaders is a landmark fixed shooter video game.

A fixed shooter is a genre where the player's movement is limited to a specific area. In this case, the player stays at the bottom of the screen. Released by Taito in April 1978, it became a global phenomenon. It was the first video game to feature endless gameplay. This means the game continues in loops rather than ending after one level. The game set the template for many shooters that followed. It is widely considered one of the most influential titles in gaming history.

In the game, the player controls a horizontal laser cannon called a "Laser Base."

The objective is to destroy waves of descending alien invaders to earn points. The aliens typically appear in rows, such as five rows of eleven. They move left and right as a group. Each time the group reaches the edge of the screen, they shift downward. This movement creates a sense of mounting tension. If the aliens reach the bottom of the screen, the game ends. The invaders also fire projectiles at the player to destroy the cannon.

Players can use stationary defense bunkers for protection.

These bunkers are gradually destroyed by the invaders' fire. They can also be damaged if the player fires a shot from beneath them. Occasionally, a "mystery ship" appears at the top of the screen. Destroying this ship awards bonus points to the player. As the player defeats more aliens, the game changes. The movement of the aliens and the accompanying music both speed up. This creates a loop where each new wave starts lower on the screen than the last.

Designer Tomohiro Nishikado developed the game over the course of one year.

He drew inspiration from several science fiction sources. These included the novel "The War of the Worlds," the anime "Space Battleship Yamato," and the film "Star Wars." He also looked at older games like "Breakout" and "Gun Fight." Nishikado wanted to create more tension than previous games offered. He even designed the custom hardware required to run his vision. Because he worked alone, he could keep development costs very low.

To achieve improved graphics, Nishikado used an Intel 8080 microprocessor.

He had to design custom development tools and hardware to use this new technology. He used the Intel 8080 central processing unit (CPU) to manage the game. The game displays raster graphics on a CRT monitor using a bitmapped framebuffer. Sound was a collaborative effort with Michiyuki Kamei.

Kamei used a 556 timer integrated circuit to generate the sound of the aliens' movement. He also used a Texas Instruments SN76477 sound chip for the mystery ship's audio.

Space Invaders was a massive commercial success. By 1982, it had grossed billions of dollars in inflation-adjusted terms.

It was the highest-grossing entertainment product of its time. The game helped usher in the golden age of arcade video games. It also helped establish Japan's long-term success in the global gaming industry. The 1980 version for the Atari 2600 was particularly significant.

It was the first "killer app" for a console, meaning it significantly increased console sales.

A fascinating technical detail emerged during development. Nishikado discovered that the processor could render animation frames faster when fewer aliens were on screen. This caused the aliens and the music to speed up automatically as they were defeated. Rather than fixing this, he kept it as a gameplay mechanic. This unintended feature added to the game's difficulty and excitement. Today, the pixelated alien remains a major pop culture icon. The game has inspired countless sequels, remakes, and various works of art and music.