Machine Guides

Game History

Space Invaders is a groundbreaking arcade game developed by Tomohiro Nishikado and released by Taito in Japan in 1978, with a North American distribution by Bally Midway later that year. It is widely credited as one of the most influential video games ever made and the title that launched the golden age of arcade gaming.

The gameplay is simple yet addictive. The player controls a movable laser cannon at the bottom of the screen, tasked with defending Earth from waves of descending aliens arranged in a grid formation. The aliens move horizontally and gradually drop down toward the player, speeding up as their numbers decrease. The player must shoot and eliminate all the aliens before they reach the bottom of the screen. The game also features four protective shields that the player can hide behind, though these shields are gradually destroyed by both alien and player fire.

What made Space Invaders revolutionary was its several pioneering features. It was the first game to introduce a high score system, allowing players to compete for the top score and enter their initials. It also featured a continuous background soundtrack that created tension and accelerated as the aliens got closer, a novel concept at the time. The game's difficulty progressively increased with each wave, creating a compelling challenge that kept players engaged.

Space Invaders was a massive commercial success, causing a temporary shortage of 100-yen coins in Japan upon its release. In the United States, it became the first arcade game to sell over 100,000 units and generated over $2 billion in revenue by 1982. Its popularity transcended gaming, becoming a cultural phenomenon that appeared in merchandise, music, and even inspired urban legends about its supposed influence on crime rates.

The game's legacy is immeasurable. It established the shoot 'em up genre, popularized the concept of video game high scores, and demonstrated the commercial viability of the video game industry, paving the way for future classics like Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Galaga. Space Invaders remains an iconic symbol of early gaming culture and is still referenced and celebrated in modern media.

How to Play

Objective

The main goal of Space Invaders is to destroy waves of descending alien invaders before they reach the bottom of the screen or destroy your defensive bunkers. You must eliminate all aliens in each wave to advance to the next one with increased difficulty. The ultimate objective is to achieve the highest score possible by surviving as many waves as you can.

Controls

• Joystick: Use the joystick to move your laser cannon left and right at the bottom of the screen
• Fire Button: Press to shoot your laser at the alien invaders

Gameplay

• Starting the Game: Press the Start Button to begin your space defense mission.

• Wave Progression: Face waves of alien invaders arranged in rows that gradually move horizontally across the screen and drop down when reaching the edges.

• Combat Mechanics: Move your laser cannon horizontally and shoot at the alien invaders while avoiding their return fire.

• Defensive Bunkers: Use the four defensive bunkers at the bottom of the screen as cover from alien fire. These bunkers gradually deteriorate from both your shots and enemy fire.

• Alien Patterns: The invaders move in formation and gradually speed up as their numbers decrease, making the game progressively more challenging.

• UFO Appearance: Occasionally, a special UFO appears at the top of the screen, which can be destroyed for bonus points.

• Wave Completion: Successfully destroy all aliens in a wave to advance to the next one with increased difficulty and faster enemy movement.

• Game Over: The game ends when all your lives are lost (either by being hit by alien fire or when invaders reach the bottom of the screen). Your final score is displayed based on your performance.