Space Invaders: Difference between revisions

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The [[Trope Maker]] that spawned a thousand other [[Shoot Em Ups]], ''[[Space Invaders]]'' debuted in 1978. Although [[Pong]] had started the industry, this game revolutionized it, virtually launching [[The Golden Age of Video Games]], establishing or [[Trope Codifier|codifying]] many of the tropes used in later games, such as [[Video Game Lives]], and a separate score counter for high scores.

The [[Trope Maker]] that spawned a thousand other [[Shoot Em Ups]], '''''Space Invaders''''' debuted in 1978. Although ''[[Pong]]'' had started the industry, this game revolutionized it, virtually launching [[The Golden Age of Video Games]], establishing or [[Trope Codifier|codifying]] many of the tropes used in later games, such as [[Video Game Lives]], and a separate score counter for high scores.

Essentially, it is a shooting gallery game in which the objects in the gallery shoot back. The player controls a planetary defense laser cannon that can move and hide behind shields, and must confront a moving (and shooting) phalanx of [[Big Creepy-Crawlies]] who are attempting to invade the earth. If even one of them lands, it's [[Game Over]] immediately.

The game was so popular that it caused a Japan-wide shortage of the 100-yen coins that the game's coin slot demanded, and the home version was [[Killer App|largely responsible for the runaway success]] of the [[Atari 2600|Atari VCS]] (later 2600) home console system. It also spawned the medical term "[[Space Invaders]] wrist." It was the first game in which play could last an [[Endless Game|open-ended amount of time]], given sufficient skill, rather than being timed to a finite clock, and it immediately spawned a host of equally classic imitators, such as ''Galaxian'', ''Gorf'', and the entire top-scrolling rail shooter genre.

The game was so popular that it caused a Japan-wide shortage of the 100-yen coins that the game's coin slot demanded, and the home version was [[Killer App|largely responsible for the runaway success]] of the [[Atari 2600|Atari VCS]] (later 2600) home console system. It also spawned the medical term "Space Invaders wrist." It was the first game in which play could last an [[Endless Game|open-ended amount of time]], given sufficient skill, rather than being timed to a finite clock, and it immediately spawned a host of equally classic imitators, such as ''Galaxian'', ''Gorf'', and the entire top-scrolling rail shooter genre.

And then, in 2008, Taito released ''Space Invaders Extreme'' for Nintendo DS, PSP and Xbox 360 as part of the [[Milestone Celebration|30th Anniversary]]. The game turns into a fast paced shooting game, omitting barriers, but adding new varieties of invaders with various weapons and shields, and, most importantly, a complex [[Combos|combo system]] that rewards players with [[Power-Up|Power Ups]], [[Bonus Stage|Bonus Stages]] and [[1-Up|One Ups]]. A sequel was released for the DS in 2009 featuring even faster gameplay. Additionally, Taito also released ''Space Invaders Get Even'' for WiiWare, where the invaders, rendered in pixelated 2D in a 3D environment, become [[Villain Protagonist|Villain Protagonists]] and attack Earth's cities.

In 2009, Taito graced the iPhone with ''Space Invaders Infinity Gene''. The game begins with the original classic gameplay, then the infinity gene takes over and the game gradually evolves into a modern [[Shoot'Em Up]], as the player gains selectable ships, powerups, and an unrestricted range of movement, while the Invaders themselves enlist large ships, fleets, armadas, and bosses to take you on. There's also the added threat of terrain [[Collision Damage]]. You can also load up your favorite music to generate custom levels, similar to ''[[Audiosurf]]''. The game gained ~~crticial~~ praise, and has recently been updated to include [[Bragging Rights Reward|achievements]]. It has been ported to the Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, and befitting its evolution theme, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VoUvIQiDIY it has addressed] the [[Video Game 3D Leap]].

In 2009, Taito graced the iPhone with ''Space Invaders Infinity Gene''. The game begins with the original classic gameplay, then the infinity gene takes over and the game gradually evolves into a modern [[Shoot'Em Up]], as the player gains selectable ships, powerups, and an unrestricted range of movement, while the Invaders themselves enlist large ships, fleets, armadas, and bosses to take you on. There's also the added threat of terrain [[Collision Damage]]. You can also load up your favorite music to generate custom levels, similar to ''[[Audiosurf]]''. The game gained critical praise, and has recently been updated to include [[Bragging Rights Reward|achievements]]. It has been ported to the Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, and befitting its evolution theme, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VoUvIQiDIY it has addressed] the [[Video Game 3D Leap]].

There was also a less-well-known, though quite good fun, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100202003649/http://pc.gamezone.com/gamesell/p13366.htm version] released by [[Activision]] in 1999. It would have been [[In Name Only]] but for a very similar gameplay mechanic (most of the time, anyway. It had boss monsters, powerups, and a few levels which were more akin to puzzles than straight shooting galleries). It also contained an unlockable version of the original game.

"[[Space Invaders]]" was at one point used by many non-gamers (in [[Small Reference Pools]] style) as a generic term for any game/console, as with "Atari" and "Nintendo" later on, a testament to the game's cultural impact. There are also many references and [[Shout-Out~~|ShoutOuts~~]] in other media: for example, the Invaders show up (randomly) as [[Mooks]] in ''[[Battletoads]]''` infamous Terror Tunnel Level, and [[Terry Pratchett]] in his novel ''Only You Can Save Mankind'' (which is about a contemporary 90s space shooter turning out to be taking place in another dimension) has a wrecked Space Invader ship encountered at one point, suggesting that all space shooters take place in the same dimension and the Space Invaders, from the 1970s, were the first wave of aliens.

"Space Invaders" was at one point used by many non-gamers (in [[Small Reference Pools]] style) as a generic term for any game/console, as with "Atari" and "Nintendo" later on, a testament to the game's cultural impact. There are also many references and [[Shout-Out]]s in other media: for example, the Invaders show up (randomly) as [[Mooks]] in ''[[Battletoads]]''` infamous Terror Tunnel Level, and [[Terry Pratchett]] in his novel ''[[Only You Can Save Mankind]]'' (which is about a contemporary 90s space shooter turning out to be taking place in another dimension) has a wrecked Space Invader ship encountered at one point, suggesting that all space shooters take place in the same dimension and the Space Invaders, from the 1970s, were the first wave of aliens.

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* [[One Bullet At a Time]]

* [[Shout-Out]]: ''Infinity Gene'' has quite a few:

** ~~one~~ of the minor bosses extends a pixel-width tendril that makes a few random right turns, then develops a gunpod at the end; you fight it by shooting the gunpod, forcing it to retract along the tendril until it collides with the main ship. In a sense, the fight's with the tendril. The boss's name? [[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure|Jolyne]].

** One of the minor bosses extends a pixel-width tendril that makes a few random right turns, then develops a gunpod at the end; you fight it by shooting the gunpod, forcing it to retract along the tendril until it collides with the main ship. In a sense, the fight's with the tendril. The boss's name? [[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure|Jolyne]].

** The "Option" weapon is an obvious reference to the Options from ''[[Gradius]]'', they even move in the same way!

** The iOS version of Infinity Gene has [[Downloadable Content]] featuring Silver Hawk from ''[[Darius]]'', Inter Gray from ''[[Night Striker]]'', Black Fly from ''[[Metal Black]]'', and the R-Gray2 from ''[[Ray Storm]]''.

* [[Starfish Aliens]]: The Invaders resemble octopuses, crabs, and squids. [[Word of God]] says the octopus ones were directly inspired by HG Wells' description of the Martians from ''[[The War of the Worlds (novel)|The War of the Worlds]]''.

* [[Starfish Aliens]]: The Invaders resemble octopuses, crabs, and squids. [[Word of God]] says the octopus ones were directly inspired by [[H. G. Wells]]' description of the Martians from ''[[The War of the Worlds (novel)|The War of the Worlds]]''.

* [[Theme Naming]]: The stages in ''Infinity Gene'' are named after biology and evolution terms.

* [[Turns Red]]: Just try to hit the last enemy.

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