Space Invaders: The Invasion that Changed the History of Video Games

A war inspired by science fiction

In 1978, Japanese developer Tomohiro Nishikado, working at Taito, created a game that would become one of the foundational pillars of the video game industry: Space Invaders. A science fiction enthusiast, Nishikado drew inspiration from popular alien invasion stories of the 1970s. Among his influences, he often cited works like H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds.

However, this project was ambitious for its time. Nishikado had to design much of the electronic hardware himself to make the game possible, as the available technology was still rudimentary.

The Beginning of the Invasion

Space Invaders debuted on arcade cabinets in 1978, first in Japan before conquering the rest of the world. This game represents a significant milestone in video game history by popularizing the shooter genre.

The game’s concept is simple yet addictive: the player controls a mobile laser cannon at the bottom of the screen and must destroy waves of aliens gradually descending toward them.

Each level becomes more challenging as the invaders accelerate as their numbers decrease. This detail, often seen as a clever gameplay feature, was actually a technical limitation: the processor ran faster as the number of sprites decreased.

The Cultural Impact of Space Invaders

Space Invaders marked a turning point. It ushered in a new era where video games were no longer seen as mere gadgets but as a legitimate form of entertainment.

The success of Space Invaders was phenomenal: arcades in Japan were overwhelmed with players, and the game quickly became a global phenomenon.

Tomohiro Nishikado may not have anticipated the extent of his impact, but he had created far more than a game: he had laid the foundation for a genre and sparked the birth of a multibillion-dollar industry.