What elements of Japanese culture inspired the creation of ‘Space Invaders’?
A game that revolutionized the gaming industry
Space Invaders is a classic arcade game that had a massive impact on the gaming industry when it was released in 1978. The game was developed by Tomohiro Nishikado, a Japanese video game designer, who aimed to create a fun and challenging game that anyone could play.
The story behind the game’s creation
In an interview with The Guardian, Nishikado revealed the inspiration behind the game. He shared that he was fascinated with shooting games and wanted to create one that features aliens as the enemies. Nishikado said that he was inspired by the game “Breakout” and other similar arcade games at the time.
Nishikado also shared the technical aspects of creating the game. He said that he faced many challenges as he had to create the game entirely from scratch, including designing the hardware and software of the arcade machine.
The legacy of Space Invaders
Space Invaders was a massive success and had a massive impact on the gaming industry. The game’s popularity in Japan was so great that it caused a shortage of 100-yen coins, and the Japanese government had to increase the production of the coins to meet demand.
The game launched a new era in gaming, and it’s still popular today, with multiple remakes and versions available on different platforms. It’s often regarded as one of the most influential video games in history, and it still holds a special place in the hearts of many people who grew up playing it.
The impact of Space Invaders on the gaming industry
Space Invaders revolutionized the gaming industry by popularizing the shoot ’em up genre, which involves players shooting enemies while avoiding obstacles. It also introduced the use of high scores, which motivated players to keep playing to beat their friends’ scores.
The game’s success also inspired many video game designers to create games that could rival Space Invaders, leading to a wave of innovative games that transformed the gaming industry.
The bottom line
Space Invaders may be a game that’s more than four decades old, but its impact on the gaming industry is still felt today. Its simple yet challenging gameplay, high scores, and addictive nature continue to inspire game designers to create captivating games that keep players engaged. And now that we know the story behind the game’s creation, it’s even more impressive to think that one person was responsible for creating a game that had such a massive impact on the world of gaming.
