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Tomohiro Nishikado began developing Space Invaders in 1977 after Atari’s Breakout became a hit in Japan. He set out to build on the satisfaction of clearing a screen, not to make a space game. The alien theme came later, during roughly 18 months of work that included creating development tools; Taito released the game in 1978.
What inspired Nishikado to make Space Invaders?
In a 2024 GamesBeat interview, conducted through an interpreter, Nishikado traced the idea to early 1977, when Breakout caught on in Japan. He recalled asking how he could “one-up Breakout.” Its simple objective—clear the screen of blocks—suggested a new version of that challenge: replace the blocks with characters and make the player shoot them away.
That starting point was not space. Nishikado later recalled considering vehicles and then soldiers as possible targets. He eventually chose aliens, drawing on the popular image of octopus-like visitors associated with H. G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds. Non-human opponents also made the shooting premise easier to approach than a game about killing people.
How long did Space Invaders take to develop?
Nishikado estimated that the project took about a year and a half, including time spent making tools for development. Taito dates the start of work to 1977 and the first release to 1978, which fits that approximate timeline. The 1978 date refers to the original game’s release, not to the later franchise entries.
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- Officially Licensed: This is an officially licensed Taito title, ensuring an authentic gaming experience.
- 🕹️ Retro Gaming: This compact SPACE INVADERS micro player is a must-have for any retro gaming enthusiast or collector. Features artwork inspired by the original Space Invaders arcade cabinet. Built-in speaker with volume control
- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm headphone jack lets you enjoy SPACE INVADERS on the go on your own privately.
- 🔋 Portable Gameplay: Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included) or by a USB-C cable (not included)
- 🎁 Collector's Item: A must-own for collectors and fans of Space Invaders. Perfect for any game room, office or display case!
What did Nishikado build himself?
Nishikado said Space Invaders was his first game to use code and that he wrote it in assembly for an 8080 CPU. He had studied assembly at university and taught himself the processor’s assembler. Taito’s history credits him with software-development work, character design, and creating development tools. Together, these accounts show that his role covered both programming the game and making tools that enabled its development; they do not establish that he built every physical component alone.
How did the game’s design create escalating difficulty?
Taito describes the original playfield as a player-controlled cannon facing five rows of eleven invaders, with bunkers offering protection. Nishikado wanted the challenge to rise as play continued, keeping the game tense and giving players a reason to try again after losing. He also acknowledged the arcade business incentive: a machine needed to sustain play while making another attempt appealing.
Rank #2
- Space Invaders Official Replica: The 1/4 scale Numskull Quarter Arcades Quarter-Sized Space Invaders Arcade Machine is a collector's dream, fully licensed by Taito for authentic nostalgia
- Original Gameplay: Features the original Space Invaders arcade ROM, offering a true-to-the-past gaming experience for enthusiasts
- Advanced Display: Includes a mirror screen for a classic arcade visual experience, true to the original design
- Detailed Craftsmanship: Every aspect, from artwork to buttons, is designed to replicate the original cabinet, ensuring a premium, realistic look
- Designed for Collectors: Comes in a special packaging with original artwork, includes a rechargeable battery, and 3W speakers, fitting perfectly in any home or office at 17-inch tall
The shipped difficulty was shaped by feedback. Nishikado recalled that his first prototype was much easier, but colleagues thought it was too easy, so he made it harder. He also said hardware performance constrained how quickly he could move the invaders. The final pacing therefore reflected both a deliberate design goal and the limits of the machine.
When was Space Invaders released?
Taito dates the first release to 1978. The game’s central arrangement—a cannon, descending rows of invaders, and protective bunkers—turned Nishikado’s screen-clearing idea into a distinct arcade challenge. Taito’s franchise history lists later releases including Space Invaders Part II (1979), Majestic Twelve (1990), Space Invaders Extreme (2008), and Space Invaders: World Defense (2023).
Rank #3
- Space Invaders Arcade Cabinet from Nanoblock's Character Collection series stands approximately 2.43" tall and has 200 pieces
- Difficulty: Based on a scale from 1 to 5. 1 being the easiest and 5 being most advanced. This model is based at a Level 2, for ages 8+
- With bricks as small as 4mm x 4mm x 5mm, make amazing 3D art that fits in the palm of your hand. Fun to build, Fun to display and Fun to collect!
- Build models with incredible detail, astounding realism, and create delicate expressions and pixel art-like expressions. All sets come with detailed step by step instructions
- The product box will have a Bandai Namco warning label, which is proof that you are purchasing an officially licensed Kawada product
How much money did Space Invaders make?
Revenue figures sometimes repeated for Space Invaders should be treated cautiously. GamesBeat cites an estimate of $3.8 billion over four years from the book Game On! Video Game History From Pong and Pac-Man to Mario, Minecraft and more, and also reports a $13 billion lifetime estimate without identifying a clear original dataset. Neither figure is independently verified by the sources cited here, so they should not be treated as confirmed sales totals.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Officially Licensed: This is an officially licensed Taito title, ensuring an authentic gaming experience.
- 🕹️ Retro Gaming: SPACE INVADERS Pocket Player is a must-have for any retro gaming enthusiast or collector. Features artwork inspired by the original Space Invaders arcade cabinet. Built-in speaker with volume control.
- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm headphone jack lets you enjoy SPACE INVADERS on the go on your own privately.
- Portable Gameplay: Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included) or by a USB-C cable (not included).
- High Resolution: This collectible game features a high-resolution 2.75-inch full-color display, allowing you to immerse yourself in the classic gameplay
Rank #4
- Miniature playable replica of the original space INVADERS arcade cabinet. Replicates the original reflected screen function to simulate 3D gameplay. This unique arrangement of the screen and use of transparent mirror and colored gels is unique to the original arcade cabinet.
- 100 Yen coin button to add credits for arcade gameplay. Features a Metallic full color gift box, and individually numbered holographic sticker
- Volume control and 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Power with a Micro-USB cable (not included) or 4 AA batteries (not included).
- Features unique design which replicates the original cabinet, including the revolutionary reflected screen and backlit Moonscape.
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