| Space Invaders is a popular arcade game that was first released in 1978. The chief designer for the game is Toshihiro Nishikado, and though the game was produced by Taito, it was released in the United States under the company Midway. Space Invaders has often been called one of the most important games in the history of gaming. Even though it is primitive compared to the games which exist on the market today, Space Invaders is the forefather of contemporary video games. |  | It has often been compared to Pac-Man. In the most basic sense, Space Invaders is the electronic version of classic mechanical shooting galleries that had been present in theme parks for many years before its release.  | Space Invaders consists of a cannon that fires out a laser beam. The goal of the player is to stop an alien invasion. Rows of aliens will continue to advance from the top of the screen, and as the player continues shooting them, more appear to take their place. | The game continues to become more challenging as the player gains a higher score. If any of the aliens successfully reach the ground, the game is over. The aliens would also shoot back as well. The player has three lives, and he will die each time the cannon is shot by an alien |
