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Space Invaders Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: Space Invaders: Design, Impact, and Enduring Legacy

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Space Invaders: Design, Impact, and Enduring Legacy Study Guide

Game Overview and Core Mechanics

*Space Invaders*, a 1978 shoot 'em up game, is recognized for establishing the fixed shooter genre.

Answer: True

Explanation: The source identifies *Space Invaders* as a 1978 shoot 'em up that established the fixed shooter genre.

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The primary objective in *Space Invaders* is to eliminate waves of descending alien invaders before they reach the bottom of the screen or destroy the player's cannon.

Answer: True

Explanation: The core gameplay objective is to defeat descending alien invaders before they reach the bottom or destroy the player's cannon.

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The player controls a 'Laser Base' that can move freely in all directions across the screen.

Answer: False

Explanation: The player controls a 'Laser Base' that can only move horizontally across the bottom of the screen.

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Alien invaders in *Space Invaders* typically begin as five rows of eleven aliens and move as a unified group.

Answer: True

Explanation: The invaders typically begin as five rows of eleven aliens and move as a group, shifting left and right.

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A game over in *Space Invaders* can occur if the aliens reach the bottom of the screen or if the player's laser cannon is destroyed.

Answer: True

Explanation: The game ends if aliens reach the bottom of the screen or if the player's laser cannon is destroyed.

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Stationary defense bunkers in *Space Invaders* are gradually destroyed by alien projectiles and the player's own fire.

Answer: True

Explanation: Defense bunkers are gradually destroyed by alien projectiles from above and by the player's fire from below.

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As alien invaders are defeated, their movement speed and the background music in *Space Invaders* gradually increase.

Answer: True

Explanation: As aliens are defeated, their movement speed and the background music gradually increase.

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Destroying the 'mystery ship' that occasionally moves across the top of the screen in *Space Invaders* awards bonus points.

Answer: True

Explanation: Successfully destroying the 'mystery ship' awards the player bonus points.

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What is the primary goal in *Space Invaders* regarding the alien invaders?

Answer: To defeat waves of descending alien invaders

Explanation: The primary goal is to defeat waves of descending alien invaders before they reach the bottom of the screen.

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How does the player's 'Laser Base' move across the screen in *Space Invaders*?

Answer: Horizontally

Explanation: The player controls a 'Laser Base' which can move horizontally across the bottom of the screen.

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What is the typical initial formation of alien invaders in *Space Invaders*?

Answer: Five rows of eleven aliens

Explanation: The invaders typically begin as five rows of eleven aliens.

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How are the stationary defense bunkers in *Space Invaders* primarily destroyed?

Answer: From above by alien projectiles and from below by the player's fire

Explanation: Defense bunkers are gradually destroyed from above by alien projectiles and from below by the player's fire.

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What happens to the alien invaders' movement speed and background music as more aliens are defeated?

Answer: They gradually increase

Explanation: As alien invaders are defeated, their movement speed and the background music gradually increase.

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What reward does the player receive for destroying the 'mystery ship' in *Space Invaders*?

Answer: Bonus points

Explanation: Successfully destroying the 'mystery ship' awards the player bonus points.

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Development and Design Philosophy

Tomohiro Nishikado was solely responsible for both the design of *Space Invaders* and its custom hardware.

Answer: True

Explanation: The source states that Tomohiro Nishikado developed the game and designed the necessary custom hardware to produce it.

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The development of *Space Invaders* took several years and involved a large team, leading to significant costs for Taito.

Answer: False

Explanation: Tomohiro Nishikado spent one year designing the game and its hardware, working alone, which incurred minimal costs for Taito.

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Taito initially did not credit a designer for *Space Invaders* due to a contractual anonymity requirement for Nishikado.

Answer: True

Explanation: Taito did not credit a designer initially because anonymity was a required part of Nishikado's contract.

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Nishikado's inspirations for *Space Invaders* included the novel *The War of the Worlds* and the film *Star Wars*.

Answer: True

Explanation: Nishikado drew inspiration from *The War of the Worlds* and *Star Wars*, among other works.

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Nishikado chose alien enemies for *Space Invaders* primarily due to technical limitations that prevented realistic human character animation.

Answer: False

Explanation: Nishikado considered shooting human characters immoral. While technical limitations made animating flying objects difficult, the primary reason for choosing aliens was moral.

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Nishikado innovated by having enemies react to player movement and introducing a game over condition based on the player character's destruction.

Answer: True

Explanation: Nishikado incorporated interactive elements like enemies reacting to player movement and a game over triggered by the player character's death.

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Nishikado personally balanced *Space Invaders*' difficulty, finding it easy to adjust for optimal player engagement.

Answer: False

Explanation: Nishikado relied on feedback from coworkers to balance difficulty, as he personally found the game challenging.

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The original working title for *Space Invaders* was *Alien Attack*.

Answer: False

Explanation: The original working title for *Space Invaders* was *Space Monsters*.

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Nishikado was inspired to use a microprocessor for *Space Invaders* after seeing the improved graphics of Midway's *Gun Fight*.

Answer: True

Explanation: Nishikado was inspired to adopt a microprocessor after observing Midway's *Gun Fight* and its improved graphics.

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Who was the primary developer and designer of *Space Invaders*?

Answer: Tomohiro Nishikado

Explanation: Tomohiro Nishikado was the primary developer and designer of *Space Invaders*.

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Why was Tomohiro Nishikado not initially credited as the designer of *Space Invaders*?

Answer: Anonymity was a required part of his contract with Taito.

Explanation: Taito initially did not credit a designer because anonymity was a required part of Nishikado's contract.

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Which of the following was NOT an inspiration for Tomohiro Nishikado's design of *Space Invaders*?

Answer: The film *2001: A Space Odyssey*

Explanation: Nishikado drew inspiration from *The War of the Worlds*, *Star Wars*, and *Space Battleship Yamato*, but *2001: A Space Odyssey* is not mentioned as an inspiration.

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Beyond technical limitations, what was a primary reason Nishikado chose alien enemies over human characters?

Answer: He considered shooting human characters immoral

Explanation: Nishikado considered shooting human characters immoral, which was a primary reason for choosing alien enemies.

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Which of the following was an innovative interactive element Nishikado incorporated into *Space Invaders*?

Answer: Enemies reacting to the player's movement and returning fire

Explanation: Nishikado introduced interactive elements such as enemies reacting to player movement and returning fire.

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What was the original working title for *Space Invaders* before it was changed by Nishikado's superiors?

Answer: *Space Monsters*

Explanation: The game was originally titled *Space Monsters*, but Nishikado's superiors changed it to *Space Invaders*.

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What was the duration of *Space Invaders*' development?

Answer: One year

Explanation: Tomohiro Nishikado spent one year designing *Space Invaders* and developing its necessary hardware.

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Technical Architecture and Visual Presentation

Nishikado used a light pen to adjust alien designs on-screen after creating initial bitmap images and animating two frames of movement.

Answer: True

Explanation: Nishikado created bitmap images, animated two frames of movement, and then adjusted designs on-screen with a light pen.

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*Space Invaders* utilized an Intel 8080 CPU and displayed raster graphics on a CRT monitor using a bitmapped framebuffer.

Answer: True

Explanation: The game used an Intel 8080 CPU and displayed raster graphics on a CRT monitor with a bitmapped framebuffer.

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The monaural sound in *Space Invaders* was produced using analog circuitry and a Texas Instruments SN76477 sound chip.

Answer: True

Explanation: Monaural sound was produced using analog circuitry and a Texas Instruments SN76477 sound chip.

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Nishikado found hardware development for *Space Invaders* challenging, partly due to the Control Program board's limitations and his limited English skills for reference materials.

Answer: True

Explanation: Nishikado found hardware development difficult due to the Control Program board's limitations and his limited English for reference materials.

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The increasing speed of aliens as they were defeated was an intentional design choice from the outset, not a technical limitation.

Answer: False

Explanation: The increasing speed of aliens was initially an 'undocumented feature' resulting from a technical limitation, which Nishikado then kept as an intentional gameplay feature.

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Upright *Space Invaders* cabinets created a sense of depth and color using a hidden black-and-white CRT, a semi-transparent mirror, and physical cellophane strips.

Answer: True

Explanation: Upright cabinets used a hidden black-and-white CRT, a semi-transparent mirror, and cellophane strips to create depth and color effects.

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The *Space Invaders* cabinet artwork featured large humanoid monsters, differing from the in-game graphics because the artist based designs on the original title.

Answer: True

Explanation: The cabinet artwork featured humanoid monsters, differing from in-game graphics, as the artist based designs on the original title *Space Monsters*.

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Which CPU did *Space Invaders* utilize?

Answer: Intel 8080

Explanation: *Space Invaders* utilized an Intel 8080 central processing unit (CPU).

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Which component was crucial for producing the monaural sound in *Space Invaders*?

Answer: A Texas Instruments SN76477 sound chip

Explanation: The game produced monaural sound through a combination of analog circuitry and a Texas Instruments SN76477 sound chip.

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What was one of the major challenges Nishikado faced during hardware development for *Space Invaders*?

Answer: The Control Program board was not powerful enough for color graphics or faster enemies

Explanation: Nishikado found hardware development difficult, as the Control Program board was not powerful enough to display graphics in color or move enemies faster.

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What unique visual technique was used in upright *Space Invaders* cabinets to create depth and color?

Answer: Reflecting black-and-white graphics onto a background with physical elements and cellophane strips

Explanation: Upright cabinets used a hidden black-and-white CRT, a semi-transparent mirror, and physical cellophane strips to create depth and color.

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What was a significant innovation of *Space Invaders*' audio design?

Answer: Its use of continuously looped background music with dynamically changing tempo

Explanation: *Space Invaders* introduced continuously looped background music with dynamically changing tempo, a fundamental audio technique.

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Commercial Launch and Market Penetration

Midway Manufacturing was responsible for the initial release of *Space Invaders* in Japan in April 1978.

Answer: False

Explanation: Taito released *Space Invaders* in Japan in April 1978. Midway Manufacturing handled the overseas release later that year.

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By 1982, *Space Invaders* had grossed over $10 billion in 2023-adjusted terms.

Answer: True

Explanation: By 1982, *Space Invaders* had grossed $3.8 billion, which is equivalent to $10 billion in 2023-adjusted terms.

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Taito began mass production of *Space Invaders* in April 1978, coinciding with its initial publication.

Answer: False

Explanation: Taito began mass production in July 1978, while initial publication was in April 1978.

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*Space Invaders* was released in both upright arcade cabinets and cocktail-table cabinets.

Answer: True

Explanation: Taito released both upright arcade cabinets and cocktail-table cabinets for *Space Invaders*.

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By the end of 1979, the United States had more *Space Invaders* machines installed than Japan.

Answer: False

Explanation: By the end of 1979, Japan had an estimated 400,000 machines installed, compared to 60,000 in the United States.

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When was *Space Invaders* first released in Japan?

Answer: April 1978

Explanation: *Space Invaders* was released in Japan in April 1978 by Taito.

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Which company published *Space Invaders* in North America and Europe?

Answer: Midway Manufacturing

Explanation: Midway Manufacturing released *Space Invaders* overseas, including in North America and Europe.

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What was the 2023-adjusted net profit of *Space Invaders* by 1982?

Answer: $1.2 billion

Explanation: By 1982, *Space Invaders* generated a net profit of $450 million, equivalent to $1.2 billion in 2023-adjusted terms.

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When did Taito begin mass production of *Space Invaders*?

Answer: July 1978

Explanation: Taito initiated mass production of *Space Invaders* in July 1978.

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How many *Space Invaders* machines were installed in Japan by the end of 1979?

Answer: 400,000 units

Explanation: By the end of 1979, an estimated 400,000 *Space Invaders* machines were installed in Japan.

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Industry Transformation and Enduring Influence

*Space Invaders* is widely credited with initiating the golden age of arcade video games.

Answer: True

Explanation: The game is credited with ushering in the golden age of arcade video games and marking a watershed moment for the Japanese video game industry.

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*Space Invaders* is credited with ushering in which significant era for the video game industry?

Answer: The golden age of arcade video games

Explanation: *Space Invaders* ushered in the golden age of arcade video games.

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What legal precedent did Taito establish with its victory regarding *Space Invaders Part II* in 1982?

Answer: The ability to pursue legal action against unauthorized reproductions of its games.

Explanation: Taito gained the ability to pursue legal action against unauthorized reproductions of its games after winning a case involving *Space Invaders Part II*.

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How did the popularity of *Space Invaders* clones affect South Korea's semiconductor industry?

Answer: The demand for hardware required to create these machines helped spur the early growth of Korea's semiconductor industry.

Explanation: The significant market demand for hardware to create *Space Invaders* clones helped spur the early growth of Korea's semiconductor industry.

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Which US town's ordinance to limit arcade games, inspired by *Space Invaders*, was eventually ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court?

Answer: Mesquite, Texas

Explanation: The Mesquite, Texas, ordinance to limit arcade games was eventually ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

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Cultural Integration and Critical Reception

What was the term 'Invader game' used to describe?

Answer: A generic classification for games that mimicked *Space Invaders*' style

Explanation: The term 'Invader game' emerged to identify the generic classification of games that mimicked *Space Invaders*' style.

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Where did *Space Invaders* first find widespread popularity in Japan, despite initial rejection from amusement arcade owners?

Answer: Pachinko parlors and bowling alleys

Explanation: *Space Invaders* quickly caught on in pachinko parlors and bowling alleys, despite initial rejection from amusement arcade owners.

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What award did *Space Invaders* receive at the inaugural Arcade Awards ceremony in 1981?

Answer: Best Coin-Op Electronic Game

Explanation: *Space Invaders* won the first Best Coin-Op Electronic Game award at the inaugural Arcade Awards ceremony in 1981.

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Which musical group famously reproduced *Space Invaders*' sounds in their 1978 album and hit single?

Answer: Yellow Magic Orchestra

Explanation: The Japanese synthpop group Yellow Magic Orchestra reproduced *Space Invaders*' sounds in their 1978 album and hit single 'Computer Game'.

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Beyond video games, the *Space Invaders* alien graphic has become a cultural icon, inspiring which of the following?

Answer: The naming of a spider species and an emoji

Explanation: The pixelated alien graphic inspired the naming of a spider species, *Taito spaceinvaders*, and was adapted into the 'alien monster' emoji.

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Evolution: Sequels, Ports, and Adaptations

What significant milestone did the 1980 Atari 2600 port of *Space Invaders* achieve?

Answer: It was the first official licensing of an arcade game for home consoles.

Explanation: The 1980 Atari 2600 port was the first official licensing of an arcade game for consoles.

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Which *Space Invaders* sequel introduced the unique gameplay element of allowing players to control the aliens?

Answer: *Space Invaders Get Even*

Explanation: *Space Invaders Get Even* uniquely allowed players to control the aliens.

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