Space Invaders - Revision history

Zera at 08:15, 1 March 2025

2025-03-01T08:15:19Z

Zera at 05:49, 26 December 2024

2024-12-26T05:49:44Z

Zera at 06:54, 1 December 2024

2024-12-01T06:54:10Z

Zera: /* Intermediate Tips */

2024-11-04T20:02:24Z

Intermediate Tips

Zera: /* Trivia */

2024-09-30T01:48:37Z

Trivia

Zera: /* UFOs */

2024-09-30T01:44:16Z

UFOs

Zera: /* Intermediate Tips */

2024-09-30T01:43:01Z

Intermediate Tips

Zera: /* Basic Tips */

2024-09-30T01:41:56Z

Basic Tips

Zera at 09:57, 22 September 2024

2024-09-22T09:57:59Z

Pacific: added further reading section made changes to strategies

2020-11-04T18:38:50Z

added further reading section made changes to strategies

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Logo of Space Invaders.png|260px|center|logo of space invaders]]
-'''Space Invaders''' is an arcade game published by [[Taito]] Co., Ltd. in 1978. Space Invaders is the biggest hit in the history of arcade games and the earliest example of a [[shooting game]]. Similar products and bootlegs have been made by other companies such as [[Irem]]'s IPM Invader.
+'''Space Invaders''' is an arcade game published by [[Taito]] Co., Ltd. in 1978. Space Invaders is the biggest hit in the history of arcade games and the earliest example of a single-player [[shooting game]]. Similar products and bootlegs have been made by other companies such as [[Irem]]'s IPM Invader.
 {{GameInfobox
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Gameplay Overview ==
-Each level tasks the player with destroying a 11 x 5 grid of aliens. The wave initially moves right, shifting down a row and reversing direction upon reaching either side of the screen.
+Each level tasks the player with destroying an 11 x 5 grid of aliens. The wave initially moves right, shifting down a row and reversing direction upon reaching either side of the screen.
 The speed of the wave is divided by the number of aliens (since only one can be updated each frame). Consequently, as aliens are killed the rest become exponentially faster.
 The cannon can only move horizontally, and shoot straight up. Only one player shot may be onscreen at a time.
@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 === Advanced Tips===
-* If an alien us directly above a barrier, it can be hit indirectly with a bullet explosion.
+* If an alien is directly above a barrier, it can be hit indirectly with a bullet explosion.
 * If an alien is directly above a barrier, its shots can spawn past the thinner center.
 * An exploding alien prevents the wave from moving or attacking for 16 frames. Use this to setup another attack or pass a low column.
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 (50,50,100,150,100,100,50,'''300''',100,100,100, 50,150,100,100)
 * By hitting UFOs with the 23rd shot and every 15th shot afterward, each will award 300 points.
-* If a UFO awards 50 or 100 points, that means the player over or undercounted by one.
+* If a UFO awards 50 or 100 points, that means the player under- or overcounted by one.
-* Without shot counting, UFOs award roughly 100 points on average.
+* Without shot counting, UFOs award about 100 points on average.
 * The shot count can be increased quickly by hitting shields.
-* A UFO appears every 25.6 seconds. By destroying 4 outside columns (so 7 remain) the invasion will last as long as possible.
+* A UFO appears every 25.6 seconds. By destroying 4 outer columns (so 7 remain) the invasion will last as long as possible.
 * Squiggly shots don't appear while a UFO is onscreen. This makes it a little safer to maneuver around aliens.
 * Although difficult, it's always possible to shoot between columns to hit a UFO.
@@ Line 90: / Line 90: @@
 [[File:Nagoya Attack.png|thumb|rihgt|180px|Nagoya Attack strategy]]
-The Nagoya Attack (also known as the "Wall of Death") takes advantage of a bug wherein aliens on the last row spawn their bullets behind the cannon. By creating a safe space and only attacking enemies on the final row, the player is effectively invincible. At the same time, leaving most aliens alive until the last second slows the game so more UFOs can be shot. However, failing to destroy the last row of aliens perfectly results in the game ending instantly. This strategy is named after the city in Japan where it was presumably discovered.
+The Nagoya Attack (also known as the "Wall of Death") takes advantage of a bug wherein aliens on the last row spawn their bullets below the cannon. By creating a safe space and only attacking enemies on the final row, the player is effectively invincible. At the same time, leaving most aliens alive until the last second slows the game so more UFOs can be shot. However, failing to destroy the last row perfectly results in the game ending instantly. This strategy is named after the city in Japan where it was presumably discovered.
 This video demonstrates two common variations of the Nagoya Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty2z6KP5X0Y
@@ Line 100: / Line 100: @@
 * If the last alien of a wave is an octopus it creates a trail while moving right. This visual bug, nicknamed "rainbow", became a scoring feature in Space Invaders Part II.
 * Space Invaders was inspired by the 1976 arcade game ''Breakout''. Both games become more difficult as the number of targets decreases while the pace of gameplay increases.
-* June 16th is officially recognized as the "Space Invaders Day".
+* June 16th is officially recognized as "Space Invaders Day".
 == References ==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Gameplay Overview ==
-Each level tasks the player with destroying a 11 x 5 grid of aliens. The wave moves left or right, shifting down a row and reversing direction upon reaching either side of the screen.
+Each level tasks the player with destroying a 11 x 5 grid of aliens. The wave initially moves right, shifting down a row and reversing direction upon reaching either side of the screen.
 The speed of the wave is divided by the number of aliens (since only one can be updated each frame). Consequently, as aliens are killed the rest become exponentially faster.
 The cannon can only move horizontally, and shoot straight up. Only one player shot may be onscreen at a time.
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 === Basic Tips===
-* Shoot often and don't miss. Each time an alien is hit the wave stops moving for a quarter-second. Each missed shot takes a full second to cross the screen and explode.
+* Shoot often. Each time an alien is hit the wave stops for 16 frames.
 * Destroy the wave's outer columns to decrease its width. This is the only way to permanently slow the invasion.
 * Destroy the wave's inner columns to create a moving safe zone that aliens cannot cross.
@@ Line 68: / Line 69: @@
 * If an alien us directly above a barrier, it can be hit indirectly with a bullet explosion.
 * If an alien is directly above a barrier, its shots can spawn past the thinner center.
-* While an enemy is exploding the wave cannot move or attack. This can make it safer to pass a low alien.
+* An exploding alien prevents the wave from moving or attacking for 16 frames. Use this to setup another attack or pass a low column.
-* Enemy shots are not truly random. Knowing how they behave in the first few seconds of a wave is useful.
+* "Rolling" shots target the player. "Plunger" shots appear in columns 1,7,1,1,1,4,'''11,1,6,3,1,1,11,9,2,8'''. "Squiggly" shots appear in columns '''11,1,6,3,1,1,11,9,2,8''',2,11,4,7,10. These numbers are taken from the same table (the overlap is bolded). If a column is missing it is skipped. Column 1 is the most common target, followed by column 11.
 === UFOs ===
@@ Line 79: / Line 81: @@
 * Without shot counting, UFOs award roughly 100 points on average.
 * The shot count can be increased quickly by hitting shields.
-* A UFO appears every 25.6 seconds. By destroying 4 or 5 outside columns (so 6 or 7 remain) the invasion will last as long as possible.
+* A UFO appears every 25.6 seconds. By destroying 4 outside columns (so 7 remain) the invasion will last as long as possible.
-* UFOs stop appearing when there are 7 or fewer aliens left.
+* Squiggly shots don't appear while a UFO is onscreen. This makes it a little safer to maneuver around aliens.
 * Although difficult, it's always possible to shoot between columns to hit a UFO.
 === Nagoya Attack ===

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Gameplay Overview ==
-Each level tasks the player with destroying a 11 x 5 grid of aliens. The wave moves left or right, shifting down a row and reversing direction at either side of the screen.
+Each level tasks the player with destroying a 11 x 5 grid of aliens. The wave moves left or right, shifting down a row and reversing direction upon reaching either side of the screen.
-The speed of the wave is divided by the number of aliens (since only one can be updated each frame). Consequently, as aliens are destroyed the rest become exponentially faster.
+The speed of the wave is divided by the number of aliens (since only one can be updated each frame). Consequently, as aliens are killed the rest become exponentially faster.
-The cannon can only move horizontally, and shoot straight up (if a bullet is not already in play).
+The cannon can only move horizontally, and shoot straight up. Only one player shot may be onscreen at a time.
 Each level has four destructible shields that block both player and enemy shots.
 The player starts with three cannons and can earn a fourth by obtaining 1500 points. If all cannons are lost OR the aliens reach the bottom of the screen, the game ends.
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==== Controls ====
-* '''2-way Joystick:''' Horizontal movement
+* '''Joystick / Left & Right Buttons:''' Horizontal movement
-* '''Button (Press):''' Fire
+* '''Shoot Button (Press):''' Fire
 ==== Scoring ====
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 * Destroy the wave's outer columns to decrease its width. This is the only way to permanently slow the invasion.
 * Destroy the wave's inner columns to create a moving safe zone that aliens cannot cross.
-* Position the cannon's center just past the edge of a barrier to shoot while being protected on one side.
+* Position the cannon's center just past the edge of a shield to shoot while being protected on one side.
 === Intermediate Tips===
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 * If an alien us directly above a barrier, it can be hit indirectly with a bullet explosion.
 * If an alien is directly above a barrier, its shots can spawn past the thinner center.
 * Enemy shots are not truly random. Knowing how they behave in the first few seconds of a wave is useful.
@@ Line 75: / Line 76: @@
 (50,50,100,150,100,100,50,'''300''',100,100,100, 50,150,100,100)
 * By hitting UFOs with the 23rd shot and every 15th shot afterward, each will award 300 points.
 * If a UFO awards 50 or 100 points, that means the player over or undercounted by one.
 * Without shot counting, UFOs award roughly 100 points on average.
 * A UFO appears every 25.6 seconds. By destroying 4 or 5 outside columns (so 6 or 7 remain) the invasion will last as long as possible.
 * Although difficult, it's always possible to shoot between columns to hit a UFO.

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 * Always assume alien shots will squeeze through damaged barriers. Always assume alien shots will pierce through cannon shots.
 * If aliens cannot be shot, shoot small shield pieces that might get in the way later.
-* For an unknown reason, the last alien moves 50% faster when moving right instead of left.
+* The last alien moves 50% faster when moving right instead of left. Practice hitting it at both speeds.
 === Advanced Tips===

@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 [[File:Space Invaders concept art.jpg|thumb|concept art]]
-* If the last alien of a wave is an octopus it creates a visual trail. This visual bug, nicknamed "rainbow", became a scoring feature in Space Invaders Part II.
+* If the last alien of a wave is an octopus it creates a trail while moving right. This visual bug, nicknamed "rainbow", became a scoring feature in Space Invaders Part II.
 * Space Invaders was inspired by the 1976 arcade game ''Breakout''. Both games become more difficult as the number of targets decreases while the pace of gameplay increases.
 * June 16th is officially recognized as the "Space Invaders Day".

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 Although UFO score was intended to be random, it actually cycles through the following numbers with each player shot:
 (50,50,100,150,100,100,50,'''300''',100,100,100, 50,150,100,100)
-* By hitting UFOs with the 23rd shot and every 15th shot afterward, each awards 300 points.
+* By hitting UFOs with the 23rd shot and every 15th shot afterward, each will award 300 points.
 * The shot count can be increased quickly by hitting barriers.
 * If a UFO awards 50 or 100 points, that means the player over or undercounted by one.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Logo of Space Invaders.png|260px|center|logo of space invaders]]
 {{GameInfobox
@@ Line 14: / Line 16: @@
 }}
 == Gameplay Overview ==
-'''Space Invaders''' is a one-button game with a 2-way joystick. The beam cannon can only move left or right, fire is limited to one shot and cannot be fired again until it hits somewhere.
+Each level tasks the player with destroying a 11 x 5 grid of aliens. The wave moves left or right, shifting down a row and reversing direction at either side of the screen.
+The speed of the wave is divided by the number of aliens (since only one can be updated each frame). Consequently, as aliens are destroyed the rest become exponentially faster.
-There are several protective walls (pillboxes) behind which the player can hide, over time these walls will be destroyed either by the invaders or the player.
+The cannon can only move horizontally, and shoot straight up (if a bullet is not already in play).
-A total of 55 invaders descend from the top, their movement increases as their numbers decrease and it becomes more difficult to hit them. If the invaders manage to get to the bottom then the game will be over no matter how many lives are left.
+Each level has four destructible shields that block both player and enemy shots.
 ==== Controls ====
@@ Line 31: / Line 32: @@
 ==== Scoring ====
-*'''Large Invader''' : 10 points.
+*'''Octopus''' : 10 points.
-*'''Medium Invader''' : 20 points.
+*'''Crab''' : 20 points.
-*'''Small Invader''' : 30 points.
+*'''Squid''' : 30 points.
-*'''UFO''' : 50 to 300 points.
+*'''UFO''' : ??? (50, 100, 150, or 300) points.
 === Characters ===
 <gallery class="center">
-Invader1.png|'''Medium Invader'''<br>Crab type invader. The official mascot of Taito.
+Invader3.png|'''Octopus'''<br>Large invader.
-Invader3.png|'''Large Invader'''<br>Octopus looking invader.
+Invader1.png|'''Crab'''<br>Medium invader. The official mascot of Taito.
-Invader2.png|'''Small Invader'''<br>Squid type invader.
+Invader2.png|'''Squid'''<br>Small invader.
-Space_invaders_character_3.png|'''UFO'''<br>A UFO that appears from time to time.
+Space_invaders_character_3.png|'''UFO'''<br>Mystery ship that appears occasionally.
-Canon.png|'''Beam Canon'''<br>Player's beam canon.
+Canon.png|'''Cannon'''<br>Player's spacecraft.
-Defence.png|'''Pillbox'''<br>A defensive wall.
+Defence.png|'''Shield'''<br>A defensive wall.
 </gallery>
 == Strategy ==
-=== UFO scoring technique ===
+=== Basic Tips===
-The score of a UFO is not based on any random number, but rather it is controlled by the number of shots fired. The UFO is worth 300 points if hit with the 23rd shot and on every 15th after.
+* Shoot often and don't miss. Each alien hit stops the wave for a quarter-second. Each missed shot takes a full second to cross the screen and explode.
-At the start of the game count 22 shots, when the UFO appears fire the 23rd shot at it, you will get 300 points, now count 14 shots and fire the 15th shot at the UFO, again you will get 300 points, following this pattern every UFO on 15th shot will be worth 300 points.
+* Destroy the wave's outer columns to decrease its width. This is the only way to permanently slow the invasion.
-=== "Nagoya Shot" ===
+=== Intermediate Tips===
 [[File:Nagoya Attack.png|thumb|rihgt|180px|Nagoya Attack strategy]]
-The invaders do not generate their attack directly below them, but rather at a distance of one row, this makes it possible to slip under when the invaders reach the bottom row close to the cannon.
+The Nagoya Attack (also known as the "Wall of Death") takes advantage of a bug wherein aliens on the last row spawn their bullets behind the cannon. By creating a safe space and only attacking enemies on the final row, the player is effectively invincible. At the same time, leaving most aliens alive until the last second slows the game so more UFOs can be shot. However, failing to destroy the last row of aliens perfectly results in the game ending instantly. This strategy is named after the city in Japan where it was presumably discovered.
-video showcasing these strategies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty2z6KP5X0Y
+This video demonstrates two common variations of the Nagoya Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty2z6KP5X0Y
 == Trivia ==
@@ Line 71: / Line 93: @@
 [[File:Space Invaders concept art.jpg|thumb|concept art]]
-June 16th is officially recognized as the "Space Invaders Day".
+* If the last alien of a wave is an octopus it creates a visual trail. This visual bug, nicknamed "rainbow", became a scoring feature in Space Invaders Part II.
 == References ==

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 == Space Invaders ==
-'''Space Invaders''' is an arcade game published by [[Taito]] Co., Ltd. in 1978. Space Invaders is the biggest hit in the history of arcade games and the earliest example of a [[shooting game]]. Similar products and bootlegs have been made by other companies such as [[Irem]]'s IPM Invaders.
+'''Space Invaders''' is an arcade game published by [[Taito]] Co., Ltd. in 1978. Space Invaders is the biggest hit in the history of arcade games and the earliest example of a [[shooting game]]. Similar products and bootlegs have been made by other companies such as [[Irem]]'s IPM Invader.
 == Gameplay Overview ==
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 There are several protective walls (pillboxes) behind which the player can hide, over time these walls will be destroyed either by the invaders or the player.
-A total of 55 invaders descend from the top, their movement increases as their numbers decrease and it becomes more difficult to hit them. If the invaders manage to get to the bottom then game will be over, no matter how many lives are left.
+A total of 55 invaders descend from the top, their movement increases as their numbers decrease and it becomes more difficult to hit them. If the invaders manage to get to the bottom then the game will be over no matter how many lives are left.
 ==== Controls ====
@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 [[File:Nagoya Attack.png|thumb|rihgt|180px|Nagoya Attack strategy]]
-There is space between the invaders and their attack, when the invaders reach the bottom row you can stand at a safe distance and destroy them.
+The invaders do not generate their attack directly below them, but rather at a distance of one row, this makes it possible to slip under when the invaders reach the bottom row close to the cannon.
 This strategy is named after the city in Japan where it was presumably discovered.
@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 <small>
 # https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Invaders
-# japanese wikipedia entry[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%83%99%E3%83%BC%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC]
+# [https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%83%99%E3%83%BC%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/スペースインベーダー]
 # strategy guides
-# developer interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3frk9_3mDk
+# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3frk9_3mDk Developer Interview "Looking back when Space Invaders was born"]