Space Invaders - Genesis of FPS Games

Space Invaders was the origin, the genesis, of many of today's FPS (first person shooter) games, at least the video game versions.

Some would argue that shooting games go back to the mechanical shooting galleries at carnivals, grandstands, and boardwalks across America. We could take it back to the real thing like turkey shoots at state and county fairs.

Space Invaders was an arcade video game created by Toshihiro Nishikado in Japan back in 1978. You can still find numerous versions to play free online. The best place to start is the relaunched Space Invaders Shrine at: http://www.spaceinvaders.de/

For those who are a bit younger than the average retrogamer, Space Invaders works like this:

* the player has one laser canon with unlimited ammunition at the bottom of the screen behind 4 small walls for protection

* the canon moves back and forth horizontally using the left and right arrow keys

* you shoot the canon by pressing the spacebar

* rows of aliens move back and forth horizontally and downward toward your canon while dropping bombs and rays

* as you destroy aliens, they begin to move down faster and faster and begin zooming across the screen

* the only sound is a heartbeat that speeds up when the aliens move faster

* after destroying all the aliens on the screen, a new group appears on row closer to your canon

* at times, a red spaceship moves across the top of the screen that can be shot for bonus points

* if you lose your canon 3 times, or if an alien reaches the bottom of the screen, the game is over

It was all very simple by today's standards, yet this did not stop public complaints against the game. Parents always seem to find that dark cloud in front of the silver lining.

You have heard it before:

* Space Invaders was a corrupting influence on children

* children were wasting money by pumping quarters into the arcade machines at the mall or corner convenience store

* the game could not be won - eventually the aliens always win

One simple advance made Space Invaders different from other arcade video games - elimination of the timer. The better the player's skill, the longer it took to lose the 3 canons.

To see how far FPS has come, go to the Shrine (link above) and then download the free Trition player (http://www.playtriton.com)and try your hand at the latest first person shooters.

Unlike Space Invaders, with a new release like Prey from 3D Realms, you can actually save the Earth from an alien invasion - if you are good enough.