Space Invaders (Atari 2600 video game)

Space Invaders is a 1980 fixed shooter video game developed and published by Atari, Inc. for the Atari 2600 as a port of Taito's 1978 arcade game of the same name. The game plays similar to its arcade counterpart, as the player operates a laser cannon to shoot incoming alien enemies from outer space. The 2600 version has unique graphics and offers gameplay variations including a two-player mode and options that allow for invisible enemies, moving shields, and for enemies' shots to zig-zag. The Atari 2600 version of Space Invaders was designed and developed by Rick Maurer. Prior to working at Atari, Maurer developed games at Fairchild Semiconductor. Impressed with the Space Invaders arcade game, he began developing an Atari 2600 version during his time at Atari. The company staff showed little interest in the game until then-Atari president and CEO Ray Kassar saw how well Space Invaders was doing in arcades; Kassar obtained the rights to the game for the Atari 2600 and had Maurer complete his code. Space Invaders was one of Atari's biggest hits in 1980, with Electronic Games magazine calling it a console seller for the system. It became one of the best-selling games for the Atari 2600, and has been described as the video game industry's first killer app. When Maurer was only compensated with an $11,000 bonus for the success of the game, he left the company and never developed another Atari 2600 game. The success of Space Invaders led to Atari seeking out games from other arcade companies such as Namco and Centuri.