Series : Space Invaders
Developer : Taito
Genre : Fixed shoot 'em up
Features : Portrait Mode Display
Graphics : Pixel Art
Colored Overlay
Sprite Animation
Themes : Alien Invasion
Release Info : MiSTer implementation
Hardware : Intel 8080
Ports :
Space Invaders (1980 A2600)
Space Invaders (1985 SG1000)
Achievements : retroachievements.orgnot completed.
Space Invaders with the Midway backdrop. (Taito's original backdrop looks different)
Facts
As can be seen from these frames from this video and this video, Space Invaders has a vertically oriented monitor which makes scan lines appear vertically, not horizontally.
.The CRT display is mounted facing upwards, reflected towards a semi-transparent mirror, behind which is a plastic cutout of the planetary surface. The reflection of the CRT appears over the cutout, serving as a backdrop. The CRT had colored overlays on the display itself, to add color to the black and white image. Thus, both the colors and background of Space Invaders are non-digital optical effects. Also note that the actual CRT image is mirrored to appear correct in the reflection.
(Photo by dbrainjr on ebay.com)
Analysis
I adore the little animations where the invader steals and flips the Y in PLAY, and the red invader shooting the extra C in INSERT COIN.
