space invaders...the game *doesn't* end!

[leorange]

i didn't see this posted...apologies if i missed it...and $.50?


Japanese game machine maker Taito Corp said on Friday it plans to restart sales of "Space Invaders" in the United States, almost 25 years after the game first appeared in video arcades.

The classic arcade game centers on a fleet of invading aliens looking to take over earth, but they must first deal with a lone gunner -- the player -- holed up behind a fragile set of shields.

It has been one of the most popular video games of all time since it was developed in 1978.

"There has been a rebirth of classic video games in America," said Taito spokesman Kengo Naka. "We thought it would coincide nicely with the 25th anniversary of its debut in the U.S."

Taito aims to sell 10,000 of the stand-alone game machines at 300,000 yen (U.S. $2,772) a unit.

While the game will not change in this latest offering, inflation has taken its toll. One play will now cost 50 cents, compared with 25 cents a generation ago.

Since Taito no longer has operations in the United States, the game machines will be made through an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreement with game software maker Namco Ltd.

Namco, which also has it own classic video game, "Pacman," will handle sales of Space Invaders in the United States.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/fun.games/12/05/space.invaders.reut/index.html

[NE146]

aahhh SI goodness. Does my heart good ^_^

[Aswald]

Imagine, if you will, an arcade with...

Space Invaders.
Tempest.
Major Havoc.
Super Pac-Man.
Snap Jack.
Joust.
Mr. Do!
Bosconian.

Rush, Culture Club, Zebra, or Journey, anyone?

[Raccoon Lad]

So, a new Space invaders costs under $3000, and an original cabinet in perfect working order sells for how much?

Damn, you'd think it'd be cheaper to build something so simple and antiquated.

[kai123]

I was thinking the same thing Raccoon Lad. Couldn't they just put a ps2 and a hacked together version of the game inside a cab and be done with it? I don't think that would be very hard.

[Aswald]

Given the economics of today, and the fact that arcades are not as well off as they once were, I don't see how they could sell those machines. Even at 50 cents per game, that would be roughly 5500 plays just to break even. Is that really going to happen, esp. since good players can make a game last for hours?

[NE146]

So, a new Space invaders costs under $3000, and an original cabinet in perfect working order sells for how much?

Damn, you'd think it'd be cheaper to build something so simple and antiquated.

The cabinet is a lot nicer than your average generic Jamma game these days. I mean it has the nice lit up cardboard background and the holographic mirror image floating. But then again I may be biased towards the japanese uprights. :)

And of course the side art is nice :P

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/userid947/TaitoSI1.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/userid947/TaitoSI2.jpg

[Zaxxon]

It's not going to look like the original cabinet. They're going to do a Ms. Pac Man/Galaga anniversary type split cab and there will probably be a hidden game in this one too (Zoo Keeper?). They don't need the processing power of a PS2 to do this game justice. Heck, they could stick a CV in there with Opcode's SI Collection cart. Opcodes game IS running the actual arcade code. That price mentioned is probably just the list price and the actual street price will likely be 33% less.

http://www.namcoarcade.com/gamedata/cablg_spaceqix_1.jpg

I think it's pretty darn cool and wouldn't be a bad purchase if you owned a bar or restaurant. Everyone who sees it will want to play it at least once.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Just for the record...ME WANT

[AB Positive]

I second PDF, my fantasy basement game room would need one of these

-AG

[Balloon Fight]

Space Invaders + Qix = A match made in heaven. I also WANT.

[Videogamerdaryll]

I used to own a Space Invaders Cab,and a Space Invaders Deluxe when I was younger..
(long story)..
I still have some of the parts to the machines..Bezels etc.

I thought I'd never see a re-release of this game in an Arcade machine...
sweeet!!

[Ze_ro]

I think charging 50 cents a game is too much... if it was only a quarter a play, I'd happily play it LOT more.

Incidentally, I'm very happy with my Protector/YASI cartridge... YASI certainly provides me with more than enough Space Invaders-related happiness.

--Zero

[NE146]

Blah.. I take it back. It's nice but kind of not what I was wanting. :( I wonder if you can use the joystick with space invaders though.

If Zookeeper's a hidden game then I think I'd like it though :)

[zmweasel]

I was thinking the same thing Raccoon Lad. Couldn't they just put a ps2 and a hacked together version of the game inside a cab and be done with it? I don't think that would be very hard.

They don't need to "hack together" a PS2 version; there's already a Space Invaders Anniversary available for the PS2 in Japan, and it's great (but mostly because of its two-player split-screen competitive mode). It's a damn shame it won't get a U.S. release.

-- Z.

[ubersaurus]

Given the economics of today, and the fact that arcades are not as well off as they once were, I don't see how they could sell those machines. Even at 50 cents per game, that would be roughly 5500 plays just to break even. Is that really going to happen, esp. since good players can make a game last for hours?

I don't think its possible to keep a game of space invaders going for hours. That game is rough.

[CitizenWhite]

Man... I would kill for one of those to be put in my room.

[Stamp Mcfury]

Rereleasing Space Invaders sounds sweet but I'm pretty sure most people will find 50 cents too high to play this game.

[ubersaurus]

I'm with the whole 50 cents argument on the grounds most people think its too high to pay. I think the main reason that argument prevails is because 50 cent coins haven't exactly saturated the market like quarters do. As a result, 1 coin seems like less money then 2, and thats why people are more apt to play a quarter game, beyond the obvious price difference.

[Sylentwulf]

I'm sorry but...

HAHAHA, How STUPID is that? $3,000?! Gimme a break. As has been repeatedly said, you can get an original used one for a fraction of the price in great condition. $.50 a play? WTF are they thinking.
Do they REALLY expect 10,000 places to order this thing for that much?! Are there even 10,000 arcades LEFT in america? Let alone ones that would WANT this thing at 1/4th that price?

This, is the stupid move of the year IMO. I'm all for bringing back the classics, but I'm SURE they could mass produce these for $500, and have a $.10 per play option instead.

[Ze_ro]

I'm SURE they could mass produce these for $500, and have a $.10 per play option instead.

Hell, the cost to manufacture them is probably $50... the other $2650 is pure profit for the manufacturer :roll:

--Zero

[NE146]

ok I got the scoop on this..

1) It doesn't have a background

2) It is not a mirrored display

In other words... it's poop. O_O

[Zaxxon]

How could they insert the one way mirror and background and also use the same monitor setup for Qix and the possibly hidden game(s) unless they had some mechanics that pulled that down out of the way when your weren't playing SI?

[Neil Koch]

Another thing with the 50 cents/play is that I've seen some of the Ms Pac-man/Galaga ones that gave you one guy -- you couldn't even get the double-ship in Galaga.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

1) It doesn't have a background
2) It is not a mirrored display

The import PS1 Space Invaders collection from Japan (http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/edit/invaders/) skirts this problem, though - it looks really good.

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/edit/invaders/game5.jpg

Heck, they even do the "striped overlay" thing too:

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/edit/invaders/game3.jpg

...complete with out-of-alignment display! LOL