Who created Space Invaders, the 1978 arcade game that helped popularize the shoot-'em-up genre?

Tomohiro Nishikado created Space Invaders, the influential arcade shoot-'em-up released in 1978.

Nishikado designed the game for Taito and handled much of its development, including the hardware and software. Players control a laser cannon at the bottom of the screen and defend against descending rows of alien invaders. The enemies speed up as their numbers decrease, creating pressure without requiring complicated controls.

Space Invaders became a major arcade success in Japan and abroad. Its popularity contributed to a shortage of 100-yen coins in Japan, although the scale of that effect is sometimes exaggerated. The game also helped establish recognizable alien imagery and influenced later shooters such as Galaxian and Galaga.