Summary
- Release Year: 1981
- Genres: Shooter, Strategy
- Platforms: Arcade, Mac, Web browser
- Publishers: Shockwave, Williams Electronics
Defender (1981)
Defender is an arcade video game developed and released by Williams Electronics in 1980. A shooting game featuring two-dimensional (2D) graphics, the game is set on a fictional planet where the player must defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts. Development was led by Eugene Jarvis, a pinball programmer at Williams; Defender was Jarvis’s first video game project, and drew inspiration from Space Invaders and Asteroids. Williams planned to display the game at the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) trade show, though development delays resulted in the team working on the game up until the show started.
Gameplay
Defender is a vertically scrolling shooter in which the player controls a spaceship that can move left, right, and up. The player’s ship is equipped with a laser cannon that can fire in eight directions. The objective of the game is to defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts.
The aliens in Defender come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with their own unique attack patterns. Some aliens will fly in formation, while others will swoop down from above or crawl along the ground. The player must use their laser cannon to destroy the aliens before they can reach the bottom of the screen and capture the astronauts.
In addition to the aliens, the player must also contend with a variety of obstacles, such as asteroids, meteors, and space debris. These obstacles can damage the player’s ship if they collide with it, so the player must be careful to avoid them.
Development
Defender was developed by a team led by Eugene Jarvis, a pinball programmer at Williams Electronics. Jarvis was inspired to create Defender after playing Space Invaders and Asteroids. He wanted to create a game that was more challenging and exciting than either of those games.
Jarvis and his team worked on Defender for over a year, and the game went through many changes during development. At one point, the game was going to be called “Star Castle,” but the name was changed to Defender before the game was released.
Williams Electronics planned to display Defender at the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) trade show in October 1980. However, development delays resulted in the team working on the game up until the show started. Despite the rushed development, Defender was a huge success at the show, and Williams Electronics went on to sell over 55,000 units of the game.
Release
Defender was released in arcades in November 1980. The game was a huge commercial success, and it quickly became one of the most popular arcade games of all time. Defender was ported to a variety of home platforms, including the Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and Commodore 64.
Critical reception
Defender was met with critical acclaim upon its release. Critics praised the game’s audio-visuals, gameplay, and challenge. Defender is frequently listed as one of the best arcade games of all time, and it is considered to be one of Eugene Jarvis’s greatest contributions to the video game industry.
Legacy
Defender has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s unique gameplay and challenge have inspired the development of many other games, including Robotron: 2084 and Smash TV. Defender has also been ported to numerous platforms, and it remains popular with gamers today.
In 2010, Defender was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. The game is also included in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.
Conclusion
Defender is a classic arcade game that still holds up today. Its fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and iconic visuals make it a must-play for any fan of the genre. Defender is a true testament to the genius of Eugene Jarvis, and it is one of the most important video games of all time.
Review Score
9/10
