Space Invaders advance on the US

Many have fond memories of playing Space Invaders

Swarms of alien invaders are set to take the US by storm, almost 25 years after they first pounced.

The extra terrestrials that live as computer code in the classic Space Invaders game are receiving a new lease of life.

The Japanese game machine maker Taito is planning to start re-selling arcade console machines in the US.

"There has been a rebirth of classic videogames in America," said Taito spokesman Kengo Naka.

"We thought it would coincide nicely with the 25th anniversary of its debut in the US."

Simple formula

The arrival of rows and rows of blocky animated invaders from space in 1978 captured the public's imagination

The simple premise of Space Invaders was to stop swarms of aliens, using a lone gunner protected by some fragile shields. This formula went on to become the most successful arcade game of all time.

Arcade games are now packed into a mobile phone

Space Invaders is seen as the responsible for kick-starting the video games industry, as teenagers pumped arcade machines with coins to try to beat the top score.

Taito is hoping to capitalise on the nostalgia for what some consider the golden age of gaming by bringing back the stand-alone game machines.

It aims to sell 10,000 arcade machines in the US, though they will not come cheap. The machine comes with a price tag of $2,772.

Retro gaming is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance with classic titles like Pac Man and Asteroids appearing on mobile phones.

The games are designed to appeal to both the mobile savvy young consumers and the 20 to 30-something users who remember the titles from first time around.