Editing Galaxian

{{Short description|1979 video game}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Galaxian
| image = Galaxian flyer.jpg
| caption = Japanese arcade flyer
| developer = [[Namco]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/EU|Namco,<ref name="Germany">{{cite web |title=Video Game Flyers: Galaxian, Namco (Germany) |url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=3140&image=1 |website=The Arcade Flyer Archive |publisher=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref> [[Taito]]|NA|[[Midway Manufacturing]]|</ref>WW[[Irem]]}}
| designer = Kazunori Sawano <br /> Shigeichi Ishimura<ref name="Szczepaniak">{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |date=11 August 2014 |isbn=978-0992926007 |pages=201 |publisher=SMG Szczepaniak |edition=First |url=https://archive.org/details/TheUntoldHistoryOfJapaneseGameDevelopersVol.2JohnSzczepaniak/page/n361?q=cutie+q |access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>
| programmer = Kōichi Tashiro
| composer = Toshio Kai<ref name="Music">{{cite web |title=Untold Stories of the Creation of PAC-MAN – Part 1 – Interview with Toru Iwatani, Toshio Kai, Shigeichi Ishimura, Akira Osugi, Tadashi Yamashita, Hiroshi Ono, Yoichi Haraguchi, Akiyoshi Sarukawa, and Katsutoshi Endo|url=https://asobimotto.bandainamcoent.co.jp/8681/|website=Asobimotto|publisher=[[Bandai Namco Entertainment]]|date=17 June 2021|access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref>
| artist = [[Hiroshi Ono (artist)|Hiroshi Ono]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/former-namco-pixel-artist-hiroshi-mr-dotman-ono-has-died/|title=Former Namco Pixel Artist Hiroshi 'Mr. Dotman' Ono Has Died|website=[[Siliconera]]|date=October 17, 2021|access-date=October 17, 2021|last=Kiya|first=Andrew}}</ref>
| series = ''[[List of Galaxian video games|Galaxian]]''
| release = {{vgrelease|JP|September 15, 1979<ref name="Court"/><ref name="Copyright">{{cite web |title=Galaxian. (Registration Number PA0000059977) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=[[United States Copyright Office]] |access-date= 5 June 2021}}</ref>|NA|November 1979<ref name="CB">{{Cite magazine |date=1979-12-15 |title=L.A. Distrib Holds 6th Annual Show |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-12-15.pdf#page=41 |magazine=[[Cash Box]] |page=41}}</ref>|EU|November 1979<ref>{{Cite book |last=Meades |first=Alan |url=https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5459/Arcade-BritanniaA-Social-History-of-the-British |title=Arcade Britannia: A Social History of the British Amusement Arcade |date=2022-10-25 |publisher=[[The MIT Press]] |isbn=978-0-262-37234-3 |chapter=5: Pings, Pongs, and Pioneers |pages=121–144 |doi=10.7551/mitpress/12420.003.0009 |chapter-url=https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5459/chapter/3979910/Pings-Pongs-and-Pioneers}}</ref><ref name="Germany"/>}}
| genre = [[Fixed shooter]]
| modes = 1-2 players alternating turns
| platforms  = [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari 5200]], [[Bally Astrocade|Astrocade]], [[IBM PC]], [[ColecoVision]], [[Intellivision]], [[MSX]], [[Famicom]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Handheld electronic game|handheld]], [[mobile phone]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Galaxian'''''|ギャラクシアン|Gyarakushian|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1979 [[fixed shooter]] [[arcade video game]] developed and published by [[Namco]]. The player assumes control of the Galaxip starfighter in its mission to protect Earth from waves of aliens. Gameplay involves destroying each formation of aliens, who dive down towards the player in an attempt to hit them.

Designed by company engineer Kazunori Sawano, ''Galaxian'' was Namco's answer to ''[[Space Invaders]]'', a similar space shooter released the previous year by rival developer [[Taito]]. ''Space Invaders'' was a sensation in Japan, and Namco wanted a game that could compete against it. Sawano strove to make the game simplistic and easy to understand. He was inspired by the cinematic space combat scenes in ''[[Star Wars]]'', with enemies originally being in the shape of the film's [[TIE Fighters]]. ''Galaxian'' is one of the first video games to feature [[RGB]] color graphics and the first ever to use a tile-based hardware system, which was capable of animated multi-color [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]] as well as [[scrolling]], though the latter was limited to the starfield background while the game itself remained a fixed shooter.

''Galaxian'' was Namco's first major arcade video game hit. It was the second highest-grossing arcade video game of 1979 and 1980 in Japan and the second highest-grossing of 1980 in the United States, where it became one of the best-selling arcade games of all time with 50,000 arcade units sold by 1982. The game was celebrated for its gameplay and use of true color graphics. In retrospect, it has gained fame for its historical importance and technological accomplishments. Its success led to several sequels and reimaginings, most notably ''[[Galaga]]'', which surpassed it in popularity. ''Galaxian'' has also been ported to many home systems and is included in numerous [[List of Bandai Namco video game compilations|Namco compilations]].

==Gameplay==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2022}}
[[File:Galaxian.png|thumb|left|Aliens diving toward the player's ship (arcade)]]

''Galaxian'' is a space-themed [[fixed shooter]]. The player controls a starship called the "Galaxip", the objective being to clear each round of aliens. The enemies appear in formation towards the top of the screen, with two escort ships, labeled the "Galaxian Flagship" or "Galboss". Enemies will make a divebomb towards the bottom of the screen while shooting projectiles in an attempt to hit the player. The Galaxip can only fire a single shot at a time, and the player must wait for it to either hit an enemy or the top of the screen before being able to fire another, due to limitations of the hardware.

Flagships will make a divebomb with two red escort ships - shooting all three of these will award the player bonus points, with extra points awarded to the destruction of the flagship. Enemy movement will increase as the game progresses alongside the number of shots that the enemies fire. Rounds are indicated by small flags at the bottom of the screen. The game's attract mode featured a slim scenario, reading "WE ARE THE GALAXIANS. MISSION: DESTROY ALIENS".

==Development==
''Galaxian'' was designed by Kazunori Sawano, who had previously worked on many of Namco's electro-mechanical shooting gallery arcade games, notably ''[[Shoot Away]]'' (1977).<ref name="TV Game">{{cite book |author1=Video Game Museum Project |title=Terebi gēmu. |date=June 1988 |publisher=You B You |isbn=978-4946432316 |url=http://shmuplations.com/earlyarcade/ |language=ja}}</ref> Early in the game's development, [[Taito]] had released ''[[Space Invaders]]'' in Japan, which swept the country by storm and helped turn the video game industry into a highly-profitable business. To help capitalize on the game's success, Namco president [[Masaya Nakamura (businessman)|Masaya Nakamura]] ordered Sawano to make the best "post-Invaders" game they could, which put a vast amount of pressure on the development team.<ref name="TV Game"/> Although development of the game lasted six months, Sawano had made several ideas half a year before production began.<ref name="TV Game"/>

Sawano and his team set out to make a game anybody could play, using a "simple is best" motto during production – this helped trim away large-scale ideas in favor of a game that could loop endlessly and be able to use only two enemy types.<ref name="1985 Interview">{{cite web |title=Galaxian - 1985 Developer Interview |url=http://shmuplations.com/galaga/ |access-date=3 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606111333/http://shmuplations.com/galaga/ |archive-date=6 June 2019 |date=1985}}</ref> Alongside ''Space Invaders'', a large portion of the game was inspired by ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'', specifically its large-scale space battles.<ref name="TV Game"/> Sawano had wanted to replicate the feeling of a space battle, specifically with the game's sound effects.<ref name="TV Game"/> Several back-and-forth sound effects were made, many being rejected by Sawano for not matching his vision. The game was Namco's first arcade game to be composed with a synthesizer.<ref name="TV Game"/>

Game balance was an important part of the game, as Sawano did not want to make the game suddenly spike in difficulty with no build-up or warning;<ref name="TV Game"/> the development team made the number of enemies on-screen the same and gradually increased the difficulty as the player progresses, becoming more noticeable in later stages.<ref name="TV Game"/> The enemies themselves were designed to have a personality of their own, programmed to monitor the player's movements and make attacks based on them<ref name="1985 Interview"/> - early in development, Sawano had envisioned the enemies to resemble TIE Fighters from ''Star Wars''.<ref name="TV Game"/> To save up on hardware memory and processing, programmers created a tilemap hardware model, which created a set of 8x8 pixel tiles – this reduced processing and memory requirements up to 64 times, compared to the [[framebuffer]] model used in ''Space Invaders''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Before the Crash: Early Video Game History |author=Mark J. P. Wolf |publisher=Wayne State University Press |date=15 June 2012 |page=173 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oK3D4i5ldKgC&pg=PA173 |access-date=8 July 2016|isbn=978-0814337226 }}</ref> The game's hardware was also capable of features such as multi-color [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Good |first1=Owen S. |title=Namco's founder and 'father of Pac-Man' dies at 91 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/1/30/14438064/father-of-pac-man-obituary-masaya-nakamura-namco |access-date=3 May 2021 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=30 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref> sprite animation, and [[scrolling]], though the game remained a fixed shooter with a scrolling effect only used for the starfield background.<ref name="Nikkei6">{{cite magazine |title=【任天堂「ファミコン」はこうして生まれた】 第6回：業務用ゲーム機の挫折をバネにファミコンの実現に挑む |trans-title=How the Famicom Was Born – Part 6: Making the Famicom a Reality |magazine=Nikkei Electronics |date=September 12, 1994 |publisher=[[Nikkei Business Publications]] |lang=ja |url=http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/special/20081001/1019315/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006082447/trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/special/20081001/1019315/ |archive-date=October 6, 2008 |access-date=13 April 2021}}
*{{cite web |date=March 28, 2012 |title=Making the Famicom a Reality |website=GlitterBerri's Game Translations |url=https://www.glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/how-the-famicom-was-born/making-the-famicom-a-reality/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505103737/https://www.glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/how-the-famicom-was-born/making-the-famicom-a-reality/ |archive-date=2012-05-05}}</ref>

==Ports==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2018}}
[[Atari, Inc.]] published ports of ''Galaxian'' for its own systems&mdash;[[Atari 8-bit computers]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Atari 400 800 XL XE Galaxian |url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-galaxian_s2142.html |website=Atari Mania}}</ref> [[Atari 2600]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Atari 2600 VCS Galaxian |url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-galaxian_s6827.html |website=Atari Mania}}</ref> [[Atari 5200]]&mdash; in 1982–3, three or more years after ''Galaxian'' appeared in arcades and a year or more after ''Galaga''. Additional ports were published under the [[Atarisoft]] label: [[Apple II]], [[ColecoVision]], [[Commodore 64]], [[VIC-20]], [[IBM Personal Computer|IBM PC]], and [[ZX Spectrum]]. Ports from other companies were sold for [[MSX]] (Europe and Japan only), [[NEC PC-8801]], [[Famicom]] (Japan only), and [[Sharp X1]].

A [[Bally Astrocade]] version was published as ''Galaxian'', but the name was later changed to ''Galactic Invasion''.

[[Coleco]] released a stand-alone Mini-Arcade tabletop version of ''Galaxian'' in 1981,<ref>{{cite web |title=Coleco Galaxian |url=http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Coleco/Galaxian.htm |website=Handheld Museum}}</ref>  which, along with ''[[Pac-Man]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong (1981 video game)|Donkey Kong]]'', and ''[[Frogger]]'', sold three million units combined.<ref name="eg_16_10">{{cite journal|title=More Mini-Arcades A Comin'|journal=[[Electronic Games]]|date=June 1983|volume=4|issue=16|url=https://archive.org/stream/electronic-games-magazine-1983-06/Electronic_Games_Issue_16_Vol_02_04_1983_Jun#page/n9/mode/2up|access-date=1 February 2012|page=10}}</ref> [[Entex Industries|Entex]] released a [[handheld electronic game]] called ''[[Galaxian 2]]'' in 1981. The game is called ''Galaxian 2'' because it has a [[Two-player video game|two-player]] mode. It is not a sequel, as there is no ''Entex Galaxian''.<ref name="handheldmuseum-1">{{cite web|url=http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Entex/Galaxian2.htm|title=Entex Galaxian 2|first=Rik|last=Morgan|access-date=23 October 2010|quote=Entex Galaxian 2, based on Bally/Midway's Galaxian arcade game.}}</ref>

==Release==
''Galaxian'' was released by Namco in Japan on September 15, 1979.<ref name="Court"/> Following its large success, Namco approached Midway Manufacturing in terms of releasing the game overseas. Midway, who had previously lost their license with [[Taito]] due to the success of ''Space Invaders'' in the west, was in the midst of trying to find a new partner for releasing games.<ref name="Ultimate History">{{cite book|last=Kent |first=Steven L. |author-link=Steven L. Kent |title=The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World |date=2002 |publisher=Random House International |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7615-3643-7 |oclc=59416169 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PTrcTeAqeaEC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624183529/https://books.google.com/books?id=PTrcTeAqeaEC&printsec=frontcover |archive-date=June 24, 2016 }}</ref> After Namco showed Midway the game on October 17, 1979, Midway was interested in the game's unique features and wanted to acquire the rights to the game.<ref name="Court"/> They agreed to the deal and Midway introduced the game at a trade exhibit in November 1979,<ref name="CB"/> followed by a wide release for North America in early 1980<ref name="Ultimate History"/> – this move helped strengthen Midway and challenged Atari's leadership in the market.<ref name="Ultimate History"/> To help keep up demand for the game in Japan, Namco licensed the game to other companies for manufacturing cabinets, including [[Taito]] and [[Irem]].<ref name="All About Namco">{{cite book |author1=Microcomputer BASIC Editorial Department |title=All About Namco |date=December 1986 |publisher=Dempa Shimbun |isbn=978-4885541070 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="Game Machine">{{cite news|date=1 March 1980|title=Play Table|publisher=Amusement Press Inc.|agency=Game Machine|issue=137|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19800301p.pdf#page=3|url-status=live|access-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611161629if_/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19800301p.pdf#page=3|archive-date=11 June 2019}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = {{rating|2|5}} ({{nowrap|Atari 5200}})<ref name="Allgame">{{cite web |author1=Brett Alan Weiss |title=Galaxian - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16012&tab=review |website=[[Allgame]] |publisher=All Media Network |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114130001/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16012&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |date=1998}}</ref>
| CVG = 15/20 (Atari VCS)<ref name="C&VG">{{cite news |title=Well Played Galaxians! |url=https://archive.org/details/computer-video-games-magazine-026/page/n44 |access-date=9 August 2019 |agency=[[Computer and Video Games]] |issue=26 |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |date=December 1983 |page=45}}</ref> <br /> 78% (Atari VCS)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Complete Games Guide |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |date=16 October 1989 |issue=Complete Guide to Consoles |pages=46–77 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/9/98/CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf#page=46}}</ref>
| EuroG = 9/10 (Arcade)<ref name="Eurogamer Review">{{cite web |last1=Clive |first1=Sir |title=Galaxian |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/galaxian-review |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=9 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205630/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/galaxian-review |archive-date=4 March 2016 |date=25 October 2007}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Electronic Fun with Computers & Games]]''
| rev1Score = A (Atari 5200)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Video Game Explosion! We rate every game in the world |magazine=[[Electronic Fun with Computers & Games]] |date=December 1982 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=12–7 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_01_No_02_1982-12_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n11/mode/2up}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''Video Games Player''
| rev2Score = B+ (Atari VCS)<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Dimetrosky |first=Raymond |title=Video Game Buyer's Guide |magazine=Video Games Player |date=September 1983 |volume=2 |issue=1 |page=52 |publisher=Carnegie Publications |location=United States |url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Player_Vol_2_No_1_1983-09_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n47/mode/2up}}</ref>
| award1Pub = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| award1 = [[1970s in video games|Greatest video game of the 70s]]<ref name="Guardian"/>
}}

''Galaxian'' was a critical and commercial success upon release. In Japan, it was the second highest-earning [[1979 in video games|arcade game of 1979]], below ''[[Space Invaders]]''.<ref name="GM136">{{cite magazine|title=ベストスリー 本紙調査|trans-title=Best 3 Paper Survey |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=136|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=February 1980|page=2|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19800201p.pdf#page=2}}</ref> The following year, ''Galaxian'' outperformed ''[[Pac-Man]]'' for a while,<ref name="Dossier">{{cite web |last1=Pittman |first1=Jamey |title=The Pac-Man Dossier |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132330/the_pacman_dossier.php |website=Gamasutra |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109075706/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132330/the_pacman_dossier.php |archive-date=9 January 2020 |date=23 February 2009}}</ref> before the year ended with ''Galaxian'' again being the second highest-earning [[1980 in video games|arcade game of 1980]], below ''Pac-Man''.<ref name="GM159">{{cite magazine|title=ベストスリー 本紙調査 (調査対象1980年) 〜 アーケードゲーム機|trans-title=Best Three Book Survey (Survey Target 1980) ~ Arcade Game Machines|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=159|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 February 1981|page=2|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19810215p.pdf#page=2}}</ref> ''Galaxian'' was later the 18th highest-grossing [[1981 in video games|arcade video game of 1981]], tied with ''[[Defender (video game)|Defender]]'' and ''[[Turbo (video game)|Turbo]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title="Donkey Kong" No.1 Of '81 — ''Game Machine's Survey Of "The Year's Best Three AM Machines"'' —|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=182|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 February 1982|page=30|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19820215p.pdf#page=16}}</ref> The game continued to see success in Japan throughout the early 1980s; ''Game Machine'' reported that it was still performing well as late as August 1983.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=218|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 August 1983|page=27|lang=ja}}</ref>

In the United States, ''Galaxian'' was also the second highest-grossing arcade game of 1980, below ''[[Asteroids (video game)|Asteroids]]'', according to ''[[Play Meter]]''<ref name="Sullivan">{{cite book |last1=Sullivan |first1=George |title=Social Science |date=1981 |publisher=[[Pi Gamma Mu]] |page=210 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqEiAQAAMAAJ |quote=Examination of the graphics of 10 video machines, selected from the list of the 20 most popular videos for 1980 as published by ''Play Meter'', supported our initial observations. (...) The three most popular video games for 1980 were ''Asteroids'', ''Galaxian'', and ''Space Invaders'' in that order. All three video games involve shooting electronic projectiles at rocks in space or at alien invaders.}}</ref> and ''[[Cash Box]]''.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |title=1980 Jukebox/Games Route Survey |journal=[[Cash Box]] |date=November 1, 1980 |page=AMOA-28 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c4/CashBox_US_1980-11-01.pdf#page=54}}</ref> ''Galaxian'' had sold 40,000 arcade units in the United States by 1981,<ref name="Court">{{cite web |title=Midway Mfg. Co. v. Dirkschneider, 543 F. Supp. 466 (D. Neb. 1981) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/543/466/1460981/ |website=Justia Law |publisher=[[U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska]] |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=July 15, 1981}}</ref> and 50,000 units in the US {{as of|1982|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bloom |first1=Steve |title=Video Invaders |publisher=Arco Publishing |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-668-05520-8 |page=24 |url=https://archive.org/details/book_video_invaders/page/n44}}</ref>

===Reviews===
Critics applauded the game's use of true color graphics and for improving the formula established in ''Space Invaders''. The April 5, 1980 issue of ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' noted of the game's colorful and attractive cabinet design,<ref name="Cashbox April 5">{{cite book |title=Midway Debuts 'Galaxian' Video |date=5 April 1980 |publisher=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]] |page=40 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1980/CB-1980-04-05.pdf |access-date=19 March 2020}}</ref> while the April 26 issue called it an "earthshaking hit", referring to it as a true followup to ''Space Invaders''. In a 2007 retrospective review, Sir Clive of ''[[Eurogamer]]'' labeled it a masterpiece, praising its "beautifully drawn" game graphics, intense gameplay, and for being a historically important game for the industry.<ref name="Eurogamer Review"/> In 2021, ''[[The Guardian]]'' listed ''Galaxian'' as the greatest [[1970s in video games|video game of the 1970s]].<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |title=The 15 greatest video games of the 70s – ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2021/may/13/15-greatest-video-games-of-the-70s-ranked |access-date=23 May 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=13 May 2021}}</ref> In 1996, [[GamesMaster (magazine)|GamesMaster]] ranked the arcade version 63 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=July 1996 |title=Top 100 Games of All Time |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cf/GamesMaster_UK_044.pdf |journal=GamesMaster |issue=44 |pages=76}}</ref>

Home versions and ports of the game received mixed responses by platforms. ''Video'' magazine in 1982 reviewed the [[Astrocade]] version of ''Galaxian'' (named ''Galactic Invasion''), noting that the graphics were inferior to the coin-op and PC versions, but praising the play-action as "magnificent" compared to other console versions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Kunkel |first1= Bill |author-link1= Bill Kunkel (journalist)|last2= Katz |first2= Arnie |author-link2= Arnie Katz|date= May 1982 |title= Arcade Alley: Astrovision's Rising Star |journal= [[Video (magazine)|Video]]|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 6|issue= 2|pages= 42–43|issn= 0147-8907}}</ref>{{rp|43}} The Astrocade version was later awarded a Certificate of Merit for "Best Arcade-to-Home Video Game Translation" at the 4th annual [[Arkie Awards]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Kunkel |first1= Bill |author-link1= Bill Kunkel (journalist)|last2= Katz |first2= Arnie |author-link2= Arnie Katz|date= February 1983 |title= Arcade Alley: The Fourth Annual Arcade Awards |journal= [[Video (magazine)|Video]]|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 6|issue= 11|pages= 30, 108|issn= 0147-8907}}</ref>{{rp|108}} ''Home Computing Weekly'' in 1983 gave the Spectrum version of ''Galaxian'' 3/5 stars describing it as a well-written version and praising the graphics as fast although flickery.<ref>Harris, Ron ed. ''Spectrum Software Reviews - Testing, testing... 10 programs for the Spectrum: Galaxian Spectrum £4.95''. Home Computing Weekly. Issue 4. Pg.41. 29 March 1983.</ref> ''[[Softline (magazine)|Softline]]'' in 1983 criticized the Atari 8-bit version of the game, stating that "this game becomes tedious very quickly".<ref name="bang19830506">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1983&pub=6&id=11 | title=Beating the Classics | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=May–Jun 1983 | access-date=28 July 2014 | author=Bang, Derrick | pages=43}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
The ''Galaxian'' arcade hardware had a significant influence on the hardware design of [[Nintendo]]'s later arcade and console systems, including the arcade hardware for ''[[Radar Scope]]'' (1980) and ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade game)|Donkey Kong]]'' (1981) as well as the [[Famicom]] and [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. According to [[Nintendo R&D2]] lead engineer [[Masayuki Uemura]], ''Galaxian'' replaced the more intensive [[bitmap]] rendering system of ''Space Invaders'' with a hardware [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] rendering system that animated sprites over a scrolling background, allowing more detailed graphics, faster gameplay and a scrolling animated starfield background. This provided the basis for Nintendo's ''Radar Scope'' arcade hardware, which improved on ''Galaxian'' with technology such as high-speed [[emitter-coupled logic]] [[integrated circuit]] chips and [[Computer memory|memory]] on a 50&nbsp;MHz [[printed circuit board]]. Following the commercial failure of ''Radar Scope'', the game's arcade hardware was converted for use with ''Donkey Kong'', which became a major arcade hit. Home systems at the time were not powerful enough to handle an accurate port of ''Donkey Kong'', so Nintendo wanted to create a system that allowed a fully accurate conversion of ''Donkey Kong'' to be played in homes, leading to the development of the Famicom.<ref name="Nikkei6"/>

===Sequels===
{{Further|List of Galaxian video games}}

''Galaxian'' spawned a long series of sequels and spin-offs for multiple game platforms, including arcade hardware and home video game systems. The first of these, ''[[Galaga]]'', was released in 1981, usurping the original in popularity as one of the [[List of video games considered the best|greatest video games of all time]], becoming a popular game during the [[golden age of arcade video games]] in North America. It was followed by ''[[Gaplus]]'' in 1984, which added power-up items and juggling-based bonus stages. ''[[Galaga '88]]'' was released in 1987, published in North America by [[Atari Games]], which featured branching level paths, new enemy types and multiple endings.

In 1990, Namco produced a theme-park attraction based on the series, ''[[Galaxian3: Project Dragoon]]''. Originally presented at [[Expo '90]] and moved to Namco's Wonder Eggs theme park two years later, it was a rail shooter where up to 28 players used lightguns to shoot down enemies and projectiles. A smaller version for arcades was released in 1992, followed by a 1996 [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] release in Japan and Europe. In 1995, an arcade remake of ''Galaga'' was released for the ''[[Namco Classic Collection Vol. 1]]'' compilation, ''Galaga Arrangement''. This game added two-player co-operative play and boss fights, alongside new enemy and weapon types. It was ported to the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2]] and [[GameCube]] in 2002 as part of the compilation disk ''[[Namco Museum]]''.

A Japan-only [[medal game]] spin-off, ''Galaxian Fever'', was released in 2000 as part of Namco's ''Shooting Medal'' series. The following year, [[Hasbro Interactive]] released ''[[Galaga: Destination Earth]]'' for the PlayStation and [[Game Boy Color]], adding side-scrolling and third-person stages to the core gameplay. The 2005 [[PlayStation Portable]] compilation ''[[Namco Museum Battle Collection]]'' includes a remake of ''Galaga'' titled ''Galaga Arrangement'', having no relation to the one featured in ''Namco Classic Collection Vol. 1''. This game was later ported to [[iOS]] devices in 2009, renamed ''[[Galaga Remix]]''. In 2008, [[Namco Bandai Games]] released a downloadable game for the [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]], ''[[Galaga Legions]]'' – this game was instead a twin-stick shooter game with score attack modes and multiple stages. It was followed by a 2011 sequel, ''[[Galaga Legions DX]]'', branded under the now-defunct [[Namco Generations]] label.

===Re-releases===
''Galaxian'' is included in the ''Namco Museum'' series of collections across several platforms.

''Galaxian'' and ''[[Galaga]]'' were bundled together for a [[Game Boy]] release as ''Arcade Classic 3''.

''Galaxian'' was released on [[Microsoft Windows]] in 1995 as part of ''Microsoft Return of Arcade''.

The game was also released as part of the ''Pac-Man's Arcade Party'' 30th Anniversary arcade machine.

The game has also been seen in [[Jakks Pacific]]'s "[[Jakks Pacific#Plug It In & Play TV Games|Plug It In & Play]]" TV game controllers.

''Galaxian'', along with ''Galaga'', ''Gaplus'', and ''Galaga '88'', was "[[remake|redesigned and modernized]]"<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/namco-releases-galaga-30th-anniversary-collection/ | title=Jesse David Hollington, "Namco releases Galaga 30th Anniversary Collection" | date=9 June 2011}}</ref> for an iPhone app compilation called the [[Galaga 30th Collection|''Galaga 30th Anniversary Collection'']], released in commemoration of the event by [[Namco Bandai]].<ref>{{cite web | url= https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/galaga-30th-collection/id413616338?mt=8# | title=Galaga 30th Anniversary Collection information from Apple iTunes | website=[[iTunes]] | date=9 June 2011}}</ref>

Super Impulse also released a stand-alone ''Tiny Arcade'' version of ''Galaxian''.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.superimpulse.com/our-brands/tiny-arcade-2/ | title=Miniature iconic arcade games are now available from Super Impulse.| date=14 October 2017}}</ref>

===High scores===
The Galaxian [[world record]] has been the focus of many competitive gamers since its release. The most famous Galaxian rivalry has been between British player Gary Whelan and American Perry Rodgers, who faced off at Apollo Amusements in [[Pompano Beach, Florida]], USA, on 6–9 April 2006. Whelan held the world record with 1,114,550 points,<ref>"Guinness World Records 2008 - Gamer's Edition", page 243</ref><!-- Note: Guinness World Records source their Arcade world records scores from Twin Galaxies --> until beaten by newcomer Aart van Vliet, of the Netherlands, who scored 1,653,270 points on 27 May 2009 at the [[Funspot Family Fun Center]] in [[Weirs Beach, New Hampshire]], USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=22&pi=2&gi=3774&vi=1246 |title=Twin Galaxies' Galaxian High Score Rankings |date=27 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004120603/http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=22&pi=2&gi=3774&vi=1246 |archive-date=4 October 2008 }}</ref> The record has since been raised to 2,010,000 points, set on 20 May 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPgI3Ep2BCg |title=Galaxian - Twin Galaxies World Record (Arcade, Midway, 1979) - 2,010,000 points |date=6 June 2016 |website=YouTube |access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref> by David Lyne and verified by [[Twin Galaxies]] on 28 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Galaxian |url=https://www.twingalaxies.com/game/galaxian/arcade/ |website=Twin Galaxies |access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Japan |Video games}}
* {{KLOV game|id=7885}}
* {{WoS game|id=0001933}}

{{Galaxian}}
{{Bandai Namco franchises}}
{{Authority control}}

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