Tomohiro Nishikado: Difference between revisions
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{{nihongo|'''Tomohiro Nishikado'''|西角友宏|Nishikado Tomohiro}} (born March 31, 1944 in [[Osaka Prefecture]]) is a [[Japanese people|Japanese]] [[video game developer]]. He is best known as the creator of the [[shoot 'em up]] [[video game]] ''[[Space Invaders]]'', released to the public in 1978 by the [[Taito Corporation]] of [[Japan]]. |
{{nihongo|'''Tomohiro Nishikado'''|西角友宏|Nishikado Tomohiro}} (born March 31, 1944 in [[Osaka Prefecture]]) is a [[Japanese people|Japanese]] [[video game developer]]. He is best known as the creator of the [[shoot 'em up]] [[video game]] ''[[Space Invaders]]'', released to the public in 1978 by the [[Taito Corporation]] of [[Japan]]. |
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Originally Nishikado wanted to use airplanes as enemies for Space Invaders, but would have encountered problems making them move smoothly due to the limited computing power at the time (the game was based on [[Intel Corporation|Intel]]'s 8 bit [[Intel 8080|8080 microprocessor]]). Humans would have been easier to render, but management at Taito forbade the use of human targets. |
Originally Nishikado wanted to use airplanes as enemies for Space Invaders, but would have encountered problems making them move smoothly due to the limited computing power at the time (the game was based on [[Intel Corporation|Intel]]'s 8 bit [[Intel 8080|8080 microprocessor]]). Humans would have been easier to render, but management at Taito forbade the use of human targets. |
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Prior to ''Space Invaders'', he was also the designer for many of Taito's earlier hits, including the early [[Sports game|team sport games]] ''Soccer'' and ''[[List of Taito games|Davis Cup]]'' in 1973, the early [[scrolling]] [[racing video game]] ''[[List of Taito games|Speed Race]]'' in 1974,<ref>Chris Kohler (2005), ''Power-up: how Japanese video games gave the world an extra life'', p. 16, [[BradyGames]], ISBN 0744004241</ref> and the early [[Run and gun|gun]]-based [[multi-directional shooter]]<ref name=Kotaku>Stephen Totilo, [http://kotaku.com/5626466/in-search-of-the-first-video-game-gun In Search Of The First Video Game Gun], [[Kotaku]]</ref> ''[[Gun Fight|Western Gun]]'' in 1975.<ref name=Kohler>Chris Kohler (2005), ''Power-up: how Japanese video games gave the world an extra life'', p. 19, [[BradyGames]], ISBN 0744004241</ref> |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Revision as of 12:44, 1 February 2011
Tomohiro Nishikado (西角友宏, Nishikado Tomohiro) (born March 31, 1944 in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese video game developer. He is best known as the creator of the shoot 'em up video game Space Invaders, released to the public in 1978 by the Taito Corporation of Japan.
Originally Nishikado wanted to use airplanes as enemies for Space Invaders, but would have encountered problems making them move smoothly due to the limited computing power at the time (the game was based on Intel's 8 bit 8080 microprocessor). Humans would have been easier to render, but management at Taito forbade the use of human targets.
Prior to Space Invaders, he was also the designer for many of Taito's earlier hits, including the early team sport games Soccer and Davis Cup in 1973, the early scrolling racing video game Speed Race in 1974,[1] and the early gun-based multi-directional shooter[2] Western Gun in 1975.[3]
Biography
Nishikado graduated with an engineering degree from Tokyo Denki University in 1968. He joined Taito Trading Company in 1969. After working on mechanical games, in 1972, he developed "Elepong" (similar to Pong), Japan's first locally-produced video arcade game, released in 1973. He produced over 10 video games before Space Invaders was released in 1978. He left Taito in 1996 to found his own company, Dreams.[4][5][6]
References
- ^ Chris Kohler (2005), Power-up: how Japanese video games gave the world an extra life, p. 16, BradyGames, ISBN 0744004241
- ^ Stephen Totilo, In Search Of The First Video Game Gun, Kotaku
- ^ Chris Kohler (2005), Power-up: how Japanese video games gave the world an extra life, p. 19, BradyGames, ISBN 0744004241
- ^ Japanese Wikipedia page on Nishikado
- ^ Nishikado's biography at his company's web site.
- ^ "Survey of Digital Games: Home Pong to Late 70s arcade" (slide 28).
External links
- Article at The Dot Eaters, on Nishikado and a history of Space Invaders.
- Partial list of games credited to Nishikado.
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