TechGamingI’m now ready for when real Space Invaders attack my garden thanks to Google’s free AR gameGoogle and Taito partner for 45th anniversary of iconic arcade shooterWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

TechGamingI’m now ready for when real Space Invaders attack my garden thanks to Google’s free AR gameGoogle and Taito partner for 45th anniversary of iconic arcade shooterWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Google and Taito partner for 45th anniversary of iconic arcade shooter

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Space Imvaders World Defense on iPhone

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Space Invaders first appeared in arcades and kebab shops 45 years ago and, as part of the iconic shoot ‘em up’s anniversary, Taito andGooglehave joined forces to release a new,augmented realityversion of the game for mobile devices.

Space Invaders: World Defense is available for free foriOSandAndroid- you can download it now from your respective app store. And it’s, quite literally, a blast.

You get your craft at the bottom and a radar to show where the invaders have appeared next, then you have to tap the screen to shoot them to score points. They can shoot back, so you’ll have to also tap on their fire to avoid being hit.

Like with the original, it’s a fairly easy game to get to grips with. However, the AR angle not only makes it fun to play in your garden or outside somewhere else, it also allows you to see and try to beat friends’ scores, even share your achievements on social media using an AR selfie.

Image1of3(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Image1of3(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Image1of3

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Space Invaders World Defense on iPhone

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Space Invaders World Defense on iPhone

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

(Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Space Invaders World Defense on iPhone

Space Invaders: World Defense uses Google’s ARCore and Geospatial API to capture your surrounds and location. It cleverly knows where buildings, landscapes and architectural elements are to interact with them. The engine also changes the game based on time and weather conditions.

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I expect there’ll be plenty of other activities around the game’s 45th anniversary coming up. For starters, Numskull’s officialSpace Invaders Quarter Scale Arcade Cabinetis pretty awesome - that’ll be released this August and I certainly can’t wait to relive my youth when I get my hands on one myself.

TOPICSAndroidGoogle

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