website/content/software/defender.md

title, tags, years, params

title	tags	years	params
Defender	horizontal scrolling space	1981	specs screenshots machines company oc_id source label value year of release 1981 label value companies Williams (publisher) label value type game label value media arcade cabinet label value systems Arcade label value number of players 1 - 2 players (alternate) label value staff Eugene Jarvis (developper) title subtitle text image title screenTitle screen null title subtitle text image Gameplay null title subtitle text image Gameplay null title subtitle text image Gameplay null title subtitle text image Game explanations null title subtitle text image Hiscore table null title subtitle text image Promotional flyer null title subtitle text image Arcade cabinet null /museum/misc-arcade-video-games /companies/misc 846 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20221204111837/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/software_detail.asp?id=846 2022-12-04

Defender is an arcade video game developed and released by Williams Electronics in 1981. A horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up, the game is set on an unnamed 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' first video game project and drew inspiration from Space Invaders and Asteroids.

Defender was one of the most important titles of the Golden Age of Video Arcade Games, selling over 55,000 units to become the company's best selling game and one of the highest-grossing arcade games ever. Praise among critics focused on the game's audio-visuals and gameplay. It is frequently listed as one of Jarvis' best contributions to the video game industry and one of the most difficult video games. Though not the first game to scroll horizontally, it created the genre of purely horizontal scrolling shooters. It inspired the development of other games and was followed by sequels and many imitations.