I wasn’t around for the first wave of Space Invaders (boom boom, a little fan in-joke there) but I’ve certainly made up for it in recent years. There’s little need for me to go into much detail about the classic arcade game but there’s just something about it that gets my antennas waving. Primarily, for a Pixel Dandy like me, it comes down to the actual game design. Good design is alway the simplest of ideas. No greater iconic imagery has been created in fewer pixels, ironically defined a generation of teenagers and ignited the imaginations of many more to come. So with no further a-do I give you 17 Out of this World Space Invaders Inspired Works. We are not alone in this universe.


INSTALLATION





The creator behind these is the king of Space Invader inspired work if you ask me. Invader is a guerilla artist who over the years has created these hidden street art gems. With the same stealth as Bansky he’s secretly installed the tiled treats around major cities of the world often in run down areas or insignificant backstreets. Take a good look around his site as there’s so much more to see, and before you know it you’ll start to see them pop up for real in a city near you. They are among us!





This cute Space Invaders Yarn Bomb by MiA has even the coolest kids out there reaching for the knitting needles: Check out MiA’S other lovely work on their Flickr.



CLOTHING DESIGNS





I especially love anything to do with reinventing those immortal sprites. Check out these steam punk inspired t-shirts by Etherbrian on Threadless.





Again here’s a modern take on game characters with pretty amazing results. Check out this T-Shirt design over at Threadless.





Want. Want. Want. Via Technabob thank you.



GADGETS





Want. Want. Want. Want. Space Invaders Digital Watch.





This is the only real official sequel to Space Invaders (the others don’t really count as they were merely the same game with coloured backdrops). Taito resisted translating the game into unnecessary 3D realms and instead stayed true to the original graphics. The stage bosses are fantastic and the game finale has an astronomically nostalgic twist with all the tension and excitement of the original game. Prepare to have sore thumbs. Watch the official trailer here and then download the app from iTunes.



GRAPHIC DESIGN





These fantastic club flyers by Alex Tass using our old friends are worth a peek.





This fun graphic design piece caught my eye and has “Damn why didn’t I think of that?” written all over it. – check it out on Ryan Snieder’s Behance page.





How amazing would it be to have one of these? Unfortunately it only moves from side to side in a downward motion… ged-it? You know like a Space Invader..? The way they move… bah never mind. The design is by Matt W Moore who in my opinion is a clever guy. Via Geeky Gadgets.





Logan Walters has treated you to these Space Invader characters. Have a look at his “The Many Faces of Space Invaders” collection on his website. His other work is rather good too so there!



VIDEO





If you haven’t seen this before you must have been living on Mars. This inspired stop motion human space invaders animation is worth a gander.



NOVELTY





What better way to enjoy an 80′s revival than to spend an evening getting frurious and frustrated with your old Amiga System, listening to Wham and sipping Blue Lagoon cocktails with these little ice cube critters?





…Alternatively you could unwind in the bath with these Soapy UFOs whilst watching re-runs of Dallas… or not.





Have you ever needed a better excuse to get completely blasted than with these shot glasses by Missval?





Space Invaders themed arcade table. Not to make you jealous but I own one of these.





Last but not least. I made this! A Space Invader Pumpkin.



Just before you go I wanted to stick in these original art work designs for the game. It’s always bugged me a little as to why the aliens and ships bore no resemblance to the actual in game game characters. Still; awesome all the same. Cheerio.