Why didn't the programmers try harder?

[Room 34]

I actually like the aliens in the 2600 version of Space Invaders better than the arcade version! Then again, I think the 2600 version is actually superior all-around... I hate the clunky way the aliens lumber across the screen in the arcade version... not in tight formation like on the 2600!

 

(Can you tell that I was well-accustomed to the 2600 version before I ever played the arcade one?)

[NE146]

I've also thought it's less like the arcade just since he was already restricted to 6 x 6.  If it's not going to look like the arcade grouping, why make the invaders like in the arcade?  Let's be honest, there aren't that many bits in the invader sprites, so artist or not, he could have made them closer

 

He sure enough could have. And I did just that in my old Space Invader hack (which I might add I think was the first 2600 S.I. hack out the door, and has the CLOSEST possible invader graphics than any version of Space Invaders on the 2600) *ahem* </self plug> Anyway, I've always preferred to have it as close to the arcade version as possible, so when I first did this I did wonder "Why the heck didn't they make it like this in the first place"

 

but I suspect he recognized that it was already a different enough game and just made up his own invaders to make it stand out more.  I wonder if the artists HAD helped out what they'd have looked like, but I suspect they STILL wouldn't have looked like the arcade game's aliens...

Man let me tell you, it definitely wasn't hard to do. It was an easy thing to replicate the arcade invaders basic graphics.. It took me all of 15 minutes basically once I found the darn graphics in a hex editor. So they definitely could've "tried harder".. but like you said, maybe that wasn't their intention.

[Godzilla]

ive always perferred 2600 space invaders to the arcade version. why? two words.

 

double fire

 

:-)

[NE146]

Yeah but the damn double fire can only be used in game 1.. the simplest game there! Where's that damn double firepower when you REALLY need it like in Game 16?

[Godzilla]

waiting for a good rom hack 'double fire space invaders' (ie double fire in all modes.)