Client
Unit 9
Project
Taito & Google: Space Invaders 'World Defence'
Type
Mobile AR app
Credits
Sound Designer: Harry Boyce
Composer: King Toot
Music Supervisor: Josh Gibbard
Executive Producer: Mike Hill
Music Production Company: SIREN
Audio Director: Dani Volkova (Unit 9)
Forty-five years after its initial launch, TAITO, in partnership with Google, worked with production and innovation studio UNIT9 to reimagine the iconic arcade game SPACE INVADERS for today’s digitally connected world. The 8-bit game has been through multiple evolutions since 1978 with this latest version bringing a whole new spin to the genre, set within an immersive augmented reality (AR) experience.
The original arcade game’s mechanics served as inspiration for the new AR version, with exciting new additions like updated weapons and gameplay that adapts in real-time to location-specific weather patterns and nearby buildings, alongside brand-new music, and sound design from the team here at Factory and SIREN.
Even with the modern twists and adaptations, Google, TAITO, and UNIT9 upheld nostalgia as a core value in creating this enthralling new version and our audio played a vital role in this. With strategy and direction provided by Dani Valkova, Audio Director at UNIT9, we crafted an SFX palette deeply rooted in the nostalgia of the early video games while delivering a fresh audio experience. An emulator of the legendary 'Texas Instruments SN76477' sound chip (the one installed within the iconic Space Invaders arcade machine) was our natural starting point before recording, manipulating, and sampling real world sounds and experimenting with different hardware and software synthesisers.
With two separate game levels players encounter Space Invaders in both augmented reality and in 3D gamespace. This meant we needed to create a sonic experience that worked closely with the visuals and felt exciting and engaging for the player as they progressed from real world battle to the on screen play. The team created dedicated SFX and original compositions for each level, which were designed to seamlessly transition between worlds while building suspense and excitement as players progress through the game.
When SPACE INVADERS first launched in 1978 it was revolutionary not just for its gameplay, but also as it was the first video game to feature a musical soundtrack, albeit a repeating 4 note bassline. For SPACE INVADERS: World Defense, SIREN worked with composer King Toot to create a soundtrack that would bring the franchise into the future and honour the history of the beloved series of games that had preceded it. With a focus on composing an exciting, fast-moving, and adaptive soundtrack for the game, we created a variety of synth sounds that mimicked the chatter of alien lifeforms; beats that had an explosive call to action in them; and shapeshifting melodic hooks that would evolve throughout the player’s journey.
If you have an immersive project in development and would like to get us involved please email mike@factory.uk.com