In a World Gone Mad, Be Thankful.

They said it would happen. All throughout the 1950’s it was predicted in many classic sci-fi movies that we would be invaded by hostile aliens from deep space. They would come and take over our minds or our bodies or our planet or possibly any combination of the two and in rare instances all three. In 1978 it finally happened. The arcade game Space Invaders was unleashed upon us and the world has never been the same since. Japanese game designer Tomohiro Nishikado created a game that would fulfill all of the 1950’s classic sci-fi prophecies. The game pulled off a trifecta and took over our minds, bodies and consequently our planet too. We always laughed off the idea of invaders from space taking our planet hostage but I don’t think anyone is laughing now. According to Wikipedia, the Guinness book lists Space Invaders as the #1 video game of all time. Space Invaders lead the invasion of video games that would bring planet Earth to its’ knees. These little saucer men took control of me in 1979 and never let go. I am one of the lucky ones.

Sure, it’s been rough at times, having to answer to Space Invaders and the games that followed. They tell us where to spend our money. They tell us when to spend our money. They won’t let us stop spending our money. At times, they force us to ignore logic and family and friends and jobs and pay attention only to the games. They force our mortal bodies to stand there at the machines for hours on end until we are on the verge of collapse. They never let us forget who is in control. After 30 years there is no end to this invasion in sight. They have made it clear that they are here to stay . Earth belongs to them.



They warned us... we just laughed .



Today is Thanksgiving and subsequently I was making my list of things to be thankful for : my family, my friends, my arcade games, my dog Duke, my arcade games , having a good job, my arcade games, my home , my game room , my arcade games , and of course, my arcade games. There are some that have managed to resist the arcade games and their ability to dominate us Earthlings. I am thankful I am not one of them. Fortunately those people are few in numbers and unable to mount any kind of resistance.


It could be worse. We could have been invaded by real space men and subjected to various experiments, imprisoned or even whisked away to some planet where everyone is green. The arcade games at least allow us to gather and experience good emotions and offer a respite in a world gone mad. Should there ever be a real invasion, you will find me barricaded in my game room. I will be enjoying a last few plays waiting defiantly for them to come shoot me with some kind of disintegration ray and turn me into a pile of dust. Maybe they will play a game of Space Invaders afterward and get a good laugh. For now the only invaders from deep space are pixelated ones and for that I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.