Asteroids vs. Space Invaders: The First Great Rivalry of Video Games
When gamers picked up the December 1981 issue of Electronic Games Magazine, they held more than just a colorful new hobbyist publication. They were holding the record of a cultural showdown. This particular issue carried a bold feature titled “Can Asteroids Conquer Space Invaders?” — a spirited analysis of two games that had defined the late 1970s and were still dominating arcades around the world.
For readers in the United States, this was more than an argument about quarters and high scores. It was a glimpse of how video games were no longer novelties but serious cultural forces, shaping an entire generation’s entertainment habits. It was also a reminder that the arcade boom of the early 1980s was not just about play — it was about identity, economics, and the race to define the future of electronic fun.
The late 1970s and early 1980s marked a dramatic turning point in popular culture.
In 1978, Japanese designer Tomohiro Nishikado released Space Invaders, a landmark title that transformed arcades from quiet corners into cultural battlegrounds. With its descending alien ranks and escalating tension, the game became a global sensation, sparking a boom that led to thousands of new arcades opening across the world.
Just one year later, in 1979, Atari unleashed Asteroids. Using vector graphics and realistic physics, it offered a very different experience: open space, floating rocks, and an emphasis on reflexes over patterns. The game quickly became one of Atari’s best-selling cabinets, with some players so addicted that operators added “pause buttons” to keep up with demand.
By December 1981, these two titles represented two distinct schools of play. Space Invaders had already inspired a home console revolution, driving Atari VCS cartridge sales into millions. Asteroids, meanwhile, symbolized the pure skill-based arcade challenge that kept quarters flowing into machines night after night.
It was against this backdrop that Electronic Games Magazine asked its readers to consider: Which game truly defined the era?
By 1981, Electronic Games Magazine had already established itself as the first major publication dedicated to video games. Its editors, including pioneers like Bill Kunkel, Arnie Katz, and Joyce Worley, believed games deserved the same kind of coverage that newspapers gave to sports, film, or television.
The December 1981 issue exemplified this mission. The article on Asteroids versus Space Invaders didn’t simply list scores or tricks — it placed the games into cultural, technological, and economic context. Readers learned not only which game might be “better,” but why both mattered as part of a broader industry.
For players who had grown up with pinball or board games, Electronic Games became the bridge to a new medium. It told them: video games were history in the making.
The cover of the December 1981 issue captured the drama perfectly. Against a stark black background, a glowing arcade screen displayed the iconic alien ranks of Space Invaders. A sleek spaceship fired a blazing red shot, while a smiling player held a joystick, immersed in the glow. The tagline asked the provocative question: “Can Asteroids Conquer Space Invaders?”
Inside, the feature article combined detailed reporting with cultural commentary. It compared:
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Space Invaders’ immersive tension, built on sound design, progressive waves, and instantly recognizable alien sprites.
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Asteroids’ technical brilliance, with free-floating physics, hyperspace jumps, and crisp vector graphics.
Unlike casual newsletters or arcade flyers, Electronic Games treated these differences as worthy of serious debate. It was not just a magazine — it was the first chronicle of gaming culture.
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Economic Power: In 1980, Space Invaders machines were pulling in as many as 10 million quarters a day.
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Skill vs. Pattern: Space Invaders relied on memorization and endurance, while Asteroids rewarded instant reflexes and spatial awareness.
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Cultural Identity: Space Invaders had become shorthand for “video game” itself. Asteroids was the player’s test of mastery.
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Technological Innovation: Space Invaders introduced continuous sound and escalating tension. Asteroids pioneered vector graphics and pseudo-3D depth.
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Tournament Play: Atari’s sponsored Asteroids competitions drew thousands of participants, highlighting the rise of organized gaming.
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Arcade Operators’ Dream: Both games became machines that could “print money” for owners, changing how arcades were run.
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Home Console Impact: Space Invaders cartridges for the Atari VCS sold millions, legitimizing home gaming as a mainstream activity.
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Legacy of Design: Both titles influenced countless imitators and successors, from Galaxian and Defender to modern indie homages.
Together, these points underscored why the rivalry mattered. It was about more than aliens and rocks — it was about the future of gaming itself.
For collectors of vintage video game magazines, the December 1981 issue of Electronic Games is more than old paper. It is a time capsule of gaming’s golden age.
Why is it so collectible?
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Historical Timing: Released at the height of the arcade boom, just before Pac-Man fever and the coming 1983 crash.
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Iconic Cover: The bold artwork and provocative headline make it a standout in the magazine’s early run.
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Cultural Significance: It documents the battle between two of the most influential games ever made.
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Collector Demand: Early issues of Electronic Games are consistently sought after by retro gamers, historians, and enthusiasts.
Owning this issue means holding the same debates that kids and adults had in arcades, living rooms, and playgrounds across the world in 1981.
Electronic Games Magazine endures because it was more than reporting. It was a time capsule of the arcade boom. Every page carries the excitement, competition, and optimism of the early 1980s.
Today, when most gaming news is consumed instantly online, these printed magazines remind us that history was once studied slowly, passed around arcades, and saved in collections. That permanence is what makes them so powerful for collectors.
If you’re a retro gamer, historian, or collector, this issue belongs in your library. It connects you directly to the origins of arcade culture and the optimism of the early 1980s.
👉 Browse our full collection of original Electronic Games Magazines here:
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Whether you’re reliving the glow of your local arcade or discovering these debates for the first time, these magazines offer something special: the authentic voice of gaming’s earliest chroniclers.
The December 1981 issue of Electronic Games Magazine remains one of the most important publications in video game history. Its feature, “Can Asteroids Conquer Space Invaders?”, captured a moment when arcades were not just pastimes but the epicenter of youth culture.
From the alien ranks of Space Invaders to the drifting rocks of Asteroids, the article documented a rivalry that defined an era. Its pages remind us that these were not simply games — they were cultural landmarks.
Holding this magazine today is like standing in a crowded arcade in 1981, quarters in your pocket, staring at two glowing cabinets and wondering which to play first. For collectors and enthusiasts, these magazines are not simply reading material. They are living artifacts of gaming history.