About Defender - The 1981 Arcade Legend
Defender is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential arcade games ever created. Released by Williams Electronics in February 1981, it was designed by Eugene Jarvis and Larry DeMar. Defender pioneered the side-scrolling shooter genre and introduced gameplay mechanics that would influence countless games for decades to come.
What made Defender revolutionary was its combination of complex controls, strategic depth, and intense action. Unlike the simple left-right movement of Space Invaders or Galaxian, Defender gave players full 2D movement across a horizontally-scrolling landscape that wrapped around itself. The game featured a radar display showing the entire playfieldâa first for arcade gamesâallowing players to track threats across the wraparound world.
The core objective was brilliantly simple yet challenging: protect 10 humanoids on the planet surface from alien abduction. If a Lander successfully carried a humanoid to the top of the screen, both would merge into a deadly Mutant. Lose all humanoids, and the planet explodes, transforming all remaining Landers into Mutants and making the game exponentially harder.
How to Play Defender
Controls
- Arrow Keys (ââââ): Move your ship in all directions
- Spacebar: Fire laser cannon
- S Key: Deploy Smart Bomb (destroys all visible enemies)
- H Key: Hyperspace (emergency teleport to random location)
- Mobile: Use on-screen touch buttons
Your Mission
Defend the humanoids walking on the planet surface from alien Landers. When a Lander grabs a humanoid, you must shoot the Lander before it reaches the top of the screen. If you destroy the Lander while it's carrying a humanoid, catch the falling humanoid and return them safely to the ground for bonus points.
Enemy Types
| Enemy | Points | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Lander | 150 | Primary threat. Descends to abduct humanoids. Transforms into Mutant if successful. |
| Mutant | 150 | Extremely aggressive. Homes in on player. Created when Lander completes abduction. |
| Bomber | 250 | Drops mines that linger on screen. Moves in straight horizontal lines. |
| Pod | 1000 | When destroyed, releases 3-7 Swarmers. High risk, high reward target. |
| Swarmer | 150 | Small, fast, erratic movement. Released from destroyed Pods. |
| Baiter | 200 | Appears when taking too long. Extremely fast, aggressive pursuit. |
Scoring System
- Catching falling humanoid: 500 points
- Returning humanoid to ground: 500 points (1000 total for rescue)
- Completing wave with humanoids alive: 100 points per humanoid Ă wave multiplier
- Extra life: Every 10,000 points
- Extra smart bomb: Every 10,000 points
Advanced Strategies
1. Master the Radar
The radar at the top of the screen is your most important tool. It shows the entire wraparound world, with your ship as a white blip, humanoids as small dots on the ground, and enemies as colored blips. Learn to read the radar constantlyâit tells you where abductions are happening before you can see them on the main screen.
2. Prioritize Humanoid Rescue
When you see a Lander grabbing a humanoid on radar, immediately fly toward them. You have limited time before the Lander reaches the top. If you shoot the Lander while it's carrying a humanoid, the humanoid fallsâcatch them before they hit the ground for 500 bonus points, then gently set them down for another 500.
3. Smart Bomb Conservation
Smart bombs are precious. Save them for emergencies:
- When surrounded by multiple Mutants
- When a Baiter appears and you're low on health
- When multiple humanoids are being abducted simultaneously
4. Hyperspace as Last Resort
Hyperspace teleports you to a random location. It's dangerousâyou might materialize inside an enemy or mine. Only use it when death is otherwise certain. Some players never use hyperspace, preferring to rely on skill and smart bombs.
5. Wave Completion Strategy
Each wave ends when all enemies are destroyed. However, Baiters spawn if you take too long. Clear waves efficiently by:
- Eliminating Landers first (they're the humanoid threat)
- Destroying Pods from a distance (Swarmers are annoying)
- Saving Bombers for last (they're predictable)
The History of Defender
Development Story
Defender was created by Eugene Jarvis, a pinball designer at Williams Electronics who wanted to make video games. Working with Larry DeMar, Jarvis spent 9 months developing Defender, teaching himself assembly language programming in the process. The game was nearly cancelled multiple times due to its complexity and unconventional design.
When Defender debuted at the 1980 AMOA show, industry reaction was mixed. The complex five-button control panel (thrust, reverse, fire, smart bomb, hyperspace) plus joystick was considered too complicated. Many predicted failure. They were spectacularly wrong.
Commercial Success
Defender became one of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time:
- 1981: #1 highest-grossing arcade game in America
- 1982: #2 highest-grossing (behind Pac-Man)
- Total Revenue: Over $1 billion in quarters during arcade run
- Cabinets Sold: Approximately 60,000 units
Technical Specifications
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Motorola 6809 @ 1 MHz |
| Display | 292 Ă 240 pixels, horizontal orientation |
| Colors | 16 colors on screen from 256 palette |
| Sound | Custom Williams sound board |
| World Size | Wraparound landscape ~10 screens wide |
Legacy and Influence
Defender's influence on gaming cannot be overstated:
- Side-scrolling shooters: Defender established the genre that would include Gradius, R-Type, and countless others
- Radar/minimap: The radar display became standard in many game genres
- Escort missions: Protecting NPCs (humanoids) became a common game mechanic
- Smart bombs: Screen-clearing weapons appeared in hundreds of subsequent shooters
- Sequel: Stargate (1981) added new enemies and the "inviso" power-up
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Defender arcade game?
Defender is a legendary 1981 side-scrolling shooter developed by Williams Electronics. Players pilot a spaceship defending humanoids from alien abduction across a horizontally-scrolling landscape. It was one of the first games to feature a scrolling playfield and radar display, revolutionizing arcade game design.
How do you play Defender?
Use arrow keys to move your ship in all directions, spacebar to fire lasers, S for smart bombs that destroy all enemies on screen, and H for hyperspace emergency escape. Your mission is to protect 10 humanoids from being abducted by Landers. Watch the radar to track threats across the wraparound world.
What happens when all humanoids die in Defender?
If all 10 humanoids are abducted or killed, the planet explodes in a dramatic animation. All remaining Landers immediately transform into deadly Mutants, which are faster and more aggressive. The game becomes significantly harder, though skilled players can still survive and score points.
What are smart bombs in Defender?
Smart bombs are screen-clearing weapons that instantly destroy all enemies currently visible on the main screen (not the entire world). You start with 3 smart bombs and earn additional ones every 10,000 points. Use them strategically when overwhelmedâthey're your emergency escape.
Who created Defender?
Defender was created by Eugene Jarvis and Larry DeMar at Williams Electronics in 1981. Jarvis, originally a pinball designer, taught himself video game programming to create Defender. The game became one of the highest-grossing arcade games ever, earning over $1 billion in quarters.
What are the enemy types in Defender?
Defender features six enemy types: Landers (abduct humanoids, 150 pts), Mutants (transformed Landers, very aggressive, 150 pts), Bombers (drop mines, 250 pts), Pods (release Swarmers when destroyed, 1000 pts), Swarmers (small fast enemies, 150 pts), and Baiters (appear when taking too long, 200 pts).
Why Play Defender Today?
Over 40 years after its release, Defender remains one of the most challenging and rewarding arcade games ever made. Its combination of strategic depth, intense action, and skill-based gameplay creates an experience that modern games rarely match. The satisfaction of rescuing a falling humanoid, the tension of watching Landers on radar, the panic of a Baiter appearanceâthese moments are as thrilling today as they were in 1981.
Whether you're a retro gaming enthusiast or discovering classic arcade games for the first time, Defender offers a pure, undiluted gaming experience. No tutorials, no hand-holdingâjust you, your ship, and 10 humanoids counting on you for survival. Good luck, pilot.