Taito

Overview

Taito was making jukeboxes and vending machines when video games arrived. Their 1978 release of Space Invaders changed everything—for Taito, for Japan, for gaming. The company became synonymous with arcade excellence, producing classics like Bubble Bobble, Arkanoid, and Darius while helping establish Japan as gaming’s creative centre.

Fast facts

Founded: 1953 by Michael Kogan, a Jewish-Russian businessman in Tokyo.
Original business: jukeboxes, vending machines, trading.
Name: from “Taito” (太東), meaning “far east.”
Breakthrough: Space Invaders (1978).
Arcade classics: Bubble Bobble, Arkanoid, Darius, Chase H.Q.
Ownership: subsidiary of Square Enix since 2005.

Space Invaders

The game that made Taito legendary:

Designed by Tomohiro Nishikado
Caused coin shortages in Japan
Licensed to Midway for North American distribution
Became the first true video game phenomenon
Revenue exceeded Star Wars in Japan

The arcade library

Taito produced numerous classics:

Bubble Bobble (1986)

Cooperative platformer with cute dinosaurs
100 levels of bubble-trapping action
Secret true ending required both players

Arkanoid (1986)

Breakout evolved with power-ups
Paddle-and-ball perfected
Countless home conversions

Darius (1987)

Horizontal shooter with three screens
Giant mechanical fish bosses
Innovative cabinet design

Chase H.Q. (1988)

Ram criminals off the road
Time-limited chases
Popular home conversions

Home computer presence

Taito games reached every platform:

Licensed conversions: Ocean and others handled many ports.
Quality varied: arcade experiences didn’t always translate.
C64 versions: Arkanoid and Bubble Bobble were particularly well-regarded.

Legacy

Taito proved Japanese developers could dominate arcade gaming. Space Invaders created the template; subsequent releases refined it. Their influence on game design—cute characters, cooperative play, one-more-try mechanics—continues through modern gaming.

Invaders from Japan