Controversial Space Invaders Remix Raises Square Enix's Ire

The Leipzig Games Convention held this week in Germany has been the subject of much controversy, owing to a remixed version of Space Invaders that was on display at the show.

The installation, titled "Invaders!", set the game's familiar rows of aliens against the backdrop of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, which they destroyed while the player attempted to fight them off. (It's shown in the video at right.)

Outlets like the New York Daily News picked up on the story and asked families of 9/11 victims what they thought of the game. You can guess what their responses were.

As the story of the game and its creator, Paris-based artist Douglas Stanley, continues to spread, Square Enix – owners of Taito and thus the Space Invaders series – sent out the following statement to the media today:

Taito Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd., today stated unequivocally that the "Invaders!" installation by Douglas Edric Stanley and displayed at the Games Convention held in Leipzig, Germany, was produced entirely without Taito's knowledge and that the use of the world-famous Space Invaders content was wholly unauthorized. The "Space Invaders: Die Jubiläumsshow!" ("Space Invaders: the Anniversary Show") exhibition of the Computer Game Museum Berlin hosting the installation was likewise planned and presented without Taito's knowledge and authorization.

Taito is seriously considering all available options – including legal actions against the infringer and, if necessary, the Games Convention exhibitor involved – in order to end this unauthorized and impermissible misuse of the Space Invaders content and to protect Taito's intellectual properties.

As of this writing, Stanley's Twitter feed says that three hours ago, he gave the convention permission to shut down the game.