My first encounter with Defender was in the viewing gallery on top of the Queen’s Building at Heathrow Airport. Back when taking your family to watch planes taxi, take off and land was considered an exciting afternoon out. For the record, I’d still consider that an exciting afternoon out.
Anyway, although I was obviously mesmerised by the game, my overriding memory was discovering that Defender had an All Time Greats high-score table. The idea that a game could retain players’ scores — even after it was turned off, completely blew my eleven-year-old mind.
Damn straight. Heathrow is a banging venue. I saw many cabs in various departures lounges. Even Indiana Jones and Shaolin's Road next to each other! Maddest was Jaleco's Exerizer, which seemed to be the last in the grand Space Invaders lineage, looking like the first consciously retro videogame in 1987.
My first encounter with Defender was in the viewing gallery on top of the Queen’s Building at Heathrow Airport. Back when taking your family to watch planes taxi, take off and land was considered an exciting afternoon out. For the record, I’d still consider that an exciting afternoon out.
Anyway, although I was obviously mesmerised by the game, my overriding memory was discovering that Defender had an All Time Greats high-score table. The idea that a game could retain players’ scores — even after it was turned off, completely blew my eleven-year-old mind.
Damn straight. Heathrow is a banging venue. I saw many cabs in various departures lounges. Even Indiana Jones and Shaolin's Road next to each other! Maddest was Jaleco's Exerizer, which seemed to be the last in the grand Space Invaders lineage, looking like the first consciously retro videogame in 1987.