IPM Invader, the Video Game by Irem Corp.

Type of the machine : Video Game
IPM Invader © 1979 Irem.

Main CPU : M6502 (@ 2.5 Mhz)

Screen orientation : Vertical
Video resolution : 224 x 240 pixels
Screen refresh : 60.00 Hz
Palette colors : 8

Players : 2
Control : 2-way joystick
Buttons : 1

Released in January 1979.

Known as the poor mans version of "Space Invaders". IPM Invader was manufactured by a company called IPM, which later changed it's name to IREM.

Original products :
Space Invaders (Taito Corp.)
T.T Space Invaders (Taito Corp.)

Licensed products :
Space Invaders [Upright model] (Midway)
Space Invaders [Cocktail Table model] (Midway)

Bootlegs/Hacks list :
Space Invaders (Logitec Co., Ltd.)
Space Invaders (Model Racing)
Space Invaders Part Four
Super Invaders (EMAG corp.)
Super Invaders (Zenitone Microsec)
Super Earth Invasion (Competitive Video)
Super Earth Invasion (Electrocoin, Ltd.)
Alien Invasion Part II
Space War Part Three
Invasion (Sidam)
Invasion (RZ Bologna)

Clones list :
IPM Invader (Irem)
Cosmic Monsters [Upright model] (Universal)
Cosmic Monsters [Cocktail Table model] (Universal)
Cosmic Monsters 2 (Universal)
Space Attack [Upright model] (Video Games GMBH)
Space Attack [Cocktail Table model] (Sega)
Space Attack [Upright model] (Sega)
Space Attack [Counter model] (Video Games GMBH)
Space Attack [Cocktail Table model] (Video Games GMBH)
Space Attack II (Zenitone Microsec)
Jatre Specter (Jatre)
Space War (Sanritsu)
Space King (Leijac)
Space Intruder (Shoei)

It is like "Space Invaders", with identical graphics. It uses a color monitor instead of a black and white monitor with a color overlay.

It has the addition of the famous 'coffee break'. What's the 'coffee break'? The 'coffee break' is a unique feature in IPM Invaders whereas after every 3rd wave or pattern of invaders, the 'coffee break' appears.

Another unique feature in IPM Invader is the 'capsules'. When dip switch settings are changed to advanced settings, the game becomes more difficult with the introduction of the UFO (mystery score ship) dropping 'capsules' that hatch into new invaders. The 'capsules' cannot be destroyed until they hatch, and are dropped across the screen to defeat the players 'narrow column' strategy.

Large Invader : 10 points
Medium Invader : 20 points
Small Invader : 30 points
UFO : 50 to 300 points

Game's rom.