(Thanks to Aaron Auzins for the tip & press release)
UPDATE (Feb 2017): No longer available
Taito’s efforts to build their brand continues with their iconic Space Invaders characters and now they are releasing a limited edition silverware accessory produced by French silverware maker Christofle. It may not be an enchanted pendant which wields special powers but if you’re into accessories like this then it can make for a cool addition to your collection.
Speaking of Space Invaders I played Space Invaders Extreme on the Nintendo DS yesterday. While I hadn’t cared much for any SI game in a long time, that is one game that I would pick up in a heartbeat if I owned a DS. Of course I feel that the game would be even more awesome in an arcade form with a vertical screen (what gives Taito? You guys are still producing new arcade games but you’re strangely ignoring SI except for branding new arcade locations. Give us a Space Invaders Extreme arcade game 😉 )
Anyways, back to the pendant. If you’re curious to know more about it, there is a press release attached to the post after the break.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAITO SIGNS CHARACTER LICENSE WITH FRENCH SILVERWARE MAKER CHRISTOFLE LIMITED PRODUCTION SPACE INVADERS ACCESSORY ON SALE IN LATE APRIL LOS ANGELES (April 28, 2010) – TAITO Corporation (TAITO®), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., today announced the signing of a character license deal with fine silverware producer Christofle (Paris, chairman and chief executive officer Thierry Oriez) allowing the manufacture and sale of a SPACE INVADERS®-themed fashion accessory. The character license deal was brokered by TAITO’s Paris agent La Tete au Cube (Paris, founder Jérôme Fischbach). The accessory will be sold via Christofle’s own sales outlets, high-end department stores in France, Japan, and the United States, select retail outlets, and over the web. Ever since TAITO’s release of the original SPACE INVADERS arcade game in 1978, the distinctive and iconic characters have enjoyed an unparalleled level of popularity worldwide, frequently appearing outside of the world of video games as a design motif on clothes and fashion accessories. With this release Christofle–a company that is always willing to embark on innovative collaborations with cutting-edge designers–and the offbeat design team at La Tete au Cube joined forces for the first time, successfully creating a posh, striking SPACE INVADERS fashion accessory out of fine silver, one of the most traditional materials of all. Suitable for use by both men and women, with the provided long and short chains the SPACE INVADERS accessory may be worn as a necklace, used to provide a nice accent to a favorite handbag, and displayed in a variety of other ways. TAITO will actively continue to release new accessories and merchandise for SPACE INVADERS and other TAITO brands. Product Details Release Date: Late April, 2010 Available Regions: Japan, France, United States of America Retail Outlets: Colette (Paris), Christofle stores, fine department stores, select stores Retail Price: 100 Euros (US and Japanese retail price TBA) Related Links * La Tete au Cube: http://www.lateteaucube.com/ * TAITO Official Homepage: http://www.taito.com/ * TAITO’s Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TAITO-Corporation/103193320847 * Follow TAITO on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TaitoCorp About TAITO Corporation TAITO Corporation (TAITO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, TAITO operates core businesses such as game arcade operations, coin-operated game machines, and mobile phone content services. A seminal part of gaming history, TAITO caused a worldwide sensation with its arcade legend, SPACE INVADERS, and developed such fan favorites as EXIT™ and ARKANOID®. Today, TAITO continues to thrill game lovers of all generations by offering both classic and new family-oriented titles on the latest gaming platforms. TAITO delivers a wide range of entertainment experiences with the goal of providing consumers with fresh surprises and new discoveries. More information on TAITO can be found on the Internet at http://www.taito.com/. SPACE INVADERS, EXIT, ARKANOID, TAITO and the TAITO logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TAITO Corporation. SQUARE ENIX is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co. Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. CHRISTOFLE is a registered trademark of Orfevrerie Christofle Corporation. La Tete au Cube is a trademark of La Tete au Cube. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Contact (press only): TAITO Corporation Email: pub_web@taito.co.jp Phone: +81-3-6361-8417