By now you have all read the news that the Space Invaders game was featured in an art installation here at GC in Leipzig and that there’s some flap over it. Well I managed to get a few words with both sides as I said I would.

Over at the installation itself I caught up with Martin Haufe who works for Computerspiele Museum. Martin told me that while there were no talks with TAITO or parent Square-Enix beforehand it was art and not any commercial plan or trademark infringement. It would be no different than say a Campbell’s Soup can in an art exhibit.

What the installation involved were Space Invaders attacking the Twin Towers. Your goal was to save the towers. TAITO and Square-Enix believe that it was damaging to their property but I was unable to get more information as the PR person was not readily available. They are stating that they officially requested that it be shut down and that the artist complied with that request. Meanwhile on the other side of things I was told that the artist had received death threats as the meaning of the art was lost on Americans. TAITO and Square-Enix through the person I spoke with still believe that it was not due to death threats. Meanwhile at the blog of the artist Douglas Edric Stanley.

Who do you believe? I am more likely to believe the artist personally. I can understand how S-E and TAITO might have seen it as damaging, but only through a very, very narrow interpretation of the art that I will not even bother explaining. What I cannot understand whatsoever is the American reaction which I have to say is disappointing overall. I saw the piece prior to its being pulled and all I thought was ’cool.’ Others apparently took a completely different look at it and formed their own opinion and began making death threats which I can honestly say is NOT COOL.

While the artist’s assistant was on hand to configure the installation they were no longer here. I should be receiving more images from the museum.

The full statement from the museum and the artist can be found here and some photos can be found on his site until I get more.