6 ms·

Map of Space Invader Mosaics in Paris

276 points by przem8k 3y ago

WilTimSon 3y ago
Is there a particular reason behind Space Invaders being the theme of choice here? I read the "About" page and it suggests the mosaics are also some kind of little ARG, it seems.
- mft_ 3y ago
  They're all (or mostly?) from a single (graffiti?) artist: https://www.space-invaders.com/about/ https://www.space-invaders.com/about/
  - boudin 3y ago
    Having put space invaders in space is quite a feat! https://www.space-invaders.com/post/Space2ISS/ https://www.space-invaders.com/post/Space2ISS/
  - WilTimSon 3y ago
    Ah, interesting, he mentions it started with him trying to represent pixels through ceramic tiles. That's a neat concept and he's apparently been at it for 25+ years now, that is dedication.
gokhan 3y ago
There were similar, but Mario themed, mosaic art pieces in Lyon streets this summer.
mft_ 3y ago
Also see: https://www.space-invaders.com/world/ https://www.space-invaders.com/world/ (There are a pleasing number to spot in Basel, Switzerland - which surprised me a little when I was there, but I guess why not?)
- NietTim 3y ago
  Interestingly the one here in Utrecht isn't on the list, it's been up for as long as streetview has images available, since 2009, and gets repaired ocasionally. Now I wonder if it's legit
  - a_bonobo 3y ago
    I don't think the list for each location is complete, perhaps to not spoil the fun. Perth has 26 invaders but there are only 3 pictures on the map, https://www.space-invaders.com/world/perth/ https://www.space-invaders.com/world/perth/, I've personally seen some that are not in those pictures.
adr1an 3y ago
It's also a map of links to Instagram. Such a pity!
- jehb 3y ago
  I'm guessing this is to avoid running into licensing issues with the photos? Or just trying to make it easier for people to not have to use a different app to upload their shots? Or maybe just to make the associated bandwidth someone else's problem? I don't know, but I agree, "real" images would be a lot nicer.
wheybags 3y ago
Because it's not super obvious from the map link: there is an app distributed by the artist, with which you can "collect" each of the pieces by taking a picture of them https://space-invaders.com/flashinvaders/ https://space-invaders.com/flashinvaders/ It's fun :p
- doomlaser 3y ago
  The mosaics look really nice!
- alas44 3y ago
  Avid player here, I can only recommand :), especially if you leave in Europe you find them everywhere in big cities once you look around
  - ASalazarMX 3y ago
    Did you mean "live" in Europe? There doesn't seem to be instances of them too far fom Europe.
    - projektfu 3y ago
      I'm pretty sure I've seen some in the US but they may be copycats.
      - ASalazarMX 3y ago
        My mistake, they're farther than I thought. These are a few very bold ones in Cancun, Mexico: https://space-invaders.com/world/cancun/ https://space-invaders.com/world/cancun/
        projektfu 3y ago
        Neato
- drexlspivey 3y ago
ArnoVW 3y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invader_(artist) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invader_(artist)
Agingcoder 3y ago
I personally think such maps remove the fun part of the game, esp in cities like Paris. I’ve walked countless hours with my kids searching for them, it was great. They re not randomly placed so you eventually get a feel for where they are going to be. Now, I also understand that I don’t have to use it. It’s worth noting that in some cities ( Montpellier in particular) the space invaders draw a space invader on the map itself ! The map therefore becomes part of the art.
- divbzero 3y ago
  > not randomly placed What sort of patterns have you discovered?
  - kkwteh 3y ago
    For one they tend to be located at certain places: intersections, tourist attractions, entrances to the metro, and bridges, among others.
    - Agingcoder 3y ago
      Ring road entrances ! We went around the city in the tram, getting off at each stop
- agumonkey 3y ago
  the paradox of the internet era
- NelsonMinar 3y ago
  I did a Space Invader hunt in Paris about 7 year ago and used Invader's map (an early paper version). It was still fun! It was nice to have an idea which neighborhood to go to then take my time and look. It wouldn't be fun if it were too specific though, like an AR app guiding you to the exact spot. The most fun for me is seeing them as a surprise. Most recent example was in Bilbão, a beautiful site on the river near the gorgeous old train station. Enjoying all the scenery and then bam, there's an Invader, placed just perfectly to be visible but unobtrusive.
fermigier 3y ago
I have mixed feelings about this. The "Flash Invaders" app fosters a (friendly) competition among Invaders fans (often, families), so publishing a map is a way of distorting the competition (i.e. "cheating") and so, a bit unfortunate, IMHO. OTOH, I can appreciate that some people could prefer to enjoy Invader's art in a more systematic way (i.e. planning a stroll with this as an explicit goal). But for me, discovery and serendipity are part of the game.
- przem8k 3y ago
  Author here, I agree with this sentiment! Just wanted to note that it's not the first map: there is an unofficial iOS app with a full Paris map and another web map easily findable on Google. I just didn't like any of the existing maps:). More context and making-of of this map -> https://newsletter.pnote.eu/p/mapping-space-invader-mosaics-in-paris https://newsletter.pnote.eu/p/mapping-space-invader-mosaics-...
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - FlashInvaders 3y ago
    [dead]
  - prawn 3y ago
    Also: "To accompany his citywide installations, or "Invasions", Invader publishes books and maps as guides to the locations of his mosaics."
    - Agingcoder 3y ago
      AFAIK, they’re extremely difficult to find ( and expensive).
- Agingcoder 3y ago
  Agreed. My son and I have settled on a hybrid version : prepare the hunt, but don’t use ready made maps. We use Flickr,Google, Invader spotter, and slowly build a map of a specific area. Some of them we will then find from said map, others we will find while walking around randomly. Preparing properly can take several hours, so it feels like playing. This, and if I’m honest, my son loves the anticipation that comes with the prep (‘that one’s beautiful, I want to see it for real’), and so do I.
tdebroc 3y ago
The game of chasing/flashing space invaders is a whole incredible world. There are persons called "re-activateur" who rebuild the mosaïcs if they are damaged ! With friends we made an online escape game to praise the game: https://grooptown-tech.gitlab.io/escape-game-space-invaders/ https://grooptown-tech.gitlab.io/escape-game-space-invaders/ Hope you enjoy :-) And for those interested, there is a whole community on discord: https://discord.gg/UNpGhQED https://discord.gg/UNpGhQED
- Forgeties79 3y ago
  I was excited to join the discord, but it looks like everything is in French!
tromp 3y ago
At first, PA_1234 seems really out there, east of Paris. Until you zoom out further, and notice the two in Northern France...
- przem8k 3y ago
  The 2 in Northern France were a mistake, fixed. Thanks!
DonHopkins 3y ago
I used to have a pair of vintage Space Invaders sneakers that I ordered from the artist's web site that left footprints of Space Invaders with "01 POINT" for each footstep. Damn, they're now going for €950,00 a pair in their original box, but I scored enough points by invading Amsterdam and Paris, sneaking around hunting for Space Invaders mosaics with them, that it was totally worth it! https://www.vinted.nl/items/939392288-space-invader-sneakers https://www.vinted.nl/items/939392288-space-invader-sneakers https://web.archive.org/web/20070224133121/http://coolhunting.com/archives/2004/12/space_invaders_2.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070224133121/http://coolhuntin... >It's hard to find anyone who hasn't ever played and appreciated the game Space Invaders before. Some kooky French guy loved the game so much he started spreading his fascination by finding ways to invade the world, city by city, with the little aliens. He has already invaded Paris, and has frighteningly good maps for all the other invasions he plans. He travels around putting up small mosaics of the old-school space alien logo. He's already tagged six of the nine letters of the infamous Hollywood sign in LA, although he wouldn't consider what he does graffiti. He designed this shoe as a small part of his invasion. On the sole of each shoe are an alien and the words "01 point" in relief so that every time you walk on wet cement, sand, or whatever you leave your invasion mark! Each shoebox is signed, and only 1500 were produced. --Josh Spear The first time I invaded Paris (before I got the sneakers), I walked from the train station and almost immediately saw my first Space Invader on the side of a building! Then I walked around some more, and checked into the first cheap hotel I could find near the train station, dumped my luggage, and went out for an exploratory walk looking for more, without bothering to remember which hotel I'd checked into, or write down the address... It turned into a VERY LONG epic meandering wander all around the city, discovering many Space Invaders and other interesting sights along the way, and I finally went back to the train station and attempted to retrace my steps to the first cheap hotel I could find again. Many hours and kilometers and much exercise and lots of space invaders later, I was relieved to finally find my cheap hotel again. But it was a wonderful experience, that kept me looking up at the architecture, trying to find my cheap hotel again while taking photos of all the Space Invaders I encountered, instead looking at my feet or my phone like a tourist.
qwertox 3y ago
Site is performing a GET request every 2 seconds to get the most up-to-date stats, each time downloading the full list of 126kB. That hurts.
- przem8k 3y ago
  Can you tell me more, which GET requests, which URLs? I only see requests for the map tiles as the page is scrolling. (Try in incognito window with extensions disabled to make sure you don't have an extension interfering with the page.)
trollerator23 3y ago
I remember noticing them all over Paris and some in Italy about a year ago when I visited. I was very amused!
RoboticsNut 3y ago
Pixelated space invaders imagined as generative fractal: http://www.complexification.net/gallery/machines/invaderfractal/ http://www.complexification.net/gallery/machines/invaderfrac...
iancmceachern 3y ago
I finally know! I've seek these guys around for years randomly and thought they were part of something big, thanks for posting!
sillywalk 3y ago
I wonder if this was the inspiration for the Monkey Mosaics[0] in GTA V? [0]
- kelseyfrog 3y ago
  0. https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Monkey_Mosaics https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Monkey_Mosaics
  - sillywalk 3y ago
    Oops. Forgot the link, thanks. Look's like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.
colinrand 3y ago
We were there over the summer and this was such a fantastic activity for my kids. It got them looking up at the buildings and really helped draw their attention to architecture and build a better mental map in their heads of the city. Not going to comment on if having a map is good or not, but the project is amazing.
beebeepka 3y ago
Good time as any to remind folks of the good old rtx space invaders [0] https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/ive-been-invaded-by-aliens-rtx-2080-ti-updated-5-6.2564503/ https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/ive-been-invaded-by-ali...
senectus1 3y ago
ha! there are a few of these in Perth WA... They've been there for years.. I've always wondered what they are.
bmitc 3y ago
I remember being introduced to Invader through the Exit Through the Gift Shop film, but I didn't realize that "collecting" space invaders was a thing. Interesting stuff.
paranoidrobot 3y ago
Oh, this explains it. I saw these all over the place in Paris many years ago and wasn't sure what they were there for.
marapuru 3y ago
Awesome, I believe I found some (might be a different artist) in Morocco as well. I loved that discovery :-)
larodi 3y ago
I love them so much. Seen some in Ljubljana also. As cool as Banksy if not more.
matejn 3y ago
I've seen quite a few in Ljubljana. I drive by one in particular almost every day, and it really fits the environment and the style of the building: https://space-invaders.com/media/invaders/ljubljana/LJU_28-diapo-TKV71VNV.jpg https://space-invaders.com/media/invaders/ljubljana/LJU_28-d... I really appreciate that they're locally themed. Many of them feature Ljubljana's iconic dragons. I always figured it was some local artist placing them, never figured it was an international thing.

276 points by przem8k 3y ago

Is there a particular reason behind Space Invaders being the theme of choice here? I read the "About" page and it suggests the mosaics are also some kind of little ARG, it seems.

mft_ 3y ago
They're all (or mostly?) from a single (graffiti?) artist: https://www.space-invaders.com/about/ https://www.space-invaders.com/about/
- boudin 3y ago
  Having put space invaders in space is quite a feat! https://www.space-invaders.com/post/Space2ISS/ https://www.space-invaders.com/post/Space2ISS/
- WilTimSon 3y ago
  Ah, interesting, he mentions it started with him trying to represent pixels through ceramic tiles. That's a neat concept and he's apparently been at it for 25+ years now, that is dedication.

gokhan 3y ago

There were similar, but Mario themed, mosaic art pieces in Lyon streets this summer.

mft_ 3y ago

Also see: https://www.space-invaders.com/world/ https://www.space-invaders.com/world/ (There are a pleasing number to spot in Basel, Switzerland - which surprised me a little when I was there, but I guess why not?)

NietTim 3y ago
Interestingly the one here in Utrecht isn't on the list, it's been up for as long as streetview has images available, since 2009, and gets repaired ocasionally. Now I wonder if it's legit
- a_bonobo 3y ago
  I don't think the list for each location is complete, perhaps to not spoil the fun. Perth has 26 invaders but there are only 3 pictures on the map, https://www.space-invaders.com/world/perth/ https://www.space-invaders.com/world/perth/, I've personally seen some that are not in those pictures.

adr1an 3y ago

It's also a map of links to Instagram. Such a pity!

jehb 3y ago
I'm guessing this is to avoid running into licensing issues with the photos? Or just trying to make it easier for people to not have to use a different app to upload their shots? Or maybe just to make the associated bandwidth someone else's problem? I don't know, but I agree, "real" images would be a lot nicer.

wheybags 3y ago

Because it's not super obvious from the map link: there is an app distributed by the artist, with which you can "collect" each of the pieces by taking a picture of them https://space-invaders.com/flashinvaders/ https://space-invaders.com/flashinvaders/ It's fun :p

doomlaser 3y ago
The mosaics look really nice!
alas44 3y ago
Avid player here, I can only recommand :), especially if you leave in Europe you find them everywhere in big cities once you look around
- ASalazarMX 3y ago
  Did you mean "live" in Europe? There doesn't seem to be instances of them too far fom Europe.
  - projektfu 3y ago
    I'm pretty sure I've seen some in the US but they may be copycats.
    - ASalazarMX 3y ago
      My mistake, they're farther than I thought. These are a few very bold ones in Cancun, Mexico: https://space-invaders.com/world/cancun/ https://space-invaders.com/world/cancun/
      - projektfu 3y ago
        Neato
drexlspivey 3y ago

ArnoVW 3y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invader_(artist) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invader_(artist)

Agingcoder 3y ago

I personally think such maps remove the fun part of the game, esp in cities like Paris. I’ve walked countless hours with my kids searching for them, it was great. They re not randomly placed so you eventually get a feel for where they are going to be. Now, I also understand that I don’t have to use it. It’s worth noting that in some cities ( Montpellier in particular) the space invaders draw a space invader on the map itself ! The map therefore becomes part of the art.

divbzero 3y ago
> not randomly placed What sort of patterns have you discovered?
- kkwteh 3y ago
  For one they tend to be located at certain places: intersections, tourist attractions, entrances to the metro, and bridges, among others.
  - Agingcoder 3y ago
    Ring road entrances ! We went around the city in the tram, getting off at each stop
agumonkey 3y ago
the paradox of the internet era
NelsonMinar 3y ago
I did a Space Invader hunt in Paris about 7 year ago and used Invader's map (an early paper version). It was still fun! It was nice to have an idea which neighborhood to go to then take my time and look. It wouldn't be fun if it were too specific though, like an AR app guiding you to the exact spot. The most fun for me is seeing them as a surprise. Most recent example was in Bilbão, a beautiful site on the river near the gorgeous old train station. Enjoying all the scenery and then bam, there's an Invader, placed just perfectly to be visible but unobtrusive.

fermigier 3y ago

I have mixed feelings about this. The "Flash Invaders" app fosters a (friendly) competition among Invaders fans (often, families), so publishing a map is a way of distorting the competition (i.e. "cheating") and so, a bit unfortunate, IMHO. OTOH, I can appreciate that some people could prefer to enjoy Invader's art in a more systematic way (i.e. planning a stroll with this as an explicit goal). But for me, discovery and serendipity are part of the game.

przem8k 3y ago
Author here, I agree with this sentiment! Just wanted to note that it's not the first map: there is an unofficial iOS app with a full Paris map and another web map easily findable on Google. I just didn't like any of the existing maps:). More context and making-of of this map -> https://newsletter.pnote.eu/p/mapping-space-invader-mosaics-in-paris https://newsletter.pnote.eu/p/mapping-space-invader-mosaics-...
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- FlashInvaders 3y ago
  [dead]
- prawn 3y ago
  Also: "To accompany his citywide installations, or "Invasions", Invader publishes books and maps as guides to the locations of his mosaics."
  - Agingcoder 3y ago
    AFAIK, they’re extremely difficult to find ( and expensive).
Agingcoder 3y ago
Agreed. My son and I have settled on a hybrid version : prepare the hunt, but don’t use ready made maps. We use Flickr,Google, Invader spotter, and slowly build a map of a specific area. Some of them we will then find from said map, others we will find while walking around randomly. Preparing properly can take several hours, so it feels like playing. This, and if I’m honest, my son loves the anticipation that comes with the prep (‘that one’s beautiful, I want to see it for real’), and so do I.

tdebroc 3y ago

The game of chasing/flashing space invaders is a whole incredible world. There are persons called "re-activateur" who rebuild the mosaïcs if they are damaged ! With friends we made an online escape game to praise the game: https://grooptown-tech.gitlab.io/escape-game-space-invaders/ https://grooptown-tech.gitlab.io/escape-game-space-invaders/ Hope you enjoy :-) And for those interested, there is a whole community on discord: https://discord.gg/UNpGhQED https://discord.gg/UNpGhQED

Forgeties79 3y ago
I was excited to join the discord, but it looks like everything is in French!

tromp 3y ago

At first, PA_1234 seems really out there, east of Paris. Until you zoom out further, and notice the two in Northern France...

przem8k 3y ago
The 2 in Northern France were a mistake, fixed. Thanks!

DonHopkins 3y ago

I used to have a pair of vintage Space Invaders sneakers that I ordered from the artist's web site that left footprints of Space Invaders with "01 POINT" for each footstep. Damn, they're now going for €950,00 a pair in their original box, but I scored enough points by invading Amsterdam and Paris, sneaking around hunting for Space Invaders mosaics with them, that it was totally worth it! https://www.vinted.nl/items/939392288-space-invader-sneakers https://www.vinted.nl/items/939392288-space-invader-sneakers https://web.archive.org/web/20070224133121/http://coolhunting.com/archives/2004/12/space_invaders_2.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070224133121/http://coolhuntin... >It's hard to find anyone who hasn't ever played and appreciated the game Space Invaders before. Some kooky French guy loved the game so much he started spreading his fascination by finding ways to invade the world, city by city, with the little aliens. He has already invaded Paris, and has frighteningly good maps for all the other invasions he plans. He travels around putting up small mosaics of the old-school space alien logo. He's already tagged six of the nine letters of the infamous Hollywood sign in LA, although he wouldn't consider what he does graffiti. He designed this shoe as a small part of his invasion. On the sole of each shoe are an alien and the words "01 point" in relief so that every time you walk on wet cement, sand, or whatever you leave your invasion mark! Each shoebox is signed, and only 1500 were produced. --Josh Spear The first time I invaded Paris (before I got the sneakers), I walked from the train station and almost immediately saw my first Space Invader on the side of a building! Then I walked around some more, and checked into the first cheap hotel I could find near the train station, dumped my luggage, and went out for an exploratory walk looking for more, without bothering to remember which hotel I'd checked into, or write down the address... It turned into a VERY LONG epic meandering wander all around the city, discovering many Space Invaders and other interesting sights along the way, and I finally went back to the train station and attempted to retrace my steps to the first cheap hotel I could find again. Many hours and kilometers and much exercise and lots of space invaders later, I was relieved to finally find my cheap hotel again. But it was a wonderful experience, that kept me looking up at the architecture, trying to find my cheap hotel again while taking photos of all the Space Invaders I encountered, instead looking at my feet or my phone like a tourist.

qwertox 3y ago

Site is performing a GET request every 2 seconds to get the most up-to-date stats, each time downloading the full list of 126kB. That hurts.

przem8k 3y ago
Can you tell me more, which GET requests, which URLs? I only see requests for the map tiles as the page is scrolling. (Try in incognito window with extensions disabled to make sure you don't have an extension interfering with the page.)

trollerator23 3y ago

I remember noticing them all over Paris and some in Italy about a year ago when I visited. I was very amused!

RoboticsNut 3y ago

Pixelated space invaders imagined as generative fractal: http://www.complexification.net/gallery/machines/invaderfractal/ http://www.complexification.net/gallery/machines/invaderfrac...

iancmceachern 3y ago

I finally know! I've seek these guys around for years randomly and thought they were part of something big, thanks for posting!

sillywalk 3y ago

I wonder if this was the inspiration for the Monkey Mosaics[0] in GTA V? [0]

kelseyfrog 3y ago
0. https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Monkey_Mosaics https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Monkey_Mosaics
- sillywalk 3y ago
  Oops. Forgot the link, thanks. Look's like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.

colinrand 3y ago

We were there over the summer and this was such a fantastic activity for my kids. It got them looking up at the buildings and really helped draw their attention to architecture and build a better mental map in their heads of the city. Not going to comment on if having a map is good or not, but the project is amazing.

beebeepka 3y ago

Good time as any to remind folks of the good old rtx space invaders [0] https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/ive-been-invaded-by-aliens-rtx-2080-ti-updated-5-6.2564503/ https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/ive-been-invaded-by-ali...

senectus1 3y ago

ha! there are a few of these in Perth WA... They've been there for years.. I've always wondered what they are.

bmitc 3y ago

I remember being introduced to Invader through the Exit Through the Gift Shop film, but I didn't realize that "collecting" space invaders was a thing. Interesting stuff.

paranoidrobot 3y ago

Oh, this explains it. I saw these all over the place in Paris many years ago and wasn't sure what they were there for.

marapuru 3y ago

Awesome, I believe I found some (might be a different artist) in Morocco as well. I loved that discovery :-)

larodi 3y ago

I love them so much. Seen some in Ljubljana also. As cool as Banksy if not more.

matejn 3y ago

I've seen quite a few in Ljubljana. I drive by one in particular almost every day, and it really fits the environment and the style of the building: https://space-invaders.com/media/invaders/ljubljana/LJU_28-diapo-TKV71VNV.jpg https://space-invaders.com/media/invaders/ljubljana/LJU_28-d... I really appreciate that they're locally themed. Many of them feature Ljubljana's iconic dragons. I always figured it was some local artist placing them, never figured it was an international thing.