In Avengers (2012) what was the reason for the Galaga reference?
In the Avengers (2012), Tony Stark aka Iron Man announces on control deck of S.H.I.E.L.D's flying base "That man is playing Galaga!" source.
After the scene finishes the bits and pieces related to the plot, the camera turns to this operator who sneakily changes his work station back to Galaga and starts playing again.
What is the reason there was a reference to this old arcade game and why was it included in the movie? I.e. why was Galaga referenced and not some other famous arcade game?
Best Answer
I don't know if there is a reason for that specific choice, but on the commentary Joss said they added the joke "after the fact" because the computer operator just looked "shifty" and Joss wanted to know what he was up to. So they added that bit. It wasn't scripted, it was decided on the day. This might not really answer the question, but seeing as it was unscripted, there probably is no "real" reason; they just picked a game.
I cannot link to the DVD/Bluray commentary (for obvious reasons) but this page reveals highlights from it. The Galaga bit is the second to last thing mentioned if you scroll down.
I suppose a case could be made that the aliens falling from the sky in the battle in New York looks similar to the ships coming down in Galaga. Seems like a stretch, though.
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Answer 2
The Chitauri mothership is actually designed after the blue battleships in Galaga.
Answer 3
So I think the reference is actually kind of foreshadowing the final battle. When all the aliens come swooping down towards the eartg. Especially when the Chitari for start coming through the portal, there's a wide shot that remarkably reminiscent of a certain arcade game.
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