Google searches for the old video game Breakout spiked on Tuesday as web surfers discovered a playable version of the game hidden within the search engine.

A Google image search for "Atari Breakout" automatically converts the search results screen into a tribute to the video game, which was originally released in 1976.

Players control a paddle that moves left and right along the bottom of the screen to bounce a ball off coloured bricks. Destroy all the bricks and advance to the next level, miss the ball with the paddle and lose a life.

The game, which was originally created by a team including Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, was influenced by the Atari classic Pong.

Breakout also inspired a series of clones and spin-offs including Arkanoid and Brick Breaker.