![]() ![]() At the height of popularity in 1982 the Atari 2600 conversion was criticised for its bad-quality and odd design choices. It hasn’t always been a story of success for Pac-Man, however. His impact has taken him outside of the world of games to star in cartoons, have hit singles, feature in films and get his own playable Google Doodle. Along the way he has entered the 3D world, featured in all number of game genres and introduced us to his family Ms. Pac-Man has featured in over 80 games selling upwards of 43 million units, worth over $14 billion. Over the following 40 years, there has been a host of sequels, spin-offs, rip-offs and remakes. Image credit: Science Museum Group.Īfter his arcade success, Pac-Man was converted to consoles for home video game audiences. One of many Pac-Man clones released in the 1980s – a video game ‘Gobbledegook’, by Jupiter Cantab, England, 1983. While Oikaké (chaser) always chases Pac-Man around the maze, Kimaguré (fickle) is fickle, chasing or ambushing Pac-Man and sometimes just wandering off. These ghosts were each programmed with a different personality and their Japanese names were hints to their behaviour. Familiar to Western audiences by their nicknames the four main ghosts are Blinky, Inky, Pinky and Clyde. Pac-Man is joined on screen by a collection of ghosts who chase him around the maze as he tries to gobble up dots. The player uses a joystick to control the circular character, moving it around a maze and eating wafers whilst avoiding an encounter with one of four ghosts. Atari adapted the Namco arcade game ‘Pac-Man’ for its Atari 2600, a console originally released in October 1977. The then-revolutionary RGB colour displays allowed Iwatani and his team to create attractive characters with bright colours which helped bring new fans to gaming. He wanted to create a non-violent game, hoping that his game would attract women and couples to the arcades. Creator Toru Iwatani felt that arcade games at the time were often violent and appealed mainly to men. Part of the reason for this success was the universal appeal. Within a year more than 100,000 arcade units had been sold grossing more than $1 billion in quarters. The US welcomed this new title and Pac-Man became a huge success in the growing number of arcades around the country. After a quick name change (courtesy of American Execs at Midway fearing what vandals might change the title to) Pac-Man hit the arcades. Initial feedback was positive and so later that year Namco took its new title to trade shows around the world. Ten years earlier in May 1980 Namco began public testing of its new arcade game Puck Man. My love for the little yellow circle started in a very analogue fashion playing the MB Games boardgame spin-off at the age of five with my cousin in 1990. ![]() The undisputed granddaddy of gaming mascots turns 40 this month so here’s a look at why we’ve all been in the throes of Pac-Mania for the past four decades. Often hailed as a landmark in gaming history, the Upright Pac Man machine is sought after all over the world and is a truly exceptional find.Ĭontact us at The Games Room Company on 01932 568 414 to discuss our refurbished arcade machines in more detail.To celebrate 40 years since the release of Pac-Man, Head of Commercial Experiences and gaming fan Mark Cutmore explores the story of the much-loved character and pop-culture icon. ![]() ![]() This original machine has been extensively refurbished in our workshop with many hours of meticulous work undertaken by our specialist engineers who have years of experience. Working comprehensively to ensure the machine is restored to a high standard this machine will leave us in A1 condition, inside and out. The success of the franchise was such that it inspired an animated television series and even a hit single, and many of the classic games that followed. The first game of its kind and a far cry from the space shooters that were common around that era, shortly after its release, Pac-Man became spectacularly successful, spawning numerous spinoffs, sequels and unauthorised clones. Released in 1980 by Midway the original Pac-Man is the most famous arcade machine of all time and the very definition of ‘80s pop culture. ![]()
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