NEWS: The Game Freak: Pac-Man Turns 30

GEEK: The Game Freak: Pac-Man Turns 30

I've been thinking for some time about how to start writing for the Newswire again. Despite my posting on CE lately, I wouldn't consider myself a "political writer" besides of the armchair variety. Clio has music and band news down pat, and my good friend CoyoteMike is doing well for himself with his Gentleman's Guide. So, besides the various bits of "odd news" hilarity I've written over the past few years, I've decided it best to write what I know and love.

And that would be video games.

I hope to have this become a frequent feature to entertain the masses (or at least the fellow geeks) and put my 20-plus years of virtual princess-saving, zombie-shooting, spaceship-flying expertise to good use. If anything, those of us so entrenched in the world of video games can exhibit levels of discussion and heated debate that would curl the toes of the most fervent Democrat or Republican talking head.

So, for the first entry, we celebrate 30 years of that little, round, yellow munching machine who was happiest chasing a rainbow of ghosts...



...Pac-Man.

What began as a year-long project of Tōru Iwatani and a nine-man team from Namco (now Namco Bandai Games) in 1979 has spawned numerous iterations on over 20 platforms. While the game had to fight with the likes of Space Invaders in Japan when it released on May 22, 1980, it reached a new level of popularity in the States. Pac-Man became a merchandising giant, with t-shirts, backpacks, and drinking glasses, among others, emblazoned with the titular hero.

America had Pac-Man Fever.



But he had a dark side as well. His lackluster Atari 2600 port, rushed to try and capitalize on the holiday market, helped bring about the 1983 video game crash. A dark age had descended upon the joysticked populace.



But Pac-Man (and the industry) would bounce back. He has become an icon, with numerous spin-offs (both 2-D and 3-D), the introductions of his significant other and child, a cartoon, and a continued presence in today's world of online MMOs, Achivements, motion control, and first-person shooters.

Even Google has caught Pac-Man Fever, offering a playable Pac-Man in the shape of their logo.

Mario may be a bigger name in video games, but Pac-Man cleared the way, eating pellets and evading multi-hued apparitions all the while.

Happy Birthday, Pac-Man. Waka-waka-waka-waka.

Official Pac-Man site

Interview with creator Tōru Iwatani

thefreak had Pac-Man Fever once. He got a special cream for the rash.

I had no idea I was older than Pac-man.. He seems like one of the Disney characters from the 30's or something

I love my Atari 2600.

Cool story. I think Pac man was the first video game I ever played.

I wish I had that version I got the "improved" 5200 the one with controllers that wear out in 3 months.

So do you think the ghosts are previous Pac-Men who never escaped the maze and died?

Fan art says it's entirely possible.

wow ! Congrats Pac man

DAMN, It's hard to believe PAC-MAN is 3 Decades old now. Man I'm getting old. LOL.

Pac man, I love you. But Im better with your wife.

Well that's a horrifying new take on Pac-Man.

What are you saying if you die in a maze and become a ghost you don't want a saviour to free you by eating you over and over till the level is free'd?.. Excuse my good attitude.. I'm half way thru a 26 of lambs.. still that pic rocks..

+1

Having a Ms PacMan cocktail table game in my house is still in my list of top ten material desires.

Haha, my dentist office has one of these, and one of the standup PacMan arcade games

This. Me and my brother would gladly trade our stand-up street fighter machine for one.