A Journey Through The History of Pac-Man

Pac-Man Fever

If you were old enough to play arcade games in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Pac-Man dominated the industry. By 1983, users had spent as many as 10 billion coins to play the game. The popularity of Pac-Man and a resurgence in vintage video games has made it one of the most iconic and enduring video games ever. Pac-Man-inspired cartoons, merchandise, and even a top 10 song, “Pac-Man Fever” by Buckner and Garcia. Like no other game, Pac-Man has captured gamers' hearts internationally since its introduction; created by the Japanese designer Toru Iwatani, Pac-Man has impacted pop culture and the gaming industry.

Toru Iwatani Creates an Iconic Legend

On May 22, 1980, Pac-Man was developed by Toru Iwatani and released by Namco (now known as Bandai Namco Entertainment) in Japan. In the 70s and 80s, most video games were aimed at boys, and Toru Iwatani designed the game with women in mind. Another issue recognized by Iwatani was the number of video games based on violence or sports. Iwatani was inspired to create a game that appealed to women and non-traditional gamers, deviating from war-themed games and based around a common theme, eating! Developed in over a year and a half, Pac-Man started in early 1979 and was introduced in 1980.

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Puck-Man?

As it was initially named, Puck-Man was changed to Pac-Man for its international release to thwart prospective vandalism of arcade cabinets. Puck-Man may have been derived from the Japanese phrase “paku-paku,” which means to flap one's mouth open and closed, or from the Japanese word “pakku,” which means to nibble. However, it was renamed when licensed to Midway for distribution in North America. Namco changed the name to Pac-Man because they thought Puck-Man would be too easy to vandalize, as people could just scratch off the P and turn it into an F.

Gameplay

The objective of Pac-Man is simple: move the main character, a yellow circular creature with a voracious appetite, through a maze to eat all the pellets while avoiding four colorful ghosts—Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. In Japanese, they are known as Fickle, Chaser, Stupid, and Ambusher. In the original version, the ghosts were floating monsters wearing cloaks. If you eat one of the four power pellets, Pac-Man can turn the tables on the spirits, allowing him to chase and eat the ghosts for extra points. The simplistic design and accessibility attracted players of all ages, and Its appeal was further boosted by its unique and memorable character designs. Today, the iconic ghosts and Pac-Man are recognized universally. The highest score achievable in the Pac-Man arcade game is 3,333,360 in 256 levels.

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Merchandising and Expanding

Due to the success of the original Pac-Man, Namco recognized its marketability and produced numerous sequels and spin-offs. This greatly expanded the franchise's reach. Ms. Pac-Man was created as an unauthorized enhancement kit but became even more popular than the original. Other iterations like Pac-Man Jr., Pac-Land, and Pac-Man Championship Edition have kept the franchise alive. The success of Pac-Man transcended gaming, leaving an unforgettable mark on popular culture. Pac-Man's influence could be seen in various media, becoming integral to '80s nostalgia. In the investing and business world, the term “Pac-Man” refers to a hostile takeover defense where the target company tries to control the company that bids for it by purchasing high amounts of stock.

The Game Continues

Decades after its initial release, Pac-Man remains an integral part of gaming history. Every year, Pac-Man is celebrated by fans and the gaming community and has recently been added as an official Google Doodle. Often overlooked, Pac-Man revolutionized the gaming industry by being the first maze-chase game. Pac-Man also introduced power-ups and cutscenes to the video game genre. Due to decreased usage during the early 1980s, Pac-Man was retrofitted with additional programming to increase difficulty as the player progressed.

Lasting Legacy

The legacy of Pac-Man is the continued popularity the game holds today. Pac-Man inspired numerous other games and created a market for character gaming. Additional iconic games like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Lady Bug and even Dig Dug are all offshoots of the Pac-Man gameplay. Pac-Man was awarded records in the Guinness Worlds Records, including most successful coin-operated game and the most recognizable game character in the United States.