Video Game Character of the Month
December 2013
Pac-Man
Pac-Man
Pac-Man
Overview
Oh Pac-Man, what are you? A pizza missing a slice? A Japanese character? A legend? A hero? A fat little half circle who's afraid of ghosts and likes pellets and fruit? Well the answer is all these things and more. Oh Pac-Man, thank you.
Sorry about that, now back to the award. I have always liked Pac-Man and have enjoyed playing his games (if I can find them). A quick bit of info on Pac-Man:
Oh Pac-Man, what are you? A pizza missing a slice? A Japanese character? A legend? A hero? A fat little half circle who's afraid of ghosts and likes pellets and fruit? Well the answer is all these things and more. Oh Pac-Man, thank you.
Sorry about that, now back to the award. I have always liked Pac-Man and have enjoyed playing his games (if I can find them). A quick bit of info on Pac-Man:
He seems to be perpetually hungry
He likes pellets and fruit including cherries, strawberries, peaches and apples
He hates ghosts and yet enjoys the taste of them
For some reason, he always goes in mazes
His wife is Ms. Pac-Man and he apparently has a child
His wife is Ms. Pac-Man and he apparently has a child
Origin of Pac-Man:
There are two versions of why Pac-Man looks like he does.
1) he was a pizza missing a slice (I have no idea).
2) he was a simplified version of the Japanese character for mouth (this makes slightly more sense).
Whatever the reason he is now one of the most associated shapes with gaming.
Now for his name. Originally, he was called Puckman due to him looking like a hockey puck (yet another reason for why he looks like he does) but this was changed to help stop people vandalising arcade machines to spell the word... well I think you know which one.
The game was originally made to appeal to both genders after Tōru Iwatani (a Namco employee) noticed that not many women were playing video games. It was developed by Iwatani and a nine-man team in 1979 and was based on the concept of eating (not the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of video games, but it worked).
Iwatani later said that the idea of eating to gain powers (the power pellets in the game enabled Pac-Man to eat ghosts for a short amount of time) was stolen from Popeye, (video games really is a dirty business).
Evolution of Pac-Man:
Pac-Man has evolved substantially over the years from gaining eyes, a mouth, legs and arms to changing his genre completely. Yes, that's right, Pac-Man had become a platformer (but he did keep many of the things that made him great, just with a different genre). Earlier on I was talking about what Pac-Man looked like (a pizza, Japanese character and hockey puck) but with the inclusion of arms and legs I no longer any idea about what Pac-Man actually is. It's very odd. When did he develop these limbs? Maybe that's what all the eating was for, to grow limbs? I don't know.
Games:
Pac-Man
Original release date(s):
JP May, 1980
NA October, 1980
Release years by system:
1980 – Arcade
1981 - Atari 2600, Atari
800
1982 – Commodore VIC-20,
Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit
1983 – Apple II, Commodore 64, Intellivision
1984 – Nintendo Entertainment System, MSX 1990 – Game Boy
1991 – Game Gear
1999 – Neo Geo Pocket Color, Game Boy Color
2003 – Mobile
2006 – Xbox Live Arcade, iPod Classic
2007 – Virtual Console
2010 – Windows Phone 7
|
Ms. Pac-Man
Original release date(s)
1981
1981 – Arcade
|
Super Pac-Man
Original release date(s):
1982 – Arcade
|
Pac-Man Plus
Original release date(s):
1982 – Arcade
|
Baby Pac-Man
Original release date(s):
1982 – Arcade
|
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Professor Pac-Man
Original release date(s):
1983 – Arcade
|
Pac & Pal
Original release date(s):
1983 – Arcade
|
Jr. Pac-Man
Original release date(s):
1983 – Arcade
|
Pac-Land
Original release date(s):
1984 – Arcade
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Pac-Mania
Original release date(s):
1987 – Arcade
|
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Pac-Attack
Original release date(s):
JP December 9, 1994
NA 1993
EU 1993
1993 – Mega Drive, Super Nintendo Entertainment System
1994 – Game Boy, Sega Game Gear
1995 – CD-
2008 – Wii
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Pac-Man Battle Royale
Original release date(s):
2011 – Arcade
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Pac-Man VR
Original release date(s):
1996 – Arcade
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Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures
Original release date(s):
JP August 26, 1994
NA September 1994
EU 1994
1994 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Mega Drive
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Pac-In-Time
Original release date(s):
1994 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System
|
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Pac-Man World
Original release date(s):
1999 – PlayStation
2004 – Game Boy Advance
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Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
Original release date(s):
2000 – PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast
2004 – Game boy Advance
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Pac-Man: Adventures in Time
Original release date(s):
2000 – PC
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Ms. Pac-Man: Quest for the Golden Maze
Original release date(s):
2001 – PC
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Pac-Man Fever
Original release date(s):
2001
2002 – Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2
|
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Pac-Man World 2
Original release date(s):
2002
2002 – Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, PC, Xbox, Game Boy Advance
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Pac-Man Vs.
2003 on Gamecube,
2003 – Nintendo GameCube
2007 - Nintendo DS
|
Pac-Pix
Original release date(s):
2005
2005 – Nintendo DS
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Pac-Man Pinball Advance
Original release date(s):
2005
2005 – Game Boy Advance
|
Pac 'n Roll
Original release date(s):
2005
2005 – Nintendo DS
|
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Pac-Man World 3
Original release date(s):
2005
2005 – PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation Portable,
Nintendo DS, PC
|
Pac-Man World Rally
Original release date(s):
2006
2005 – PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo GameCube, PC
|
Pac-Man Championship Edition
Original release date(s):
2007
2007 – Xbox Live Arcade
2009 – iOS
2009 – Symbian
2010 – PSP minis
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Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
Original release date(s):
2010Release years by system:
2010 – Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network
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Pac-Man Party
Original release date(s):
2010
2010 – Wii, Nintendo DS
|
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Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures
Original release date(s):
2013
Fall 2013 – PS3, Wii U and Xbox 360
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Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga: Class of 1981
Original release date(s):
2001
2001 – Arcade
|
Pac-Man Collection
Original release date(s):
NA July 12, 2001
PAL December 7, 2001
JP January 11, 2002
2001 – Game Boy Advance
|
Pac-Man: 25th Anniversary Arcade Machine
Original release date(s):
2005
2005 – Arcade
|
Pac-Man's Arcade Party
Original release date(s):
2010
2010 – Arcade
|
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Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions
Original release date(s):
JP June 23, 2011
NA July 26, 2011
AUS August 25, 2011
EU August 26, 2011
2011 – Nintendo 3DS
|
Pac-Man Museum
Original release date(s):
December 5, 2013
2013 – Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, PC
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Pac-Man Plug & Play Games
|
Namco Museum 64
Original release date(s):
NA October 1999
1999 – Nintendo 64
|
Namco Museum: 50th Anniversary
Original release date(s):
2005
2005 – GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox
|
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Namco Museum: 50th Anniversary
Original release date(s):
2005
2005 – GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox
|
Namco Museum DS
Original release date(s):
JP October 11, 2007
NA September 18, 2007
EU February 29, 2008
2007 – Nintendo DS
|
Namco Museum Virtual Arcade
Original release date(s):
JP November 5, 2009
NA November 4, 2008
EU May 15, 2009
AUS June 4, 2009
2008 – Xbox 360
|
Pac-Man Remix
Original release date(s):
July 21, 2009
2009 – iPhone, iPod Touch
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PAC-Match Party
Original release date(s):
June 10, 2010
2010 – iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
|
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Pac-Chain
Original release date(s):
September 2, 2010
2010 – iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
|
Pac-Attack
Original release date(s):
October 14, 2010
2010 – iPhone, iPod Touch
|
Pac'N-Jump
Original release date(s):
April 7, 2011
2011 – iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad , Android
|
=10
Original release date(s):
April 21, 2011
2011 – Android
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Pac-Chomp!
Original release date(s):
April 21, 2011
2011 – iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad , Android
|
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Pac-Man Games
Original release date(s):
March 29, 2012
2012 – iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
|
Pac-Man Kart Rally
Original release date(s):
December 3, 2012
2012 – Android
|
Pac-Man + Tournaments
Original release date(s):
March 22, 2013
2013 – Android
|
Pac-Man Dash!
Original release date(s):
July 18, 2013
2013 – iPhone, iPod Touch, Android
|
Kick
Original release date(s):
1981
1981 – Arcade
|
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Mario Kart Arcade GP
Original release date(s):
JP 2005
NA 2005
2005 – Arcade
|
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
Original release date(s):
2007
2007 – Arcade
|
Space Invaders × Pac-Man
Original release date(s):
JP September 1, 2005
2005 – Mobile phone
|
Body and Brain Connection
Original release date(s):
JP 20 November 2011
EU 11 February 2012
NA 08 February 2012
2010/2011 – Xbox 360
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Pac-Man S
Original release date(s):
WW June 1, 2011
2011 – Social game (Facebook platform)
|
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Everybody's Golf 6
Original release date(s):
PlayStation Vita
JP 17 December 2011
EU 22 February 2012
NA 22 February 2012
PlayStation 3
JP 22 November 2012
EU 24 July 2013
NA 23 July 2013
2011/2012 – PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3
|
Street Fighter X Tekken
Original release date(s):
JP March 8, 2012
NA March 6, 2012
EU March 9, 2012
2012 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation Vita
|
Pac-Man Smash
Original release date(s):
WW 2012
2012 – Arcade
|
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
Original release date(s):
JP 2013
2013 – Arcade
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Cancelled Pac-Man games:
Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness 2
Super Pac-Man Pinball
Pac-Man Carnival
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Super Smash Bros. for Wii U: released (North America) on November 21, 2014/(Europe) on November 28, 2014/(Australia) on November 29, 2014/(Japan) on December 6, 2014 on Wii U
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: released (North America) on October 25, 2013/(Europe/Australia) on March 5, 2014/(Japan) on June 25, 2014 on Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC/(North America) on November 5, 2013/(Europe/Australia) on March 5, 2014/(Japan) on June 19, 2014 on Nintendo 3DS
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2: released (World Wide) on October 14, 2014 on Nintendo 3DS, PS3, Wii U and Xbox 360
Dual Pack: Pac-Man World 3/Namco Museum DS: released (North America) on October 31, 2012 on the Nintendo DS
Pac-Man Chomp Mania: released (Unknown) in 2013 on Arcade
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2: released (World Wide) on September 15, 2016 on PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 + Arcade Game Series: released (North America) on November 1, 2016 on PlayStation 4/Xbox One
Pac-Man Monsters: released (World Wide) on February 6, 2014 on iOS and Android
Pac-Man Friends: released (World Wide) on October 3, 2014 on iOS and Android/(World Wide) in 2015 on Kindle Fire
Pac-Man 256: released (World Wide) on August 20, 2015 on iOS and Android/(World Wide) on June 21, 2016 on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Pac-Man Bounce: released (World Wide) on September 17, 2015 on iOS and Android
Pac-Man Puzzle Tour: released (World Wide) on February 25, 2016 on iOS and Android
Pac-Man Pop!: released (World Wide) on August 18, 2016 on iOS and Android
Mario Kart 8: released (Japan) on May 29, 2014/(Europe/North America) on May 30, 2014/(Australia) on May 31, 2014 on Wii U
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: released (World Wide) on April 28, 2017 on the Nintendo Switch
Outcast Odyssey: released (World Wide) on October 15, 2014 on iOS/(World Wide) in 2014 on Android
Galaga: TEKKEN 20th Anniversary Edition: released (World Wide) on April 29, 2015 on Android/(World Wide) on April 30, 2015 on iOS
Pixels Defense: released (World Wide) in 2015 on iOS and Android
Crossy Road: released (World Wide) on November 20, 2014 on iOS/(World Wide) on December 23, 2014 on Android/(World Wide) on May 1, 2015 on Windows Phone/(World Wide) on October 30, 2015 on tvOS
Oculus Arcade: released (World Wide) on November 9, 2015 on Oculus Rift
Arcade Game Series: released (World Wide) on April 20, 2016 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC
Pac-Man Connect and Play: released (World Wide) in 2012 on Jakks Pacific Plug It In & Play TV Games
Namco Museum Volume 1: released (Japan) on November 22, 1995/(North America) on July 31, 1996/(Europe) on August 17, 1996 on PlayStation/(Japan) on December 11, 2013/(North America) on September 20, 2014 on PlayStation Store
Namco Museum Volume 2: released (Japan) on February 9, 1996/(North America) on September 30, 1996/(PAL) on November 22, 1996 on PlayStation/(Japan) on December 11, 2013/(North America) on September 20, 2014 on PlayStation Store
Namco Museum Volume 3: released (Japan) on June 21, 1996/(North America) on January 31, 1997/(PAL) on February 12, 1997 on PlayStation/(Japan) on December 11, 2013/(North America) on September 20, 2014 on PlayStation Store
Namco Museum Volume 4: released (Japan) on November 9, 1996/(North America) on January 31, 1997/(PAL) on August 18, 1997 on PlayStation/(Japan) on December 11, 2013/(North America) on September 20, 2014 on PlayStation Store
Namco Museum Volume 5: released (Japan) on February 28, 1997/(North America) on November 26, 1997/(PAL) on February 26, 1998 on PlayStation/(Japan) on December 18, 2013/(North America) on September 20, 2014 on PlayStation Store
Namco Museum Encore: released (Japan) on October 30, 1997 on PlayStation/(Japan) on December 18, 2013 on PlayStation Store
Namco Museum: released (North America) on June 25, 2000 on the Dreamcast/(North America) on June 11, 2001/(PAL/Japan) on December 7, 2001 on Game Boy Advance/(North America) on March 26, 2015/(PAL) on October 23, 2014/(Japan) on December 10, 2014 on Wii U Virtual Console
Namco Museum: released (North America) on December 4, 2001 on PlayStation 2/(North America) on October 9, 2002 on Xbox and Gamecube
Namco Museum Essentials: released (Japan) on January 29, 2009/(North America) on July 16, 2009/(PAL) on April 1, 2010 on PlayStation 3
Namco Museum Megamix: released (North America) on November 16, 2010 on the Wii
Namco Museum: released (World Wide) on July 28, 2017 on the Nintendo Switch eShop
Super Mario Maker: released (Japan) on September 10, 2015/(Europe/North America) on September 11, 2015/(Australia) on September 12, 2015 on Wii U
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS: released (Japan) on December 1, 2016/(Europe/North America) on December 2, 2016/(Australia) on December 3, 2016 on the Nintendo 3DS
Ports:
Due to the legendary status of Pac-Man and his successors (such as Ms. Pac-Man), the character's games have been ported to just about every platform imaginable. I have tried to include as many ports as possible in the games list but am bound to have missed some. If you can find the release date and platform of any missed ports, then please comment and I will add them.
That's all on the legend that is Pac-Man, but if you know any more (about either the character or games) or want another character to win the award (or even a genre that I will pick a character from), please don't hesitate to comment.
Goodbye for now, Harry
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man_(series)
http://www.nintendo.com/amiibo/games/detail/super-mario-maker-wii-u
As well as my own knowledge
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