Photo: The Pinball Company
We don't usually write about toys and gadgets for the simple reason that they're not necessarily what we're interested in. But every once in a while, something so insanely awesome comes along in this space that we can't help but talk about it. Like this giant Pac-Man arcade game. Not just giant, but the world's largest, apparently.
No matter where or when you were born, there's a good chance you know what Pac-Man is. Officially a maze game invented in the early 1980s by a now-defunct Japanese company called Namco, it was a favorite pastime for generations of young people who went out to play video games every night.
The game is as simple as it is addictive: a yellow circle with a mouth must be guided through a closed maze to eat all the dots in it. It would have been a pretty simple thing to do if it weren't for four differently colored ghosts called Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde, who are hunting Pac-Man himself.
This simple gameplay has been incredibly successful. There are many humans out there who consider Pac-Man the most influential video game ever, not only for what it has meant to generations of people, but also for what it has brought to the industry: things like the idea of power-ups (more specifically, power balls), the use of a primitive and deterministic AI to guide the ghosts, or the use of cut-scenes.
Since its inception, Pac-Man has made its way from arcade hubs to computer screens, then consoles, and now handheld devices. But if you really want to experience the greatness of Pac-Man as it was originally intended, using an arcade setup is what you should do. And if money is no object, then this thing might just be the thing for you.
Here is Namco World's Largest Pac-Man Arcade Game, as listed on The Pinball Company. At first glance, it's not that different from any other arcade system of its kind. And then read the specs.
Photo: The Pinball Company
Just consider the dimensions. The arcade is 69 inches (1.52 meters) wide, 120 inches (three meters) deep, and 105 inches (2.66 meters) tall. And if you put this thing on a scale, it would read 678 pounds (307 kg). That's heavier than many of the motorcycles currently in operation!
A big part of the system’s size is its screen. The thing plays out your Pac-Man adventures on a massive 108-inch (2.74 meters, or nine feet) LED display, ensuring there’s no stitch to miss and no ghost to catch you off guard.
What is impressive is not only the physical configuration of the system, but also the game itself, as it includes a number of upgrades never before seen in an arcade Pac-Man.
The first and perhaps most important change is the fact that the game can be played by two people at the same time, in cooperative mode. To ensure that there is no confusion about who controls what with the pair of four-way joysticks, Player 1 will control the traditional yellow Pac-Man, while Player 2 will have control of a green one.
You know how once you lose all your lives, the game is over and you have to start over? That's no longer the case, because they've included a “continue” feature. You'll have to buy “continue”, but at least it will take you back to where you were before you died for the last time.
When it comes to making sure you get all the credit for beating high scores, there is a new high score table. This allows for more and longer names to be displayed. Additionally, a bragging rights screen is shown at the end of each level, showing the name of the player who has eaten the most points.
Photo: The Pinball Company
Like many of the things The Pinball Company is selling, the World's Largest Pac-Man (that's the setup's official name) is aimed at companies that still make money off arcade games. As such, the system is set up to display ads via a USB drive plugged directly into the system, allows you to track the number of lives the player gets, and is upgradeable in an effort to offer more games.
In fact, the world's largest Pac-Man doesn't just challenge Pac-Man, but also takes on another video game legend: Galaga.
There are probably some of you who would like this thing to adorn your home arcade. You will have to significantly empty your bank account for that to happen, though.
Remember how I said earlier that the Arcade weighs more than most motorcycles currently available? Well, it also has a price tag like many of them: The Pinball Company is asking $13,999 for the thing. That's more than Harley-Davidson is asking for their two Nightster models!