Latest news with #Namco
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
PAC-MAN exhibit in Irvine celebrates 45 years of iconic game
A simple circle colored yellow with a piece taken out, and four colored 'ghosts,' sparked a cultural phenomenon in 1980 that remains 45 years later. Even if you've never played PAC-MAN, the maze-themed video game designed by Namco (now Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.), you can likely envision this tiny character that became big in the '80s. 'Since the official introduction, PAC-MAN sparked a worldwide phenomenon that attracted multiple generation of players across genders,' said Susan Tran, senior director of Brand Development for PAC-MAN at Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. in Irvine. 'Its popularity led to several game sequels, a full merchandising program and hit music single as well as two animated television series. 'With record-breaking achievements, PAC-MAN has been recognized by the Guinness World Records with awards such as Most Successful Coin-Operated Game. Bandai Namco continues to release new console and mobile games and this year, PAC-MAN commemorates its 45th anniversary with a variety of partnerships, activations and launches.' Part of the celebration is an exhibit running through Sept. 28 at Great Park Gallery in Irvine called 'Journey Through the Maze: 45 Years of PAC-MAN,' featuring artwork and memorabilia from Bandai Namco as well as more than 50 professional artists from all over the world. There are arcade cabinets with classic gameplay experiences, a timeline history of the game's evolution, reproductions of original drawings, interactive displays and other activities. In May, there was a 'PAC-MAN Pixel Drawing and Collage' event and in July, a PAC-MAN-themed fingerboarding (miniature skateboarding) experience with custom mini skate parks. This month featured a 'Gaming Through the Ages' panel discussion with the artists featured in the exhibit. 'A lot of them were mentioning and talked about [in the panel] just how simple it is, but how anxiety-inducing that game was and that's what made it so memorable and addictive because it was so simple and iconic,' said San Diego artist Patrick Ballesteros, who is featured in the exhibit, helped curate some of the other artists and led the recent panel. 'You just watch this little person go across the screen getting food, trying to avoid ghosts, and that was the whole game. But you were there hours and hours and you remember being a kid in there. … You were just putting quarters in trying to move on to the next level, not knowing if there was ever an end. I think that's the part that connected [a lot] of these artists is because we all remembered playing the game and the actual arcade.' He said it was very different back then compared to now, where players have online and console gaming. 'I think that's the part that has kind of elevated PAC-MAN is that we have the old-schoolers like us doing that,' he said. 'But then we also introduced it to our kids, who now understand PAC-MAN and it still has that appeal.' Adam Sabolick, program coordinator for arts and exhibitions for the city of Irvine and PAC-MAN exhibit curator, said the gallery does three exhibitions a year, ranging from historic topics to pop culture and contemporary art. 'It just seemed like a perfect fit for one of those kind of pop culture shows,' Sabolick said of selecting PAC-MAN as an exhibit theme. 'I also think there's a timelessness to the game in that it would resonate with, obviously, people who grew up in the '80s playing PAC-MAN, but also, I'm in my mid-thirties, when I go to the arcade, I go and play PAC-MAN.' He said at the exhibition, they see a lot of children coming in and playing in the arcade cabinets — getting just as excited about it as the 55-year-olds who come in for a nostalgic experience. Sabolick said one of the really important elements of the PAC-MAN story is how it was one of the first video games that wasn't about violence. 'It's also a very early influential game, so it's not just like any video game,' he said. 'It's a game that kind of opened up a lot of conversations around gaming, a lot of ideas around gaming and I think some of the elements that the game kind of trail-blazed are still thought about heavily today in contemporary game design.' Sabolick said there's a whole section of the exhibit that's focused on merchandise — with everything from lunch pails and coffee cups to vinyl records, books and temporary tattoos. 'You see as technology shifts from generation to generation how PAC-MAN has constantly reinvented itself outside of the video game itself,' he said. There's more than 50 original artworks that make up about half of the exhibit, with a range of aesthetics, from minimalist to animated and digital representations. 'We call that area of the show the tribute wall,' Sabolick said. 'These are professional working artists that are paying tribute to PAC-MAN's influence and I think that's a really important element of the show, because the story of how the creator of PAC-MAN created PAC-MAN and came up with the concept is something that's super inspiring, but it's very simple as well.' The PAC-MAN character shape was inspired by what a pizza with a slice missing looks like. Tran said Toru Iwatani set out to create a game that appealed to new audiences — something that was different from other games in the market.
Stuff.tv
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
I got hands on with G'AIM'E Plug & Play, an AI-powered light gun that lets me play Time Crisis on the TV again
Growing up in the nineties was an exciting time to be a gamer because it was just at the time when consoles were reaching the point that they could replicate the most state-of-the-art arcade experiences at home. And I don't think they ever got better than light gun games. Sure, they've existed further back in the form of electromagnetic shooting galleries or Duck Hunt with the NES Zapper, but it was a game changer when instead of just sprites we got to what felt like real 3D enemies attacking you from your telly that you were shooting back. I may be a dyed-in-the-woo Sega fanboy back then but even I can admit (if grudgingly) that the peak of this form was Namco's Time Crisis. The sad thing about its obsolescence wasn't strictly due to the overall decline of arcade experiences but because these light guns were made for CRT screens that HD screens couldn't support. The alternatives of aiming with a crosshair, whether that's using a stick, a mouse or motion controls never quite matched the feel, immediacy or accuracy at just pointing at the screen and pulling the trigger. There have however been attempts to recreate the light gun experience for modern TVs, most notably the Sinden Light Gun released a few years ago. But now there is finally a light gun that doesn't just work as a direct plug-and-play experience but comes in an officially licensed package from the original creators themselves. And I was among the first to get my itchy trigger fingers on it. Although G'AIM'E is a somewhat awkward brand to spell out, even though I get what Japanese company Tassei Denki is going for, the proof is in the pudding, and the tech it's developed is something tasty indeed. The light gun it has developed is just how you imagine light guns used to work. No external sensors, no drawing an artificial border around your display that's how the Sinden works. It's all from the gun itself, which contains a HD camera and some actually smart AI that's been trained on countless images of different screen display sizes. Attached to a mini console to with a lengthy cable to ensure you're at an appropriate distance for the camera to be able to get a clear view of the screen (G'AIM'E's onboarding video that plays when you first set it up advises you're at the right distance if you can fit the image of the TV in front of you with your phone's camera, though I was advised to stand a bit further back than that), I just had to perform a calibration test and then I was ready to play. A beautiful partnership Whereas the Sinden merely provided a peripheral, and assumes you either have a collection of old light gun games ported to PC from decades ago or, more likely, acquired them through the grey area of emulation (it does however work with the recent House of the Dead remake), G'AIM'E Plug & Play is a bespoke mini console package, bundling the tech with Time Crisis in an official partnership with Namco. It's also not just a licence to emulate the game but Tassei Denki has actually worked closely with the engineers of the original game to ensure it's as arcade-perfect an experience as you can get. There's the design of the light gun itself, which closely replicates the light blue light guns attached to arcade cabs for Time Crisis (there's also a black version, which is exclusive to Japan, owing to laws around the design and colours for gaming light guns), which packs a satisfying and not too forceful recoil feedback when pulling the trigger, while it also has handy side buttons for inserting coin credits and for pausing the game. Adding to the arcade-perfect experience is also a pedal controller, which plugs into the extra USB-C slot in front of the mini console next to the port for your light gun, which utilises Time Crisis' unique ducking mechanic. This is available only for the premium and ultimate editions of the G'AIM'E Plug & Play, but just like the G-Con light gun on the PS1 version, you've fortunately got a button to do that same mechanic – actually it's two buttons, one on either side of the gun barrel, so it's easily within reach whether you're left or right-handed. While I was eager to recreate the arcade experience with the pedal, I must also admit that trying to get an accurate shot while having good foot coordination was more challenging than I was prepared for, and found it more comfortable just ducking in and out of the action with buttons. I imagine folks who remember Time Crisis fondly more through the PlayStation version than the arcade version will also be perfectly happy with this and make do with the basic package, which just comes with Time Crisis and a single light gun, since that was also a single-player game. In a modern touch, it's also possible to turn on a crosshair. I have mixed feelings on this as I personally view a true light gun experience is reliant on your own skill and precision of pointing the gun, while also reminding me that while G'AIM'E's tech gets almost-perfectly close to replicating the light gun experience on a CRT it still isn't completely the same. I'm sure however that others will welcome this addition, such as kids who'll be able to shoot from the hip and still have fun. Shooting galleries There's no denying that Time Crisis is the headliner here, given that the G'AIM'E Plug & Play is intended to ship before the game's 30th anniversary in December. With the recent re-release of Ridge Racer coinciding with the Switch 2 launch, it's also a good time to get nostalgic for Namco's groundbreaking System 22 3D visuals, which in crisp HD resolution still holds up with a vibrant polygonal charm, only further complemented by Time Crisis's hilariously hammy B-movie dialogue. But for those who pony up for the premium or ultimate packages, you'll also get additional light gun games from Namco's back catalogue, the Point Blank and Steel Gunners 1 and 2, the latter being a series that has never received a home port before. As an older game with 16-bit graphics, the sprites might pale in visual comparisons, but the cool thing about Steel Gunner is that you're actually firing machine guns so there's a simple pleasure in aiming with a crosshair and just holding down the trigger unloading unlimited ammo while the gun rattles in your hand. Just take care not to hit any civilians. Then there is Point Blank, which deceives you with its cute and colourful sprites when its myriad of shooting gallery-style minigames challenges are unbelievably difficult – including the so-called 'easy' mode – requiring the utmost speed and precision. Incidentally, it was the challenges where you only get one shot that I somehow passed, like the one that's basically if William Tell had a gun instead of a bow, because you at least only focus on one target rather than try to frantically shoot a quote of 15 in under 10 seconds. Keeping to that hardcore nature, it's also the one game in the collection where Namco doesn't allow for a visible crosshair. More importantly, since these other games don't require a pedal, that extra USB-C port on the mini console can be fitted with an additional G'AIM'E to support instant drop-in two player fun just like you would at the arcade. That makes the ultimate edition, which comes with two guns, a bit of a no-brainer if you're after a light gun package you can play with mates, along with some extras like a multi-region AC adaptor and a collectable diorama stand featuring Time Crisis star Richard Miller. Re-load? But here's the caveat. While it'll still be possible for owners of the premium edition to get hold of a second light gun later, it won't be possible to add the other games to the mini console if you only opt for the basic package. Indeed, as part of this close partnership with Namco, I'm told it's been ensured that it won't be possible to sideload the G'AIM'E Plug & Play packages with additional games, which could be a dealbreaker for those who want this light gun for use with other games just like the SInden. I'm sure that won't stop hackers and modders from giving it their best shot (no pun intended), though of course the difference between this mini console and the other retro mini consoles we've had already is these games are all built from scratch for this device rather than emulations. However, with the tech proven and Kickstarter pledges already sailed past £500K, surpassing its minimum target of £35K, this is surely only the beginning for Tassei Denki. While there's nothing else to announce yet, we may see G'AIM'E partnering with other arcade legends to bring their light gun games back with faithful recreations of the same guns. Just get me a Sega bundle that comes with arcade-perfect Virtua Cop 1 and 2 and The House of the Dead 1 and 2, and we have a deal. The G'AIM'E Time Crisis bundles are expected to ship around November, which you'll be able to buy directly from the G'AIM'E website with plans for distribution in select retailers. But to ensure you have it first as well as other exclusive bonus rewards, you can back it on Kickstarter, which will remain live until Saturday, 23 August. So is the G'AIM'E Plug & Play worth it? If you want to re-live, or experience for the first time, the trigger-happy joy of arcade-style light gun gaming on your telly without fussy set-ups, G'AIM'E Plug & Play feels like a dream come true. It feels even more like a premium product thanks to a close partnership with Namco to ensure its classic arcade shooters are built optimally for modern displays. Enthusiasts who want to get more bang for their buck may however be sore about this only being part of a standalone walled garden. If you're being cheap and only want the pure Time Crisis experience, you'll have to make peace with the fact you won't be able to add any of the other games to it without forking out on another set. Put those limitations to one side however and this really is the best modern solution to enjoy one of the highlights of arcade gaming at home, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate such an iconic game's 30th anniversary. Stuff Says… If you want to re-live, or experience for the first time, the trigger-happy joy of arcade-style light gun gaming on your telly without fussy set-ups, G'AIM'E Plug & Play feels like a dream come true Pros The shooting just works Faithful arcade design Cons Can't add more games than what is in the box Option for visible crosshair breaks the spell slightly
Tokyo Weekender
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Katamari Damacy Is Getting Its Own Pop-Up Cafe in Shibuya Parco
The adorable action-puzzle video game Katamari Damacy is stepping into the real world with its first official, full-scale collaboration cafe. It will take place at Tokyo Parade goods&cafe on the sixth floor of Shibuya Parco from July 25 to September 2. Originally released in 2004 by Namco, Katamari Damacy quickly gained a devoted following for its eccentric art direction, charming soundtrack and surreal gameplay. The game follows a diminutive prince, simply known as the Prince, as he rolls a sticky ball called a katamari across increasingly bizarre environments to collect objects ranging from stationery to skyscrapers. Praised for its originality and sense of humor, the game has become a cult classic. Now, two decades after its debut, fans can finally experience the quirky world of Katamari in real life. List of Contents: What To Expect: Food, Drinks and Exclusive Goods How To Get a Reservation Related Posts What To Expect: Food, Drinks and Exclusive Goods The cafe offers a playful menu inspired by iconic characters and the game's delightfully odd stages. One standout is the miso soup and onigiri set — a tribute to the Prince's cousin, Miso — served in a bowl shaped like the character's head and paired with chunky rice balls designed to resemble a katamari. Dessert options include plates that reference some of the game's most memorable levels, such as an ice cream plate nodding to the notorious cow-rolling level and a jelly parfait inspired by the King of All Cosmos. Even the drinks are themed after key characters. With every food or drink order, visitors will receive one of eight limited-edition Katamari coasters, distributed at random. A dedicated merchandise corner rounds out the experience, offering a selection of exclusive goods. Highlights include trading acrylic mascots, holographic stickers, a pocket thermos bottle, a konpeito candy tin, sacoche bags and a faithful replica of Miso's miso bowl. Many of these items are exclusive to the pop-up and available only in limited quantities. How To Get a Reservation The Katamari Damacy cafe will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Tokyo Parade goods&cafe inside Shibuya Parco. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made via the official cafe website. While walk-in seating may be available depending on capacity, visitors who book in advance online will receive an exclusive Katamari Damacy paper craft card upon arrival. The reservation period begins 12:00 p.m. on July 19, 2025 on the Lawson Ticket platform . For full details on the menu, goods and how to reserve, visit Parco cafe's official website . Related Posts World's First Dragon Ball Store To Open in Tokyo This Autumn A Complete Guide to Shibuya-kei: Tokyo's '90s Music Revival Pokemon Green: The Game the Rest of the World Never Got
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Chomp, chomp, Pac-Man turns 45, where were you?
Mastering Pac-Man got your name on the high-score screen and earned the envy of all those who tried to beat it. There were no touch screens, face recognition or fancy technology, just a joystick controller and a few buttons to play Pac-Man. Picture: Getty Images How old were you when the highly addictive Pac-Man arcade game was unveiled to the world? While the older generation may remember when the iconic yellow chomper made its debut, some of the Gen Zs remain clueless about the addiction of playing the game, not on a console or mobile phone, but at the game arcade or local corner shop after school or on a Saturday afternoon. No fancy tech There were no touch screens, face recognition or fancy technology, just a joystick controller and a few buttons. Kids would scrounge for coins in couches and every corner of the house to go and play Pac-Man. Mastering the game got your name on the high-score screen and earned the envy of all those who tried to beat it. The game was officially released on 22 May 1980 in Japanese arcades before launching in the United States in October that year. WATCH The iconic Pac-Man turns 45 on Thursday ALSO READ: Why playing video games might be the best thing for your brain Best-selling According to the National Museum of Play, Pac-Man is the best-selling arcade video game ever, transcending generations and new advancements in technology. ABC aired an animated television show, and the song 'Pac-Man Fever' surged to the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart in March 1982. 'Pac-Mania' set the stage for later video game icons such as Mario and Sonic. Bandai Namco Entertainment America, the maker of the game, said it is commemorating the 45th anniversary of the game 'with an unprecedented year-long campaign', USA Today reported. Creator Pac-Man (or Puck Man as it was known in Japan) made video games a mass cultural phenomenon. Created by programmer Toru Iwatani in 1980 and released by Namco in Japan and Midway in the United States, Pac-Man's yellow, pizza-shaped title character and four colourful ghosts injected personality into video gaming. Since its release, Pac-Man and its many variations and sequels have munched their way into countless arcades, homes and new digital spaces. Television series In 2013, Namco and Disney launched Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, a new animated television series, video game, and toy line that introduced Pac-Man to a new generation. In 2015 a Super Bowl ad featured a Bud Light-drinking hero evading Pinky, Blinky, Inky, and Clyde. According to designer Toru Iwatani, the name Pac-Man derives from the Japanese 'paku-paku', an onomatopoeic term for eating, and that he designed the character by rounding out the Japanese character for mouth, kuchi. ALSO READ: Roblox Exposed: Risks to children playing Roblox concerning
Japan Today
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Krispy Kreme Japan has Pac-Man donuts to celebrate video game star's 45th birthday
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 There's a big birthday in the video game world coming up this month, as May 22 will mark the 45th anniversary of the arcade release of developer Namco's original Pac-Man arcade game. And while many people celebrate their birthday with cake, this year Pac-Man is one of those cultured individuals who instead will be opting for birthday donuts, specifically Pac-Man donuts, which are being offered by Krispy Kreme Japan. Three different treats are coming to salute the star who loves to eat, starting with the Pac-Man Custard Sprinkle, which puts a swirl of custard cream and sprinkles in the color of Pac-Man's ghost adversaries atop the ring, and also gives you a Pac-Man shaped monaka wafer. Speaking of the ghosts, they get their turn in the spotlight on the Ghost Chocolate donut, with a ghost monaka lurking inside the lines of a maze drawn in vanilla custard lines, and a chocolate cream filling inside the hole-less donut. The final Pac-Man donut, called the Power Strawberry, is a more subtle nod to in-the-know fans, who will recognize this as not just any strawberry, but the second in the series of point-granting bonus items that periodically appear within the game's maze. ▼ The Power Strawberry features a tart strawberry cream, sweeter strawberry icing, cream 'leaves,' and sprinkled sugar. The Pac-Man Custard Sprinkle and Ghost Chocolate are both priced at 410 yen, while the Power Strawberry is just 388 yen. You can also get them together in a Pac-Man Box set for 1,177 yen, 31 yen cheaper than buying them individually. ▼ Pictured: financial wisdom in donut form Or, if you're in the mood for not one, not three, but six donuts, Krispy Kreme also has the Pac-Man Half-dozen set, for 1,825 yen. This gets you one of each of the threePac-Man donuts, two Original Glazed donuts, and one chocolate sprinkle donut. While supplies last they come in a cool collaboration box, which you'll probably want to be careful not to smear chocolate on so that you can reuse or display it. Also while supplies last, purchasing the Pac-Man Half Dozen gets you a sticker, some of which are marked as winners that will get you one more Original Glazed for free. For fans of donuts and games, the urge to run to your nearest Krispy Kreme branch to try these is no doubt strong, but for those who can make the trip to the donut chain's Shibuya Cine Tower branch in Tokyo's downtown Shibuya neighborhood, you'll get to see the place decked out in Pac-Man interior decorations. The Pac-Man donuts go on sale May 14, and will be available for a limited time. Related: Krispy Kreme Shibuya Cine Tower branch Source: Krispy Kreme, PR Times Images: Krispy Kreme Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Awesome Halloween Krispy Kreme donuts will make you a treat-giving hero -- Starbucks Japan releases new Stanley bottles and exclusive drinkware at Reserve Roastery Tokyo -- Kentucky Fried Chicken set to open all-you-can eat buffet restaurant in Japan External Link © SoraNews24
