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Happy Birthday, Pac-Man!

Happy Birthday, Pac-Man!

Om May 22nd, 1980, a fantastic thing happened. The original Pac-Man was released to Japanese arcades. He’s all-time father of video game mascots. If it weren’t for Pac-Man , we arguably would never have the games we have today. This little yellow disk with his voracious appetite for power pellets and general fear of ghosts has catapulted the gaming world forward to where it is today. Where would we be if everybody hadn’t caught Pac-Man fever way back when?

Bandai Namco are celebrating the yellow guy’s 35 th anniversary with a number of different events. First of all, Pac-Man and Pac-Man Lite , the mobile versions of Pac-Man which are currently available, now have brand new skins that make them look more like the original arcade version.

Bandai Namco will also be throwing a huge birthday bash on May 22, Pac-Man’s official birthday, at the Level 257 Pac-Man restaurant in Chicago. Creator Toru Iwatani and world record holder Billy Mitchell will both be there. Attendees will be able to enjoy free bowling, arcade games, and a demo of the new unreleased mobile game based on Pixels, the new Adam Sandler movie. Of course, there is no better way to honor someone for their 35 th birthday than with the gift of Adam Sandler. /Sarcasm.

The invitation to the party also mentioned a brand new game called Pac Man Rebooted . Many are speculating that this will be new game reveal made at the party in preparation for E3 this year. Bandai Namco has not revealed many of the games on its E3 list, so this wouldn’t be too outside the realm of possibility.

If you want to go to the event, you just need to buy your tickets which are, no fooling, free off the Eventbrite website for the event. Free tickets get you access to all the gameplay, bowling, swag, demos, and even a performance of Pac-Man Fever by Jerry Buckner (of Buckner and Garcia). However, a VIP pass will also get you two drinks, free appetizers, limited edition swag (whatever that means),  a piece of the birthday cake, and an official meet and greet with the celebs like Iwatani and Mitchell.

Happy Birthday, Pac-Man!

But even if you aren’t going to the official festivities, we here at Cheat Code Central would like to wish Pac-Man a happy birthday. You truly will always have a special place in the hearts of gamers everywhere.

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