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Microscopic Pac-Man installation makes a play for the smallest part of your heart
"Cute" doesn't even begin to accurately describe it. Kotoro "dotimpact" Tanaka, a Japanese design professor, has been credited with designing what may actually be the world's smallest game of Pac-Man. The microscopic installation was recently showcased at the 30th anniversary Pac-Man exhibition, utilizing original Pac-Man hardware, a projector and a microscope in order to blow up a minuscule game of cat and ghost for human eyes to recognize. We're told that it's able to reflect its image through a mirror in order to produce a 1cm square image at a resolution of 1439 pixels per inch (PPI), and users are highly encouraged to screw with the zoom and focus controls in order to heighten the level of difficulty. So, dotimpact... how's about an on sale date?
Pac-Man reenacted by humans in stop motion masterpiece
What's it with Pac-Man and awesomeness these days? First Google, now this? As the story goes, PAC-MAN is the fifth video performance of the GAME OVER Project, put on by the French-Swiss artist Guillaume Reymond. The video -- which is embedded after the break -- shows a great many human bodies (111 to be exact) working together for over four hours in one of the most smile-inducing stop motion clips we've ever seen. Oh, and make sure your volume's up -- the experience just isn't complete without man made blips and bloops. [Thanks, Matt]
The Pac-Man Dossier just might cure your Pac-Man fever
Sure, you've played countless hours of Pac-Man and seen the game spawn endless products (official and otherwise), but have you ever taken the time to really think about Pac-Man? Jamey Pittman has -- a lot -- and the end result is The Pac-Man Dossier, which Pittman describes as "most complete and detailed study of the game." While the dossier has been around for a while, we feel we'd be remiss if we didn't do our part to help bring the scholarly work to a wider audience -- after all, where else can you not only learn about tricks like the ghost pass-through and secret 256th level, but literally have the game broken down pixel by pixel? Trust us, you'll never look at Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde the same way again.
Sequoia e-voting machine hacked to play Pac-Man (video)
Oh Sequoia, why are you so changeable? The thoroughly hacked electronic voting machine is back with another ignoble showing, courtesy of researchers from the universities of Michigan and, of course, Princeton. Picking up an AVC-Edge box that had seen live duty in collecting votes for the 2008 Virginia primaries, they quickly and all too easily managed to supplant the embedded psOS+ software with DOS, which was promptly followed by the installation of Pac-Man. Given that the underlying circuit boards were populated with such luminaries as a 486 processor and 32 megabytes of RAM, we find this a most appropriate match of hardware and software. As to that whole voting security thing, maybe next time we should let people do it with their BlackBerrys, eh? See the Pac do his thing on video after the break.
Pac-Man iOS 4 wallpaper just a 'video' feature away from perfection
We won't say that this is on the same level as Google's own playable Pac-Man graphic, but it's darn close. Designed to fit onto the iPhone 4's Retina Display, this Pac-Man PNG wallpaper lines up exactly to give you a glimpse of retro on each and every home pane. The only problem? There's no motion in the background, which leaves Sir Pac physically incapable of chowing down on any extra dots. Android users: this is where you stifle your evil grin and pretend that you're sympathetic.
Google Pac-Man made permanent
If you need a disconcerting reminder of Google's power, you need look no further than May 21, when the search giant got the entire planet excited to play Pac-Man using only its logo. If you never want to search for anything on the internet again without the potential for distraction, we've got great news (or bad news, if you're an employer): The Pac-themed logo has become a permanent fixture here. So as not to be left behind, we've enabled the Joystiq logo to play chess. Just set the board up in front of your screen and wait for its first move. Oh, don't let the wait fool you, it just needs a while to think. ... Should be just a moment or two more now. [Via Game Hunters]
Speakal iBoo: when iPod docks and Pac-Man ghosts collide
You know, that's totally a recreation of Oikake up there holding that iPod, wouldn't you agree? In the spirit of Pac-man, Speakal has delivered the iBoo sound station, an iPod-friendly device that's cute enough for your kids and retro enough for you. For the low, low price of just $89.99, you too can join in the fun by grabbing one in red, blue or white. Specs wise, the device features an obligatory iPod dock, a 3.5 millimeter auxiliary input, touch volume control and music navigation, 15 watts of total power and a mini remote for controlling things from afar. Don't deny it, you're in love.
Pac-Man Mini handheld does boxy right
Console modder Sam Thornley actually built this Pac-Man Mini handheld way back in 2007, but he only recently shared it with the members of Ben Heck's forums, and we're sure glad he did. There's nothing too special at the heart of this one, just a Jakks Pacific Namco Arcade Classic system, but Sam hit all the right marks with the little details, from the red buttons that are just itching to be pressed to the old school flip switch to the bigger-than-it-has-to-be casing. If you think you're up to the task of building your own, you can find all the details you need an plenty of pics to guide you on your way by hitting up the read link below.[Via Technabob]
Sony begins accepting PlayStation Home beta applications
After a long long delay from that March 2007 announcement, Sony Japan just opened its doors to applications for the closed beta testing of PlayStation Home. Sony expects to drop 10,000 gamers (18 years old and up) into the virtual world when it launches in beta sometime in late August. Closed beta tests are due in other markets (er hem, the US) at about the same time with an open beta coming sometime later in the year. Lucky beta testers will be able to explore the 3D world and play games like PacMan in the Namco Museum, both of which are pictured after the break.[Via Impress]
Pac-Man Roomba created with 448 LEDs
We were beginning to wonder if the Roomba hacking community had been sucked dry of ideas, but leave it to longjie0723 to give us hope yet. This Roomba hacker (yeah, he also rigged his up for Wiimote control) managed to solder 448 yellow LEDs onto a board and program said devices to move in such a way that a Pac-Man-type image is seen. C'mon, who hasn't dreamed of having that ghost-inhaler work his magic on those forsaken floors? Check the video after the jump.[Via Hack N Mod]
More games that shouldn't be MMOs: Classic Edition
This is a topic we spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about, as seen in our previous ruminations on the subject. The rise of the MMO, and its continuing ascent to prominence in mainstream media, however, means that sooner or later, it will fall to the dreaded Remake Syndrome, where old classic movies are updated to fit modern sensibilities, often with disastrous results.To wit: if Game X was a huge hit, then why don't we revamp it and resell it as an MMO? Here are 5 examples why not. Robotron 2084: You are the last protector of the human race against robots, mutants, and geometric shapes. Well, actually, you're just one of the last protectors. This is an MMO, after all. And in a game where everything that isn't you kills you when it touches you, and you're in an enclosed space with no way out, and the enemies just keep coming at you and coming at you ... well, the narrative possibilities are endless.
Pac-Man CE nominated for 2008 GDCAs
Please, step back in time with us. Let's say it's February 2007, one year ago. A bedraggled, foul smelling man, wearing a sign that reads "The End is Nigh," approaches you and grabs you violently by the collar. He leans in close, his sour whisky breath burning your nostrils, and whispers, "One year from now, Pac-Man will be nominated for a Game Developers Choice Award!" The breath is so strong that you shut your eyes tight. Upon reopening them, the man is gone. You question your sanity, wondering if he was even real. A Pac-Man game nominated in 2008? Preposterous!Rest assured, he was real, and he was right. Namco Bandai Games have announced that Pac-Man Championship Edition, released in June 2007, has been nominated for Best Downloadable Game in the eighth annual Game Developers Choice Awards, which are set to take place during the Game Developers Conference later this month. Best Downloadable Game of 2009? Dig Dug. You heard it here first.
DS Phat mod pays homage to the N64
eBay user luckey92 knows what to do with an old DS Phat: mod it! The second part of auctioning it off online and donating 20% of the sale to Child's Play isn't something that we'd probably do ourselves, however. It's not that we're horrible people who don't care about good organizations that bring fun and hope to sick children all over, it's that we're horrible people who love the DS and would hold onto this sucker forever. We'd probably sit it next to our N64 and take pictures, then conduct a mock wedding between two N64s, with this DS being their offspring. We'd then name them the Pac-Mans.
Interlocking Pac-Man lights offer endless mazes, zero subtlety
Those intrigued by the idea of interlocking light blocks but disappointed by the subtlety of some of the current options available may want to take note of Remake Design's latest creation, which takes the idea to excessive new heights. As you can see, they've churned out a series of blocks to let you relive your past Pac-Man adventures on a grand scale, including blocks of dots, ghosts, and Pac-Man himself -- no power-ups though, it seems. No word on a price just yet, but given that the firm's standard set of four solid-colored lights costs $300, you'll likely have to part with a sizable stash of quarters if you want to add this particular retro touch to your living room
The Pac-Man Christmas tree
Finally, Blinky, Pinky, Inky, Clyde, and even old Pacster get some religious iconography happening for themselves. A creative group of X-mas-and-Pac-Man-loving cats and kittens in Madrid have created a truly festive monument to the holiday... and the video game. Check the video after the break for the whole, utility-burning display in action -- and commenters, feel free to translate.[Via technabob]
Pac-Man and Rubik's Cubes make a marriage of artistic genius
A French street artist known as Space Invader created this brilliant piece for an exhibit called "The Streets of Europe." We're sure you recognize these troublesome ghosts from the Pac-Man franchise, which were made so retroliciously from Rubik's Cubes. The concept is so simple yet brilliant that we can't help but be awed. If you should feel so inclined to see this work of art in person, head to the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York City during the month of December.[Via Technabob]
DIY'er stuffs MAME machine into dinner table
Hot on the heels of Gamerator's stupendous MAME cabinet and AOTS "world's largest arcade machine" comes a DIY project that gives both of the aforementioned products a run for their money. The aptly-titled IKEA MAME Dinner Table cleverly crams a MAME machine into a standard dinner table, which we're absolutely sure any warm-blooded mother (and / or gamer) could appreciate. The table can slide open to reveal a 15-inch LCD, Happ Controls and an Ultimarc I-PAC, and while a myriad games can be played, the creator's personal favorite is the famed Ms. Pacman. Click on for a couple more looks, and then head on to the read link for a slew of pics from the underside.[Via MAKE]
LGC07: German journalists, experts pick all-time most influential games
A gathering of German journalists, publishers and "experts" met at this year's Leipzig Games Convention to pick what they felt were the most influential games of all time (via GameSetWatch). Of the reported 150 nominations, 16 titles were ultimately chosen and, of those, four were noted for being most frequently noted.The four top-honored games are Tetris, Pong, Doom and Pac-Man. Though we agree with much of the list, we're still left feeling some titles were unfortunately overlooked (e.g. E.T., Custer's Revenge). What do you think of the list?See Also: 10 most important video games of all time, as judged by 2 designers, 2 academics, and 1 lowly blogger[Image credit: Senechaux]
Researchers add fear of electric shock to "Pac-Man-like" game
Researchers at University College London look to have taken a slightly unconventional approach in their studies on fear, with the BBC reporting that they've crafted a "Pac-Man-like" game that boasts the added risk of electric shock. Apparently, volunteers play the game while an MRI scanner monitors them, moving a blue triangle through a 2D maze while trying to avoid a red dot "predator." If that dot catches them, they receive an electric shock. As that danger neared , the researchers found that players stopped using their their prefrontal cortex in their forebrain and instead relied on their midbrain area, which controls "gut-level reflexes." At least that's what they're saying. We have a sneaking suspicion it may all just be an elaborate trick the researchers play on freshman students.[Via The Inquirer]
