More Iconic Cab: Pac or Ms Pac?

I would say Ms. Pac Man, since Midway/Namco has changed the look of Pac-Man over time and IMO muddied the graphic identity with their various "retro" packages.

The Ms. Pac appearance and graphics have remained much more consistent throughout its lifespan. Therefore, I'd say it's the better choice as an icon.
 
Easy question.

Discuss.

don't know if it's that easy. On one hand you have the very popular first game in a series. BTW one of the most popular video games of all time. On the other hand you have the follow up to the original which actually out sold the original and argueably may be more popular. Both have great iconic art. If I have to go with one I would pick pac man only because it was the original. Although ms pac is still the better game.
 
For me? Pacman. The weird organic character artwork that didn't match the game graphics was huge for me (and many others) back in the day. Tell you the truth, I never even noticed the Ms. Pac cabs until the 90's. Pacman was huge when it came out and it was everywhere.
 
If we're just talking the cabs, I would think Ms. Pac-Man is more iconic. Coming from a later generation of gamers, I'd have to say I've seen more Ms. Pac cabs in person as well as in pop culture.

Off the top of my head:
- There was a Friends episode centered around a Ms. Pac cab. Actually, pretty funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAXL7kq5ebg

Note for Pac-Man cab:
- Scrubs has several episodes with use of a Pac-Man cab in the breakroom. Though, it has a Ms. Pac marquee and they suggest that they are playing Ms. Pac-Man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyjYbZYA61Y
 
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My vote is Ms. Pac Man... but it's close. To this day I still see Ms. Pac Man cabs on location. I can't remember the last time I saw a Pac on location.
 
I would think Ms. Pac-Man. Coming from later generation of gamers,


That's the key right there. If you are 30 or under, you'll probably say Ms. Pac. 35 and older, Pacman for sure. 25 and under, Street Fighter.

I remember 5 Pacman Machines lined up in a row at the Skatin' Place in May 1982, there were no Ms. Pacmans there yet.
 
Pac Man - You see that yellow cab from across a room and you know exactly what it is.
 
Like Fritz' Mom's beaver, those years are what's referred to as 'a grey area'.

I fall into that grey area. Apparently if you are in that age group you can remember when there were 5 pac mans lined up next to 5 ms pacs next to 4 Dk's next to 4 DK jr's . At least that's my recollection. Sounds like the grey area got the best case scenario.
 
Pac-Man is way more iconic. It may be the most iconic video game of all time. I would say that it is a tossup among Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Pong, and Donkey Kong for that title.

Generally speaking, the original of a series is considered the most iconic, even if they are surpassed in success/popularity/quality/etc. by their sequel(s)/successor(s). This applies to most anything. For example, Star Wars is more iconic than The Empire Strikes Back, even though many people think TESB was the better movie. There are plenty of cars that have outsold Model-T Fords and '57 Chevys, but they are still two of the most iconic vehicles of all time.

A notable exception that I can think of off the top of my head would be Street Fighter II, which is far more iconic than Street Fighter (which isn't iconic at all); but that was because Street Fighter was a dog; most companies wouldn't have even bothered with a sequel for that game.

I think you have to do more than just have huge success with your product for it to be the most iconic in a category; you also have to be innovative and have a huge cultural impact. Ms. Pac-Man's success was an extension of Pac-Man's success. Its innovations were more like tweaks than true innovations, and its cultural impact can be lumped right in with Pac-Man's.
 
I'm liking all the responses in this thread.

The question popped into my head only because I was thinking about my own collection. I don't own an "oh my gosh, you have a "xxxx!!!" cabinet in my lineup. I have a Ms Pac, but every time someone asks me about my games they say "Do you have Pac Man?". Sadly, no. It plays in the machine but its not the yellow Pac cab.

I'm starting to think its time to swap out the Ms Pac cab for a Pac cab.

Hmmm...
 
The question popped into my head only because I was thinking about my own collection. I don't own an "oh my gosh, you have a "xxxx!!!" cabinet in my lineup. I have a Ms Pac, but every time someone asks me about my games they say "Do you have Pac Man?". Sadly, no. It plays in the machine but its not the yellow Pac cab.

Exactly. For the average Joe, the first game that comes to mind is Pac-Man, not Ms. Pac-Man. Even if they played one of the sequels in the arcades way back when, they still tend to lump them all together in their mind as "Pac-Man".
 
For me it's pac-man as well. I remember the first time I played it. It was at a Bowling Alley in Scranton, PA. I put my quarter in and started to chase down those ghosts. I was doing really good until the game ended after I ate the third one.
 
Definately Pac-Man. Pac-Man had that crazy yellow cabinet, plus the cabinet color matched (supposedly) the character, so there's even the phrase "Pac-Man Yellow". If you say "Pac-Man yellow" to somebody, they know exactly what you're talking about. Easily the most iconic cabinet.
 
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