Pac Man - Ghosts vs Monsters

FrizzleFried

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SO...

Anyone who has read their Pac Man bezel knows that, much like Donkey Kong calling Mario "Jumpman", Pac Man's foes are called "MONSTERS". Not "GHOSTS". My question is... when were they first called GHOSTS and by whom? Are they officially GHOSTS now or MONSTERS?

Ghosts and monsters are two entirely different things. Ghosts are of the spirit world while monsters are most surely of the physical.

FWIW - Ms. Pac Man also refers to the ghosts as "MONSTERS" on her bezel, as does the Jr. Pac Man bezel. There is no reference to either monsters or ghosts on the Baby Pac Man... and even Super Pac Man refers to them as MONSTERS.
 
I think the confusion is that they look like ghosts so thats what people who just look at them and dont read ( i.e. most people at an arcade) call them.
 
Wow, crazy!

I checked the "Puck Man" flyer and saw this:

OHWDhUf.png


The stuff in the green box reads "Power up!! The monster...."

The last part is a subject marker; it's weird and difficult to explain in English. A lot of Japanese language is implied when conversing (and I guess reading), so the "..." is implying the rest of the stuff.
 
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I was under the impression Asian cultures traditionally thought of ghosts differently from other parts of the world and have a high level of respect for such things. They would find it offensive to have ghosts be characterized so trivially. Many films, for instance, are banned in China simply for depicting ghosts. Vaguely similar to how Muhammad should never be drawn.
 
As a kid, I used ghosts. As an adult arcade enthusiast, I use monsters but sometimes slip when talking to others who use ghosts in a discussion about the game. They are monsters dressed as ghosts. This is sort of explained in one of the cut scenes where Bliny's ghost costume is snagged and comes off if him.
 
This reminds me of an overly religious person I used to know. They loved Pac-Man, but quit playing it when someone told them the enemies were ghosts. Because ghosts are supernatural creations of the devil, and playing a brightly colored video game with ghosts is just the first step into satan worship.

I wish I was making this up.
 
This reminds me of an overly religious person I used to know. They loved Pac-Man, but quit playing it when someone told them the enemies were ghosts. Because ghosts are supernatural creations of the devil, and playing a brightly colored video game with ghosts is just the first step into satan worship.

I wish I was making this up.

No shit?

I always wondered why I became a satan worshiper so young.... now I know. thanks.
 
This reminds me of an overly religious person I used to know. They loved Pac-Man, but quit playing it when someone told them the enemies were ghosts. Because ghosts are supernatural creations of the devil, and playing a brightly colored video game with ghosts is just the first step into satan worship.

I wish I was making this up.

Thats why I stopped too
 
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